Win against Red Devils lights up Chandernagore

CHANDERNAGORE: When referee Andres Cunha blew the final whistle in the France-Belgium match in St Petersburg on Tuesday night, the atmosphere turned electric in Chandernagore, thousands of kms from the match centre. The town, which was once a French colony, is now planning big for the final, which will take place this Sunday.


On Tuesday night, the excitement of France's qualification was palpable across Chandernagore — from Taldanga to Urdi Bazar, from The Strand to the Hospital More. “The entire town supports France when it’s playing in the World Cup. Former players like Zidane and Thierry Henry and current stars like Mbappe, Griezmann and Umtiti — after his winning goal against Belgium — have huge fan following here,” said Amit Ghosh, a student of Chandernagore College.

Young men strolling in French jerseys has become a common sight here. “Most people in the township watch the match on big screens in their neighbourhoods. We have Brazil and Argentina supporters. But when France plays, it is difficult to identify Chandernagore as an Indian town. Everybody supports France,” said Partha Ghosh, who has stationary shop in Bagbazar.

The civic body has planned to beam live telecast of the match on a giant screen on the

bank

of the Hooghly. “It is going to be near Rabindra Bhavan on The Strand. We will also organise some programmes to showcase a slice of France in Chandernagore. We have a shared history with France and local people are emotional about the match,” said a civic official.

But residents in several neighbourhoods are planning to watch the final in their own way. “We will be setting up a big screen where all of us will watch the match together. We will have tea and singaras to munch on while we cheer for France,” said Akash Tiwari of Taldanga Club.

The football fans in Chandernagore hopes it won’t be a repeat of 2006. On July 9 that year, the entire town had gathered at Hathkola Nunatala Jagadhattri Puja Samiti ground to watch France take on Italy in the final. The match ended 1-1 but Zidane’s team lost in the tie-breaker.

Reminded of 1998, Alliance française du Bengale director Fabrice Plançon remembers July 12 “as one of the most beautiful nights of my life. We’ll repeat that this Sunday, and with England,” he said, hoping to face England in the all-important final. The city’s French expats have been somewhat delirious over the last few weeks, watching their country play on giant screens. On Tuesday, they assembled at a city pub, soaking in every moment of the semi-final.

(With inputs from Ajanta Chakraborty in Kolkata)