10 year anniversary of France's World Cup Victory

10 years ago today, the French mens' soccer team amazed the world by winning at home the World Cup championship. That evening was also our last service at St. Michael's Anglican Church of Paris, where I served on the staff for a year (1997-98) during our first year of marriage. The church had a big screen TV in a room where many of us watched the match. During half time, the church presented us with a farewell gift. After the match, which France won 3-0, Nicole and I went to les Champs-Elysées (not far from the church) where we celebrated with hundreds of thousands of others. We barely made our train back to the suburbs, where we stayed our last few nights with Antony & Sheila Brown. We were around for Bastille Day, then flew back to the U.S. on July 16, 2008.

That whole World Cup experience has been one of my favorite memories in 15+ years in France. France's team wasn't one of the favorites, but they pulled together. The team was a mixture of African, North African, Corsican, Armenian, and white French. They blended well together as a team.

A lot has happened in my family's life during the past 10 years. We spent 2 years in Wheaton, Illinois (1998-2000) doing studies, then have been back in Paris in the same apartment & neighborhood for the past 8 years. We've added 3 children, soon to be 4. We've been involved at the same church in Paris, while doing different ministries inside and outside of it.

As for France's soccer team, it has had its ups and downs. Right after we returned to France in 2000, France won the European Cup. We went to the Champs-Elysees after the semifinals and finals. In the finals, Sylvain Wiltord scored just before time ran out to tie Italy, then David Trezeguet won it with a sudden death overtime goal. In the 2002 World Cup, France didn't score a goal in 3 matches and was eliminated. In the 2004 European Cup, I can't even remember how France did. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, France surprisingly reached the finals again. Sadly, Zinedine Zidane lost his cool just before the end of the regulation time, headbutted an Italian player, and got a red card. This ended up coloring the rest of the match and France lost in a shootout to Italy. In last month's European Cup, France was eliminated after its first 3 matches without a victory.

I continue to say "Go Blue" for the Michigan Wolverines football team, but now also say the French equivalent "Allez les Bleus" for the French soccer team. I just can't stay away from rooting for the blue teams.