Watching the World Cup with a French family? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

10 Things to Know About Watching The World Cup With The French

Mais oui, it's country pride time!

68
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/the-evolution-of-fc-barcelonas-anthem/
damonify

It's FIFA's prime time! Soccer lovers from brand new to intense are excited to see how The 2018 World Cup is going to turn out. This worldwide competition takes an entire month, demonstrating the talents of soccer players globally. This year it started on Thursday June 14th with thirty-two of the nation's teams gathering in Moscow, Russia. Teams play against each other to earn points, hoping to earn enough to get the chance to play at the end. The final game on July 15th determines the winner of the prestigious 2018 World Cup.

So far, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is the top scorer, a favorite player both for his skills and his looks, with Denis Cheryshev of Russia and Diego Costa of Spain next in line. In 2014, Germany won the 2014 World Cup with Argentina as the runner up. Who will it be this year...? (eee!)

In every household, flags are waving and languages are flying. Families are hunkered down in the living room, ready to cheer for their favorite teams and players throughout all the games. This time I got a special treat.

French Superfans

A few years ago, my mother married a Frenchman. He is literally as French as it gets. He has a thick accent, drinks cappuccinos throughout the entire day, runs a gourmet French restaurant... I could continue for days. Let's just say visiting home is pretty awesome.

This past visit home, I learned that football or, as we Americans call it, "soccer" is the most popular sport in France, even more than tennis which they watch year round. My mother and I found it quite amusing to see how invested my step family was in The World Cup. Their reactions were more entertaining than the sport.

So in case you find yourself in a house covered with red, white, and blue flags that are not for America, here are 10 things to know about watching The World Cup with the French. Let the twitchy moustaches commence!

They will wake up to watch the game at 6AM in their time zone.

He said he was going to and we all thought he was crazy. I temporarily woke up around 7AM and literally heard the TV...

All will have cappuccinos in hand.

I can guarantee you it was not from a Starbucks cup. Them French have their own espresso machines...

They will be wearing a soccer team jersey that says “FRANCE.”

He wore it home, he wore it to work, and then he came home in between work to watch the games for his teams.

You’ll see crumbs from a homemade croissant on the coffee table.

Hmm hm! Homemade croissants are nothing like the ones you will find at coffee shops... Delish.

Out of nowhere you will hear a car horn and realize it’s the Frenchman yelling “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!” as if he were the announcer.

I kid you not. The first time he did it I thought it was a car horn.

You’ll hear Franglish such as “Allez, come on!” and “Awww I cooould have dun zat!”

There were a couple other words but I will not share them here... #filthylanguage

Growling. Lots of guttural growling.

My mother felt the need to warn me beforehand so I wouldn't think there were shenanigans from the bedroom... xD

When the French aren’t playing, they root for their favorite players that are sprinkled across other teams.

This took me the longest to figure out. I kept wondering how can there be this many games JUST with the French team?

They know a strange amount of detail about every single player on the team and will analyze their achievements and moves. The girls also analyze the players’ rate of handsomeness.

I could hardly tell the difference between half the players on the same team, let alone pick them out so easily! My family went on about their history and other teams they played for. Also, some girls are really into sweat.

The snooty black house cat will sit in your lap for protection from the crazy screaming people.

Isn't he so handsome? Maybe it's just me. We had some lovely cuddle time while the family would silently watch with intent and then sporadically holler.


#napoleanthecat



See you in four years!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189875
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14698
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457697
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26545
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments