Rodena Nichee was a child in France the last time her national team won the World Cup.
On Sunday, wearing a vibrant blue blouse, she celebrated with friends
and members of Chicago’s French community at a downtown watch party as
France beat Croatia 4-2 for the title.
She sang “On est les
champions” and chanted “Allez les Bleus!” as the final seconds ticked
away and the conference room at the Hilton Magnificent Mile erupted in
cheers and song as drums beat, cowbells rang and red, white and blue
confetti fell.
“In
1998, I was 9 years old,” said Nichee, who emigrated from France two
years ago. “Twenty years later, I’m so glad to be around the French
community in Chicago. There is spirit here.”
The French community is small with about 8,000 citizens in the Chicagoland area. Many connect through the Lycee Francais school in Lincoln Square and French organizations such as the Alliance Francaise cultural center and the Association des Francais et Francophones de Chicago.
A chance for about 250 France fans to come together for the World Cup
watch party at the Hilton, which was organized through the French
consulate office, fostered their sense of pride.
Fans painted
their faces, wore red-and-blue boas and draped the French tricolor flag
across their shoulders. One couple cheered wearing berets, and a photo
area included a baguette to pose with as a prop. Fans ate croissants as
they waited for the final to begin.
Dads hoisted their small children in the air after France’s third goal when Paul Pogba hit a hard, low shot for a 3-1 lead. They groaned in unison when Mario Mandzukic took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. And they sang the French national anthem when Kylian Mbappe, 19, joined Pele as just the second teenager to score in a World Cup final.
Fans marched down Michigan Avenue waving flags as they blew whistles and cheered after the victory party.
“It’s national pride,” said Annabelle Baldwin, who grew up in France but lives in Rogers Park.
Baldwin
wore a bright blue wig and had the French flag painted on her cheek as
she watched the game with her husband and two children.
“It’s awesome to be together and support France,” she said. “If you’re from France, you are an ambassador every day.”
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