Allez Les Bleus!

Last spring I made a bet with my friend Pierre-Yves. We were in Brussels at the time - we made a day-trip from Paris to see the headquarters of the European Union and the BD (comics) museum - and we started talking about American soccer.

Now, we all know that the American soccer team just isn't very good. They're getting better, but they got eliminated from the World Cup pretty easily this year. In fact, the only goal the U.S. had in the tournament was a goal that Italy scored on itself.

Pierre-Yves and I were discussing the disappointing team over somes moules-frites and beers in a Brussels bar, and I made this prediction: Before I turn 70, the U.S. is going to win the World Cup. Now, Pierre-Yves is a typical proud Frenchman, and thought my assertion was crazy. So we bet 100 Euros on it.

This is why I think it's a smart bet on my part: No matter what happens, I am not going to have to pay him a cent until I'm 70. I doubt 100 Euros (about $120-130) will be worth as much then as it is now. But for Pierre-Yves, he could have to pay me as soon as 2010 during the World Cup in South Africa.

To make sure that we pay up, we have a contract in French that we both have signed. Not only does it require the payment, but it says that if either of us die before then (Pierre-Yves is three years older than me, so he'll be 73 by the time the bet is over), our estate has to pay the debt.

So, what do you think? Was it a smart bet on my part? Does the US have a chance?

In other soccer news, I am taking a half-day of vacation this afternoon to go watch the France/Portugal soccer game. I was supposed to have a whole day of vacation on Monday, but I worked in the morning so I could leave at 1 p.m. today (the game is at 1:30).

La dernière marche pour l'équipe de France (Le Monde)

Une place en finale du Mondial 2006 de football donnerait un sens à la victoire des Bleus face au Brésil. Elle permettrait aussi d'écrire une fin rêvée et sublime à la dernière aventure de Zinédine Zidane. "Les demi-finales, c'est toujours la marche la plus difficile", assure le sélectionneur Raymond Domenech, qui, dimanche, au lendemain de la démonstration collective face au Brésil, avait utilisé la métaphore de l'ascension et des "deux mètres" restant à parcourir jusqu'au sommet.

Les Bleus, qui, peu avant l'ouverture de la compétition, avaient gravi un glacier à Tignes, dans les Alpes, filent donc la métaphore en pensant à cet objectif qu'ils se sont fixé depuis plusieurs mois : le "9 juillet" à Berlin. Pour une finale de Coupe du monde aux airs de jubilé impérial et inoubliable pour le retraité Zidane, mais aussi pour Thuram, Makelele voire Barthez, qui vivent leurs ultimes moments en sélection. Berlin n'est désormais plus qu'à 90 minutes (ou 120) et les supporteurs français, sceptiques il y a moins de deux semaines, s'y voient déjà.