An introduction to French football

I went along to my first French football match on Sunday afternoon, a Normandy derby match between the Caen reserve team and Rouen in the amateur CFA league.

The match itself wasn’t great. A nicely worked goal from Caen and some great goalkeeping meant a 1-0 victory, despite the Caen captain being sent off with 25 minutes to go.

I did enjoy the afternoon. It was a lively crowd and I heard a lot of the banter and chanting that will be a feature of the first-team games, but the crowd will be ten times bigger. So it was a gentle introduction and gives me the opportunity to go away and learn some more vocabulary and a few things to say.

On Sunday I was utterly cowardly when it came to striking up a conversation. I could have done, but I didn’t. I don’t think it will be long until I do pluck up courage to start talking to people. Talking about the football with other fans is an easy place to start.

Yesterday I queued up for tickets for next Saturday’s Ligue 1 game against Valenciennes. It is the first home match of the season and after last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away at Bordeaux, it is an important game to win.

Over the next couple of days I need to write down a few conversation pieces to use while I’m having my infliximab infusion on Thursday – it could be a four hour stay, so I do need some conversation…

One topic to prepare could be about football, I can then refine it and use it again on Saturday. This practice, together with my daily study and online BBC ‘Ma France’ lessons will quickly get my confidence up. I’ve already noticed how much my comprehension has improved, particularly reading the sports news.