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Slow Down a Little, Mr. President

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Before the World Cup began, French President Jacques Chirac promised he would personally present Didier Deschamps, captain of the French team, with the World Cup trophy.

He reminded Deschamps of that Friday, after France’s penalty-kick victory over Italy in the quarterfinals. “I’m in training to give you the World Cup. Two more matches! I’m ready for the final,” Chirac said in a locker-room visit.

Deschamps, however, demurred. “Me, I’m not yet training to lift the trophy, Mr. President,” he said. “I’m trying to regain my strength.”

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A GOOD DAY TO JAYWALK IN PARIS

Here’s how L’Equipe reported the celebration after the French victory over Italy:

“Welcome to a world of football! A world where the pedestrian is king, where the police smile, where the most beautiful avenue in the world is doing the ola and where drivers blow their horns, for once, for good reason.”

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