L'OM Soccer Game

Last Sunday we went to a l'OM football (soccer) match. L'OM stands for "l'Olmpique Marseille." They were playing against l'Orient, from Brittany.

The game started at 5:00, and we arrived around 4:15. Unfortunately, our seats were on the south side of the stadium, and the subway brought us to the north side. When we tried to enter on the north side, they told us that we needed to go around. Going around meant going around not just the stadium, but the entire surrounding neighborhood. That took about 20 minutes. Finally, we made it to our seats.

Unfortunately, it was rather cold and windy. The game was still fun, though. It was different than an American football game. There was no announcer except for when substitutions were made, and the clock never stops except at halftime. One of the biggest differences was the fans.

I wouldn't say that the Marseille fans were that much more spirited than most student sections in the U.S., but the were very persistent. They kept singing songs, throughout the game, and they had a several people who just constantly beat on drums. Unfortunately, their cheering did not do much, as the game ended in a tie, 1-1.