We'll be running round Marseille

[cymrococh]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2225248,00.html

 

The arrival of English fans in a European city is typically preceded by days of fear and loathing, but the rumour that has swept through Marseille ahead of the crucial Champions League clash against Liverpool tomorrow is nevertheless unusual. According to local reports, "sources in Liverpool" have warned French authorities that visiting fans will trigger security chaos not just by circulating forged tickets, but selling replicas of Marseille stewards' bibs - L'Equipe today reports that 1,000 such replicas are believed to have been produced.

 

 

Olympique Marseille have already identified the match as "high risk" and plan to deploy 720 stewards between home fans and the holders of the 2,800 tickets sold by Liverpool. But they are unhappy that Liverpool have been unable to say how or when most of the travelling fans will get to the game. "We are surprised at how [Liverpool] have gone about things," said OM security officer Guy Cazadamont in L'Equipe. "When we go away, whether in France or in Europe, we tell the hosts how our fans our travelling, give them the flight numbers, the buses' registration numbers and the arrival times. But all we know now is that around 500 people will arrive on two charter planes - we don't know when or how the rest will get to the stadium."

 

Anxious city authorities will station two battalions of riot police outside the ground tomorrow, while keeping several others on stand by.

 

While the authorities fret, Marseille players are looking forward to the match. Though they need only a draw to reach the last 16, striker Mamadou Niang says his side will go in search of victory. "We'll go to take the points," he said. "It will be a tense game and different from the last time we met [when Marseille won 1-0 at Anfield]. But we will attack and create chances.

 

Steven Gerrard was similarly optimistic about Liverpool's chances. "If you'd told me five minutes after the final whistle against Marseille at Anfield we would go into the last game knowing a win would secure our qualification, I would have bitten your hand off. We're a different side and a lot more confident than the one which lost to Marseille at home."

 

Liverpool were in a similar position in the group phase in the 2004-05 campaign, which ended with their famous final triumph in Istanbul. Back then, they needed to score three goals against Greek side Olympiakos and achieved it thanks to Gerrard's thunderbolt of a goal at the Kop end in a 3-1 win.

 

"Everyone remembers Olympiakos, so our experiences in the past will help," added Gerrard. "The pressure will be on Marseille as much as us this time. We know we're always expected to go through to the knockout stage, but after they beat us at Anfield and we lost in Turkey, we weren't favourites to qualify."

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

it's not difficult is it? Ask every steward trying to gain entry their address, place of birth etc (in French) and you'll weed about 99% out

[cymrococh]

it's not difficult is it? Ask every steward trying to gain entry their address, place of birth etc (in French) and you'll weed about 99% out

Post suspicious Germans at all official entrances saying 'good luck' to everyone walking past.

[Cobs]

Post suspicious Germans at all official entrances saying 'good luck' to everyone walking past.

[Rich Gobey]

Post suspicious Germans at all official entrances saying 'good luck' to everyone walking past.

 

 

For you ze champions league group section is over.

[fyds]

Post suspicious Germans at all official entrances saying 'good luck' to everyone walking past.

 

Why not - about as realistic as this story!

[Andy @ Allerton]

 

Why not - about as realistic as this story!

 

Aye. Guardian making things up shocker.

[John am Rhein]

Les bibs de la guerre!

[cymrococh]

Aye. Guardian making things up shocker.

Guardian reporting what French Newspaper is saying shocker!

[Guest Snorky]

Load of tripe, knew about this at the start of the CL campaign.

 

UEFA issued complete brand new sets for the opening games in the groups.

 

Scare mongering.

[Kahnee]

Aye. Guardian making things up shocker.

 

Andy in failing to understand where a story comes from shocker

[San Diego Red]

Post suspicious Germans at all official entrances saying 'good luck' to everyone walking past.

classic