Football: In France Without A Ticket

Nicholas Harling's daily quest to get into a World Cup match: Day Six

MUCH OF the trouble in Marseilles had stemmed from the frustration of England fans who did not have tickets. Those not still in custody watched from bars outside the Stade Velodrome. But it was possible to purchase tickets for between 600 and 1,000 francs before the game. I was luckier. Arriving at the station, I was confronted by a formidable French lady seeking 500 francs for a 350fr ticket. I tried to get her down to 400fr but she said she would rather tear it up. I paid up. After almost a week, my only failure remains Japan v Argentina on Sunday.