PARIS (AP) — Stade de France has seen many sporting triumphs since its inauguration in 1998 but the stadium also witnessed one of the nation’s darkest days.
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stadium → see → days
On Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in an NFL match at the 80,000-capacity stadium in the suburb of Saint-Denis, around a short train ride from the city center.
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Steelers → face → center
Zinedine Zidane scored the only goal as France beat Spain in a friendly match in January ‘98 to mark the opening of a gleaming national stadium, something which was commonplace in other countries but which France was crying out for.
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France → score → which
It was used as the centerpiece of hosting the World Cup that year.
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It → use → Cup
There were huge celebrations a few months later when Zidane’s two goals against Brazil led Les Bleus to their first World Cup triumph.
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goals → be → triumph
Night of terror
Fast forward to a sombre November night in 2015.
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Night → fast → 2015
Tens of thousands of fans are gripped by fear after bombs explode outside the stadium early into France’s friendly against Germany.
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bombs → grip → Germany
As mass confusion reigns as to what is happening outside the stadium — and, terrifyingly — in several places across Paris, fans are stuck inside the stadium for hours.
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fans → reign → hours
Both soccer teams stay in the same dressing room until it’s finally safe to leave.
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it → stay → room
The November 13 terror attacks began at Stade de France and spread across the city in assaults that killed 132 people and injured over 400.
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that → begin → 400
One person died and least 14 were injured outside the stadium, but casualties could have been far heavier without the actions of a quick-thinking security guard.
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casualties → die → guard
Neon Dion
Céline Dion sells out two nights running in June 1999.
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Dion → sell → June
The Canadian singer’s iconic vocal range thrills fans, and the two nights form part of a live album called “Au Cœur du Stade” (At the heart of the stadium) released that summer.
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nights → thrill → stadium
American rock star Bruce Springsteen has also performed at the stadium, as did Beyoncé & Jay-Z in 2018 on July 14 — which is Bastille Day, France’s national day.
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which → perform → July
The curtain came down on the successful 2024 Paris Olympics with an extravagant closing ceremony, including a spectacular live entrance from the top of stadium by actor Tom Cruise and performances from rapper Snoop Dogg and Billie Eilish.
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curtain → come → Dogg
Earlier in the closing ceremony, Dion’s love affair with France culminated with her singing Edith Piaf’s “L’hymne à L’amour” (Hymn to Love) from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower.
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her → culminate → Tower
Anticlimax
France was favored to win the 2016 European Championship after beating Germany to reach the final against Portugal, and even more so when Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was stretchered off with an injury in the first half.
But a nervous France side misses chances and cracked under pressure as Portugal won 1-0 with an extra time goal from substitute Eder.
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Portugal → favor → Eder
Fans witnessed the stadium’s first world record in track and field in August, 2016 as Olympic champion Ruth Jebet won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
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Jebet → witness → steeplechase
The 19-year-old Jebet, born in Kenya and running for Bahrain, clocked 8 minutes, 52.78 seconds at a Diamond League meet.
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Jebet → bear → meet
The stadium also hosted the 2003 world championships, which saw 110-meter hurdler Allen Johnson, the 1996 Olympic champion, winning his fourth worlds gold medal for the U.S. team.
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Johnson → host → team
Chaos at the gates
Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters forced to endure lengthy waits at the gates for the Champions League final against Real Madrid in May, 2022.
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police → fire → May
The showpiece game was delayed and kicked off with security struggling with the flow of frustrated supporters trying to get in.
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security → delay → supporters
Madrid eventually wins the match 1-0, with a goal by Vinícius Júnior.
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Madrid → win → Júnior
UEFA claimed there were thousands of ticketless fans trying to gain access, a claim also echoed by Gérald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minster at the time.
But two years later, UEFA reached a confidential settlement to compensate Liverpool fans — who complained of heavy-handed policing — for dangerous chaos, saying that a near “mass fatality catastrophe” was avoided.
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catastrophe → claim → chaos
Liverpool fans were robbed as they left the stadium and made their way to transport hubs, with no police protection.
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they → rob → protection
Springboks stun All Blacks
Host France didn’t get to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, leaving powerhouses New Zealand and South Africa to battle it out for a record fourth world crown.
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France → stun → crown
New Zealand hopes took a huge blow when Sam Cane became the first player red-carded in a final following a high tackle.
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Cane → take → tackle
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and his teammates celebrated long into the night after a gritty 12-11 win.
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Kolisi → celebrate → win
That day, the Stade de France also became only the second stadium to host a soccer and rugby World Cup final, along with the International Stadium Yokohama in Japan (2002 and 2019).
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France → become → Japan
“I want to win, (then) we’ll always have that to brag about, that we won the first American football game played in France,” he said.
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he → want → France
“You know, we’ll be a part of history.
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we → know → history
We’ll say that to the next people who play in Paris, that the Saints won in that stadium.”
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Saints → say → stadium
Quarterback Tyler Shough has already visited Stade de France, and it left quite an impression on him.
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it → visit → him
“The coolest part was going onto the locker room and you see all the national (soccer) players, (Paul) Pogba, (Kylian) Mbappé,” Shough said.
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Shough → go → players
“You see all the history there on the wall.
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You → see → wall
Being a part of that gives you chills.” ___
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Being → give → chills
The Aporia
