FC Metz vs. Bastia

Entering Stade St. Symphorien

On Monday August 24th, I went with Sohail and Alex to see the local soccer team, FC Metz play Bastia. FC Metz has a rich history. Once a prominent French Ligue 1 team, it now competes in Ligue 2. My brother amazingly recalled that they were the 2nd-best team in France, just behind Paris Saint-Germain in the video game FIFA '97. That was a long time ago, though, and the stadium seems to have aged. The level of play seemed pretty weak for a professional match, but there were moments of brilliance that made it well worth the very affordable admission price of 10 euros.

The Stade St. Symphorien, was spartan and medium-sized. With a capacity of 26,700, it probably held around 5,000 the night we were there. The atmosphere was tame aside from two groups of around 50 harcore fans, singing and banging drums behind both goals.

I cropped the photos above to make this panoramic of the stadium. I don't know how to make it show up full size, but it's a bit more impressive larger, and not dumbed down.

I watched this free kick through the camera and thought the ball was about to drill me.

Corner Kick

FC Metz won 1-0 on a powerful curling shot from 30 yards out by... somebody. Oguchi Onyewu once played for FC Metz as did Franck Ribéry, Louis Saha, Emmanuel Adabayor, and likely many other famous footballers whose names I don't recognize.