THE Welsh have arrived in Toulouse. Today was the biggest day on the road so far – I went through three quarters of my CDs and more peanut M&Ms than a man should consume in a lifetime during the 480-mile eight-hour drive.
Once Toulouse was finally in sight all cars with GB plates were pulled over for an inspection and a tête-à-tête with the local gendarmerie.
I feared my Breton cider, purchased on what may have been the last night in Dinard, would be confiscated and bound for a police party.
But, thankfully, the bottles went unremarked upon and after a short delay I was on my way to the impressive Stadium de Toulouse where Wales’ and Russia’s fate will be decided tomorrow night.
Gareth Bale and teammates are in confident mood but anyone reading French newspaper L’Equipe would be lumping everything on the Russians to send Wales home.
The respected sports daily has been pulling no punches with its player ratings throughout the tournament and Wales captain Ashley Williams has come in for particularly harsh criticism.
The skipper has been rated only 3/ 10 in both of the first two matches.
After the England defeat last week the L’Equipe verdict on Williams concluded: “Certainly combative, but too limited at this level.”
Ouch! Teammates Chris Gunter and Neil Taylor didn’t fare much better, rated 4/10, while Ben Davies, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey and Hal Robson-Kanu received fives and only Joe Allen, Gareth Bale and James Chester achieved a respectable 6/10.
Mind you, they did also manage to put Dele Alli in the Wales team and rechristen Chris Coleman as Gary Coleman. What'chu talkin' 'bout, L’Equipe? Diff’rent Strokes for different folks, I suppose.
The French national team and many of their fans are also unhappy with L’Equipe, which has faced criticism on social media for ‘unfairly’ criticising the team.
On Twitter #Boycottlequipe has been trending for several days in France, since the newspaper targeted Paul Pogba.
And he allegedly made a gesture aimed towards the press box after he made the assist for the second goal in the match against Albania.
With only schoolboy French and Google Translate to help, my enjoyment of the French media outlets is limited but it has been great to see one particular familiar face on the TV coverage of games.
Just a month since ‘almost dying’ and undergoing a quadruple heart bypass David Ginola, possibly Britain’s favourite Frenchman, looks a picture of health.
Just stay off the pain au chocolat Daveed!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here