From quiet touchdown to hotel frenzy, Les Bleus arrive in Boston on eve of World Cup | OneFootball

France touched down in Boston on Wednesday, greeted by a swelling crowd outside their downtown base with the World Cup 24 hours away. A quiet city soon gave way to a fevered hotel forecourt.

According to L'Équipe, the squad landed shortly before 16:00 local and reached the Four Seasons about an hour later, with security tightened and roughly 100 waiting. At 15:00 the streets remained languid in oppressive heat. The hotel was readied after a March dry run and is intended to keep them through the semi-finals if all goes to plan, then New York for a possible final.

Fans arrived early and from afar. A Connecticut family drove two hours for Kylian Mbappé, while Swiss students tracked the flight. A Parisian waited for Ousmane Dembélé, and local Mark bought a shirt costing 135 dollars for a hoped-for autograph.

Access was limited to year-round residents via a side door, and at 16:47 the players arrived amid stifling heat, heavy police and private security. Mbappé, hood up, signed amid swelling numbers, Dembélé joined briefly, Michael Olise stayed covered. After an eight-hour flight, Adrien Rabiot said some played and others watched series, as chants of Mbappé’s name set their US campaign in motion.

Mbappé alone was greeted by mayor Michelle Wu, who also met federation president Philippe Diallo. Rabiot felt the welcome was warmer than in March, and Aurélien Tchouaméni said early backing helps. Inside, past floral displays and welcome boards, the players skipped the 1970s and 80s soundtrack to rest.

Evening plans were light activation and an early dinner, then some to watch Game four of the NBA Finals, Knicks v Spurs of Victor Wembanyama, at 20:30, the Knicks leading 2-1. Hopes of time off for a potential Game six next Tuesday, after the opener against Senegal in East Rutherford, have been shelved, they will return to Boston straight after. Training is set for 15:00 on Thursday, 21:00 in France, at Bentley University, with sessions aligned to kick-off times.

Source: L'Équipe