France base in Boston turns into attraction as Kylian Mbappé mania grows | OneFootball

France’s Boston base has become a sightseeing stop, with tourist buses pausing outside the Four Seasons on Boylston Street. According to L'Équipe, guides now point out the hotel and quiz visitors on the semi-final line-up, while much of the attention centres on Kylian Mbappé.

By Sunday morning, police, hotel security and a private firm were preparing for the squad’s return while players trained. At 10:00 the area was quiet, families sat in the park opposite, and early risers sometimes spotted Ibrahima Konaté feeding ducks or Adrien Rabiot strolling. Didier Deschamps noted growing crowds and praised the warmth of locals and the hotel staff.

From 11:00, students and fans gathered. By midday the team buses had left the training centre, and 30 minutes later about 400 people were lined behind barriers. Mbappé emerged briefly, acknowledged the crowd, and the entire scene was over in under three minutes.

Robert, in his fifties and wearing a number 10 shirt, said he had come to see Mbappé, adding that Americans love him and that Boston would be proud to say it hosted the world champions. Jason, 26, said that since the United States went out to Belgium 1-4 in the last 16, local soccer fans have been backing France.

About 50 metres away, a French furniture store has filled its windows with portraits of Les Bleus. The 12,000 French nationals registered at Boston’s consulate are no longer alone, and a city enlivened by Scotland’s travelling support now appears smitten with France and Mbappé.

Source: L'Équipe