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Algeria fans celebrate their play-off victory |
Night of tears – and joy – for fans in green
IT was a famous night of football which most people will recall for all the wrong reasons, an evening of bitter disappointment and lasting claims of cheating by a soccer star once loved throughout Islington.
But as downbeat discussions of what could have been began among north London’s Irish community on Wednesday and arguments raged over former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry’s helping hand in France’s World Cup victory over the Republic, fans of another team in green were out all night celebrating their qualification for next year’s finals in South Africa.
And supporters of Algeria didn’t care who knew. Nor did they, as they raced around screaming from car windows, give much thought to downcast fans of the Irish team, bumped out of the competition by the French and in no mood to party after an extra-time defeat.
English fans who count Ireland as their “second” team when it comes to international football were devastated, leaving Gunners supporters struggling to justify their former hero’s role in the goal that led to defeat. Yet, in the streets around Finsbury Park, a neighbourhood which has become known as “Little Algiers”, there was no funereal atmosphere.
Instead, a chorus of beeping car horns and whistles began as Algerians took to the streets to celebrate their 1-0 win over Egypt and their place in the finals.
The country has not qualified for the tournament since 1986 – the year of Diego Maradona’s handball, this week compared to Henry’s dubious contribution to France’s play-off winner.
Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper in Blackstock Road, said: “It was a good game even though we seemed physically tired. We were so happy because 24 years is a long time to wait. There were lots of celebrations in Blackstock Road and around Finsbury Park.”
Fans celebrated in shops and cafés in the area, some of which offered free food to supporters of the national side, recognisable by their green-and-white strip.
Meanwhile, the street itself, used to displays of football frenzy and most weekends dominated by Arsenal fans, was filled with supporters chanting and waving flags.
Algeria and Egypt have a long history of football rivalry. When the two teams played each other on Saturday in Cairo, the Algerian bus was stoned by rival supporters and 32 fans were reportedly injured during clashes.
In Finsbury Park, however, there was no sign of violence and the crowds were good natured in their celebrations. Police said there was no cause for concern and no arrests.
Hade Filale, a former winner of a “best striker” for Algerian club Olympic Medea, said: “It was amazing. We deserved it from the beginning because we have a very young and talented team. We have a lot of good players who were born in France. These players are better than the local ones because in the last 10 years things have been bad for Algeria. I hope this is a return to better times for us.”
Revellers later joined supporters from across the capital who gathered in central London. The largest celebration took place in Trafalgar Square, where fans managed to climb on top of the fourth plinth, recently made famous by Antony Gormley’s public art exhibit, waving a national flag.
Blackstock Road resident Wahid Hattolim said: “We were very happy to beat Egypt because of what happened the last time. The celebrations were very good around here, with no trouble.
“Afterwards, we went to Trafalgar Square, where there were a lot of fireworks and flares.” |
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