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by Stephen Parezo

Fiducial French employees wave flags and cheer on their country’s World Cup soccer team in Café de Paris, a Columbia, MD, restaurant. Pictured from left are Noemie Coquinot, software developer, Laurent Bienvenu, systems and network administrator, consultant Stephan Marchais, and Marc Tonnes, software developer.

July 10, 2006—Every four years the best soccer teams compete for the World Cup which always brings out strong feelings of nationalism among each of the nations vying to become the champions in the globe’s most popular sport. And for French employees of Fiducial working in the U.S. that is no exception.

Though they are working a great distance from their native country, these Fiducial employees have been rooting feverishly for the French team known as “Les Bleus” which met Italy in the championship game on Sunday.

For Georges Leopold, Fiducial’s business development manager who’s based in the company’s New York City headquarters, the performance of the French team has gone beyond the pure sport aspect of things.

“It’s a reflection of how the community in France can get together,” said Leopold. “This is a nice way for the French community to feel some kind of unity.”

Leopold was surprised to notice during lunchtime last week that many non-French citizens in the Big Apple got caught up in the World Cup proceedings.

“The World Cup is becoming a big deal,” he said. “Everybody was talking about it. It’s a peaceful event and it’s good to see such an atmosphere.”

Like many of his countrymen, Vincent Bourgait, accounts payable manager in Fiducial’s Technical and Administrative Support Center (TASC) in Columbia, MD, has been a soccer fan since he was very young. He remembers France winning its first World Cup back in 1998 in France which he described as “unbelievable.”

“Everybody was [celebrating] in the street,” said Bourgait. “The players were like kings.”

Believing in themselves

Bourgait watched the 2006 finale at home on his couch and chatted on the telephone with his family and friends back in France before the game, at halftime and after the game. If France prevailed, he planned to celebrate by putting the French flag on his car and then going to a French restaurant.

Perhaps the best thing about the World Cup competition for him was the fact that nobody believed that France could win.

“When you believe in yourself as a player, your team can go far,” he said.

Marion Sarhy, a business analyst in the software department, watched nervously as France beat Portugal, 1-0, in the semi-final round to advance to the finals. She also recalled France’s World Cup victory in 1998 over Brazil and knows what winning the Cup means to the French.

“The whole country is going to be behind the team and supports the team,” said Sarhy who admitted that while she’s a soccer fan, rugby is still her favorite sport. “Everybody in France is a soccer fan when it’s the World Cup. This kind of event is bringing joy and happiness to everyone. The sport is helping people to meet together. We are united by the sport.”

Florian Eyme, an intern in the systems and support development department, observed that France’s win over Portugal caused jubilation throughout the country and that people “took that victory for their own.”

With France fielding one of the oldest teams in the tournament, Eyme noted that “our people are the most experienced. They used this experience to reach the top. They won and survived and made it.”

Isabelle Osinski, information systems manager, has been following soccer since she was a child and knows exactly what’s at stake.

“It’s really important,” said Osinski. “It’s good for the morale of the country.”

Supporting your country

Before the France-Portugal match, she felt a lot of pride and a little bit homesick after hearing the singing of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise.

“It’s kind of moving,” she said.

Osinski had been in touch with her friends after each French victory and scheduled a barbecue at her home after the championship match.

Laurent Bienvenu, systems and network administrator, put the whole World Cup experience into perspective when he remarked that this is a time to support your country.

“You don’t care about any political issues [during the World Cup],” said Bienvenu. “Sports can improve life. It’s just a good moment of happiness, not only about soccer but about people.”

Heading into the finale, Bienvenu expected to see a hard-fought battle with France being victorious. But he wanted the victory to be well-earned.

“We don’t want to be just lucky,” he said. “You have to deserve to win.”

Stephen Parezo is the Media Manager for Fiducial.

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