Le Havre (AFP)

"I'm a little scared," Neïla exclaims. This six-year-old girl is about to enter the pitch of the Oceane Stadium, 25,000 seats, among the 22 children chosen to accompany the players of France-Brazil, before their 8th finals of World Cup.

"Everyone has been warned, the grandma, the grandpa, the tatas," proudly told AFP Hubert Diesnis, smuggling his 8-year-old daughter, Alicia.

Before donning her "official dress" for the match, she wears a "homemade" T-shirt and 100% French team, official photo of the Blue on one side and goal celebration by Eugénie Le Sommer of the other.

The merry troop met at 14:45 at the former Jules-Deschaseaux stadium, in front of the World Cup, in front of a rundown meeting room.

We make the call as at school, we line up in pairs. The children each inherit an imposing red bag larger than themselves. Inside, shorts and red socks and blue tops.

In the meantime, some came with their French team jerseys - gentlemen - flocked in the name of Pogba or Griezmann.

- Suspense -

There are the two brothers Tymeo and Loen, 10 and 8 years old, who list the names of the French: "Eugenie Le Sommer, Amandine Henry, we know almost everyone," they say.

"I'm happy for them, they love football, so I'm afraid they'll see their heads on the grass," said their father, Valentin, 34, an EDF agent.

Like a lot of parents, it was through his company, "national supporter" of this World Cup, that he had this "good plan".

Others come from the club of US West Cotentin, located in Pieux (Manche), a town near Cherbourg.

Who will be at the side of the French, who in the arms of the Brazilian women? Suspense until the last rehearsals before the kickoff. It will probably be based on size, says one of five adults who "chaperone" the evening.

Almost all have chosen their camp. Manel even graced his cheeks in blue, white, red. She probably does not know it yet, but she will have to remove her makeup. Equity issue.

Alicia would be well accompanied Le Sommer, scorer Les Bleues, or goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. A girl repeats the Marseillaise, with some hesitation.

It is already 3:30 pm, the time of "goodbye" with the parents, who entrust their children for the afternoon and the evening.

Some take pictures. Others are not far from shedding a small tear. Almost more proud than their children, who run to the stadium and its spotlights, in a row of onions.

? 2019 AFP