Marseilles (AFP)

At the Mondial La Marseillaise à pétanque, we scramble to see Marco Foyot, a legend.

At 67, the "Parisian" is aiming for a 7th victory and has teamed up with star Dylan Rocher, a bit as if Platini were playing with Neymar.

After four days in a row, the triplet of Foyot managed to qualify Wednesday afternoon for the final, which must be held at 8:30 p.m.

White wick on the side, almond-shaped eyes, Marco Foyot lifts the collar of his orange polo shirt.

"This World Cup is the best competition. For 20 balls, people can play against world champions," he slips.

Those he drastically beaten 13-1 on Monday have experienced it.

They had probably never seen so many audiences around the pitch.

What annoy the anonymous competitors next door.

"We also play, it's not just him," one annoys.

“Can you push yourself?” Another yells.

The spirits heat up quickly in the alleys of the Borély park, close to the Mediterranean - blows were even exchanged Sunday between a Belgian triplet and local players, "Kiki" Dubois attacking meanwhile on Tuesday to a spectator who shouted in the stands.

- Parigot -

"Marco Foyot is the southernmost of the + Parisians +", laughs Pierre Fieux, reference columnist for the boulistenaute.com site.

Yes, it is in Meaux, about sixty kilometers from Paris, far from Marseille and La Ciotat where pétanque was born in 1907, that Jean-Marc Foyot discovered boules.

His father was president of the club "Le cochonnet meldois".

At 13, he won his first tournament.

At 20, he landed at the Mondial à pétanque.

An unspeakable epic: then mobilized in the army as a high level athlete - he ran the 400 m - Foyot the "Parigot" qualifies for the final.

He can only participate thanks to the intervention of the president of the competition at the time who insisted that he stay in Marseille.

Result: his first three victories, in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

"It is very media-oriented, expansive. It has professionalized the profession by doing merchandising on its behalf", underlines Claude Azéma, the president of the International Federation of petanque and Provençal game today.

"I was the first to make petanque manuals, the first video cassettes," abounds Foyot, whose ex-wife is participating in the competition this year as well.

Today, this father of two children does "exhibitions", offers group courses, private lessons to Miami or Los Angeles.

He has launched a clothing line and aims to open in 2021 a "Cercle pétanque Marco Foyot" in Epinal.

Slopes, bar, conference room - a million euros project.

With all that, "he has always lived off pétanque and it's a feat", recognizes Pierre Fieux.

In recent years, he has nevertheless experienced some setbacks, losing in particular in 2018 in the semi-finals: "My 6th victory was in 2002. It would be time to have another".

- Archi-favorites -

In an attempt to win his 7th victory and thus equal the record long held by master Albert Pisapia, he triplet with Dylan Rocher, 28, son of Bruno, ex-world champion.

But today "Dydy", with her polite smile and blue eyes, has passed her father.

Simple municipal employee in Draguignan when he is not playing, he is a star in the community, and a formidable shooter.

Third member of the team, Stéphane Robineau captures less light but is "perhaps the best of the three", says a connoisseur.

Between them, they have 15 victories at this World Cup: 6 for Foyot, 5 for Robineau and 4 for Rocher.

On paper, they are arch-favorites.

But pétanque is "a game of skill which requires a lot of concentration, psychology. It is important to have affinities, confidence in the other", analyzes Michel, of the club La boule marssacoise, near Albi .

So will this association of stars succeed in teaming up?

"We get along well. Foyot is the leader. He is the folklore, the talking person. I am more reserved", sweeps Rocher.

© 2020 AFP