(Fig. 1) Crowds and large screen in front of Paris City Hall. (Fig. 2) Watching a corner of the large screen amidst the crowd. On Sunday, all of France waited with bated breath as the French team faced Georgia (formerly a province of the Soviet Union, now independent) in this World Cup rugby match. Both teams aimed to reach the semifinals; for the host nation, it was not just about face but also about the dignity and determination of the French team to win the championship. Rugby is not my favorite sport, yet I could not escape the atmosphere of this Paris World Cup or the extensive promotion and influence of mass media. I watched the grand opening ceremony and the first match between France and Argentina. Although I am not very clear about the rules of rugby, I found it quite interesting. It is a competition requiring both technique and physical strength, involving body-to-ball contact, physical struggles, strategic passing, and iron-clad defense, with excellent tactics and team spirit being the core.

France unfortunately lost unexpectedly in the opening match but won bravely against Ireland in the second game, regaining the confidence and determination expected of the host nation. This Sunday was another day of national jubilation in France: the third match against Georgia was held at the stadium in Marseille, southern France. The entire city of Paris was enveloped in the thick atmosphere of rugby on Sunday because there was also a match between Argentina and Ireland at the Paris stadium. Everywhere in the city were fans, with crowds dressed in colorful costumes, painted faces, carrying flags and national ribbons. In the afternoon, French fans began to gather at the square in front of Paris City Hall (where the large screen was installed), while Argentine and Irish fans gathered at the Parc des Princes to the east.

I did not plan to watch this France-Georgia match and went for a walk at the Centre Pompidou. Passing by Paris City Hall, however, I was attracted by the momentum of the spectators watching the game (over seven thousand people). Curious, I stopped to investigate and was immediately captivated by the viewing atmosphere. Under the loud cheers of the massive crowd waving flags, the French team fought heroically. Every time they scored, the square erupted with shouts of "Go Blue Team!" Amidst waves of cheering, the excitement peaked. As expected, the French team grew stronger with each play and ultimately defeated Georgia decisively with a score of 64 to 7. The entire city of Paris cheered and honked horns to celebrate the French team's triumph, and the French Blue Team finally advanced to the quarterfinals. Subsequently, Argentina also crushed Ireland with excellent results to advance to the next round. Next week, the French Blue Team will face the previously invincible New Zealand team, promising even more exciting and dramatic performances. Everyone waits with bated breath for this unprecedented heroic battle.