SPORTS> Off the Pitch
French cabinet discusses WC semifinal
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-06 08:49
France's president and prime minister set official business aside Wednesday to discuss the country's World Cup semifinal match against Portugal.
French cabinet discusses WC semifinal
France's Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (L) waits in the stands before the World Cup 2006 semi-final soccer match between Portugal and France in Munich July 5, 2006.[Reuters]

"We're going to win," Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin proclaimed after the weekly Cabinet meeting.

President Jacques Chirac told ministers that "the whole country is behind the team," Villepin said in a rare aside to reporters as he left the presidential Elysee Palace.

Chirac was present for France's 1-0 win against Brazil, which sent "les Bleus" into the semifinals. Villepin was heading for Munich to attend Wednesday night's game.

Villepin's political rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, also predicted a French win,but he won't be there to see it.

"I have lots of work to do, mostly to make sure that things go smoothly," he said. "The evenings after matches are a headache for the interior minister."

Some 2,000 police were being deployed in Paris, home to the largest Portuguese population of any European city besides Lisbon,to help maintain calm between rival supporters.

On Tuesday, lawmakers unfurled an enormous blue-and-white banner reading "Allez la France" (Go France) on the front gate of the columned National Assembly facing the Place de la Concorde. And the Internet site of the president's office proclaimed: "France with les Bleus