Divided soccer loyalties of Dublin's French

On Saturday night, the Republic of Ireland's soccer team will take on France at Croke Park in the first leg of a World Cup qualifier - at stake is a place in South Africa next summer.

BBC NI Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison meets fans from both sides.

As she sits at her desk overlooking a rainy, grey Dublin skyline, Helene Conway laughs off suggestions - sacre bleu - that she has divided loyalties over the big game.

A French woman with an Irish husband and a student son, she's the elected representative of the French community in Ireland and will be standing tall for the Marseillaise.

"There's a 50-50 split, obviously, at the parent level. Given that my son is going to watch the match with his own friends here, and they're all Irish, I presume that, even his heart might be beating a little for France that he will be cheering for Ireland," she says.

A short time later on a busy city street I caught up with her son, Sebastien.

The French, they have the best players, but the Irish have the team spirit

Max de Laloubie
French restaurant owner

Yes, he says, it's a fait accompli. He'll be cheering on the Greens - Allez Les Verts - despite his mother.

He says: "She can support who she likes but at the end of the day we're in Ireland, and maybe she should be supporting the winning team on Saturday night.

"Obviously they have the Irish Zidane, Kevin Kilbane. Despite the recession and all that, it will really give the country a lift if the team can pull through."

Sebastien's dad, Paul Conway, a senior official at the Dail (Irish parliamnet), will also be supporting the underdog boys in green against their more individually-talented rivals.

"When an Irish team takes to the field, the whole country gets behind them and the whole team gets together. And that seems to be a problem, from what I hear about the French team.

"Maybe it's an opportunity for us and we'll make best use of it on the night," he says.

I visited Chez Max, a French restaurant not far from the Dail and Government Buildings.

French tricolours are everywhere as diners tuck in to their Toulouse sausage and frites.

Fake supporters of Ireland perform for a TV show during a French training session

The owner, Max de Laloubie, agrees with Paul Conway's match analysis.

He says: "The French, they have the best players, but the Irish have the team spirit - that can make the difference and at home as well.

"They did draw against the Italians, so anything is possible."

Also in the restaurant is Aidan Mullen, who goes to nearly all the Republic's matches - home and away.

He believes the Irish fighting spirit can defeat French flair and je ne sais quoi.

"We will keep the French scoreless, which is the main job and if we can sneak a 1-0 win we'll do very, very well - I think we can get that," he says.

It should go without saying that most of the Chez Max diners want an Irish victory.

A businessman says: "If Ireland can get any kind of result against the French in Croke Park, I think we've got a great chance in Paris because there'll be so much pressure on the French."

'Bad Frenchman'

A young office worker has her own reasons for wanting an Irish victory.

"I really hope Ireland win because then I'll get a free holiday to South Africa, paid for by my boyfriend, a good suntan and a chance to go shopping there", she says.

Another businessman says: "I have every confidence we're going to make it. The French are a great team with a great record, but on our own turf I think we're going to beat them.

"I love the French but Ireland will win."

Max has been very diplomatic about which team he'll be supporting, so I press him to nail his colours to the mast.

"I hope the Irish", he says laughing and slapping his thighs.

"I'm a bad Frenchman - I love Ireland and that's it."

He'll not be the only one hoping for an Irish victory on Saturday night.

You can hear more on this story on Friday's Good Morning Ulster programme.