i The Nantes-Atlantique club, which has won the French Championship seven times, had a new football stadium built in 1984 to host the European Championship. Though it is a relatively recent construction, further improvements are to be made in preparation for the six World Cup matches.     La BEAUJOIRE stadium figures Location: 7 km from downtown First inaugurated: May 8, 1984. FCNA-Rumania (0-1) Capacity before renovation: Approx. 52 000, of which 17 000 standing Capacity in 1998: 39 500 seats   ALTERATIONS Renovation operations: New stands to be built on both upper and lower levels and surrounds. Change to the rake of the stands Renovation of entrances to stadium and restoration of playing area Upgrade to comply with World Cup standards for fittings, lighting, sound system, score display fixtures and installation of new video-surveillance network. Construction operations: Additional boxes and reception lounges. Installation of anti-wind protection. First match: April 4, 1997 (FNCA - Olympique de Marseille) With World Cup capacity. Construction management: City of Nantes Date of completion: April 1998       i The other stadiums i i i i i

i i       Photos SAOLA NANTES: the pinnacle! La Beaujoire was indeed born under a lucky star. The ground, built for the European Nations Cup in 1984, was the setting shortly after its inauguration for a match that has lived on in every French football fan's memory. On 16 June 1984, in front of 51,000 spectators, France, after an indecisive victory over Denmark in Paris (1-0), took on the Belgians in their second game. Usually very difficult opponents, on this occasion France's northern neighbours were quite literally swept aside by a French side right at the pinnacle of its form. 3-0 up at half-time, with goals by Platini, Giresse and Fernandez, the visitors never really had a look in. And in the second half Platini, the French captain, added two more--his first hat trick for his country. A feat he was to repeat a few days later against Yugoslavia.