Sports Minister Gives Lucky Stones to France Squad Ahead of World Cup

Sports Minister Marina Ferrari gave semi-precious stones to France players during the presidential visit to Clairefontaine on June 2, according to Le Canard Enchaîné. The anecdote, reported days before the Blues’ departure for Boston where they will establish their base camp before the World Cup, left the audience “perplexed”.

Before Didier Deschamps’ squad, Marina Ferrari justified her gesture with a personal experience: “More than twenty years ago, when I ran my first election campaign, a supporter gave me a protective stone that has been with me ever since. So, to bring you luck during this World Cup, I wanted to give you two stone stars in turn.” The former Savoie elected official then invited the players to slip these stones into their socks.

The minister detailed the properties attributed to each mineral: blue jasper would be “energizing and give the strength to achieve your goals”, while rock crystal would be capable of “reducing stress and anxiety, increasing self-confidence and easing muscle pain”.

The Blues, finalists in the last two World Cup editions, begin their tournament on June 16 against Senegal. They departed for Boston on Wednesday, stones or not in their luggage.