TWENTY FIVE MINUTES before kick-off and there were two contrasting sights on one of the upper concourses that sweeps around the Boston Stadium. A French couple had some last-minute preparation to take care off. The man, in his 30s perhaps, leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets as the woman painted blue and white stripes beside each other on both of his cheeks. This was far from war paint, it was their precursor to a celebration en route to glory. Fans around them danced and laughed.