Stadium that’s hosted Six Nations and World Cup final looks unrecognisable as it’s transformed for major event
ONE OF the most iconic stadiums in Europe currently looks unrecognisable as it undergoes a mega transformation.
The Stade de France, located just north of Paris in Saint-Denis, is the country’s national stadium.
It has staged some of the most memorable moments in France’s sporting history.
Constructed especially for the World Cup in 1998, the home nation romped to glory as they thrashed Brazil 3-0 in the final thanks to two goals from Zinedine Zidane and a strike from Emmanuel Petit.
With a seating capacity of 80,698, it is comfortably the largest stadium in France and is used by the national team in both football and rugby union.
It has staged two Rugby World Cup finals and numerous other spectacles – but it currently looks completely different as it prepares to host another extravaganza.
The Stade de France is in the middle of being renovated and receiving a number of modifications ahead of the Paris Olympics this summer.
The Games start on July 26 and the ground will play a key role in them, hosting the athletics, rugby sevens and closing ceremony.
The Stade de France is the largest stadium for track and field events in Europe, with its running track usually hidden under the football pitch.
But this week it has been full of workmen and machinery as the transformation job continues to get it ready for the Olympics.
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And the iconic green turf that a host of memories were made on is not even on display with a huge grey cover over it.
Due to the work, France are not playing any of their Six Nations home matches at the Stade de France.
Therefore, Les Bleus are being forced to use different venues.
The Orange Velodrome in Marseille, which will be a venue for some Olympic football matches, hosted their defeat to Ireland at the weekend.
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille , one of the stadiums used in the World Cup, hosts the following home game with Italy on February 25.
And then the final game against England will take place at Lyon’s Parc OL on March 16.