PARIS, July 7: They are the world champions, so they are housed in style. Everything has been laid on - the 19th century chateau (castle), the heated swimming pool, the vintage Rolls Royce, even the love letters which arrive by the sackload to the Brazilian teams lavish abode in Ozoir la Ferriere, near Paris.If they get lonely, the reigning World Cup champions can simply plug into the sophisticated video-conferencing system which has been set up in each room and talk to family members at home.In the nearby village, locals have also done their bit to make the team feel welcome.An amateur association of vintage car owners put a Rolls Royce and two Bentleys at their disposal, but the team has yet to use them.Not only Brazil, most of the teams had a luxurious stay in the major chateaux in France.Italy had set up a temporary home at the Chateau de La Tour, a turn-of-the-century castle set on five hectares of parkland north of Paris.The Dutch team have magnificent views of the Cote Dazure fromtheir palatial hideaway near Monaco.American coach Steve Sampson found Chateau de Pizay on an inspection trip last autumn and immediately fell in love with its six centuries of history, its exotic topiary and its ancient chapel.Jamaican coach Rene Simoes put his Reggae Boyz into the splendid isolation of Chateau Darc.He asked the city authorities to stop the town clock from ringing every quarter of an hour during the night and imposed an alcohol ban and a curfew.While Europeans rolled in luxury, Saudis lived in their own style.It was not unusual to find their beds outside the rooms, said staff member Marc Bonivert in Sofitel-Aquitania Hotel in Bordeaux. The players preferred to sleep on the floor.
