Girls in Hawaii, rock band
Girls in Hawaii – a Belgian rock group started up in Brussels in 2002 – are very much the new kids on the block in our VIPs Love Football section. Their first album, entitled From Here To There (released on the 62 TV Records label) was critically acclaimed, while their follow-up 5-song EP The Winter saw them make a name for themselves on the European rock scene.

When FIFA used some of their songs as backing music for the Trophy Winners film, the members of the group asked for tickets to the FIFA World Cup™ Final in exchange. FIFAworldcup.com caught up with them in a hotel bar in Berlin on the night before the Italy-France match.

Pierre (manager): I'm disappointed that Belgium didn't qualify, but the World Cup is still something special, even if your team isn't there. It's the only time when you see people actually talking to their neighbours. And then you've got players like Zinedine Zidane – it's just amazing to watch him play. I'd love to see him bow out on a high note, so I'll be supporting France in the Final.

Olivier (photographer/videographer): I thought Portugal – Netherlands was a great match in terms of what was at stake, but it wasn't played in the right spirit. Germany –Argentina was also a good match, but I was disappointed by the result, since I was supporting Argentina. In the Final, I'll be supporting the Italians, because the French get on my nerves whenever they win something (laughter).

Lionel (guitar): I'm not the biggest football fan in the group - but the World Cup is something special, so I am actually watching for once. France – Brazil was the best so far for me, because at the beginning of the match, I wasn't really bothered which team won. However, as the game went on, I was pleased that France were dominating. I'll be supporting Italy in the Final, though, since that's where my mother's from.

Brice (lead guitar, brother of Lionel): She's my mother too, so I'll be supporting Italy as well (smiles). Both these two teams have been coming in for some criticism since the start of the tournament, so I'm impressed that they made it through to the Final. I think both of them deserve some respect.

Denis (drums): I can see France winning it after extra time.

Daniel (bass): I'm the real football nut in the group. Whenever Belgium fail to qualify for the World Cup, I support Germany, since I'm from the east of the country, near the border, and I can speak German. And this time around, they've got a really good young team. I've been enjoying watching them play. I also think that this tournament has helped Germany's national identity to evolve. You can see how happy the people are to be able to get their flags out and cheer on their team. It's been a great atmosphere.

Christophe (keyboards and trumpet): The Final in Berlin will be the first match I've ever been to. Not bad for starters, eh?

Olivier: I'm not too keen on the way the players have started acting like stars and paying too much attention to the way they look. I don't like the ones who push it too far, like the Italians, and people like Beckham. Ribéry may look different from the rest, but I'd rather have someone like him. Playing football's all he thinks about, and that's how it should be.

Daniel: It's weird, but there haven't been many unsporting gestures at this World Cup, like players spitting at each other. It's all become very fair, very clinical.

Brice: My greatest memory from the World Cup is the way the goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme played against Netherlands at USA 94. He almost won the match all on his own.

Christophe: We were in Berlin a few years ago – we played a gig at the Magnet back in 2004.

Denis: Football brings people together more than any other sport. Brussels is a very multi-cultural city, so after every match, you get the various different communities driving around sounding their car horns to celebrate.

Lionel : The area where I live in Brussels is half-Portuguese, half-Spanish, so I've been following the World Cup with them. It's true that if you could solve international disputes on the football pitch, it'd be much more fun.

Brice : I've discovered two new players that I'd never heard of at this tournament: Tevez, who plays for Argentina, and Ribery for France. I like the way these two play.

Christophe : We sometimes have a kick-about when we're on tour, but I've got to admit that we play to our own set of rules (laughter).

First album: From Here To There (released on the 62 TV Records label)

New album: scheduled for release early 2007

Group website: http://www.girlsinhawaii.be