“We wanted to sleep on it for a night and then see if it is acceptable or not to play on Tuesday”, said the German Football Association’s interim joint president Reinhard Rauball, who led the delegation in Paris.
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According to French authorities at least 120 were killed in multiple acts of violence, including shootings at restaurants and a hostage-taking at a music theater that left what one official described as “carnage” inside the building as attackers had tossed explosives at the hostages.
The German team, which played France in a friendly in Paris on Friday, is set to gather on Monday.
“Yet we all know that it’s important to set an example and promote our values and culture. [Coach] Joachim Low and each individual player deserve respect for this demonstration of solidarity with the victims and the French people”.
Loew has opted to leave out six members of the original squad, including captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Jerome Boateng, and Jonas Hector, plus forwards Lukas Podolski and Leroy Sane.
“I’m still stunned by what has happened”, Schweinsteiger wrote on Twitter and Facebook on Sunday.
After the Paris attacks the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands was in doubt until Sunday.
“We lost a football game – and nothing at that moment was unimportant”, said the DFB in a statement on behalf of the players.
The World Cup winners had been due to return to their hotel after the friendly game against France but stayed inside the stadium after two explosions went off outside during the game.
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Also out of action for Netherlands are centre-back Virgil van Dijk (knee) and midfielder Riechedly Bazoer (hamstring).
