England fans are also being urged to support the French people by singing France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise, before the game and Lloris has admitted such a show of solidarity from the English people has touched him and his compatriots.
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Three days after being caught up in a synchronized terrorist attack in Paris that resulted in the death of over 120 people, France’s players have travelled to London to play a friendly soccer match against England at Wembley Stadium, where there will be a beefed-up security presence and increased checks outside the ground.
In central Paris, gunmen attacked bars, restaurants and a concert hall killing an additional 128 in the worst atrocity in France since World War II. This will be a great moment of solidarity.
“We did have a few doubt, some concerns about the game but at the end the president confirmed we had to play this game and I think like all my team-mates we respect the decision and it will be a good opportunity to represent the French nation”, he said.
“We had doubts but the situation was well managed by the coach and the president”, said captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. We’re humans, so there were doubts about whether to play. We would have liked to spend time with our nearest and dearest ” Lloris said.
“It will be an opportunity for us to show character and share this moment with all the English people”. Sport and football is a way of life in many nations.
“The only thought we can have is to play football and to escape for 90 minutes”.
France’s players were transported straight from the Stade de France to their training base at Clairefontaine just outside the capital, where they remained until flying to London for the England game.
Wembley’s giant arch will shine red, white and blue while the French flag and national slogan “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite” is already visible at the stadium. We are representing our country in a poignant moment. We tried to eat and sleep, but it was hard to either those things, the night was very short before day break came about.
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I’ve always said representing my country in sport is a great source of pride, that has become even more important now.
