The decision over whether to go ahead with the game or postpone it was left to the French Football Federation (FFF), whose president Noel Le Graet made the final call in an act of defiance against terrorists.
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But the tag will be fitting Tuesday when the two countries meet at London’s Wembley Stadium, with the hosts set to roll out a full slate of honors for their visitors in the wake of Friday’s terror attacks in Paris.
France’s players, including Lassana Diarra, who lost a cousin in the attacks, were escorted by armed police as they took a walk around Wembley beneath grey skies on the afternoon of the game. London’s Metropolitan Police said they were mobilising more police ahead of the match, due to start at 2000 GMT.
Suicide bombers detonated three devices outside the Stade de France sports stadium in central Paris, during a match between France and Germany.
Fans are being asked to get to the ground early amid increased security measures while the FA have specially arranged tributes to begin five minutes before kick-off including a stadium-wide rendition of La Marseillaise.
As well as at Wembley, there will be tributes across the footballing world during tonight’s games.
Explosions at that match between France and Germany on Friday signalled the beginning of the worst attack on Europe since the 2004 Madrid bombings.
There are already murals on display in the stadium, with a minute’s silence also due to take place ahead of kick-off.
Although France will play in London, the worldwide friendly match between Belgium and Spain has instead been cancelled due to safety fears.
“Tonight is more about solidarity than football”, said England fan Robert Williams, who was wearing a beret and holding a French flag.
Breaking with convention, the French anthem will be played after “God Save the Queen” in order to create a stand-alone moment of solidarity.
British Prime Minister David Cameron will join football fans singing the French national anthem as they pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks prior to Tuesday’s England-France friendly.
The minute’s silence before Ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Dublin on Monday was marred by shouts from a few visiting fans, but England manager Roy Hodgson does not expect a repeat at Wembley. That shows you how young the team will be.
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“Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a great night of togetherness for everyone to see, for the terrorists to see the world will go on and stand against them”, he said.
