WATCH: France and England fans join in emotional rendition of La Marseillaise at Wembley
Friday's attacks in Paris meant that this evening’s England v France match took on far more importance than a Euro 2016 warm-up match - instead, this was a chance for France and England to show the terrorists they will never crush the spirit of the free world.
A flag with ’Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite’ led the team procession onto the field, followed out by the Duke of Cambridge, Prime Minister David Cameron, FA Chairman Greg Dyke, French Federation president Noel Le Great and Patrick Kanner, French Secretary of State for Urban Affairs, Youth and Sport.
England boss Hodgson and French counterpart Didier Deschamps joined them as floral tributes were laid in the technical area, followed by the hosts’ national anthem and then the visitors’.
England and France unite to sing a defiant rendition of the French national anthem #EngvFra https://t.co/6nWqRkz2BQ https://t.co/Vgfett2prB
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 17, 2015
The words to La Marseillaise were shown on the big screen, allowing home supporters to join in a touching rendition of the French national anthem.
England and France players posed shoulder-to-shoulder for a photo, before standing together around the centre circle during a minute’s silence.
Haunting, immaculately-observed minute's silence #ENGvFRA pic.twitter.com/sSOBXQx0Yu
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 17, 2015
Wembley Stadium stands together for a minute's silence in tribute to the Paris attacks. #EngvFra https://t.co/S3zaWUz8Kk
— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 17, 2015
Lassana Diarra and Antoine Griezmann were named among France’s substitutes against England just days after their families were caught in the Paris atrocities.
Diarra’s cousin Asta Diakite was one of the 129 people murdered in Friday’s terror attacks, while Griezmann’s sister managed to escape the mass killing at the Bataclan theatre.
