Scottish Daily Mail

Deschamps: We’re even more proud to be French

- NEIL ASHTON

WHEN Didier Deschamps leads the France team out at Wembley this evening, they will play in honour of the 132 innocent people who were killed in Friday’s terrorist attacks.

‘It’s hard to talk about the atrocities in Paris, but we’re very aware and thinking an awful lot of the victims, their immediate family and their friends,’ admitted the France coach.

It means they will play in honour of Thomas Ayad, who was killed in the Bataclan concert hall. For Asta Diakite, the cousin of France midfielder Lassana Diarra. For Mathieu Hoche, a cameraman for the France24 news channel. For all those who lost their life.

It was easy to feel for Deschamps, a man thrust into the role of French ambassador, moral guardian, politician, statesman and diplomat on a night when he would usually be grilled about team selection. ‘After such an atrocity, such a barbaric act, we are here, but we know why we are here,’ added Deschamps.

‘I’m grateful for the messages of support we’ve had from around the world and this game will be played in front of the English public — thank you for your show of support and solidarity.

‘It will be a match full of emotion, I am sure. That is the role we have to play.

‘We are here, the players and the staff, to represent our country at a particular­ly poignant moment, and are proud to be French. It’s not just this group of players, but the whole of France. We’re probably even more proud of our country than we’ve ever been after November 13.

‘Everyone has his own things to think about, his own way of analysing what has happened and reacting.

‘But we’re representi­ng our country. Representi­ng your country, your national team, that’s always an honour. To wear your country’s shirt, that’s a responsibi­lity that we’ve never forgotten.’

France captain Hugo Lloris echoed the sentiments, adding: ‘I think the French nation is more important than French football on this night.

‘It’s a case of each individual player looking to express himself and representi­ng our country — to play for our country and to play for the victims.’

Deschamps was taken back to Friday, to the moment when suicide bombers detonated explosives at the entrance to gate eight at the Stade de France. The coach’s voice, cracking with emotion and despair, could barely get the words out at times as he reflected on that haunting evening inside France’s national football stadium.

Acting against the advice of their own security team, they remained with the German players and their officials in the dressing rooms until they could fly out of the country the following morning.

‘We were focused on playing our game and we heard two or three explosions without knowing what had happened,’ added Deschamps.

‘We wondered what that was, but we weren’t really brought up to speed until after the match.

‘When it became clear that Germany wanted to remain in the stadium, independen­tly of what the French state and security forces wanted, we stayed with them until it was safe to leave.’

NOBODY feels safe any more, not even at a sporting venue, after the suicide bombers attempted to access Stade de France during their 2-0 victory over Germany on Friday.

Diarra trained last night with his team, dealing with his family’s personal tragedy by returning to the squad on Saturday morning to prepare for the England game.

‘We have all shared our feelings and emotions among ourselves, but we’ve had to be quite discreet about the subject,’ said Lloris. ‘We’ve had a few days of mourning, spending time talking as a group. It’s been very tough — for the victims, their families and our country.’

This evening, the people of France will not be alone.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Playing on: France captain Hugo Lloris leads training
GETTY IMAGES Playing on: France captain Hugo Lloris leads training
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