WEMBLEY BEGINS HEALING PROCESS
England fans plan show of solidarity with French but fears grow over Euro 2016
LIKE the rest of the world, England players gathered in sombre mood to watch rolling TV news in the early hours yesterday as the tragic events of the Parisian terrorist attacks unfolded.
A post-match meal at the Asia Gardens Hotel, their Benidorm base for the match against Spain on Friday, was conducted in an unusually solemn atmosphere.
While they dined, many players would have been aware that clubmates with France and Germany were holed up in the Stade de France on security advice, due to the explosions outside.
And last night it emerged that one of the Paris victims — Asta Diakite — was the cousin of Lassana Diarra, the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth player, who was playing for France on Friday.
French forward Antoine Griezmann, who plays for Atletico Madrid, also revealed his sister, Maud, had a narrow escape from the Bataclan Theatre where more than 80 people were killed.
This Tuesday night England players and their French counterparts will take part in an international match that will have enormous symbolical value. The eyes of the world will be on Wembley as France emerges from public mourning and the nation’s footballers play England.
The arch above Wembley stadium is expected to be lit in France’s red, white and blue as it was on Friday night. The singing of La Marseillaise will be an emotional affair. Indeed, England fans were mobilising on social media, distributing the lyrics, in order to sing along in an act of solidarity.
The very fact that France are playing the match, that ordinary life is continuing, will be seen as a vitally-important step back to normality.
The sporting significance of the fixture is negligible, but the players are unlikely to play in a match of more political significance.
England manager Roy Hodgson found the appropriate words to put the match into context.
‘It will be a serious occasion but one that shows the football world is united against these atrocities,’ he said. ‘I’m sure the England team and our fans will play their part and show solidarity with our French friends and provide support for both teams during this difficult time.
‘The events in Paris have left us all shocked and we are thinking of the victims, their loved ones and all those affected by these tragic events. The French Football Federation [FFF] have informed us that they would still like to play the fixture. We respect that decision and will prepare accordingly – both on and off the pitch.’
The decision was left to the French. FA chief executive Martin Glenn spoke at length to the FFF after arriving at Luton Airport yesterday. Contact had already been made and the message from the FA was: ‘Let us know in your own time and we’ll respect your wishes.’
By midday it was clear the French wanted to play despite the tragedy in Paris and the fact that their own game had been a target.
Last night, The Wall Street Journal, citing a Stade de France security guard, reported that at least one suicide bomber had attempted to enter the stadium during the France-Germany match but had been foiled by the pre-match security screening. It appears he intended to detonate the bomb inside the ground but instead did so outside.
German and French players were trapped in the stadium afterwards, with the Germans, who included Manchester United’s Bastian Schweinsteiger and Liverpool’s Emre Can in their ranks, choosing not to go back to their hotel.
‘The players were very afraid,” said general manager Oliver Bierhoff. “We didn’t want to take any risks.’ The host team said they would stay as long as Germany had to stay, and German FA’s acting president Reinhard Rauball said: ‘It was an outstanding gesture of camaraderie.’
So France’s players, including Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud, Manchester City’s Bacary Sagna, Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin and Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye remained until the small hours before returning to their base at Clairefontaine.
There will be added security at Wembley on Tuesday and fans will be urged to turn up early, as prematch searches will be increased.
‘We will use the opportunity to pay our respects to all those affected and also to express our solidarity with the people of France,’ said FA chairman Greg Dyke.
Afterwards, there will be preparations for Euro 2016 to consider. Hodgson, Dyke and Glenn will travel to the draw in Paris on December 12. Next summer England will be based in Chantilly, 25 miles from where the terrorist attacks took place. FA security chief Tony Conniford will oversee safety.
FFF president Noel Le Graet has conceded the threat to the tournament is higher than ever.
‘Many precautions were taken but, as we can see, the terrorists can strike at any moment,’ he said.
‘For Euro 2016, there were already major worries. Today, those worries are obviously that much stronger. ’
Indeed, the enormity of the security challenge is more evident than ever before.