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England vs France: Friendly offers chance to 'escape' from tragedy of terror attacks, says Hugo Lloris

'The president made the best decision, I think, to play this game.'

Monday 16 November 2015 19:03 GMT

(Getty Images)

France captain Hugo Lloris hopes Tuesday's friendly against England will be a show of solidarity as well as a chance to "escape" from the drama affecting his homeland.

Didier Deschamps' side made the trip to Wembley despite a series of terrorist attacks which hit Paris on Friday night, while Les Bleus were playing against Germany.

That decision came from French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet and, although Lloris admitted to having doubts, he supports it.

He said: "The president made the best decision, I think, to play this game.

"Of course we are human and we had doubts, whether to play or not, to go home or stay together, but I think it was well managed by the coach and the technical staff.

"The last three days were a bit dramatic. We were in mourning all together, we spent some time at Clairefontaine (at the national football academy).

"We will try to escape from it for one hour and 30 minutes. There will be a lot of emotion from the players, but it will be a great moment of solidarity.

"It will be an opportunity for us to show character and share this moment with all the English people."

France arrived to find Wembley's arch lit up in the red, white and blue of their national flag, while the words of their national anthem La Marseillaise will be displayed on the stadium screen to encourage English fans to join their visitors in singing it before the game.

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

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The world mourns Paris attacks

Members of the public gather to lay flowers and light candles at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne in Paris

Getty

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People lay a memorial to honour victims of the Paris terror attacks at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Soccer fans display the colors of the French flag in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Paris, France before the soccer match between the New York Cosmos' and the Ottawa Fury for the North American Soccer League championship at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, USA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Pakistani Civil society activists shout slogans during a protest against Isis militants near the French consulate for the victims of the 13 November Paris attacks in Karachi, Pakistan

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather and view messages written on the ground at Place de la Republique in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

French flags and a note reading "We will not let you spoil our children's lives" at the site of the attack at the Cafe Belle Equipe on rue de Charonne in the 11th district, in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A rose is placed beside a bullet hole at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne following the terrorist attack in Paris. As France observes three days of national mourning members of the public continue to pay tribute to the victims of deadly attacks

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near the scene of yesterday's Bataclan Theatre terrorist attack in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A man kneels as he pays tribute to victims at Place de la Republique near the deadly attack sites in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Tributes to the victims at the Place de la Republique square in Paris

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

An electronic billboard on a canal show solidarity with Paris in Milan

EPA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People lay down flowers and light candles to tribute victims of Friday's attacks in Paris as the Brandenburg gate is illuminated in blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag, in Berlin

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The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A man leaves flowers as a tribute following the deadly attacks in Paris, outside the French consulate in Istanbul

Reuters

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People take pictures of flowers placed in bullet holes in the window of a Japanese restaurant next to the cafe 'La Belle Equipe'

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather at a makeshift memorial next to the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 14, 2015,

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A woman carrying flowers cries in front of the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris

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The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather in front of flowers that were laid outside the French embassy in Rome

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The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People react near the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A young girl places a candle in front of the Carillon cafe in Paris

AP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Flowers placed outside the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne in Paris, the scene for one of the attacks

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A woman is comforted by others outside the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

The Brandenbourg Gate featuring French national colors is pictured in Berlin, on November 14, 2015 a day after deadly attacks in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Flowers are laid in front of the French embassy in Rome

EPA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A candle is lit next to flowers outside the French Embassy in Berlin

AFP

Regarding the anthem, Lloris said: "We will sing that together and share in that moment.

"It will be sung by a great number of English people as well, which will make it stronger.

"I know the English very well and I know they're very respectful as far as this kind of event is concerned. I know they'll help us to commemorate.

"This game is a good opportunity to represent the French nation. The French nation is more important than French football tomorrow."

PA

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