England supporters attending Tuesday’s friendly against France are being encouraged to join in with the French national anthem in a show of solidarity to those who lost their lives in the Paris attacks.
Despite doubts that the match at Wembley would go ahead, Didier Deschamps’ squad will fly to London on Monday after the French Football Confederation insisted it must take place as a show of solidarity.
Fans will face the biggest security operation there has been at the new Wembley after more than 130 people were killed in a series of attacks on Friday night, with a series of tributes planned.
That includes the singing of La Marseillaise, written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in the aftermath of the French Revolution in 1792, with plans to display the lyrics on big screens at the stadium. Wembley’s iconic arch will also remain illuminated by the French Tricolore, with France’s national motto Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité also on display.
England fans, who have traditionally held up cards to form a huge cross of St George, will instead create a French Tricolor, while both teams will wear black armbands. Around 70,000 fans are expected to attend the match which will be preceded by a minute’s silence.
La Marseillaise: full lyrics
Allons, enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé.
Contre nous, de la tyrannie
L’étendard sanglant est levé.
Entendez-vous, dans les campagnes,
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes.
Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons.
