Fans of England and France joined together to sing an extraordinary rendition of La Marseillaise ahead of their match at Wembley Stadium in order to stand up against the terror attacks that struck Paris last Friday night.
At least 129 people were killed in several attacks across Paris that included suicide bombers targeting the Stade de France, where the French national team were taking on Germany in an international friendly.
After insisting that Tuesday night’s match should continue as planned, the French Football Federation agreed a number of tributes with the English Football Association to commemorate the memory of those who lost their lives last week, and stand up together in defiance to show that those responsible for the attacks will not succeed in their aims to inflict terror across the globe.
Although Wembley was not sold-out, over 70,000 fans sung the French national anthem together, with the lyrics to La Marseillaise put up on the big screens for English fans to join in.
After England manager Roy Hodgson, his French counterpart Didier Deschamps and the Duke of Cambridge Prince William laid floral wreaths on the side of the pitch, English fans sang a rousing rendition of God Save The Queen before joining the French in a sight rarely ever seen in professional sport.
The two squads then joined together for a combined photograph, before they stood intertwined on the centre-circle for a minute’s silence perfectly honoured by those in the stands.
All of the tributes took place as the Wembley arch above them was lit up in the blue, white and red of the Tricolor, which has been the case since Saturday in honour of the 129 that last week.
