France players 'wanted England match called off'; French legend calls for Euro 2016 location switch

Several of France's best players wanted Tuesday night's friendly match against England at Wembley to be called off, according to a report.

 

 

 

The Times claims that several French players were, "unhappy at being told that tomorrow’s friendly international against England must go ahead."

"Several of them feel they should have been consulted over the decision to play at Wembley only four days after the deaths of 129 people in Paris in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks," the paper reports.

"The decision was taken unilaterally by Noël Le Graët, president of the French football federation."

The FA were apparently "surprised" that Le Graët wanted to press on despite the atrocities, but have been happy to respect the FFF's wishes and go ahead with the match.

 

"I was never in doubt that this match should be maintained, it never crossed my mind, not even for a second. Since the end of the match (against Germany), for me, we had to play," Le Graët told L'Equipe.

"I simply verified with the minister (for Sport) and the English the next morning. It would not have been good at all not to play the match.

"If the match had been taking place at the Stade de France, the question would have obviously been asked and we would not have played. 

"But here, we have to show that life goes on, that the shirt represents something, that France remains standing and our sportsmen are representing it with pride."

Le Graët has confirmed that he made the decision alone, telling France coach Didier Deschamps of his decision on Saturday.

"The players had nothing to do with the fact that this game will take place,” Le Graët said.

"It is me alone who made the call. Then I informed Deschamps around midday."

 

 

Deschamps passed the message on after lunch at the French team's HQ in Clairefontaine, "with the general reaction being one of disbelief that they were simply told to play without any consultation.... Some players are believed to have privately described the decision to play England less than 24 hours after three days of national mourning as 'disrespectful', while there is considerable resentment in the squad that they have been barely able to see their families since the tragedy."

There were initially suggestions that several of the squad might not travel, but the FFF have confirmed that the full France squad has made the trip to London.

A separate report in Germany's Die Welt carries quotes from legendary French striker Just Fontaine saying that France can no longer host Euro 2016 next summer.

"Any other country could stage the event, but we cannot,” said Fontaine, whose record of 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup has never been beaten.

"I think France should forego the tournament. I am very afraid that this black Friday could be repeated.

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