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Full France Squad To Fly To London For Tuesday's Friendly

All 23 members of the France squad -- including Lassana Diarra and Antoine Griezmann -- "will fly to England for Tuesday's friendly at Wembley" as British Home Secretary Theresa May said that the match "will go ahead" as a sign that "the terrorists will not win," according to the PA. Diarra's cousin Asta Diakite was "one of the 129 people who died in the Paris terror attacks on Friday night." Griezmann's sister, meanwhile, "managed to escape the mass killing at the Bataclan theatre, where 89 people died after it was stormed by armed terrorists." Both were playing in France's friendly win over Germany at the Stade de France on Friday -- which was also targeted by terrorists -- while the attacks took place. Speaking after chairing a meeting of the U.K. Government's Cobra emergency committee, May said, "It is the intention that the France-England match will still go ahead. We are in absolute solidarity with the people of France and together we need to show that the terrorists will not win and we will defeat them." Extra police "are likely to be drafted in for the match and it is understood the FA will be enhancing its security and search procedures for fans entering the stadium" (PA, 11/15).

PAYING TRIBUTE: In London, Jason Burt reported the words of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, will be "put up on the giant screens at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday evening with both teams and all the supporters inside the ground encouraged to sing." The FA has confirmed that the England players will "also pay an appropriate tribute to the 129 people who died and the 350 wounded following Friday’s atrocities in Paris." Consultations are ongoing with the England squad, led by captain Wayne Rooney, "as to what form that tribute will take with the players anxious to show their solidarity." The FA has consulted with the U.K. Government and the Metropolitan Police as to "whether there is a heightened security risk around Tuesday’s friendly match," in the wake of what happened in Paris, with Islamic State claiming responsibility, but has "been assured there has been no specific threat to the match." The FA has "reacted quickly to a growing mood that all supporters want to show solidarity with the French by singing along with the national anthem when it is played before kick-off" (TELEGRAPH, 11/15). In London, Callum Davis reported thousands of people online "have already demonstrated their solidarity against the terrorist attacks by posting the iconic scene from Casablanca," where the main character leads an "impromptu rendition of the song in a cafe in war-time" Casablanca. Teams in Serie B "showed their support for the victims of the Paris attacks by playing the anthem before Saturday's clash between Livorno and Vicenza." The song was first created "as a call to arms at the beginning of the French Revolution, however the anthem has since been adopted as the national anthem, extolling the virtues of brotherhood, liberty and equality" (TELEGRAPH, 11/14). Also in London, Barney Ronay wrote so, "the show goes on then." As news of the atrocities in Paris on Friday night "filtered through to Alicante during the second half of England’s friendly against Spain -- a tumorous, spreading sense of horror with each fresh round of details -- football became an instant irrelevance." At the time it "seemed certain that Tuesday’s game against France, at Wembley, would be cancelled." The French Football Federation has taken "another, bolder view." The match "will go ahead." France will be welcomed at Wembley "in a spirit of fraternity and defiance." Int'l football "will be presented with the chance to provide a show of sporting solidarity in the face of mass murder, nihilism and psychopathic self‑immolation." This is "a lot to ask of a game of football." Silence might have felt like an "easier response." There is "a time to play and a time to grieve." But there are "other emotions in play here beyond simply grief and fear" (GUARDIAN, 11/14).

HODGSON WELCOMES DECISION: The BBC reported England Manager Roy Hodgson "welcomed the decision to play Tuesday's friendly between England and France at Wembley." Hodgson: "We respect the decision and will prepare accordingly, both on and off the pitch. The match will be a serious occasion but one that shows that the football world is united against these atrocities" (BBC, 11/14).

UNITED IN GRIEF: In London, Jonathan Northcroft reported for a second night, "the Wembley arch was lit the shades to Le Tricolore and three words were projected on to the stadium’s front." Liberté. Égalité. Fraternité. There were minute’s silences "from Old Trafford to the green pitches of La Masia, Barcelona’s youth training ground." French flags waved in the crowd at A-League side Sydney FC. In Italy’s Serie B, before Livorno played Vicenza, La Marseillaise was played, "sparking a social media movement" the FA will "happily adhere to by encouraging England fans to join Gallic brothers" and sing France’s rousing anthem before Tuesday’s friendly int'l. Football "responded to the atrocities in Paris the only way it knows how: by kicking off and carrying on." Perhaps the world’s "most frivolous, but also its most unifying, pastime will not stop for terrorists" (SUNDAY TIMES, 11/15).

GERMANY-NETHERLANDS TO GO AHEAD: REUTERS reported Germany's friendly with Holland on Tuesday "will go ahead as planned." Following France's decision to push ahead with its scheduled friendly match with England at Wembley on Tuesday, "the German team will play the Dutch in Hanover." Interim German FA President Reinhard Rauball said, "The message is clear. We will not be intimidated by terror. For the team to play against the Dutch only a few days after the terrible experiences in Paris is a necessary signal" (REUTERS, 11/15).

MAJOR EVENTS SUSPENDED: REUTERS' Julien Pretot reported "all major sports events in the Paris region have been suspended in the wake of Friday's deadly attacks." European Professional Cup Rugby said on Saturday that "all Champions Cup and Challenge Cup games in France this weekend would be canceled." All basketball and volleyball matches in the country were also called off, their respective federations said (REUTERS, 11/14). Following the events in Paris on Friday, the ATP World Tour reviewed security operations in place around this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The O2 already has enhanced security in place, and tournament preparations are continuing as normal. No food or drink will be allowed into the arena itself and all bags will be searched (ATP World Tour). REUTERS' Jack Stubbs reported Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Saturday that security in Russian stadiums "would be increased after gunmen and bomb attacks killed more than 120 people in Paris, Tass news agency reported" (REUTERS, 11/14).

EXTREME SECURITY: In Madrid, Miguel Ángel Lara reported the attacks in Paris "have sent shockwaves" around the world. There are "concerns about the friendly" Spain is due to play against Belgium in Brussels on Tuesday. For "the time being it seems that the game at the Stade Roi Baudouin will go ahead, but with extreme security measures." Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur has appealed for "cooperation and understanding from fans, who are being asked not to try to take bags of any description into the stadium" (MARCA, 11/14). Also in Madrid, Manu Sainz reported the Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Nov. 21 in Madrid will be declared high-risk. Spain's government announced that it "will not increase to level 4 -- anti-terrorist alert," but will strengthen measures "at determined key points" (AS, 11/15).

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