France supporters praised for singing along to God Save the Queen ahead of friendly against England
French supporters sung along to the English national anthem ahead of the friendly international, in an act of solidarity after recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London
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Your support makes all the difference.French football fans have won praise for singing along to the English national anthem ahead of the friendly match between the two countries at the Stade de France.
The French supporters sang along to the anthem in an act of solidarity, after the recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London.
The gesture was immediately celebrated on social media while before the match England manager Gareth Southgate praised France for the warm reception his team had received.
French newspaper L’Equipe had earlier published the words to God Save the Queen in French and encouraged supporters to sing along.
England hosted France just four days after 130 people were killed in the November 2015 Paris attacks, when suicide bombers struck outside the Stade de France before several mass shootings at cafes and restaurants.
In an act of solidarity, English supporters sang the French national anthem La Marseillaise, with the words displayed on giant screens around Wembley Stadium.
In honour of the victims of the attacks in Britain, the national anthems were reversed, which meant God Save the Queen followed La Marseillaise, with the words to each anthem displayed on the stadium's giant screen.
France and England players meanwhile walked out to the sound of Don't Look Back in Anger from Oasis for the friendly at Stade de France.
The Oasis song enjoyed worldwide success when it was released in 1995. It was played by the musicians and the choir of the French Republican Guard.
The players then united for a photo. A minute's silence was observed before the match.
"We are very grateful to the French for offering us this tribute," England coach Gareth Southgate said ahead of the match.
France's players were touched by the overwhelming show of support they received from England fans when they played a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 17, 2015 — just four days after the deadly attacks that swept through Paris. England fans that night sang along with the French anthem and numerous other tributes were on display.
"I was at the match and that was a very special occasion," Southgate said.
Three attackers mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge and then stabbed people in nearby Borough Market on June 3. Eight people were killed and dozens more injured. On May 22, a man detonated a bomb as crowds were leaving an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, killing 22 people.
France has also been hit by attacks, notably in Paris in November 2015 and in Nice last July.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
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