Martial suffers ankle injury

Social media was awash with praise for the dignified way a sensitive occasion was handled.

France midfielder Lassana Diarra’s cousin was killed and forward Antoine Griezmann’s sister escaped from the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people died.

England, who played poorly in a 2-0 friendly defeat away to Spain on Friday, had not beaten France in six meetings since 1997, but the visitors never made it easy for the home side on what was obviously a hard evening for their players. “That’s what (the French) wanted and that’s pretty much what we wanted too”.

The match, billed as a symbol of reconciliation between the nations, was marred by fans who disrupted the moment of silence for the victims in the Paris attacks.

“We said before the game to the young players to go and express themselves and I though Dele was fantastic. We need to stand tall and stand together at this tough time”.

“That’s very important for us, for Europe and for the world, for all the people who are fight against dictatorships and terrorism”.

Visiting captain Hugo Lloris in the France goal handed an eighth-minute opportunity to Harry Kane with a badly sliced clearance, although his Tottenham club-mate’s attempt to capitalise was similarly lacking in quality.

“The match tomorrow is going to have massive global significance”, said Martin Glenn, chief executive of England’s Football Association, on Monday.

Minutes later and Anthony Martial embarked on a dribble that saw him breeze past Nathaniel Clyne, before testing Hart with a low shot down to his left. Diarra and Griezmann were among the 23-man squad that came to London, and both came on as second-half substitutes.

“I think sometimes it can sort of put a downer on it if you don’t get the result you want”.

On a night when players from both sides mingled for a pre-match photocall, it was one of those rare occasions when half-and-half scarves, being sold by many a vendor lining Wembley Way, were entirely appropriate.

Supporters posed for photos outside the stadium as kick-off approached, with one France fan, Jean-Michel Escoffier, explaining he bought tickets this morning in order to stand with his countrymen.

Of course it was entirely fitting that football, which found itself at the unwitting centre of the shocking narrative emerging from Paris on Friday night, should present such a poignant and high-profile display of unity.

Mathieu De Bruyne, an engineer from Dunkerque, said he had brief doubts about coming to London for the game.

“It is incredible that at that age to have no previous experience to go in and do what he did tonight was quite outstanding”.

The Paris police department said officers exchanged gunfire with the suspects in Saint Denis and several police were injured.

“Don’t show you are afraid”.