Time To Remember, Respect, And Move On
Nov 16th, 2015 by 'holic
A solemn weekend is giving way to a week in which life starts to return to something resembling normality. That’s not to say that the events of Friday will ever be forgotten, but human nature persuades that terrorism will not distract people from living as normally as possible whilst mourning the pointless waste of life.
As I type Ireland are about to kick off their European Championship decider against Bosnia-Herzegovina. I’m sure that in the couple of hours that followed the minute’s silence most will be focused firmly on the quest for a place in France next summer.
There is not as much at stake when England host France at Wembley on Tuesday night, and yet seldom has a friendly acquired such a sense of symbolic importance. There have been well-intentioned debates about whether or not the fixture should proceed. The visitors heard the explosions outside the stadium as they hosted Germany on Friday night, but only after the match were they told what was going on around them.
Lassana Diarra lost a cousin as the awful events unfolded. Team-mate Antoine Griezmann’s sister escaped from the Bataclan theatre where 89 people died. They could have been forgiven for wanting to have some time to themselves. Instead their message is one of defiance, summed up by manager Didier Deschamps,
“We are here to represent our country and its colours blue, white and red with even more pride than we normally would. It has been a difficult, stressful time, but we have been together and each of us, in our way, has kept up to date with the events. Each player and individual has dealt with this in their own way. The main thing is that we have kept together and shared our grief.”
Captain Hugo Lloris accepted that the decision to play was more important for France the country than France the team.
“We had some concerns about the game but the president confirmed that we have to play this game. We respect this decision. It will be a good opportunity to represent the French nation, which is more important than French football tomorrow. Tuesday will be a great moment of solidarity. The last three days have been dramatic and I think we were in mourning together. It will be an opportunity to show character.”
There are admirable plans for displays of respect and remembrance ahead of the match. Wembley’s arch will be lit up in the red, white and blue of the French flag to show solidarity. Screens outside the ground are already showing the French motto ‘liberte, egalite, fraternite’, and before kick-off the words of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, will be shown to enable England supporters to join in. Surely most will?
England coach Roy Hodgson also alluded to the aura that surrounds the fixture.
“I can’t deny there’s something hanging over which is far, far greater than a football match. That will be lingering whether we like it or not. I’ve never been in a football game like this before.”
Those who are going are being advised to arrive early as there will obviously be additional security checks on the night. Here’s hoping that the evening passes off without incident and the sense of ‘fraternite’ is upheld by all in attendance.
Tuesday’s match may not quite be the distraction that the Irish are experiencing right now (they are one up as I hit the publish button). Indeed it will serve as a poignant reminder for some, but slowly life is returning to normal for all but the families and friends of the deceased. They are in our thoughts.
Take care, ‘holics.
29 Responses to “Time To Remember, Respect, And Move On”
Ireland up 2-0 now.
Interesting, the distinction the French players made about playing for the nation rather than playing for the national side.
Events like these while devastating and intended to strike fear and suffering ..do not tear us apart but instead binds us closer together.
In the meantime…..
Irish Eyes are smiling… 🙂
Thoughts are with the French and the families of those directly affected.
Point proven. Last night I smiled for the first time this weekend watching the Bears roger the Rams (sorry Stan!), and right now I’m smiling for Ireland. So happy they will be in France with us next summer. 🙂
Tomorrow hopefully the smile will return as the supporters are united for a moving evening.
Fine post, H. Here’s hoping tomorrow’s match is a showcase and a celebration of all that is good in football, takes place without untoward incident and is a fine memorial to those killed and injured on Friday.
And congratulations to the Oirish.
Impressed by the dignity and eloquence of Didier Deschamps. I am not sure an English manager or player could have spoken so well at such a difficult time.
Congratulations to the Irish on making it to the Euros finals. A certain irony in getting a controversial handball decision going in their favour. The footballing gods are as mischievous as they are fickle.
I hope La Marseillaise is sung to the echo tomorrow. It is an emotional anthem at the best of times but tomorrow it will evoke even more feelings of pride and sorrow.
Today I read about this being the most symbolic football match since the one played in the trenches on Christmas Day 1914. It is at times like this when the old cliche about the relative unimportance of sport is not correct.
Tomorrow is a perfect opportunity for two nations to unite in the face of terrorism and to rise above the awful events of Friday night and prove that human resilience and national pride are qualities that can never be obliterated by even the most heinous terrorist act. May it be an occasion of pride and solidarite
Vive Le France!
Irish eyes smiling: https://youtu.be/pD5ZcCXdNtw
Great post Holic.
These last few days have forced so many to put things in perspective and its great to see people rally in defiance of the face of such indescribable pain and senselessness.
I’ve never been one for International football. And I have never really rated Martin O’Neills “footballing philosophy”. But credit where credit is due because he galvanised a pretty average Irish side to produce some performances of genuine spirit and graft. To come from a place in a very difficult group to qualify for only our 5th major tournament with that bunch of lads is a serious achievement.
It struck me even more though that people ought to appreciate the type of football Wenger has brought to the club. We’ve been utterly spoilt watching Wengerball for many years now. It’ll only be appreciated when he’s no longer there.
Belgian news sources suggesting the Belgium v Spain match is off due to the terrorist threat. Let’s hope this isn’t the thin end of the wedge.
🙁
Well said, Holic.
The game doesn’t matter. That French motto will be particularly relevant tomorrow. Let’s hope there are no incidents and no scares which, in a crowd of tens of thousands, could be just as dangerous.
Stay safe if you’re going.
Exactly that Trev. Let’s hope we sing ‘La Marseillaise’ with gusto, if not timing 😉 Let’s hope we see great warmth between supporters. Let’s pray the cunts don’t cause an incident elsewhere, because Wembley is secured.
Will it be an English version of La Marseillaise? I assume not, and with due respect to the average English supporter’s grasp of French I hope the visitors understand their host’s efforts are well intended…
For anyone going, time to start practising:
La Marseillaise
Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L’etendard sanglant est levé! (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes,
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes!
Refrain
Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!
Marchons! Marchons!
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
Amour sacré de la patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs!
Liberté, Liberté cherie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents!
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Refrain
Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus;
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus.
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre!
Refrain
Oskar
lump in the throat already. hope everything goes swell.
show two fingers to the savages and their supporters wherever they may be.
Cheers Wrighty.
Nice tribute with the subtle addition of red and blue fonts, H.
Not a fan of international football, and friendlies are even worse, but if ever a game needed to be played, this is it.
Thank you Dr z.
Can’t disagree with your view of internationals. I will be watching this one though.
Nice one ‘H.
Well done the B.I.G.
=====
Sadly it looks like the Ger v NL game has been called off.
Singing an anthem with lyrics about throat slitting and so on after last week sits a bit uncomfortably with me, but luckily I’m on my sofa and not in the stadium, so I don’t have to join in 🙂
I hope it is loud and I too will be watching, despite not liking internationals.
Well done Wemberlee, the FA and most particularly the Met and the Security Forces for successfully staging the match tonight. Credit where due.
Now let’s have some real football, please. However we will have to get used to more rigorous security screening on entering the stadia.
Indeed bath. No more hip flasks! 🙁
You’ll just have to dress up a bit, Guv’nor:
http://gizmodo.com/5968202/the-flask-tie-because-drinking-on-the-job-wasnt-easy-enough
I’ve seen worse internationals although it was a tough game for the French lads to play. England have got an interesting opportunity. Hodgson has blooded some talent and regrettably, as some of it plays for S**** , it has revitalised the team
A line-up of
Hart ( or Butland)
Clyne Smalling Stones Gibbs
Wilshere Ali
Walcott Rooney Sterling
Kane
is a decent team and has a lot of legs. Not sure about Kane as striker, he has a better touch than I gave him credit for. It is built to play on the counter- attack . Barkley looks a show pony to me but a lot of people like him.ive kept Kieron Gibbs in as he showed up well last night.
The key thing was the entente cordial between the players and crowd. A great night for showing what really matters in life
Decent team, Ttg, with pace wide, but lacking the proverbial ‘little bit of quality’ to scare a Germany or Spain.
After the stroll though qualification, England could end up with a tough group at the Euros next summer:
One of Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia and Ukraine,
Plus one of Czech Rep, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary
Plus one of Turkey, Ireland, Iceland, Wales, Albania and Northern Ireland
Quiet a few groups of death possible there; England, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, for example.
Very thoughtful post in many ways…
My favourite Marseillaise version, caused quite a lot of fussing at the the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLq7EcvRaf0
Back to football amidst the gloom. Sanchez played the entire 90 minutes in chile’s loss and we had Kos who should have never played the game, play it full as well.
Presser will be interesting tomorrow as to who is back. Expect only Bellerin to be fit to play, Ox on the bench and i do not think ramsey will be back till another couple of weeks.
I may sound selfish but god it is good to have Arsenal back. I felt terrible of what happened in Paris, the same way i felt when it happened in Mumbai but Arsenal makes me want to forget all that and just wish and pray for us to win.
will wonders never cease: http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/2717180/sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-lose-ban-appeals-fifa
Repost of Koscielny picture on Arseblog today.
http://arseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/mmkalla_2015-Nov-18.jpg
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>