In the Garden of Remembrance a few steps from Paris City Hall, Eddy de Pretto had just played the final bars of “L’Absent” by Gilbert Bécaud. About ten kilometers to the west, the first supporters of the French team gradually flocked to the outskirts of the Parc des Princes.
But about two hours before the start of the match between the Blues and Ukraine, the next World Cup qualifier, Jean-Marc’s heart was not very interested, crossing in the stadium square. “For me, this is not the right day,” he regrets. I would like this match to be played at another time. »
Ten years ago, when more than 130 people were killed in attacks carried out in Paris and Saint-Denis, the now-retired man was a police officer in Hauts-de-Seine. “I worked all night, I immediately made myself available,” he recalls calmly. It was one night…”
So if he ultimately chose to be there, with his two-star jersey pressed tightly to his back, it was because it was his little girl’s first game. “This chair was a gift from my daughter,” he explained. But the little guy, he doesn’t know, we protect him from all that. » Like Captain Kylian Mbappé at his pre-match press conference, the former soldier wanted to remind people that “football is nothing compared to what happened. »
“We can’t stop thinking about it”
Floriane felt a similar feeling, who a few minutes earlier had tried to see the French team players through their bus window. “On the way to the stadium, we talked about it,” emphasized the Trojans who came with a convoy of supporters. We watched it in front of our TV at that time. We can’t help but think about it. » Thierry and Bernadette, who came specially from Strasbourg for the meeting, were numerous. “As big sports fans, we took the betting tickets in advance and without paying attention to the date,” they said. But quickly, it worked. Since then, life has taken over but this is a match that will leave its mark on us no matter what. »
Under the supervision of François Hollande, President of the Republic and present at the Stade de France at the time, the Marseillaise was sounded for the first time. And while the entire crowd followed the players, the stadium screen moved away from the field for a few moments and showed an image of the Eiffel Tower, lit in blue-white-red, with the words “Liberty” drawn right next to it. At the invitation of the speakers, a moment of silence was followed for one minute.
However, finally in the 15th minute of the meeting a very specific tribute was held. In turn, the 45,000 spectators present flashed their cellphones. At the bottom of the Boulogne stand, where “Irresistible France” was displayed, a banner was raised: “To our 132 stars of November 13”. The gentle Marseillaise, a cappella, sounded again. Before consciously giving up on the game.
