Wayne Rooney says France team will make their country proud
Monday 16 November 2015 16:39, UK
England captain Wayne Rooney hopes football can bring people together in the wake of the "sickening" terrorist atrocities in Paris on Friday night.
Rooney thinks the France team will make their country proud when they line up to face England in Tuesday night's Wembley friendly.
Friday's series of horrific atrocities included an attack on the Stade de France during a friendly fixture between France and Germany.
However, the France Football Federation have decided they want Tuesday's fixture to go ahead as planned.
And Rooney used his pre-match press conference on Monday as an opportunity to express his sorrow at the grim events of Friday.
Several current and former team-mates of the Manchester United forward played at the Stade de France on Friday and he said: "I think first of all, on behalf of the players, we would like to give our condolences.
"Having team-mates in my own club, I spoke to them after it happened, and it's a hard time for everyone. We have to be respectful.
"Then there is a football match. It will be tough for the French players, but it is a time for them to make their country proud, and they will do everything they can to make their country proud.
"I think first of all, when I saw the images, it's sickening. It's a sad time."
And Rooney added that, as a player, he has to trust that security will be adequate at the stadium on Tuesday.
"In terms of going on the pitch, we can only go on the understanding that all the security checks have been done, unless we are told otherwise," he said.
"That's the way we have to look at it, and go out and play.
"You can never know what is going to happen and we hope there will not be a repeat of what happened on Friday night.
"I think football globally does a lot for the world. It shows everyone as a unit.
"Football has the power to do that and I think the world of football needs to stay strong together. I'm sure football will help bring everyone together."
