Wayne Rooney Speaks About 'Togetherness' of Football World Ahead of France Match

Wayne Rooney has spoken of the togetherness of the football world ahead of Tuesday night's friendly against France at Wembley.

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks on Friday night, there were suggestions that England's match might be called off, but the Manchester United captain is content that it will go ahead.

“I’m happy the game’s on," he told the Mirror. "It shows France wants to show these terrorists they’re standing strong against them, and we have to support that. It will be a great night of togetherness for everyone to see, for the terrorists to see the world will go on and stand against them."

It's been an unusual build-up to the match, with focus on the solidarity of the footballing community rather than the result.

“I’ve never experienced going into a game with something like this having happened. You don’t know. But you have to go out there and try to win the game. But it’s a difficult situation for everyone."

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

England fans have been urged to join in and sing "La Marseillaise" at Wembley as a show of defiance.

Rooney was in Alicante for England's match against Spain when the news broke late last week, and he called his club friends and team-mates who were involved in France's match against Germany at the Stade de France.

“We saw it in the dressing room after the game,” he said. “The first I saw of it was on social media—possible grenades outside the stadium. That was all we knew until we got to the hotel and saw it on the news."

Michel Euler/Associated Press

“We had a few news channels on there. To be honest, it was hard to watch. I watched for about an hour and then went to sleep. It was sickening."

Rooney believes the match can send a powerful message.

"Football globally does a lot for the world and it shows everyone as a unit. The world as one—football has the power to do that," he said.

"The world of football has to stay strong together and I’m sure everyone will do that and try to deal with this situation. Us as players and the fans knows how to do it. Football helps a lot to bring people together."

[Mirror]