They finally gave up. Contrary to what they had expected, the Blues did not put a knee to the ground before the kick-off of their first meeting of the Euro, won (1-0) against Germany on Tuesday night. The gesture, which they had already made before the start of their friendly preparatory meeting against Wales, should serve to show the support of the French football team to the anti-racist movement Black Lives Matter.
But if the minutes preceding the kick-off in Munich were notably disturbed by the irruption of a Greenpeace parachutist who left two injured, Didier Deschamps’ men had taken the decision at the end of the afternoon not to not repeat this initiative. A few hours earlier, the Germans had informed UEFA and the Blues management that they no longer wanted to put one knee to the ground. However, the French believed that this gesture made sense only if it was shared with the opposing team.
“The knee on the ground, it was a collective decision. We start from the principle that if we have to do it, all the nations must do it with the support of UEFA, explained to RMC the captain and goalkeeper of the Blues, Hugo Lloris. This is the case in the Premier League, where the movement has been together and united. In this competition, it is less the case. “
VIDEO. France-Germany on the terrace: “These are good memories that keep coming back! “
Belgians hissed by the Russian public
One way of criticizing the atmosphere surrounding this gesture in recent weeks. On Saturday, the Belgians were extensively whistled by the public in St. Petersburg for showing their support in this way, while the Russian national team remained standing. The English, who dropped to one knee on Sunday before their match against Croatia, also had to justify themselves during their preparation. Tuesday, the German players did not put a knee on the ground either at the end of a day when the announced initiative of the Blues had been criticized by elected officials of the right and the National Rally.
“Any little thing, whatever you do with me or the players, whatever you say, it brings interpretation. There is always recovery, in one direction or the other, criticizes the coach of the world champions Didier Deschamps, questioned by RMC on this subject. Obviously, this is not something good. There is such a climate where it goes all over the place. “
“This does not mean that we do not support the cause, above all we do not want racism in our sport and in society, continues Lloris. We see more British players doing it because it is in the launching of their championship. There is no debate, we are all together in the decision. That of having finally abstained on Tuesday evening in Germany.
