The France-Germany of November 13, 2015 is unforgettable for all its players. While Didier Deschamps’ Blues enjoyed a prestigious success (2-0) against the reigning world champions, a team of terrorists committed the bloodiest attacks that France has ever known. More than 130 people lost their lives on the terraces of Parisian cafes, at the Bataclan but also around the Stade de France.
The toll could have been much higher if the two terrorists present near the Stade de France had been able to enter the enclosure as they wished or had waited until the end of the match to detonate their explosive belt. Stalled by Stade de France security guards when the match had just started, the two suicide bombers triggered their devices outside the Stadium, causing the death of Manuel Dias, a 63-year-old bus driver who was waiting for customers in a brasserie.
The first explosion occurred shortly before 9:20 p.m. while the two teams were playing the 17e minute of the match. “The noise doesn’t alert me at all,” remembered Olivier Giroud in the columns of L’Equipe, Blaise Matuidi evoking “an agricultural bomb”. Three minutes later, the second detonation was much more powerful. “The second explosion, I remember it like it was yesterday. I have the ball, I give it to “Pat” (Evra), and there it goes. The noise has absolutely nothing to do with it. Pat doesn’t even look at the ball anymore. For half a second, time stood still.”confided the former Parisian midfielder.
“We’re freaking out”
“On the pitch, I jump. A reflex. I was scared”confided the Lille striker. While the French are gradually learning the drama that is playing out in the 10e
and 11e districts of the capital, the French players will have to wait until the end of the match to be informed, in particular thanks to the television screens present in the corridors of the Stade de France. “We are all glued to the news. The silence is total. I’m shocked, we all are.”explained the native of Savoie.
“That’s also when we learned that some guys tried to blow themselves up in the stadium”he continued, adding that he quickly joined his family in the lounge reserved for the players’ relatives: “I’m going to see them as soon as possible,” continues Giroud. This is where Jen (Jennifer, his wife) gives me more details. She knows more than us. »
The Blues will follow the events behind the scenes at the Stade de France, which they will finally leave in an unmarked bus in the dead of night when they are certain that the Germans, who want to return to Frankfurt as quickly as possible, will be able to take their plane in the early morning without having to return to their Parisian hotel.
“The wait in the stadium was endless, said Olivier Giroud on this subject. We ask ourselves questions for our safety and that of our families. We wonder if another guy is waiting for us at the exit of the stadium. We’re freaking out. But Momo (Sanhadji, the security officer) explains to us everything that is put in place for our safety. »
