“They’ll be here in five minutes!” » The police tense up, while the message played on the radio reverberates along the road leading to the stadium gate. The siren of the motorcyclist of the police who are opening the road is getting closer. Behind, two buses flanked by several cars, responsible for securing their journey, enter directly into the parking lot. It is 10:20 a.m., the first part of the Israeli national team convoy has just arrived at this Val-d’Oise stadium which is hosting training on Tuesday morning, two days before their Nations League match against the Blues on Thursday. evening (8:45 p.m.).
For security reasons, the media were asked not to reveal the precise location where the players from the Hebrew State are carrying out their session, the day after their arrival on French soil at Roissy airport. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to see from the street the lawn where Ran Ben Shimon’s players are preparing for their match against the Tricolores. The stadium chosen by the authorities is placed under an impressive security bubble, due to the very tense context surrounding the meeting.
The police force around the compound is impressive. In front of one of the entrances, four CRS vans are waiting. Police officers, assault rifles drawn, patrol between each access. Others are equipped with defense ball launchers. In the sky, a gendarmerie helicopter flies over the scene to get an overview of this training held in a stadium transformed into an entrenched camp, where few can enter.
A press point, where several journalists were invited by the Israeli federation and the Israeli embassy in Paris, was finally canceled at the last minute at the request of the authorities. In front of the entrance, the police demand to see the press cards and an identity document of each media representative. Instructions are given not to film or take photos of the stadium. The curious are quickly moved away.
The Raid escorts the Israeli selection
“I live right next door, I wondered what was going on when I saw all this parade of police this morning,” said Dominique, a local resident. Then later, when I saw that they were taking place in and around the football stadium, I finally understood what it was about. I understand the precautions, I hope no one will come and attack them who are just there to play football. »
The feelings of the Israeli delegation eventually filtered through, in statements filmed by the federation and transmitted to several media, including Le Parisien. “We are very excited about the idea of going to play at the Stade de France,” explains defensive midfielder Ethane Azoulay, born in Paris, in French. The sensations are very good, the safety does its job to the maximum, we have our heads on the ground. We focus on the match. We only think about football, not too much about what’s around. »
“We feel safe here, France is an incredible country,” says its coach, Ran Ben Shimon. We are really surrounded by security, it allows us to concentrate on the sport and nothing else. »
According to the Israeli federation, no other training was planned this Tuesday for the 81st selection in the Fifa ranking, swept away (1-4) by Didier Deschamps’ men in the first leg in October in Budapest. The next session is scheduled for Wednesday at the Stade de France, as usual during national selection meetings, to familiarize yourself with the venue.
The delegation from the Hebrew State, followed by the Raid during its stay in France, settled in a hotel in the Paris region whose location was not filtered, again for security reasons. Between 100 and 150 Israeli supporters are expected in the parking lot of the Saint-Denis stadium on Thursday evening. The venue, which can accommodate 80,000 spectators, is expected to have a maximum attendance of 20,000 for this match with very strict security.
