While in Belgium, the mayor of the City of Brussels Philippe Close had sent the Red Devils to confront Israel in Hungary for security reasons but not only (he however authorized several pro-Palestinian demonstrations), it is quite different in the country of liberty, equality and fraternity.
In France, whose three words make up the motto, the Group 2 meeting of the Nations League A between the Blues and the Israelis will take place at the Stade de France on Thursday evening (8:45 p.m.).
But that’s not all!
The highest authorities of the country will in fact be present in order to symbolically bring a “gesture of solidarity to the Jewish community” after the outbreak of anti-Semitic violence which took place on the night of Thursday to Friday last in Amsterdam, where Israeli supporters of Maccabi Tel-Aviv were violently attacked.
Emmanuel Macron’s entourage thus made it known that he would be present in the stands, to attend this match which initially was not on his agenda.
“If we go back now, we go back on everything else!”
“The images of the events in Amsterdam shocked everyone. It is important for him to bring” his solidarity to the “Jewish community of France”, specifies a “palace advisor in The Liberated Parisian (https://tinyurl.com/mwar487y), while for several days initiatives have been multiplying on the part of pro-Palestinian activists to prevent this meeting from taking place.
“It’s important not to give in to this fear. If we step back now, we step back on everything else,” we insist at the Élysée.
The head of state will not be the only one in the stands.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Nicolas Sarkozy, who had not initially planned to be present either, will also be there.
“It was all the more important to be present in support in this context of great tension,” confirmed the entourage of the former President of the Republic to the Parisian
François Hollande too!
Another former president, the socialist François Hollande, who had initially regretted being prevented by “a long-standing commitment”, finally informed the newspaper that he too would go to the Stade de France, in a message support for the Jewish community.
In total, 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized.
An Israeli victory would suit us well!
On a sporting level, as a reminder, a – very unlikely – Israeli victory could be a good thing for the Red Devils, if at the same time they beat Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium.
Belgium (3rd, 4 pts) can in fact still theoretically qualify for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
On the condition of achieving a 6 out of 6 against Italy (1st, 10 pts) and Israel (4th, 0 pts), and that Italy or France (2nd, 9 pts) lose their two matches.
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