the attendance is the lowest for a meeting of the Blues at the Stade de France

SPORT – Contrary to the fears of the authorities, the match took place in complete safety, with the exception of a crowd movement that was quickly brought under control. But the stadium attendance figures are very gloomy in the aftermath of this much-maligned France Israel. While the Blues only managed to concede a draw against the Israel team in this League of Nations, the stadium was three-quarters empty. 4,000 police officers and gendarmes had been deployed around and inside due to the very tense geopolitical context.

A meeting with a very political stake, but without enthusiasm on a sporting level. As proof, few supporters came to attend. 16,611 spectators only were present, the lowest attendance in history for the Blues in this stadium with 80,000 seats. At kick-off, the stands were almost empty, which journalists and other Internet users on social networks did not fail to notice.

Especially since if the spectator stands were very sparse, the official stand was very full. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron was present, as well as the Israeli Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka, alongside former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as the presidents of the regions Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France Xavier Bertrand and Valérie Pécresse.

A gloomy match

A very special atmosphere which has not escaped the Blues: “It’s not a context that we want to relive obviously”recognized coach Didier Deschamps at a press conference, relayed by RMC Sport. “After that it’s not an excuse. When we are at the Stade de France, it always has the habit of being very full. That wasn’t the case but we knew it anyway, in addition to the context which is obviously heavy and heavy”, he then tempered. “It hurts my heart a little to see the stadium like that”Randal Kolo Muani reported to him.

The world vice-champions can still say that they have fulfilled their mission: to collect the point they needed to continue their adventure next March in this competition which neither fans nor players dream of. But this match will not leave a lasting memory in terms of the game. Deprived as in October of their captain Kylian Mbappé, they did not manage to win the game against an opponent whom they had largely dominated in October in Budapest (4 -1). This outing will not help them revive their popularity rating with the public, far from being at its highest after a disappointing Euro 2024.

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