PARIS - France coach Didier Deschamps insisted Monday there will be no fear among his team as they play at the Stade de France for the first time since it was targeted by suicide bombers in November.
France's head coach Didier Deschamps looks at his players during a training session in Clairefontaine en Yvelines on March 21, 2016 on the first day of their training ahead of the friendly football match against Netherland to be held on March 25
The French rugby team have played Italy, Ireland and England there in the meantime, but Friday's game against the Netherlands is the first football international since the France versus Germany game on November 13 last year.
That night 130 people were killed in a series of attacks across the French capital with suicide bombers detonating explosives outside the Stade de France. One person was killed and dozens injured outside the stadium.
"No-one will ever forget what happened, but we should not go there with fear and uncertainty," Deschamps said ahead of Friday's friendly.
"We went through some horrible moments, really dramatic. But the Stade de France is our Stadium," said Deschamps, who himself lifted the 1998 World Cup trophy in the very same stadium as captain of France.
"Let's make this a beautiful party," he added. "It was challenging emotionally, but we have to get on with things now."
Three suicide bombers detonated their explosives at the Stade de France, the first having been turned away at the gate when a security guard discovered his jacket.