SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) – A calm atmosphere surrounded the Stade de France on Tuesday evening as France’s soccer team returned to its national stadium for the first time since last November’s attacks in Paris.
Security had been tightened ahead of the game, with police cars patrolling around the arena in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, while fans gathered at drinks stalls a couple of hours before France took on Russia in a friendly game.
With police sirens wailing in the distance, families slowly walked along the main esplanade as a rare ray of light broke through the clouds, while a group of supporters raised the Russian flag and took selfies.
“I’m not afraid, life goes on,” said Benoit Guyot, who traveled from the eastern region of Alsace to watch the game. Guyot told The Associated Press he had never seen France playing at its home stadium before and said the high level of alert in the French capital did not frighten him.
“I’ve never seen as many security forces at a sporting event,” he said. “I’m reassured.”