France players decline option to sit out England friendly following Paris attacks

France's first-team players have declined the option to miss Tuesday's international friendly against England following the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

Head coach Didier Deschamps is said to have told the team that they have permission to drop out after 129 people were killed during six separate attacks on the country's capital on Friday night.

The team were playing Germany at the Stade de France when three suicide bombers killed themselves just outside of the stadium.

Lassana Diarra suffered a personal loss in the tragedy as his cousin Asta Diakite was killed in the attacks, while Antoine Griezmann's sister Maud escaped injury at the Bataclan theatre, where 89 people died.

The players have told Deschamps that they will take part in Tuesday's friendly against England at Wembley, which will display the words to the French national anthem La Marseillaise to encourage both sets of fans to sing and pay their respects.

France's team media officer Philippe Tournon told reporters: "All the players are coming."

The friendly was given the green light to go ahead after the governing bodies from each nation held talks following the attacks.