England vs France: Roy Hodgson 'proud' as Wembley friendly defies Paris terror attacks

Paying tribute: English and French football associations united to honour the victims
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Paul Hirst18 November 2015

Roy Hodgson was "proud" of his players and the supporters inside Wembley for the way they honoured the victims of the Paris terror attacks.

England extended their winning run at Wembley to nine matches on Tuesday when they beat France 2-0.

Dele Alli scored with a long-range effort on his full debut and Wayne Rooney bagged his 51st England goal - but in all honesty, the result did not matter.

What mattered was the unity, the defiance and respect shown by both sets of fans and the players on the pitch.

"I did feel proud," the England manager said.

"I've already received some text messages from some French people I know or have worked with, they've been quick to say the occasion tonight was a very good occasion for their country and the way it was handled was a good thing for their country and we in England can be rightly proud we were able to put this event on.

Player Ratings: England vs France

1/28

"As far as we're concerned an act of defiance is more important than the other alternative."

As requested by the FA, all 71,223 fans inside Wembley took to their seats early and impeccably observed a minute's silence for the 129 victims of the attacks.

On the pitch, the England players mixed with the French for a joint photo and during the silence.

Beforehand, the England supporters inside the stadium joined in with La Marseillaise in an additional show of support with the French.

Floral tributes were made by Hodgson, his opposite number Didier Deschamps and FA president the Duke of Cambridge.

"I thought it was a very poignant occasion," Hodgson added. "It was everything I expected it to be.

"I thought everything was very well done, the players getting together for the minute's silence to the two teams being together.

"All the things we wanted to achieve I thought were achieved in that moment, then of course we had to leave that side behind and for us that turned out to the a good evening because we won."

Alli was the star of the show in England's first victory over France in 17 years.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who was playing League One football just six months ago, had no trouble settling into the England team on his first start.

In the 39th minute, the teenager won the ball and exchanged passes with Rooney before driving the ball into the top corner of Hugo Lloris' net and then dispossessed Paul Pogba to help set up the captain's goal just after the restart.

"It was as close to a faultless performance (as you could get)," Hodgson said of Alli.

"I didn't at any moment in the game think he was anything other than top class.

"It is amazing that at that age to have no previous experience to go in and do what he did tonight was quite outstanding."

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