German football coach: Match with Netherlands for “freedom and democracy”

Joachim Low, coach of the German football team, was in two minds about Tuesday night's friendly match between the Netherlands and Germany after the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, but is happy that the game will go ahead. He calls it a "clear message for freedom and democracy"

The German football team got caught up in the terrorist attack at the Stade de Fance stadium, where they played a friendly against France.

"It was a horrible, terrible night. Once we had landed back in Frankfurt, I had the feeling that the game could not take place. But having slept on it for a night, it became clear that the game had to go ahead", Low said to the Guardian. "It's going to be a clear message for freedom and democracy. It is about respect and support for our French friends. If we manage to turn this game into a signal, then we will already have won, regardless of the results. We are all of the opinion that it's good that we stand by our values and that this game takes place."

The match takes place at the Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover on Tuesday night. It will be attended by Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health, Welfare and Sports as well as by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.