Le Graet impressed by positive Diarra response after losing cousin in Paris attack

Lassana Diarra has shown that he "wants to respond" to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris despite losing a cousin in the atrocities, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has said.

The midfielder revealed that his cousin was one of the victims of the attacks which swept the French capital while he featured for his country in Friday's friendly against Germany.

And Le Graet says the midfielder has shown a positive response in his desire to remain with the national team heading into Tuesday's friendly against England.

"Diarra was asked not to go to London with us," he said. "I was with the U21 team because I did not want to leave them alone, but I will see Diarra on Monday.

"The fact that he stayed with us shows that he wants to respond positively."


The friendly at Wembley will go ahead despite the attacks, with the English FA revealing that the lyrics to the French national anthem will be shown ahead of the game, and Le Graet says he had no doubt the game would go ahead.

"I never had any doubt about this game, it never occurred to me that it would be called off, not even for a second... I knew we would play in England."