Paris attacks: 'We came to Wembley to support France and show Isis terrorists they will lose'

Defiant, stoic, resilient. Call it what you want but that is how the French football fans at Wembley were on Tuesday night. Just days after Islamic State (IS) terrorists killed at least 129 people in Paris, the French football team, whose Stade de France was one six venues targeted by the Islamist militants and saw three people killed there, reluctantly travel to the home of English football.

Supporters were driven to the pitch after the France beat Germany that tragic night in Paris in search of safety and answers. Tonight they packed London's underground to, put simply, show two fingers to IS and terrorism.

Making his way from Baker Street to Wembley Park on the Metropolitan Line was French banker, Christophe Marne. He bought his ticket the day after the attacks and felt it was important to be at the game.

"For me there was no better way to show defiance than to attend this match," he said. "Am I scared? No. I feel very safe here. The people who were killed, they were scared but not me."

Jean Toto, 50, travelled by train from Hyeres in the south of France. He struck a defiant tone as he arrived at Wembley Park station and took photos of the stadium's illuminated tri-colour arch.

"We are here to support the France team because of what has happened in Paris last week. We have to celebrate for the people who died and show respect for the French country. We have come to prove to the whole world we are not afraid and we will not change our lives. We are not scared and we want to live like we did before the attacks."

Walking up Wembley Way and draped in the French flag were Jeremy Foures, 24, and Sebastien Guilhaumo, 26, both of whom travelled from Toulouse. The pair said they felt safer in London than in their native country.

"We feel very safe here in London," Foures said. "We have come here to support the France team, of course, and because it is important to be here in this moment. We can see the English being emotional for us and that is special."

Guilhaumo said the pair had been impressed by the level of security since arriving in the capital at 11am on Tuesday (17 November). "It is important to show the world that we are not afraid," he said. "We are all in the same story. We want to live just like before and not in fear, we want to carry on as normal. It is the best way to show terrorists they will lose."

England fan James Bouault, 32, of Keevil on Wiltshire was bought tickets by his brother. He said there was never any doubt the pair would attend. "Initially when I saw the attack I thought the game might be called off but I think it is the right thing to do [playing the match].

"It is a football match, of course, but it is so much more important than that. We must show our support."

Bouault, whose grandfather was French and served in World War Two, added he and his brother felt safe and that the added presence of armed guards was reassuring. "Obviously you don't have body checks going into football matches so it is difficult to tell what is going in to stadiums. But tonight is different."