France footballer Lassana Diarra arrives in London for England match just days after his cousin was killed in Paris terror attacks as police provide guard for team coach

• Lassana Diarra and his France team-mates have arrived in England ahead of Tuesday's emotional friendly match
• Just days ago it was confirmed that midfielder Diarra's cousin died in Friday's terrorist attacks which stunned Paris
• The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder rejected the chance to drop out of the travelling squad
• The France team coach was given a police escort as they were taken to hotel ahead of Tuesday's emotional game
•  Paris Terror Attacks: See more of the latest breaking news and updates

By Daniel Prescott For Mailonline

Published: 07:38 EST, 16 November 2015 | Updated: 14:15 EST, 16 November 2015

Lassana Diarra arrived in London on Monday - just days after it was confirmed his cousin was one of the victims of Friday's terror attacks in Paris.

Asta Diakité, who Diarra described as 'like a big sister to me', was among the 129 killed in the city as terrorists with links to ISIS caused carnage.

The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder was playing in a friendly against Germany as the drama, which included suicide bombers outside the Stade de France where the game was being played, unfolded. 

Lassana Diarra trained in London on Monday ahead of France's friendly against England at Wembley

Diarra's cousin was among the 129 killed in Paris last Friday night as terrorists with links to ISIS caused carnage

France international midfielder Diarra arrives in London just days after his cousin was killed in Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris

The France team coach is given a police escort as it makes its way from the airport to the squad hotel before Tuesday's friendly fixture

A police escort is given to the France team coach as they make their way down the motorway just days after terror attacks shocked Paris

Police motorbikes prepare to shadow the France team bus to their hotel following their arrival at Luton airport on Monday afternoon

Arsenal and France international striker Olivier Giroud touches down in England ahead of France's international friendly at Wembley

France and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna leads team-mates off the plane as they touch down in England on Monday afternoon

Andre-Pierre Gignac wheels his suitcase along the tarmac as France touch down ahead of their fixture as the whole squad remain defiant

France manager Didier Deschamps walks through to the hotel following their flight from Paris to England on Tuesday morning

The whole France squad stayed at the stadium until 3am before travelling back to their training centre 40 miles south west of Paris.

Fans and players could hear the explosions while the game was being played and there were calls for Tuesday night's planned friendly against England to be cancelled, however Diarra and his team-mates landed in London on the eve of the clash after it was given the go ahead.

The France squad were given a police escort as they travelled down the motorway towards their hotel ahead of what is sure to be an emotional clash.

Diarra, as well as the other 22 players named in Didier Deschamps' squad to play against England, was given the option to pull out of the friendly as France observes three days of mourning.

However, all 23 of the defiant French players refused to let the terrorists win and will be at Wembley stadium on Tuesday night for the international.

Diarra played 80 minutes of Friday's friendly against Germany and said after the game: 'In this climate of terror, it is important for all of us who are representatives of our country and its diversity to speak and remain united against a horror that has no colour, no religion.'

Fellow countryman Antoine Griezmann was another affected personally by the events that unfolded, as he revealed post-match that his sister was one of the lucky survivors who escaped the Bataclan.

Diarra played 80 minutes of the friendly against Germany before finding out his cousin was a victim of Friday's Paris terror attacks

Former Premier League midfielder Diarra took to Twitter on Saturday to confirm cousin Asta Diakite was one of those who had died

Antoine Griezmann was also emotionally involved - he revealed after Friday's game that his sister was a survivor of the Bataclan theatre

As Atletico Madrid star Griezmann played against Germany his sister was in the Bataclan concert hall watching 'Eagles of Death Metal'

France and Germany supporters gather together on the pitch at the Stade de France on Friday night following the explosions outside

Sombre French and German football fans are evacuated from the Stade de France following a terrorist attack in Paris on Friday evening

He wrote on his social media account: 'Thank God my sister was able to exit the Bataclan. All my prayers to the victims and their families.'

England fans are being urged to join in with the French national anthem at Wembley stadium before Tuesday's game, which will be high on security, kicks off.

Big screens at the national stadium are already being prepped to show the words for La Marseillaise as both countries join together as one.

An FA spokesman said: 'We have no concerns in the circumstances about a Wembley crowd behaving in the right way. They will be very respectful.'

The travelling France squad and their fans will also be welcomed by a giant tricolore of support. 

The words of the French national anthem will be on screens at Wembley on Tuesday for fans to sing along to as both nations join together

France will still play England in a friendly on Tuesday after the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday with all 23 players travelling 

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