France Marks Bastille Day With a Semi-Final and a Minute's Silence

Tuesday's World Cup semi-final between France and Spain in Dallas carries extra weight this year, as it takes place on Bastille Day, France's national holiday. President Macron has announced that a minute's silence will be observed before kick-off to honour the victims of the 2016 Nice terror attack, which claimed 86 lives, according to The Guardian.

The attack occurred on Bastille Day ten years ago, when a truck was driven into a crowd in Nice. It is a date that carries both celebration and grief for the French nation.

The Guardian reports that millions of television viewers in France are expected to watch the game, even as the country also grapples with fears of wildfires spreading across the south. The traditional Eiffel Tower firework display was moved to Monday as a mark of respect for the victims.