Evian (France) (AFP) – Jerome Boateng insists it will be business as usual for Germany when they return to Stade de France on Thursday for the first time since last November’s terror attacks in Paris.

Die Mannschaft will play Poland in their second Group C game at Euro 2016 on their first return to the ground since spending a traumatic night at the national stadium seven months ago.

Centre-back Boateng was in the German team that played at the Stade de France on November 13 last year when a series of jihadist attacks across the French capital left 130 dead.

After losing a friendly to France, Germany players had to sleep in the dressing room, before flying home at dawn, as French police could not guarantee their safe return to the team hotel.

During the international friendly, loud bangs could be heard as suicide bombers detonated explosives outside the stadium

The team were offered help from psychologists in the months after the November attacks.

But Boateng stressed those haunting memories won’t be a distraction when they face Poland on Thursday hoping to collect a second win having already beaten Ukraine 2-0 in Lille on Sunday. 

“It’s not a topic for us, we feel safe and are concentrating on sporting matters, on the game and we’ll travel there tomorrow in a normal fashion, just like we did to Lille,” said Boateng.

“We want to prepare well and that is our goal at the moment, we’re not worried about the rest.”

However, Boateng caused a stir in the build-up to the European Championship finals by admitting his wife and five-year-old twin daughters will not be in France to watch him play because of terror fears.

The Bayern Munich star explained his decision.

“Yes, I made the decision, not only for that reason, but also for several other reasons,” said the 27-year-old.

“Through past experiences at other tournaments, because of the amount of journeys involved and because we have two small daughters.

“I decided for myself not to drag them around for the whole tournament and to bring them to every stadium.”