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The friendly encounter between Germany and Netherlands has been cancelled with just 90 minutes before kick-off.

The Niedersachsenstadion in Hannover was set to host the match but police confirmed just a matter of hours before kick-off that the arena had been evacuated.

Reports emerged earlier on Tuesday evening that a suspect package, said to be a suitcase, was found at the ground in the build-up.

Later police confirmed the game had been called off.

LIVE: Follow the latest updates from Germany in our rolling blog

Local police told fans: "Please go home quickly without panic," according to local reports, 90 minutes before play started.

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Police enter the stadium

Catering staff were reportedly told to leave without their coats, and journalists were refused entry into the stadium.

Trains away from the stadium have been cancelled, with fans being told to move on foot.

German chancellor Angela Merkel was due to be in the stadium for the match.

Another arena in Hannover, the TUI-Arena, has also been evacuated, according to German publication Bild. Music band Söhne Mannheims were set to play there this evening.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Reuters)

Germany were playing in France on Friday evening, when a series of coordinated attacks claimed the lives of at least 129 people in Paris.

The German squad stayed in the Stade de France through the night, before flying home on Saturday morning.

Boss Joachim Low had expressed doubts over whether the game against the Netherlands should go ahead, following the events of last week.

"It was a horrible, terrible night," Low told reporters at a press conference.

(Image: Charlie Crowhurst)

"Once we had landed back in Frankfurt, I had the feeling that the (Holland) game could not take place.

"But having slept on it for a night, it became clear that the game had to go ahead.

"It's going to be a clear message for freedom and democracy. It is about respect and support for our French friends.

"If we manage to turn this game into a signal, then we will already have won, regardless of the result.

"We are all of the opinion that it's good that we stand by our values and that this game takes place."

England are playing France at Wembley this evening. Follow the build-up and latest reaction to the news from Germany in our live blog.