Bayern Munich (5) 3 Chelsea (6) 2

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has elected to replace Glen Johnson with Bayern Munich transfer target Robert Huth.

Didier Drogby has returned to the starting line-up for tonight's Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal 1 Bayern Munich 0

ARSENAL were left with a Champions League mountain to climb after serious defensive blunders in their last-16 first-leg tie at Bayern Munich.

It was by no means the first time that Arsenal had frozen on the big occasion in the Champions League.

Ashley Cole failed to recover from illness and was left out of Arsenal’s starting line-up for their Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Bayern Munich tonight.

James Whelan

France’s World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet has declared “the beautiful adventure” which saw Les Bleus dominate international football over.

FRANCE manager Raymond Domenech paid Ireland the tribute of suggesting they have shown the best form in the group after three series of matches.

IRELAND will march confidently into the magnificent Stade de France tonight with spirits high and ambition soaring to face a French team reeling amid charges of mis-management.

BARELY two days in the French capital, and if I had a franc for every time I’ve heard an Irish voice proclaim that “there’s never been a better time to take on France in Paris“, I’d have, oh, about ten or eleven francs by now.

BRIAN KERR yesterday moved swiftly to dampen the unrealistic predictions about the result of Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie in Paris that have been spawned by France’s list of problems.

A CAUTIONARY note seems advisable after absorbing the cross-section of views expressed in the sports pages of the Sunday papers — France have conceded nothing ahead of next Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie at the Stade de France.

BRIAN KERR’S trademark Dublin wit was much in evidence after training yesterday in Malahide when he strove to banish World Cup concerns at the number of first-choice players ruled out of tomorrow’s opening qualifier against Cyprus.

FRANCE left-back Bixente Lizarazu has left German side Bayern Munich and signed a two-year contract with Olympique Marseille.

Marseille boss Jose Anigo today admitted he felt “great sadness” over the departure of Didier Drogba as the Ivory Coast striker’s transfer to Chelsea moved nearer completion.

Greece 1, France 0.

France 0-1 Greece

Euro 2004 result:

Patrick Vieira failed a late fitness test for France’s Euro 2004 quarter-final with Greece at the Estadio Jose Alvalade with Olivier Dacourt getting his second start of the tournament in place of the injured Arsenal midfielder.

FRANCE midfielder Patrick Vieira, who has a thigh strain, is doubtful for tonight's quarter-final against Greece, says coach Jacques Santini.

France coach Jacques Santini will have to shuffle his defence for the Euro 2004 quarter-final against Greece tomorrow because of the broken arm which has ended the tournament of right-back Willy Sagnol.

Switzerland 1 France 3

Switzerland 1 France 3

Euro 2004 results:

Switzerland 1 France 1

Bixente Lizarazu returned for France’s final Group B match with Switzerland at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra as coach Jacques Santini made four changes to the team held 2-2 by Croatia.

All the latest from Portugal.

THIERRY Henry says that he and his French team-mates have yet to fire on all cylinders as they approach tonight’s final Euro 2004 Group B match with Switzerland.

France coach Jacques Santini may reinstate Claude Makelele, Robert Pires and Bixente Lizarazu to his starting line-up for the final Group B match with Switzerland where a draw would guarantee the defending champions a berth in the last eight.

FRANCE coach Jacques Santini knows victory in their second Euro 2004 match against Croatia today would allow him the luxury of resting key players for their final group game.

France coach Jacques Santini has a few players still recovering from the effects of the pulsating 2-1 victory over England on Sunday.

France striker David Trezeguet looks to have recovered from an ankle injury and may replace Louis Saha alongside Thierry Henry in attack against England on Sunday.

HE may not have been named in the squad for the forthcoming friendly against Holland, but Nicolas Anelka’s international career received a significant boost yesterday.

REAL MADRID claimed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a first-half strike from Zinedine Zidane gave them a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in a fiery encounter at the Bernabeu last night.

RESULTS

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Half-time scores