German champions Borussia Dortmund made sure of their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2003 with a comprehensive dismantling of Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA last night.

France assistant coach Alain Boghossian has described the heated dressing room reaction to Tuesday’s defeat by Sweden as “normal” and revealed he expects a positive response in their Euro 2012 quarter-final with Spain.

France assistant coach Alain Boghossian has described the heated dressing-room reaction to Tuesday’s defeat by Sweden as “normal” and revealed he expects a positive response in their Euro 2012 quarter-final with Spain.

An exhilarating match on an extraordinary night in Donetsk, with play suspended for almost an hour because of a thunderstorm, ended with France beating their hosts to go top of Group D and a long way towards securing a place in the knockout stages.

France 1 England 1

France coach Laurent Blanc gave his defenders a Euro 2012 wake-up call despite seeing his side ease to a 4-0 victory over Estonia in their final warm-up game last night.

Laurent Blanc denies the omission of Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff from France’s Euro 2012 squad represents a risk.

France 3 Iceland 2

Newcastle playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa is the eye-catching name among the initial list of 12 overseas-based players selected for France’s Euro 2012 training squad.

Barcelona’s bid to become the first club to be crowned European champions in successive seasons in the Champions League era remains on track after Lionel Messi scored two first half penalties to lay the foundations of a convincing victory that secured the Catalan club’s impressive progress into the semi-finals.

THE return of Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery failed to inspire France as, for the second time in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, they laboured to a 2-0 win over Luxembourg in Group D.

Luxembourg 0 France 2

Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery were today included in the France squad for the first time since the World Cup.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history as they saw off 10-man Roma last night to seal a 6-2 aggregate success.

AC Milan are interested in signing Roma defender Philippe Mexes this summer.

ANGEL DI MARIA hit a late winner for Real Madrid at Auxerre. The win takes them to the top of Champions League Group G.

Angel Di Maria hit a late winner for Real Madrid at Auxerre as the Spanish giants jumped to the top of Group G.

France coach Laurent Blanc today named Everton striker Louis Saha in his 21-man squad and called up Lorient forward Kevin Gameiro for the first time ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 qualifying double header.

Forwards Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa are among the biggest names in Laurent Blanc’s first France squad, for next week’s friendly in Norway.

CHELSEA captain John Terry was left stunned by FIFA’s decision to slap a transfer ban on the club until 2011.

LIVERPOOL closed in on the signing of Roma’s Alberto Aquilani yesterday with boss Rafael Benitez insisting the midfielder will “excite” the fans.

Liverpool closed in on the signing of Roma's Alberto Aquilani today with boss Rafael Benitez insisting the midfielder will "excite" the fans.

Roma defender Philippe Mexes has dismissed rumours linking him with a move away from the Eternal City this summer.

Arsenal 1 Roma 0

Chelsea 1 Roma 0

Manchester United 1 Roma 0 (Manchester United win 3-0 on aggregate)

SATURDAY night’s 1-1 draw between Roma and Milan in Rome lived up to its billing as a possible dress rehearsal for the Champions League semi-final.

RONALDINHO shrugged off claims about his weight as he helped Barcelona shrug off their mini-crisis and go two points clear in La Liga with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last night. An own goal by Amorebieta, a fine volley by Xavi and a cool finish from the recalled Eto’o in a brilliant first half display saw Barca home.

MANCHESTER United left-back Patrice Evra has been recalled to the France squad by Raymond Domenech.

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has been recalled to the France squad by Raymond Domenech.

MIDDLESBROUGH emerged from a major test of their European credentials with a UEFA Cup quarter-final place after surviving a major scare in Rome.

Middlesbrough 1 Roma 0

Three second-half goals saw Juventus return to winning ways in Serie A with a comfortable victory over 10-man Livorno.

Fiorentina moved within five points of Serie A leaders Juventus with a 2-1 win over nine-man Cagliari.

Roma 0 Real Madrid 3

UEFA have launched an investigation into the incident which saw Swedish referee Anders Frisk struck by an object thrown from the stands during Roma’s Champions League match at home to Dynamo Kiev.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN started their Champions League campaign with a shock 3-0 win over a sluggish Real Madrid in Group B of the Champions’ League last night.

CHELSEA have made a last-minute bid to snatch Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes away from Serie A club Roma.

AUXERRE defender Philippe Mexes is set to move to Roma on a four-year contract after turning down Manchester United.

Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes is set to move to Roma on a four-year contract after turning down Manchester United.

HOW fickle is confidence? A week ago, Arsenal were set to conquer the football world. Now they’re having difficulties coping with their own nerves.