FORMER France defender Lilian Thuram admits his career is hanging in the balance after medical tests revealed he is suffering from a heart problem.

IT began with what the orange t-shirts called ‘Basle – The Invasion’ and ended with something more closely resembling the retreat from Moscow.

MARRIAGE may be in the offing for Raymond Domenech, but his divorce from France’s national team should be finalised in the coming weeks after their abject showing at Euro 2008.

Lilian Thuram joined France team-mate Claude Makelele in retiring from international football after Les Bleus’ elimination from Euro 2008.

France and Italy walk out for their trans-Alpine clash at Zurich’s Letzigrund tonight knowing their Euro 2008 fate lies in the hands of Romania.

Netherlands 4 France 1

PATRICK VIEIRA returned to training with the rest of the France squad yesterday as he steps up his bid to be fit for Euro 2008.

Manchester United suffered a double blow with Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic ruled out of this Champions League semi-final second leg match.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has kept faith with the majority of the squad that played in last week’s goalless Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United for Tuesday’s return encounter.

Celtic’s top scorer Scott McDonald was the surprise omission for the second leg of the Parkhead side’s Champions League last-16 tie with Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

FIFA have published the shortlist for their world player of the year award.

SCOTLAND took a giant step towards qualifying for the 2008 European Championships with an amazing 1-0 win over France in the Parc des Princes.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has sprung a surprise in naming Arsenal’s Abou Diaby and Chelsea’s Lassana Diarra in his squad for the double-header against Lithuania and Austria later this month.

Liverpool reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Barcelona lost their European crown on a thrilling night at Anfield.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez stuck with exactly the same side that produced such a shock result in the Nou Camp a fortnight ago.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has recalled playmaker Deco and defender Lilian Thuram for tomorrow's Champions League last-16 second leg with Liverpool at Anfield.

BARCELONA will look to avoid an embarrassing early exit from the Champions League and an unwanted place in the history books tonight.

FIFA have joined forces with FIFPro, the International Federation of Professional Footballers, in a move which will give the players an official voice in decision-making.

CHELSEA claim unhappy French defender William Gallas threatened to score an own goal and refused to play for the club before he was sold to Arsenal as part of the deal which took Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea claim unhappy French defender William Gallas sensationally threatened to score an own goal and refused to play for the club before he was sold to Arsenal as part of the deal which took Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho has been hit with a fresh blast from coach Raymond Domenech and defender Lilian Thuram as France refuse to back down in the row over the selection of midfielder Claude Makelele.

Lilian Thuram claims it was inappropriate of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to claim Claude Makelele has been treated as a “slave” by France.

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Manchester United 1

Italy coach Marcello Lippi and his France counterpart Raymond Domenech both named unchanged teams for Sunday evening’s World Cup final in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

France defender Eric Abidal was once hailed as “the new Lilian Thuram” but the full-back claims he is still overwhelmed by the ability of the man who will play alongside him in Sunday’s World Cup final with Italy.

Zinedine Zidane has ensured he will leave football on a high after some superb performances in his last competition before retiring.

VETERAN defender Lilian Thuram has urged France to maintain the new-found humility he says is the key to their resurgence and their hopes of booking a ticket to the World Cup final.

Spain 1 France 3

FRANCE’S third-choice goalkeeper Mickael Landreau claims he is not taking sides in the rift between first-choice Fabien Barthez and number two Gregory Coupet, but admits Les Bleus are still talking about it.

France’s third-choice goalkeeper Mickael Landreau claims he is not taking sides in the rift between first-choice Fabien Barthez and number two Gregory Coupet but admits Les Bleus are still talking about it.

NICOLAS ANELKA has missed the World Cup cut for a third time as France coach Raymond Domenech named his 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany.

Patrick Vieira received a warm reception on his return to Highbury as Arsenal took on Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Juventus 2 Werder Bremen 1 (Agg 4-4) (Juve win on away goals)

Werder Bremen 3 Juventus 2

Juventus 2 Bayern Munich 1

YOUR STARTER for ten: identify the prominent Irish football personality who offers this considered analysis of the managerial succession stakes.

URUGUAY coach Jorge Fossati is ready for a tough final hurdle against Australia but is confident of reaching the 2006 World Cup finals.

A DETERMINED Switzerland will try to prevent France completing their first successful World Cup qualifying campaign in 20 years on Saturday.

SWITZERLAND coach Kobi Kuhn has dismissed suggestions that his side are favourites to top Group Four and qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals.

YOUNG BOYS Bern playmaker Hakan Yakin, recently struggling with a thigh injury, has been omitted from the Switzerland squad for the games against France and the Republic of Ireland.

IT TOOK 20 minutes for the Tackle Heard Round The World to be resurrected on RTÉ last night.

Rep of Ireland 0 France 1

Rep of Ireland 0 France 1

Republic of Ireland 0 France 0