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

LAURENT BLANC revealed that Yoann Gourcuff and Franck Ribery have held clear-the-air talks, as France continue the healing process after the trauma of last year’s World Cup.

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

JOSE MOURINHO was unable to shed any light on whether Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would be fit for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Lyon tonight when he briefed the media yesterday.

FABIO CAPELLO opened a door on the future for England – and the fans did not like what they saw as the Three Lions were jeered off after defeat to France at Wembley last night.

England 1 France 2

RANGERS suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this season as Roberto Soldado grabbed a double to hand Valencia a 3-0 victory.

Rangers suffered their first defeat in Group C of the Champions League this season as Roberto Soldado grabbed a double to hand Valencia a 3-0 victory tonight.

Bordeaux have confirmed the signing of Tunisian international midfielder Fahid Ben Khalfallah from fellow Ligue 1 team Valenciennes.

Lyon have agreed a €22m fee with Bordeaux for France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.

FRANCE exited the World Cup at the first-round stage with barely a whimper after this humbling defeat by the host nation at the Free State Stadium.

France coach Raymond Domenech expressed his sadness as his tenure ended with his squabbling side making an early exit from the World Cup.

France 1 South Africa 2

France 0 South Africa 2

France striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from the World Cup after after refusing to apologise for his half-time rant at coach Raymond Domenech.

PERHAPS the biggest surprise about France’s toothless defeat to Mexico, which leaves their World Cup fate out of their hands, is that it came as no surprise at all.

France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan admits he and his team-mates ran out of ideas in the disastrous defeat to Mexico which looks like bringing their World Cup to a premature end.

THE Republic of Ireland may not be in South Africa but supporters of the Boys in Green will have savoured France’s defeat to Mexico last night, a result that leaves Raymond Domenech’s side staring at the prospect of saying an early ‘au revoir’ to the 2010 World Cup.

France 0 Mexico 2

World Cup Group A

France 0 China 1

William Gallas has retained his place in a reduced France squad as Raymond Domenech’s side begin their World Cup preparations in earnest in Tignes tomorrow.

LYON were grateful to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for a dramatic late save as Les Gones reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in their history with victory over Ligue 1 rivals Bordeaux last night.

France 0 Spain 2

Olympiacos 0 Bordeaux 1

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh is a major doubt for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Juventus after sustaining an abdomen injury at the weekend.

KEITH ANDREWS last night claimed Lassana Diarra had made a “disgraceful” comment to spark the ugly scenes which marred the end of Ireland’s defeat to France on Saturday.

Midfielder Keith Andrews will need no extra motivation as he heads into the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup showdown with France.

France skipper Thierry Henry headed back to Paris warning his team-mates their World Cup qualification mission is far from over.

Republic of Ireland 0 France 1

THE wind and rain was of King Lear proportions outside the French team’s Dublin hotel last night but the storm clouds have never been far from Raymond Domenech during his five years in charge of Les Bleus.

RAYMOND Domenech has told France’s players the pressure must come from within for their make-or-break World Cup play-off against Ireland.

Raymond Domenech today left captain Patrick Vieira out of his France squad to face the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualifying play-off this month.

Bayern Munich 0 Bordeaux 2

MICHAEL CIANI scored at both ends and Bordeaux missed two penalties as the French champions leapfrogged Bayern Munich to move to the top of Group A last night as the visitors finished the game with nine men.

AC Milan edged a thrilling contest with Real Madrid 3-2 at the Bernabeu in the pick of tonight's Champions League games.

Juventus 1 Bordeaux 1

Faroe Islands 0 France 1

Thierry Henry has hit out at a France's supporters for failing to get behind the national side during last night's 2-0 defeat to Argentina in Marseille.

BARCELONA were a class apart as they hammered Basel 5-0 in Switzerland last night to go clear at the top of Champions League Group C.

ATLETICO MADRID kept pace with Liverpool at the top of Champions League Group D thanks to a 2-1 win over Marseille in the Spanish capital last night.