A knee injury has ruled midfielder Samir Nasri out of France's upcoming friendlies against the United States and Belgium.

THERE was once a time when French football was thought to lead the world.

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.

ARSENE WENGER believes Arsenal will soon provide the backbone of the England team.

France striker Thierry Henry does not believe the Republic of Ireland will take to the field at the Stade de France this evening intent on revenge.

THERE was no French translator present in the Stade de France for Ireland’s pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s make or break World Cup play-off against France.

FRANCE captain Thierry Henry has told his team to play for a win against Ireland and not settle for the draw that will be enough to secure their place in the World Cup finals.

PATRICE EVRA has expressed annoyance that Ireland are bringing a reported 25,000 fans to the World Cup play-off second leg at Stade de France tonight.

THE nation’s supply of asterisks has been seriously depleted in the last 48 hours as reports have differed about the precise content of the inflammatory remark made by France’s Lassana Diarra to Ireland’s Keith Andrews after the final whistle blew in Croke Park on Saturday night.

FRANCE defender Eric Abidal will miss the second leg of the World Cup play-off against Ireland on Wednesday night due to a thigh injury.

Giovanni Trapattoni has challenged his Republic of Ireland players to raise their game another notch if they are to edge past France and into next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

FRANCE defender Bacary Sagna has pointed to his proud record against Robbie Keane at club level as a reason for his side’s confidence going into tomorrow’s World Cup play-off at Croke Park.

FRANCE defender Eric Abidal yesterday fired back at Richard Dunne, who recently questioned Raymond Domenech’s ability to manage Les Bleus successfully.

FRANCE’S first-choice front man André-Pierre Gignac suffered an injury scare during Toulouse’s 3-2 win against Rennes in Ligue 1 yesterday.

Middlesbrough are hopeful that defender Emanuel Pogatetz is not facing a lengthy lay-off after a scan revealed the extent of his knee injury.

I’M writing before kick-off in Spain but for once I can genuinely be insouciant enough to suggest that it doesn’t really matter how we did last night; all eyes have been on next Sunday since full-time in Brum.

Arsenal are one of a number of European clubs to have made an offer for Marseille playmaker Samir Nasri, the player’s agent has confirmed.

Louis Saha has pulled out of the France squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania because of a knee injury.

France striker Nicolas Anelka claims he has no plans to leave Bolton, but admits he "could not say no" to an offer from Manchester United.

EVAN Williams has enjoyed a lucrative season so far and Bob Bites Back is expected to add to the tally in the WBX.com £25 New Account Sign Up Beginners’ Chase at Hereford today.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has called up Nicolas Anelka for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Scotland and the Faroe Islands.

France coach Raymond Domenech has called up Nicolas Anelka for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Scotland and the Faroe Islands.

France coach Raymond Domenech has insisted national teams should always take priority over clubs after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho accused him of treating midfielder Claude Makelele like a “slave” for forcing him to honour his call-up.

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse admits his Anfield days could be numbered and hopes to sort out his future as soon as possible.

SWISS striker Alexander Frei says France will be under huge pressure when they travel to Berne for their penultimate World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

FRANCE striker Djibril Cisse has ended speculation linking him with a move back to Ligue 1 by pledging his long-term future to Liverpool.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will retire from football after the 2006 World Cup.

Thierry Henry is set to make such a rapid recovery from his calf injury that he could play for France next week.

Arsenal winger Robert Pires has given up hope of being called up for the French national side by Raymond Domenech after being left out for the third consecutive squad.

Isabelle Rondeau, Paris

ALL the talk may have been about the troubles surrounding French football but a visit to Clairefontaine is a sobering reminder that Ireland are visiting one of the great powers of world football.

Juventus striker David Trezeguet has been ruled out of France’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and has been replaced in Raymond Domenech’s squad by Peguy Luyindula.

French police began digging for clues today in the garden of a former home of a confessed serial killer who claimed last week to have murdered nine people and buried several of the bodies.

FRANCE coach Jacques Santini is determined to avoid a repeat of the opening-match hoodoo which derailed Les Bleus at the 2002 World Cup in Korea.

Sylvain Wiltord claims he will extend his stay at Arsenal if the club come up with the right offer.

FABIEN BARTHEZ claims there is no tension between him and Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and insists he respects the decision to sideline him.

Zinedine Zidane is doubtful for France’s European Championship qualifying matches against Cyprus and Slovenia after injuring his ankle in Real Madrid’s draw with Villarreal on Tuesday night.

FABIEN BARTHEZ remains coach Jacques Santini’s first-choice goalkeeper for France’s Euro 2004 Group One qualifier against Cyprus on Saturday, despite his lack of match practice.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has dedicated his goal in France’s 3-2 Confederations Cup win over Turkey to Marc Vivien Foe.

HAVING experienced a great start to his professional career in Britian, 23-year-old Irishman Davy Russell will be endeavouring to record his second success on French soil on Sunday when he climbs aboard The Quads for Ferdy Murphy in a three mile two and a half furlong steeplechase at Pau.

Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka has snubbed an offer to play for France.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has admitted his Gunners team-mates had specifically set him up to become England’s top scorer.

Robert Pires has joined Patrick Vieira in pledging his long-term future to Arsenal.