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.

NICOLAS ROCHE notched his highest stage finishing so far in this year’s Tour de France with a fine 15th place on the leg-breaking 215 kilometre trek from Le Mans to Châteauroux yesterday.

British cycling fans endured a day of mixed fortunes today as Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins crashed out of the Tour de France before Mark Cavendish enjoyed a stage seven success in Chateauroux.

MARK CAVENDISH yesterday scorched to the 16th Tour de France stage win of his career before hinting at the demons which lie beneath his combustible personality.

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish today scorched to the 16th Tour de France stage win of his career before hinting at the demons which lie beneath his combustible personality.

PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy dispatched riot police yesterday to reopen fuel depots blocked by strikes against pension reform, as the pipeline to Paris airports was cut and all of France’s oil refineries shut down.

I WISH to express my concern about so-called boy racers and the hazard they pose to other road users and society in general.

Paris St Germain midfielder Stephane Sessegnon has left the door ajar for Chelsea to make an offer for his services.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink hailed FA Cup semi-final hero Didier Drogba after another match-winning performance from the Ivory Coast striker.

BARCELONA sent out a strong signal to potential Champions League opponents ahead of Friday’s second round draw as late goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi gave them a win over bitter rivals Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.

JUST when Real Madrid seemed to be building an unassailable lead, with an unbeaten run stretching back three months, the champions have lost two away matches in a row, and suddenly the gap at the top has closed.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA has described his run to the Australian Open final as “ridiculous” after destroying second seed Rafael Nadal in the last four yesterday.

Tottenham are set to make a new approach for Fred on Thursday, according to the Lyon striker’s agent.

Paris St Germain climbed out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone as goals by Amara Diane and Sylvain Armand helped see off second-placed Lens today.

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.

DUTCH striker Ruud van Nistelrooy scored four times as Real Madrid beat Osasuna 4-1 yesterday to move third in La Liga.

LEON HASLAM is out to slash team-mate Gregorio Lavilla’s British Superbike Championship lead by claiming his first win of the season at Mondello Park this weekend.

A former teacher armed with a handgun surrendered today after taking nearly two dozen people hostage in a classroom in France, police said.

A former teacher armed with a handgun and reportedly suffering from depression took some 20 people hostage today – 18 of them students – holding them in a high school classroom, French police and a school employee said.

A former teacher armed with a hand gun took some 20 people, including students, hostage today, holding them in a high school classroom, French police said.

EUROPE’S second snowstorm this week piled drifts on tracks and roads yesterday, slowing rail service, stranding motorists and causing hundreds of traffic accidents. At least six deaths were attributed to a week of icy weather.

FRANCE reported a second death from freezing temperatures yesterday as blizzards swept through northern and central Europe, forcing flight cancellations at Prague airport and cutting power lines and rail links in Scandinavia.

INTER MILAN overcame an Adriano no-show to thrash Livorno 5-0 yesterday and move within six points of Serie A leaders Juventus.

WEST HAM made a deadline-day swoop for midfielder Sekou Baradji from Le Mans but immediately sent the Frenchman out on loan to Coca-Cola Championship side Reading.

West Ham made a deadline-day swoop for midfielder Sekou Baradji from Le Mans but immediately sent the Frenchman out on loan to Coca-Cola Championship side Reading.

Three French mountain climbers fell 1,300 feet to their deaths while hiking in the Alps at the weekend.

TOM KRISTENSEN admitted his record breaking seventh Le Mans 24 Hours victory yesterday was his greatest win to date.

Angers, a town in western France known for its medieval castle and Cointreau liqueur, now has a new, more sordid reputation – as the home of a paedophilia ring where parents allegedly raped, abused and pimped children and even babies.

THE murdered Frenchwoman Sophie Toscan du Plantier was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time of her brutal death.

Two Bentleys headed three Audis after the opening four-hour time trial at Le Mans today in preparation for this year’s 24 Hour race.

Audi boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich hopes his all-conquering team will be allowed to try and maintain their domination of the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

Sports car enthusiasts are celebrating the return of the MG to one of the world's greatest motor races after a gap of 36 years.