Vieira back in training as Les Bleus bid to rediscover form

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.

The Les Bleus captain was last week ruled out of his team’s opening Group C match, against Romania on Monday, because of a thigh injury.

Vieira was told to prove his fitness by Sunday if he was to retain his place in the France squad, with Mathieu Flamini called up to train with the group as a precaution. But Vieira participated in his first training session of the week yesterday and is making good progress, according to France coach Raymond Domenech.