Euro Qualifying Group D Standings
France – 13 points from 6 matches
Belarus – 12 points from 7 matches
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 10 points from 6 matches
Romania – 8 points from 6 matches
Albania – 8 points from 6 matches
Luxembourg – 1 point from 7 matches

France's Remaining Qualifiers
Friday, September 2, 2011 Away to Albania
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Away to Romania
Friday, October 7, 2011 Home against Albania
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Home against Bosnia and Herzegovina

Here is the call-up for next week's qualifiers away to Albania and Romania:

Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Stève Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Younès Kaboul (Tottenham)
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
Adil Rami (Valencia)
Anthony Réveillère (Lyon)

Midfielders
Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
Alou Diarra (Marseille)
Yann M'Vila (Rennes)
Marvin Martin (Sochaux)
Blaise Matuidi (PSG)

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
Jérémy Ménez (PSG)
Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Strikers
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Kevin Gameiro (PSG)
Guillaume Hoarau (PSG)
Loïc Rémy (Marseille)

That's a squad of 24, which is already one more than France can take to official tournaments, but I still find it curious to see Gael Clichy dropped after having started the previous match in the friendly against Chile.

Here's Laurent Blanc's selection for the friendly on Wednesday in Montpellier against Chile:

Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Younes Kaboul (Tottenham)
Adil Rami (Valencia)
Anthony Reveillere (Lyon)
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Mamadou Sakho (PSG)

Midfielders
Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
Alou Diarra (Marseille)
Yann M'Vila (Rennes)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Marvin Martin (Sochaux)
Blaise Matuidi (PSG)
Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
Jeremy Menez [read more]

Paris Saint-Germain have shattered the French transfer record by signing playmaker Javier Pastore from Palermo for €42m.

The fee for the Argentinian international, who has signed a five-year contract, eclipses the €33.5m PSG paid to Real Madrid CF for Nicolas Anelka in 2000

Qatar Sports Investments bought a 70% stake in PSG on 30 June and quickly installed former Inter Milan coach Leonardo as general manager.

szólj hozzá: Par 0-1 Lor

This was not a good weekend for oil and gas rich sheikhs shaking up football with their big spending ways. Paris St Germain now under control of the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) lost their season opener at home against Lorient who scored through Julien Quercia.

Queens Park Rangers has already had dealings with Paris Saint-Germain in this transfer window and refusing to sell Adel Taraabt may come back to haunt them.
PSG has entered the race for Joe Cole and with the Liverpool's midfielder's £90,000-a-week wages proving a stumbling block in QPR's loan bid, the French outfit are in pole position to sign Cole.

By FRANCO PANIZO

MLS wasn't the only team to lose something during All-Star week.

Manchester United forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez will miss the next two weeks of preseason preparations after suffering a concussion during the club's practice session on Tuesday.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Franck Ribery recently said he could be as good as Leo Messi if he kept himself injury-free this coming season.

Well, so much for that.

Ribery could miss the start of the Bundesliga season after picking up an ankle injury during Bayern Munich's training session on Sunday.

Alleged Newcastle United target Blaise Matuidi prefers a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle has been 'linked' with a move for Blaise Matuidi for most of the summer but in a recent interview he seems to be expressing a desire to remain in France. Matuidi said: "I have a contract with St Etienne and so I [.

Alleged Newcastle United target Blaise Matuidi prefers a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle has been 'linked' with a move for Blaise Matuidi for most of the summer but in a recent interview he seems to be expressing a desire to remain in France. Matuidi said: "I have a contract with St Etienne and so I [.

By Dominic Vieira, writing from Nitra, Slovakia

Intense transfer speculation is revolving around the Bundesliga with names such as Gotze, Tasci, Reus and Vidal dominating scout reports. After a strong 2010 World Cup campaign revitalised with the presence of several young talents, it's no surprise that the attention has transferred to Europe's most populated country.

Newcastle United allegedly maintain a strong interest in Saint-Etienne's Blaise Matuidi and Paris Saint-Germain's Mevlüt Erdinç. According to 'France Football' (as well as our very own Chronicle) the French revolution is far from over at Newcastle. Apparently we are still pursuing a legendary 'double swoop' for Blaise Matuidi and Mevlüt Erdinç.

Newcastle United allegedly maintain a strong interest in Saint-Etienne's Blaise Matuidi and Paris Saint-Germain's Mevlüt Erdinç. According to 'France Football' (as well as our very own Chronicle) the French revolution is far from over at Newcastle. Apparently we are still pursuing a legendary 'double swoop' for Blaise Matuidi and Mevlüt Erdinç.

More good news today about the burgeoning reputation of Newcastle United in French Football. Blaise Matuidi - a Newcastle target There is some great news in the Evening Chronicle today, that the agent of Newcastle targets Blaise Matuidi and Mevlut Erdinc, has put out a huge compliment to the Newcastle club, and said that any [.

Supposed Newcastle prospect Blaise Matuidi says he is flattered by the interest he has been receiving from other clubs. Blaise Matuidi - Newcastle one of the big clubs The St Etienne club say that Newcastle have not contacted them about their defensive midfielder, but it seems that Newcastle are ready to push ahead for the [.

Could the sweetener for Kevin Nolan's departure from Newcastle United come in the shape of Blaise Matuidi? Well, it was quite a day yesterday wasn't it? What with the big news that Kevin Nolan is most likely on his way to West Ham, the implications of which I'll talk about in a later post. Fortunately [.

L'Equippe are reporting that Newcastle may go after Saint-Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi. Blaise Matuidi-Would Newcastle really be interested? Blaise Matuidi is a 24 year old French International who has 3 caps for France. He has been at Saint-Etienne since 2007 where he has made over 100 appearances for the Ligue 1 club.

With France's next Euro Qualifier a week from today, let's a take a look at where things stand:

France's Upcoming Matches
Friday, June 3, 2011 – Qualifier 6 of 10 – Away to Belarus
Monday, June 6, 2011 – A friendly away to Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine
Thursday, June 9, 2011 – A friendly away to Euro 2012 co-host Poland

Euro Qualifying Group D Standings
France – 12 points from 5 matches
Belarus – 8 points from 5 matches
Albania – 8 points from 5 matches
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 7 points from 4 matches
Romania – 5 points from 5 matches
Luxembourg – 1 point from 6 matches

Here are the players called up to face Belarus, who defeated France 1-0 in Paris in September.

A lot has been made about the need for a massive squad overhaul at Liverpool this summer. Some have even reported that there could be as many as 20 comings and goings over the close season as the Reds start to mould a team capable of competing for major trophies once again. Inevitably then, there have been a vast amount of transfer rumours spreading across newspapers and the internet as to who will be coming in, and who will be departing the club.

Liverpool Director of football Damien Comolli has highlighted the qualities of potential target Blaise Matuidi.
The Saint Etienne midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Anfield as part of the anticipated wave of summer signings.
Comolli is set to use the aide of statistics to help him decide on which players will make the grade at Liverpool.

Newly capped French international Blaise Matuidi has expressed his desire to move to a bigger club 'when the time is right' reports skysports.com.
The highly-rated Ligue 1 midfielder recently graduated into Laurent Blanc's national side after a string of fine performances for his club.
Liverpool have long been linked with a move for the combative midfield general, as manager Kenny Dalglish looks to strengthen that department of his Reds squad.

There is news today that both Arsenal and Newcastle are interested in Saint-Etienne defensive midfielder, 23 year-old Blaise Matuidi. Blaise Matuidi an excellent defensive midfield player With Alan Smith having suffered another injury to his ankle, which he first broke when at Manchester United, there must a a chance that the Tyneside club will [.

PARIS, France — Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 2-1 Saturday in the French league to keep up its title challenge. The defending champion cut Lille's lead to three points and provisionally moved into second place in the standings, one point clear of Lyon which thrashed Nancy 4-0 on Friday. Lille visits Montpellier on Sunday.

Liverpool are in a five-way chase for St Etienne's midfield enforcer Blaise Matuidi.
The 23-year-old has been one of the Reds' key transfer targets ever since the arrival of Damien Comolli as the director of sporting strategy.
Comolli moved to Anfield from St Etienne, but Liverpool will face stiff competition from Serie A sides Roma, Juventus and Fiorentina, plus Bundesliga club Schalke.

Liverpool are once again being linked with a move for French international midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
The Times reported last week that the St Etienne player was being targeted as Liverpool struggle to agree a fee for Charlie Adam, with an €8 million move mooted.
Director of Football strategy at Anfield, Damien Comolli, is a known admirer of the player after holding a similar position at the Ligue 1 club.