Captain Olivier Kemen fell at the Euros semi-final stage & is likely to spend his 19th birthday on Monday in Europe rather than joining the squad in the US.

Moussa Sissoko is the latest Newcastle player to admit to Champions League ambitions after a rare central role for France ahead of Yohan Cabaye.

Didier Descamps has called up Moussa Sissoko and Remy Cabella, though Cabella is likely to have only sneaked in via Giroud’s injury.

The good news from over the channel is that Yohan Cabaye is fit to start tonight’s crucial world cup qualifier for France v Spain.

Laurent Blanc, “Cabaye is indispensable in terms of how he played in the first two games in the competition, absolutely. You realise how much players like that bring when they are not actually there.