As recently as the 2015-16 season, midfielder Tanguy Ndombele was not even playing senior football with Amiens who were then in France's semi-professional third tier.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas issued a warning to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy last week when he said the asking price could increase if the club continued to drag their feet.

The World Cup winner was seen smiling and shaking hands with his compatriot before the game between USA and Holland at in Lyon.

The Real Madrid striker has not featured for France since back in 2015, with Deschamps choosing to axe him from the squad following the controversy with compatriot Mathieu Valbuena.

It is nine months since the death of Emiliano Sala. His presence will always loom over Nantes but the players are giving everyone connected to the club something to smile about once more.

Karim Benzema has been a consistent goalscorer in his professional career and has represented France over 80 times, but the former Lyon marksman hasn't played for Les Bleus since 2015.

Calls are growing for Karim Benzema to earn a recall for France - four years after earning the last of his 81 caps. He's been exiled since his involvement in blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena.

Calls have been growing for the in-form Real Madrid striker to earn his first call-up since 2015 in recent weeks. But Le Graet is determined that the 31-year-old will not be seen in a Les Bleus shirt again.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has threatened to switch his international allegiance after not being called up to the French squad again.

Portugal booked their place at Euro 2020 with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Luxembourg.

Cristiano Ronaldo took his career tally to 99 international goals on Sunday as Portugal qualified for the 2020 European Championship with a 2-0 win against Luxembourg.

Benzema's hopes of a return to the France fold were shot down by its FA president Noel Le Graet last week. Calls had been growing for the in-form Madrid striker to earn his first call-up since 2015.

PETE JENSON: Zinedine Zidane may have been able to reignite the debate on whether France are foolish to overlook in-form Karim Benzema - but it would take something huge to bring change.

The Court of Cassation, the highest-ranked court in the French justice system, assembled on Monday afternoon with 19 magistrates to try and settle a case which first emerged four years ago.

Lionel Messi missed out on top spot after injuries, Cristiano Ronaldo closed in on a remarkable international feat and Raheem Sterling was deadly - who have 2019's most prolific strikers been?

French winger Ousmane Dembele is out for six months and will play no part at the European Championships this summer after Barcelona revealed his condition following surgery. 

DANIEL MATTHEWS AT THE GROUPAMA STADIUM: A hero from 12 yards. Then the fall guy within 11 minutes. Life as a goalkeeper can be cruel - just ask Marseille's Yohann Pele.

SPECIAL REPORT BY DANIEL MATTHEWS IN LYON: To many in France, the 32-year-old is a footballing pariah. At Real Madrid, however, Benzema is approaching immortality.

Karim Benzema has taken a swipe at Olivier Giroud, implying the Chelsea striker who replaced him in the France national team is an inferior player.  The 32-year-old has not played for Les Blues since 2015.

Benzema used an unflattering motor racing analogy to describe the perceived difference in quality between himself and Chelsea striker Giroud, who replaced him in the France team.

Benzema took a swipe at Giroud as the 'go-kart' to his 'Formula One' to describe what he believes is a difference in quality between himself and Giroud, who replaced him in the France team.

It's rare that a prequel matches its progenitor, but Better Call Saul has gradually, at times achingly slo-o-o-wly, proved the equal of parent show Breaking Bad .

Heartbreak can be the best teacher, as arts journalist Alice Vincent learns in her hopeful memoir of self-discovery and horticulture.

Rami Malek is now best known for his Oscar-winning performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, but he first found fame via this Golden Globe-winning series.

Today is International Women's Day and there are plenty of talented women creating brilliant wine around the world, so let's celebrate them

Based on the book Twelve Patients: Life And Death At Bellevue Hospital, this medical drama stars Ryan Eggold as the new medical director at one of America's oldest public hospitals.

If you've ever wondered how the 1990 movie Pretty Woman, which made a fairytale romcom out of a rich-man-meets-prostitute premise, would fare in the age of #MeToo - well, this production won't help.

By day, Julia Ebner worked for the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue, monitoring the online behaviour of extremist groups from Islamic jihadists to Neo-Nazis.

For the most part, Kate Fall regards her role as a memoirist as an extension of her job as gatekeeper: to present the polished face of the Cameron administration to the world

It wasn't so long ago that we all just paid £154.50 each year for a television licence. Now more than 14 million of us fork out monthly subscriptions for at least one other TV service

As Miriam Margolyes said at the outset of Miriam's Big Fat Adventure : 'I'm happy with who I am. I'm happy with my face. I'm happy with my life. I'm disgusted with my body. I loathe it

Not content with writing terrestrial TV's big show of the week with Belgravia, Julian Fellowes is also behind this six-part drama series charting the origins of football.

'Is it true that you guys never take off your helmets?' a prisoner asks his captor, the eponymous Mandalorian in the first episode of this eight-episode Star Wars spin-off.

John Carey is a welcoming host, full of enthusiasm, and the opposite of crusty. He can throw sparkling light on a poet's method in a handful of words

It's set in Sweden and is based on books by a Swedish author, but can this version of Wallander really be described as Scandi-noir?

Broadcast across four nights a few weeks ago, this domestic drama can now be binge-watched in its entirety. An all-star cast bring to life an intriguing story involving love and jealousy.

Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert discusses losing the love of her life and rediscovering joy through writing her new book City Of Girls

International hitwoman Villanelle and MI6 operative Eve did not exactly part on the best of terms at the end of last series, and things are not going particularly well at the start of Series Three.

In a fascinating, fitful career, Fiona Apple has often felt like a one-woman band - singing, playing the piano, perhaps throwing in some rudimentary percussion.

The streaming service's first British series looks like being one of its best shows to date. The series' pedigree is certainly impressive.

It's been less than a month since the 22-year-old reality star originally lightened her short raven bob

She's stuck in Abu Dhabi and unable to get a flight back into the United States due to the coronavirus outbreak. And Jordyn Woods proved she was taking full advantage of her extended stay.

On Thursday afternoon, Jenner, 22, shared a video to her Instagram Stories, saying that she had heard Surgeon General Jerome Adams' appeal.

Kylie Jenner revealed on Tuesday that she was missing vacation times before the coronavirus outbreak. The 22-year-old shared some throwback photos from her trip to Turks and Caicos.

Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner still found a way to bond on Monday through some good baking. The two Keeping Up With the Kardashian stars each made an iced lemon bundt cake.

She has donated a million dollars to doctors fighting the novel coronavirus and just will be have her Kylie Cosmetics factories producing hand sanitizer.

After fans commented she looked pregnant in a stunning portrait shared to Instagram on Friday, the 39-year-old reality TV staple pretty much said she is hoping for that.

The star and the rapper - who have two-year-old daughter Stormi together - split last year, but have been spending more time together, with several rumours swirling about a possible reconciliation.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, 22, donned avocado print pyjamas while larking around with her daughter Stormi during the COVID-19 lockdown

Kylie Jenner looks to be turning to former friend Tammy Hembrow for inspiration.