The Portuguese, formerly technical director at fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco, has presided over an impressive summer of transfer business and travelled the incredible distance last year.

Olivier Giroud insists he still has ambitions beyond being Tammy Abraham's understudy at Chelsea. The 32-year-old France striker has started just one of Chelsea's opening four league matches.

France manager Didier Deschamps has praised young midfielder Matteo Guendouzi but has warned against expecting too much of the talented youngster.

CHRIS WHEELER AT WINDSOR PARK: This is not a vintage Germany, but it doesn't mean they can't score vintage goals. Make no mistake, the former world champions were on the ropes.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo took his international tally to 93 goals when he scored four times to give the European champions a 5-1 win away to Lithuania in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Tuesday.

PETE JENSON: La Liga side Real Betis took a big gamble in the summer when they signed Nabil Fekir, a player who had been rejected by Liverpool because of a knee problem.

The Bayern Munich captain has made 90 appearances for the national side since making his debut in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates in 2009.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Paul Pogba has arrived in the United Arab Emirates to complete a warm weather recovery programme to accelerate his return from a foot injury.

Erling Braut Haaland emulated his father by scoring against Liverpool at Anfield last week. Another youngster looking to follow in his father's footsteps is Marcus Thuram.

Paul Pogba is working towards a Manchester United return - but still appears to be some way off as he trains in Dubai's state-of-the-art Transform Altitude Performance Center. 

Chelsea have been dealt an injury blow after N'Golo Kante was forced to pull out of France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Iceland on Friday night. Kante was set to start but suffered a problem in the warm-up.

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.

Giroud came off the bench in France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Turkey and scored within four minutes, but his header was cancelled out by Kaan Ayhan in a 1-1 draw.

Kante will miss Chelsea's clash with Newcastle due to a groin problem as his injury issues continue, having also been sidelined this season due to knee, ankle and hamstring problems.

Maguire played the full 90 minutes as United held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on Sunday, but ex-Tottenham star Van der Vaart was far from ready to praise the England defender for his part in proceedings.

Cristiano Ronaldo has kindly sent boots to the entire Portugal U17 Women's side after they reached the elite round of Euro 2020 qualification.  Ronaldo rewarded the team for their heroics.

Kante has endured a frustrating start to the season as he has been restricted to just six appearances in all competitions for Chelsea after suffering an ankle injury.

Manchester United captain Ashley Young thinks World Cup winners France have blundered by ignoring Anthony Martial whose form has made some of United's attacking football 'unbelievable'.

MATT HUGHES - CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER: England's dubious reward for winning their qualifying group could be a place in the group of death with Portugal and France at Euro 2020.

Thierry Henry believes 'amazing' Gareth Southgate can lead England to Euro 2020 glory on home soil next summer. The former France striker won the tournament back in 2000.

France boss Didier Deschamps denied that his team's lacklustre display in the 2-1 victory over Moldova was down to Les Blues having already qualified for Euro 2020.

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has revealed he could return to action as early as January as he continues his recovery from a dislocated elbow sustained in October's 3-0 defeat to Brighton.

Tuttosport report that the 44-year-old was spotted watching England's demolition of Montenegro at Wembley on a trip where the focus was securing the Frenchman's signature.

Toni Kroos scored twice as Germany secured their place at Euro 2020 with a resounding 4-0 win over Belarus, which leaves Joachim Low's side top of Group C ahead of second placed Netherlands.

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

Kylian Mbappe's father has defended his son after he received criticism for his performance for France in their 2-1 victory against Moldova on Thursday.

The 16-year-old midfielder earned countless plaudits after a mature all-round display against Thomas Tuchel's side, and has reportedly drawn the attentions of the Ligue 1 champions and Arsenal.

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.

An armed thug threatened to kill Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante's agent during an argument about the star's £32million transfer to Chelsea, it was claimed Wednesday.

Substitute Nemanja Radonjic scored a fine last-minute winner as second-placed Marseille beat Brest 2-1 to move five points behind French league leader Paris Saint-Germain on Friday.

One of France, Germany and Portugal may face an early exit after being drawn together in Group F for Euro 2020 in what has already been dubbed the 'Group of Death'.

Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain's showpiece Ligue 1 clash has been postponed because of adverse weather. The game will be rescheduled but a date has not yet been established.

Didier Deschamps will therefore get the chance to oversee France's attempt at defending their World Cup crown in three years' time after they beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Russia last year.

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?

The Ligue 2 side mourned the 'tragic day' as Julan died in the car crash as they shared the news on social media, leading to a number of tributes across French football.

Brazil star Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona for £198million back in August 2017, is by far the division's top earner - pocketing around £2.6million a month before tax.

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. 

Giroud was a target for a number of sides during the January transfer window including Inter Milan, Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur having fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge.

INTERVIEW BY JOE BERNSTEIN: Everton's Djibril Sidibe is thrilled to be on the most prized WhatsApp group in sport. He was a member of France's 2018 World Cup winning squad

Euro 2020 and all its preparations immediately take the focus once the domestic campaigns end. But this year the European Championship will also be followed by the Olympics in Tokyo.

As fans across Europe gear up for another summer of agony and ecstasy while wearing their country's shirts proudly, here are five of the best kits in Euros history to get you going.

As far as bizarre injury treatments go, Marseille striker Dario Benedetto's remedy for a head injury sustained against Amiens is right up there. The Argentine was bizarrely given a swimming cap.

The Frenchman has not been selected since a friendly against Russia in March 2018, and missed out on his country's victorious World Cup campaign in Russia a few months later.

The EFL has announced a £50million short-term relief package to assist cash-strapped clubs during the coronavirus crisis. An emergency meeting has outlined how things shall be handled going forward.

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 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.

In extra-time of the 2006 final in Berlin, France captain Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the chest after words were exchanged. Zidane was sent-off and Italy went on to win on penalties.

Zinedine Zidane was sensationally shown red in the 2006 World Cup final after headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in extra time. Fabio Cannavaro went on to lift the trophy in Berlin.

It's 20 years since Russell Watson topped the charts with his debut album, The Voice, announcing himself to the world as the owner of the finest larynx this side of Luciano Pavarotti