Foul-mouthed Nasri disciplined by Blanc

 

Following France's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, Samir Nasri launched a foul-mouthed tirade against some of the journalists covering the game.
The Manchester City star certainly wasn't holding back, but could he be in trouble with manager Laurent Blanc?

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Euro 2012 race set to start

 

The day has finally arrived. Euro 2012 will kick off this evening as tournament co-hosts Poland take on Greece in Group A's opening fixture.

With all 16 nations having made all of their final preparations ahead of the tournament, it's now left to us to sit back and enjoy day after day of world-class football.
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Platini turns from Euro '84 hero to Euro 2012 fat cat

 

Michel Platini, once a magician on the pitch, fired France to victory in the 1984 European Championship having displayed some of the finest football the world had ever seen.

Cut to a scene 28 years later, however, and the same man was sat in a press room packed with journalists, being told that players at Euro 2012 will face a booking if they walked off the pitch in protest of racist abuse.
Platini's demeanour on Wednesday cut a stark contrast to the one during his playing days, as the Uefa president offered a prickly response to questions regarding racism during the tournament...
 

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Blanc puts his Euro 2012 cards on the table...

 

France capped their Euro 2012 preparations with an impressive 4-0 victory over Estonia on Tuesday as Laurent Blanc's side look in good shape for their Group D opener against England next Monday.

Blanc's charges started their European Championship warm-up in unconvincing style as they found themselves two goals behind in their first friendly against Iceland, but second-half strikes from Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami secured victory and boosted confidence within the French camp.
A tricky tie against Serbia was next up for France, but Les Bleus grabbed a 2-0 victory courtesy of early goals from Ribery and Florent Malouda.

Ribery was on target once more as he got his French side on their way against Estonia before Karim Benzema's double and a late strike from Jeremy Menez sealed Tuesday's convincing win.

With France looking so strong, can they brush aside England, Sweden and Ukraine to top Group D and make a challenge on Spain's Euro 2012 crown?

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Euro 2012 squads arrive in need of an immediate health check

 

Euro 2012 has yet to get underway but various nations are already smarting from injuries and withdrawals.

England are first in the casualty queue as Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and, most recently, Gary Cahill have all been ruled out of the tournament, leaving Roy Hodgson reaching for cover.

Yann M'Vila is a doubt for France's opener against England after suffering from an ankle sprain, while Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has only recently returned to training following a thigh problem.
Elsewhere, Italy defender Andrea Barzagli is a doubt for the tournament due to a calf problem, while Nani is Portugal's biggest injury concern with a knock to his right foot.

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France avoid big freeze against Iceland

 

A late turnaround for France on Sunday evening saw Laurent Blanc's side's blushes spared as they saw off Iceland 3-2 on hometurf.

Les Bleus trailed their Scandinavian opponents 2-0 at the break, with both Birkir Bjarnason and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson exposing the wayward Patrice Evra down the visitors' right flank.

Yet, second-half goals from Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami - the latter two coming in the final 10 minutes of the game - ensured that France stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games...

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the queue of managers lining up to sign Hazard

 

Lille playmaker Eden Hazard is currently one of the hottest properties in European football with many of the Continent's top teams interested in acquiring his services. 

Roberto Mancini became the latest manager to watch the Belgian on a scouting trip at the weekend, following the example of rival Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea are also intrigued by the prospect of Hazard, but claim to have pulled out of the race due to competition. 

Yet Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp warned that his side will fight the top sides to secure the Belgian's signature. It looks set to be a hazardous race to sign the 21-year-old, but who will come out on top?

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Wenger's side give AC Milan an almighty scare

 

AC Milan survived a major scare against a spirited Arsenal side on Tuesday night, despite conceding three goals in the first half of their Champions League round-of-16, second-leg clash at the Emirates.

The Rossoneri had a hefty four-goal advantage from the game in Italy three weeks ago, but had their backs against the wall after first-half goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie. AC Milan managed to wake up from their nightmare to emerge winners in the tie - but the likes of Massimiliano Allegri, Adriano Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi were given one hell of a fright along the way.

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Wenger of the Middle East

 

On Monday Diego Maradona revealed that he would like to leave a legacy at Al Wasl akin to that of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Maradona told DPA: "I would love to fulfil and go on to renew [my contract]; to become a sort of Arsene Wenger at Al Wasl."

The Argentine legend rejected claims that he took the job in Dubai for solely monetary reasons and went on to reveal his desire to lead the club to glory. Maradona's side currently sit fifth in the UAE Pro League, five points adrift of an AFC Champions League qualifying spot.

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Will it be Paris, Milan or Madrid for Arsene ...?

 

Fresh from enduring a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of AC Milan in the Champions League second round on Wednesday night, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may now not be around for much longer at the Emirates, with Paris, Milan or even Madrid all possible destinations for the Frenchman.

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Why Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand

 

Liverpool's Luis Suarez sparked controversy when he refused to shake hands with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra ahead of Saturday's clash between their respective sides at Old Trafford. The Uruguayan was castigated by Red devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson and defender Rio Ferdinand after the game for not only sullying his own reputation but also that of his club. However, maybe there was more to Suarez's shocking decision than initially thought ...

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Deadline day and it's all quiet on the western front

 

While the end of a transfer window usually heralds a scramble for new players, it became apparent there neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona would make that critical signing to give their club the upper hand in the title race, Arsene Wenger (slightly less surprisingly) would not bring in the enforcements Arsenal needed, and Inter's shock defeat to Lecce did not prompt them to dip into the market. Instead, the deadline day fanatics had to make do with a few questionable loan deals ...

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Thierry Henry's return to ignite Arsenal

 

Opposing defenders are already quaking in their boots as they dare to look at the Arsenal team sheet.

Thierry Henry standing alongside Robin van Persie. The Frenchman is the Gunners' all-time leading scorer and the Dutchman has just broken his returning team-mate's record for the most goals in a calendar year at the north London club.

Arsene Wenger hopes that his on-loan signing from the New York Red Bulls will rediscover his scoring prowess in the Gunners' front line.

From 1999 to 2007, Henry terrorised Premier League defences, scoring 174 goals in 254 appearances and winning the league's Golden Boot award four times.

While scoring goals may not be a problem for Arsenal, they are among the league's worst in goals conceded. 

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'Duck, everybody' - Ancelotti's on the hunt

 Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the new coach of Paris Saint Germain, and is expected to go on the offensive this January.

With the Qatari Investment Authority backing the big-spending Ligue 1 side, the Italian coach may well go back to former club AC Milan for transfer targets.

Alexandre Pato had a frustrating 2011 through injuries and a dip in form, and has been linked with a move from the Giuseppe Meazza.

Will Ancelotti use PSG's financial firepower to ensnare The Duck this January?

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Arsenal lovely Surprise

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Oh! Dortmund

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Wenger's grave

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Guardiola and Wenger hearts

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Wenger in distress

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Supercopa de España 2d leg

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