Forward Didier Drogba is set to miss Chelsea's first two games of the new Premier League season due to a knee injury, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was quoted as telling British media.
In September 1998, the France players nearly created a diplomatic incident before a game against Iceland when several of them burst out laughing during the national anthems. Eighteen years on, the topic resurfaced at a news conference before Sunday's European Championship quarter-final between the two teams.
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has said he is discussing his future with Major League Soccer team Montreal Impact but that retirement talk was premature. French media reported on Wednesday that the 37-year-old Ivorian was to quit playing and join the coaching staff of Premier League champions Chelsea under interim manager Guus Hiddink. "Lovely to receive these messages but I have not yet announced my retirement and am still in discussion with @impactmontreal about my future," Drogba, who has a contract with Montreal Impact through to December, posted on Twitter.
AC Milan have agreed a two-year loan deal with Chelsea for Fernando Torres but the Spain striker has yet to agree terms, the Italian club said in a statement on Friday.
Karim Benzema, who struck twice and came close to a hat-trick in France's opening victory over Honduras, again caused havoc against the Swiss at Salvador's Fonte Nova arena, scoring once and setting up another two.
Didier Drogba is expecting a 'crazy' Stamford Bridge atmosphere.
France midfielder Florent Malouda said former team mate Didier Drogba used his influence to persuade Chelsea to buy him.
Didier Deschamps has been appointed France coach, the French football federation said in a statement on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Mbappe followed up a domestic treble with Paris St Germain with a string of impressive performances in France's World Cup winning campaign.
Manchester City's French midfielder Samir Nasri has decided to quit international football over a breakdown in his relationship with national coach Didier Deschamps and the French media.
France coach Didier Deschamps has sued Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasir's girlfriend for her 'f*** France and f*** Deschamps' post on Twitter.
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There is will be no friendship with Didier Drogba declared Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Chelsea will find it strange to be up against their Champions League-winning hero Drogba in Wednesday's clash with Galatasaray, said Mourinho.
France have surprised many by emerging as World Cup contenders but face their toughest test yet against nemesis Germany in a quarter-final clash of European heavyweights at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on Friday.
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba made a tame Major League Soccer debut for Montreal Impact in their 1-0 home loss to Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Photos of the World Cup match between France and Ecuador
Former champions France should put underdogs Honduras to the sword in their World Cup Group E opener in Porto Alegre on Sunday - although their penchant for self-destruction gives the Central Americans hope of an upset.
France's World Cup chances suffered a severe blow when influential winger Franck Ribery was ruled out with lower back problems on Friday.
France have found a new hero in Antoine Griezmann and the striker has his eyes firmly set on lifting the Euro 2016 trophy after his two goals fired Les Bleus past Germany on Thursday and into the final.
Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was offered a whopping $1 million by Atletico de Kolkata's co-owners to become the marquee player of the Indian Super League side though the high-profile player is yet to respond, according to a report in London.
On the final day of matches in the English Premier League, Chelsea, who finished the season with 87 points after beating Sunderland 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, lifted the trophy on Sunday.
If reports in the French media are to be believed, Didier Drogba's return to Chelsea on a one-year-contract could be confirmed this week.
Galatasaray have made a mediocre start to the season but striker Didier Drogba believes they can repeat April's victory over Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League Group B opener.
Didier Drogba proved a talismanic influence in helping the Ivory Coast to win their opening World Cup encounter, but the ageing striker could be confined to a role as an impact player, coming off the bench at the tournament supposed to be his swansong.
Images from the FIFA World Cup match between Ivory Coast and Japan.
Less than two years after taking charge, coach Didier Deschamps has turned the France team, described as a bunch of overpaid mutineers four years ago, into a competitive outfit with a credible shot at a World Cup last-four spot.
Didier Drogba will be a part of the Chelsea family again one day, manager Jose Mourinho predicted on the eve of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray.
Former Chelsea great Didier Drogba does not know how he will react when he returns to Stamford Bridge with his Galatasaray team on Tuesday for their Champions League last-16 second leg, the Ivorian striker said.
Denmark coach Age Hareide's withering assessment of opponents France last month has added 'salt, pepper and vinegar' to their World Cup match on Tuesday, his counterpart Didier Deschamps said.
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure landed his third successive African Footballer of the Year award on Thursday to cap a memorable week.
The victory saw Spain finish top of League A4 with 11 points after six games, joining France in the final four tournament, which will take place in October 2021.
France head into their World Cup opener against Australia in Kazan on Saturday sweating on the fitness of fullback Djibril Sidibe and under pressure to deliver an emphatic win to erase doubts about the cohesion of a team of brilliant individuals.
Rediff.com looks at the five best goals from the concluding round in the league stage.
Didier Drogba says Jose Mourinho could be tempted back to Chelsea because he has "unfinished business" with the Premier League club.
Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba hit back at a Fenerbahce fan who waved a banana towards him and team mate Emmanuel Eboue during the weekend's league encounter by highlighting some home truths about racism.
Ivorian Drogba, who had been playing in the United States for Phoenix Rising, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games having spearheaded the west London club's revival under owner Roman Abramovich.
The wheel will have come full circle for Galatasaray forward Didier Drogba when he takes to the pitch for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg match at Real Madrid.
Chelsea, though, have made a big investment in youth in the last year or two, bringing in players like Eden Hazard, Oscar, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne and the new manager is relishing the prospect of working with the younger players.
France realise how dangerous Iceland can be from long throw-ins and have been working on ways to counter that weapon when they face the surprise packages of the European Championship in the quarter-finals, coach Didier Deschamps said on Saturday.
France are still a work in progress requiring tweaks despite coasting through to the knockout phase of Euro 2016 as group winners on Sunday, according to coach Didier Deschamps.
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