TIGNES, France (Reuters) – Lassana Diarra, struggling to adapt to altitude, missed training for the second day running at France’s pre-World Cup camp in the French Alps on Friday.

The holding midfielder had not trained on Thursday because he felt unwell during a hike up one of Europe’s largest glaciers overlooking this scenic ski village.

TIGNES, France, May 21 (Reuters) – Lassana Diarra,
struggling to adapt to altitude, missed training for the second
day running at France’s pre-World Cup camp in the French Alps on
Friday.

The holding midfielder had not trained on Thursday because
he felt unwell during a hike up one of Europe’s largest glaciers
overlooking this scenic ski village.

TIGNES, France (Reuters) – France’s Bacary Sagna said Friday he was enjoying football again after going through a nightmare following the death of his brother two years ago.

After his older brother, Omar, died suddenly in 2008, Sagna struggled for almost a year, his performances on the pitch suffered and critics started to doubt his ability.

TIGNES, France, May 21 (Reuters) – France’s Bacary Sagna
said on Friday he was enjoying football again after going
through a nightmare following the death of his brother two years
ago.

After his older brother, Omar, died suddenly in 2008, Sagna
struggled for almost a year, his performances on the pitch
suffered and critics started to doubt his ability.

TIGNES, France (Reuters) – Worries about William Gallas’s fitness could force France to reorganise their defence at the World Cup.

Gallas, who has been sidelined since late March because of a recurrence of a left calf muscle injury, is a doubtful starter for the June 11-July 11 finals in South Africa, which means coach Raymond Domenech has to work on contingency plans.

TIGNES, France, May 21 (Reuters) – Worries about William
Gallas’s fitness could force France to reorganise their defence
at the World Cup.

Gallas, who has been sidelined since late March because of a
recurrence of a left calf muscle injury, is a doubtful starter
for the June 11-July 11 finals in South Africa, which means
coach Raymond Domenech has to work on contingency plans.

TIGNES, France (Reuters) – France centre back William Gallas kicked a ball for the first time since late March on Thursday, raising hopes he will be fit for the World Cup.

Gallas, suffering from a recurrence of a calf muscle injury which has kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months, took part in a light training session at France’s camp in Tignes.

TIGNES, France, May 20 (Reuters) – France centre back
William Gallas kicked a ball for the first time since late March
on Thursday, raising hopes he will be fit for the World Cup.

Gallas, suffering from a recurrence of a calf muscle injury
which has kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months, took
part in a light training session at France’s camp in Tignes.

PARIS (Reuters) – They are known as the class of 1998, have achieved a lasting mark by handing France their only World Cup triumph and will soon seize power with Laurent Blanc becoming the national team coach.

Blanc, a prominent member of that fabulous 1998 side, although he missed the final through suspension, will replace Raymond Domenech in the top job after the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Thursday.

PARIS, May 20 (Reuters) – They are known as the class of
1998, have achieved a lasting mark by handing France their only
World Cup triumph and will soon seize power with Laurent Blanc
becoming the national team coach.

Blanc, a prominent member of that fabulous 1998 side,
although he missed the final through suspension, will replace
Raymond Domenech in the top job after the June 11-July 11 World
Cup finals in South Africa, the French Football Federation (FFF)
confirmed on Thursday.