Zinedine Zidane: “France will qualify”

The Real Madrid sporting director is as confident as ever.

Zinedine Zidane, legendary former French striker and current figurehead at the Bernabeu, didn’t leave any hesitation where he thought France would end up in their World Cup qualifier.

“You came to ask me questions about the France team, so I’ll get up and leave. We all know they will qualify.”

Problem is, they’re down 2-0 to Ukraine as Les Bleus head home to Saint-Denis.

Deschamps: Ukraine’s commitment, physicality undid France

While Ukraine coach Mikhail Fomenko lauded the “recipe” his team used to down France 2-0 on Friday, Les Blues’ boss Didier Deschamps had a less obscure explanation for how his team was slowed down in Kiev. The keys: mentality; physical play.

“We struggled because of their commitment,” Deschamps said after his team’s first leg loss. “Ukraine defended aggressively and committed fouls. They are a solid side.”

“They knew that the danger would come from Franck Ribery’s (left) flank. He was fouled a lot and had very little space in which to express himself.”

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fine to play in World Cup play-off, says France coach Didier Deschamps

Spurs goalkeeper injured in collision with Everton's Romelu Lukaku trains at Clairefontaine ahead of France's World Cup play-off against Ukraine.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was left out of Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League match with Newcastle United at the weekend following a head injury, trained with the France squad on Monday and should be available for Friday’s World Cup play-off in Ukraine.

Gerrard: England can cope without Rooney

The Liverpool forward admits Roy Hodgson's men will miss the Manchester United forward but insists confidence is high among the players

Steven Gerrard insists England are capable of securing a victory against Ukraine without Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United forward was forced to pull out of Roy Hodgson's squad due to a head injury which was caused in a collision with Phil Jones during a training session.

Lampard will start for 100th cap against Ukraine, confirms Hodgson

The Chelsea midfielder will become England's eighth international centurion on Tuesday, part of a Three Lions side unchanged apart from Danny Welbeck's replacement.

Frank Lampard will win his 100th England cap from the start in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed.

The Chelsea midfielder made his international debut in a 2-1 friendly victory over Belgium in October 1999 and has been to two World Cups and two European Championships with the Three Lions, notching up 28 goals in the process.

World Cup: England boss Roy Hodgson braced for 'cup final' against Ukraine

                           

                          

England boss Roy Hodgson admits he is ready for a "cup final" against Ukraine in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.

Hodgson's men travel to Kiev leading Group H on goal difference and ahead of Ukraine by a point but, with Poland and San Marino to come, a win for the hosts would put them in the box seat for Brazil.

England, by contrast, finish their qualifying campaign with testing home games against Montenegro and Poland and are desperate to avoid the runners-up spot that would see them slip into the play-offs.

England boss Roy Hodgson says he will use Jack Wilshere how he wants

England boss Roy Hodgson insists that there is no deal in place with Arsenal over Jack Wilshere, ahead of the World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine next month.

Arsene Wenger is still looking for Wilshere to be treated carefully given his recent injury record and Arsenal rested him for their Premier League win at Fulham over the weekend, but he did play 90 minutes in their Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

Wenger had intimated that Wilshere could be rested for England's clash with Moldova at Wembley next Friday night, before the possible Group H decider with Ukraine in Kiev the following Tuesday.

Michael Babatunde seals four year deal with Volyn

The Nigeria international has put pen to paper for another Ukrainian side and will be there for the next four seasons for an undisclosed fee

Super Eagles' midfielder, Michael Babatunde has signed for Ukrainian Premier League side Volyn FC for four years and an undisclosed fee, his close confidant has told Goal.

Babatunde left FC Kryvbas another club in Ukraine after the club was declared bankrupt.

He featured for Nigeria at the Fifa Confederation Cup where he came from the bench twice against Tahiti and Uruguay.

Babatunde Michael delighted with first call up to the Super Eagles

The FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih midfielder has vowed to grab his chance with the Nigeria national team with both hands

Surprise invitee to the Super Eagles, Babatunde Michael from Ukrainian side, Kryvbas has told Goal.com that he believes his good club form is finally paying off.

The 20-year old has been playing in Ukraine for the past three seasons and has played seven times this season with no goals yet.

"I have never represented Nigeria at the senior level and so to be called up is really fantastic for me," Michael told Goal.com.

Michael was a part of the Dream Team V coached by Austin Eguavoen and he was drafted in to replace injured Nnamdi Oduamadi during the 2012 Olympic qualifier against Tanzania.

Michael gave a good performance against Dynamo Kiev last Sunday and admitted that his recent good form after some dodgy times has made him a strong character.

"My good form of recent has made me a lot stronger mentally.

“There have been quite a lot of tough times but I thank God that I am rising above them all. Sometimes, one doesn't enjoy a steady rise.

“I'm just happy to have been called up and I want to give my very best to the team," he added.

Michael is one of 15 players invited from Europe to join the 24 locally based players that will open camp for Kenya in Abuja on March 10. The game against Kenya comes up on March 23 in Calabar.