France

Olivier Giroud became France's second top scorer when he netted a double to take his international tally to 42 goals as the world champions crushed an injury and COVID-19-ravaged Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly in a near-empty Stade de France on Wednesday.

Giroud, who celebrated winning his 100th cap, found the back of the net twice in the second half to move within nine goals of Thierry Henry's French scoring record. The Chelsea striker leapfrogged Michel Platini, who scored 41 goals from 72 games between 1976-87. 

France coach Didier Deschamps has praised Olivier Giroud's mental toughness and high standards of professionalism as he confirmed the striker will start in Wednesday's friendly against Ukraine to claim his 100th cap for the national team.

Giroud will become the eighth player to join France's exclusive club of centurions alongside Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Marcel Desailly, Hugo Lloris, Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Les Bleus boss Deschamps.

Manchester United has agreed a two-year deal with former Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani, French daily L'Equipe reported on Saturday.

Uruguay international Cavani is a free agent having left Ligue 1 champions PSG at the end of his contract in June.

Man United are in discussions with Edinson Cavani, according to @RobDawsonESPN. pic.twitter.com/skOCe6H78Z

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé became the first person to receive a copy of the upcoming FIFA 21 on Tuesday. 

Mbappé unveiled a special edition of the cover sent by FIFA in personalized packaging made for the 21-year-old French star. 

FIFA 21 @EASPORTSFIFA pic.twitter.com/uTNTHffkkk

In the early stages of the 2020-21 season, Montpellier has taken Ligue 1 by storm.

Michel Der Zakarian's side has been one of the most exciting teams on the continent, in large part thanks to the attacking trident of Andy Delort, Gaëtan Laborde and Téji Savanier. Five games into the campaign, Montpellier is joint-first in goals scored and riding high in third place. 

France forward Kylian Mbappé marked his return to action with a vintage performance and a goal as champions Paris St Germain rediscovered their form with an impressive 3-0 win at Nice in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Mbappé, who missed the opening three games after contracting the coronavirus, fired PSG ahead with a 38th-minute penalty and had a big part in Angel Di Maria's strike before Marquinhos headed home the third in the second half.

The Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille on Sunday ended in a scuffle between the two sides that resulted in five red cards. The fight was prompted by Marseille center back Alvaro allegedly directing a racist slur toward PSG star Neymar.

This story alone was enough to warrant significant media attention, but the comments made by French Football Federation (FFF) president Nöel Le Graët on Tuesday made the issue even more pertinent.

The start of Paris Saint-Germain’s season went from bad to worse after two straight defeats to open Ligue 1 play. But a sublime Ángel Di María touch vs Metz helped PSG secure its first victory of the new campaign in superb fashion, securing a 1-0 win late over Metz on Wednesday, despite playing the final 30 minutes a man down.

Between August 12 and 23 in Lisbon, Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain changed the narrative surrounding the club by advancing to the Champions League final and performing admirably against Bayern Munich.

In the space of four days coinciding with the club’s start to the 2020-21 season, you could say that PSG has reverted to an even lesser version of its old self.