If you've been following the conversations in the comments on this blog, you know that last week Sébastien Frey followed in David Trezeguet's footsteps and announced his international retirement.

You also know that Frey is 28. Which is... Well, it may not be infancy for a goalkeeper, but it's not exactly retirement age either.

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If you're like me, you might have been wondering why there was a strange beast wandering around the pitch at the end of the Grenoble game. Since I have nothing better to do as I bide my time waiting for Massimo Oddo to complete his loan move to Lyon and for the Champions League draw to take place, I did some investigating.

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Well, after 30 appearences and 7 goals for Lyon, It looks like we finally found a buyer for the "Blank Czech," Milan Baros. Phyeeeeew!!!! It looks like it's official now. Lyon and Galatasaray are said to have reached a verbal agreement on Monday, and apparently Baros was in Istanbul today Tuesday, to finalize the deal.

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With the seven days likely to be some of the most newsworthy of the year in footballing circles due to the end of the European transfer window, and the start-up of the remaining major leagues from the continent, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at what's make the headlines [...] Click to continue reading...

This season is unusual in that for the first time in 45 years, Lyon will have derbies with two different teams. Even more unusual is that these derbies are back to back, with Grenoble tomorrow and St. Etienne the following weekend.

Of course, tomorrow won't be as huge a derby as against Les Verts, but it'll still be a lot of fun, with a sold out stadium and a record number of away supporters for Grenoble.

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So far in this transfer window, Lyon have spent nearly €60m on incoming players. They are surely in the top five when it comes to overall spending this summer.

But it's not just the men's team getting the attention. Aulas stayed true to this promise and has strengthened the women's team as well.

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First thing. I'm thrilled by the win, and thrilled that we scored three goals, and thrilled that the Govou who showed up today was Visible Sidney, as opposed to his more-frequently-present evil twin, Invisible Sidney. And Sagna looks promising, especially offensively, and he and Benzema could be golden together when it comes to scoring.

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New Arsenal signing Mikael Silvestre has been praised by Gunners' legend Frank McLintock who believes it's a good bit of business done by Arsene Wenger. The 31-year-old completed his £750,000 move last night and signed a 2-year deal and become another member of Arsenal's almost all-French backline. Click to continue reading...

A new coach, several new players, new tactical systems...so I figured it was time for another team building exercise.

I can't resist this picture. It's Lyon to a T.

Between friendlies and the first few competitive games, we've gotten a vague idea about the kind of team Puel wants to form - tactically organized, defensively solid, players sticking to their roles (as opposed to last season, where players would be out of position all the time).

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Arsenal have secured the signature of Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £750,000. The 31-year-old has played over 249 games for the Premier League champions and has surprising swapped Manchester for north London. Silvestre was reportedly undergoing a medical at bitter neighbours Man City last night when his [. Click to continue reading...

From l'Equipe. No huge surprises for starters, but it's good to see Mexès starting. And I'm interested to see what Sagna can do, too.

Malouda and Govou feel like a weak attacking midfield. Are either Toulalan or L. Diarra going to help them out, do you think?

Le onze de départ : Mandanda - Sagna, Mexès, Gallas, Evra - Govou, Toulalan, L.

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Great news for lovers of pacy Frenchmen with silly haircuts and two broken legs: Djibril Cissé is heading back to the Premier League. Cissé's current club Marseille have reached an "agreement in principle" for the striker to join Sunderland on loan until the end of the season. Though Cissé's scoring record at Marseille was decent last [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal skipper William Gallas has been appointed France vice-captain by Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech ahead of this evening's game against Sweden. Former Gunners' striker Thierry Henry has been made captain in a bid to lift the team after their flop at Euro 2008. France were criticised for an unadventurous style of play and a reclusive lifestyle [. Click to continue reading...

Well, Samir, didn't last long.

He was on The List for less than twenty-four hours. Now he's off again due to a "slight thigh problem."

Gotta hate those slight thigh problems.

The final squad is only nineteen. Does this mean that there will be only one player who doesn't make the bench?

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Stuff to read while you call the cops for a noise disturbance at a kindergarten....... Argentina's women's team pays tribute to the Spanish men's basketball team. (The Spoiler) Everton has peaked, for now. (Reuters Soccer Blogs) Captaincy is the least of England's worries. (Guardian Unlimited) Mutu thinks FIFA are guilty of human rights violations. Click to continue reading...

Lens Reserve and France U18 LB Thimothe Kolodziecjzak

Well, as the transfer window nears, Lyon look to bolster their defense as well as move out some "surplus" stock. On the offensive side, everything seems to be finalized, and all that is left is the anticipated departure of Milan Baros.

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Samir Nasri has been ruled out of France's friendly with Sweden on Wednesday because of a thigh strain. The Arsenal midfielder was called into Les Bleus' squad on Monday following the withdrawal of winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who injured his adductors at the weekend. But Nasri will not board Tuesday's flight to Gothenburg, the French Football [. Click to continue reading...

Any woman can tell you that the quickest way to exorcise demons is to get new clothes. That is apparently the France strategy as well. They've unveiled this new maillot for the Sweden game.

Because that old new jersey? The one they wore in Euros? I don't think anybody's in any hurry to see that one again.

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First thing: Check out this beauty of an assist that Hatem ben Arfa pulled off for Marseille in Champions League last week.

Second thing: Hatem is out and Samir Nasri is in for France's game against Sweden on Wednesday.

What do you think is there intrigue here, or just one player coming and one going?

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English league football returned in glorious fashion last weekend and was swiftly followed by the Premier League, note FA lawyers - I did not say Premiership, on Saturday just gone. It's that exciting part of August as all major European leagues are resuming after the winter break.  Pre-season tournaments such as Feynoord, Ajax and Arsenal ones [. Click to continue reading...

We told you the omens were good for a more open Ligue 1 title race this season. Lyon can't have it all their own way forever, and after two games they're in the rather unfamiliar position of not being the top team in France. But it's not Bordeaux either: it's tiny Grenoble, freshly promoted to [...] Click to continue reading...

Benzema celebrates after scoring Lyon's only goal in last year's 2-1 loss to Lorient.

This week, Lyon travel to Brittany to face FC Lorient at Le Stade Moustoir. Lorient is currently tied for 2nd place with seven other teams in L1, having defeated Le Mans 1-0 in the first week.

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Several players have been called up for international action next week. For many countries, this is the last opportunity to get things sorted before World Cup qualifiers start this fall.

France (vs. Sweden - 08/20/08): Hugo Lloris, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jeremy Toulalan, Sidney Govou, Karim Benzema

Sweden (vs.

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Les Bleus will be traveling to Sweden for a friendly on August 20th, a game which will hopefully get the team ready for the World Cup qualifiers that will be starting soon.

There a lot of old faces on the squad, but there are also some players missing, including Franck Ribery and Francois Clerc, who are out injured, and Samir Nasri and Eric Abidal, who were dropped entirely.

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