Football: French suffer injury blows

PARIS: France suffered a double blow ahead of two crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers as midfielders Franck Ribery and Blaise Matuidi were ruled out of both matches due to injury. The duo will miss the qualifier against Albania on Friday and the potential table-topping decider against Bosnia-Herzegovina next Tuesday. They join Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who was also ruled out earlier with a groin injury. The French are currently top of Group D, one point ahead of the Bosnians with both having two matches remaining.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2011.