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PSG domestic double bid collapses at Evian

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris Saint Germain's ambitions of a domestic double collapsed on Wednesday when Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva missed the first two attempts in a penalty shootout after their French Cup quarter-final against Evian Thonon Gaillard had finished in a 1-1 draw. The wealthy Paris club have a nine-point lead in Ligue 1 with six games remaining while Evian are only three points above the relegation zone.

Football: French Cup results

French Cup quarter-final results on Wednesday: Paris-Saint Germain 1 (Pastore 8) Rvian 1 (Khlifa 43) Evian won 4-1 on penalties Lens 2 (Carrasso 11-og,Bergdich 90+2) Bordeaux 3 (Sertic 59, Diabate 81, 85) Tuesday Troyes 3 (Brechet 52, Faussurier 74, Camus 81) Nancy 0 Saint-Etienne 1 (Aubameyang 74) Lorient 2 (Barthelme 44, Aliadiere 90+3) afp

Football: Taylor backs 'Rooney Rule' to make an impact

Players union chief Gordon Taylor insists the PFA's equivalent of American Football's 'Rooney Rule' will help improve the number of black managers in the English game. Together with the Football League, the PFA is pushing ahead with its radical new Coaching Fair Play plan. Taylor hopes it will help the large percentage of black players in the professional game transfer into the managerial ranks in more acceptable numbers.

Football: Girard relaxed about future post-Montpellier

Montpellier coach Rene Girard on Wednesday admitted that he may not return to management when he leaves the Ligue 1 club this summer. Girard led the modest southern outfit to the title for the first time in their history last season, but has been told that his contract will not be renewed when it expires in the summer. Former Marseille and Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez is being tipped to replace him. "I'm getting old," Girard told reporters on Wednesday ahead of Friday's Ligue 1 match against Lyon.

Football: Late Aliadiere strike stuns Les Verts

Jeremie Aliadiere's stoppage-time strike took Lorient through to the semi-finals of the French Cup on Tuesday as the Brittany side won 2-1 away to Saint-Etienne in their quarter-final tie. Aliadiere brilliantly converted a Mathias Autret cross three minutes into injury time to keep modest Lorient in with a chance of winning the Cup for the second time in their history.

Arsenal held to goalless home draw by Everton

By Justin Palmer LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal missed the chance to take another step towards securing a Champions League place after fellow European hopefuls Everton held firm in a lively 0-0 Premier League draw at the Emirates on Tuesday. The Londoners, who had won four in a row to move up to third and are chasing qualification for the continent's elite competition for a 16th straight season, had the better opening with French striker Olivier Giroud guilty of two bad misses.

Football: French Cup quarter-final result

French Cup quarter-final result on Tuesday: Troyes 3 (Brechet 52, Faussurier 74, Camus 81) Nancy 0 Playing later (1850 GMT) Saint-Etienne v Lorient Playing Wednesday Lens v Bordeaux (1700 GMT) Evian v Paris Saint-Germain (1855 GMT) afp

Football: Monaco to fight new rules but stay in France

AS Monaco vice-president Jean-Louis Campora said on Tuesday that his club will do everything in their power to fight the passing of a new rule that threatens to bring an end to their financial advantages. But he ruled out any possibility that the Ligue 2 club might seek to play in the Italian league in future if their appeals against the new tax rules are dismissed. Up until now, foreigners playing for the principality club have not had to pay income tax, while French players have paid less in national insurance contributions.

I rushed Wilshere return, says Arsenal's Wenger

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he "rushed" midfielder Jack Wilshere back from injury too early for Saturday's dramatic comeback victory over Norwich City. Wilshere, who had missed six weeks with an ankle problem, played the first 59 minutes of the 3-1 victory before being substituted following a subdued display. "I rushed Jack back a bit. He was not completely ready," Wenger said on the club website (www.arsenal.com).

PSG's Pastore ruled out of French Cup tie against Evian

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain will be without influential midfielder Javier Pastore when they play Evian Thonon Gaillard away in the French Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday. Pastore has been ruled out with a thigh injury and holding midfielder Clement Chantome will miss the game with a muscle problem, Ancelotti told a news conference. The French Cup quarter-finals start on Tuesday with Troyes hosting Nancy and St Etienne taking on Lorient.
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