France World Cup veteran arrested in blackmail investigation over teammate’s alleged sex tape

Former France national team star Djibril Cisse is in a bit of hot water. He was arrested on Monday in connection with an attempt to blackmail his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena over the release of a sex tape. The AFP says “the existence of an intimate video has not been proven” and that Cisse is only being held because he knows the real perpetrators, not because he’s suspected of being behind the extortion scheme himself.

Between this, the 2010 World Cup debacle and Samir Nasri’s exile/retirement, the French national team is having a wonderful decade.

Ross Barkley’s scorcher against Lithuania. (r/soccer)

Jurgen Klinsmann sent Fabian Johnson home because he thought he was embellishing an injury.

New Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce admits he takes joy in making Arsene Wenger mad. (ESPN FC)

FOX will air Bundesliga games on its big broadcast network in 2016. (World Soccer Talk)

Manchester United and Northern Ireland defender Paddy McNair has been in a hospital for three days after suffering a ruptured liver. (BBC)

Michel Platini didn’t have a written contract for his alleged illegal payment from FIFA, but told the English FA he did. (Guardian)

Martin Caceres is set to return to the Juventus squad after a drunk driving charge. (Football Italia)

Peru fans decided to use up one of their good curses for the year on Alexis Sanchez. (Telegraph)

Luis Miguel Echegaray asks if US Soccer’s war on high school soccer is hurting them. (Guardian)

Gabriele Marcotti on Jürgen Klopp talking sense and sounding genuine, unlike his predecessor. (ESPN FC)

You can find recaps of Monday’s Euro qualifiers here. (UEFA.com)

Euro 2016 qualifying: Nine games (2:45 p.m.) - The big games are Netherlands-Czech Republic and Turkey-Iceland.

CONMEBOL WCQs: Five games (from 5 p.m.) - Argentina and Brazil both lost in the opening round and need wins.

Friendly: USA vs. Costa Rica (6:30 p.m.) - Expect dramatic changes from Jurgen Klinsmann.