His trademark stubble shows the odd fleck of grey, but the advancing years are having no effect on the reflexes, and ambition, of evergreen Italy and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon.

At 38 years old, Buffon’s status as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever means he is a key figure for a redemption-seeking Italy side at Euro 2016.

With just over four weeks to go until the start of Euro 2016, the build-up to the European Championship continued on Thursday as hosts France named their squad, minus Mathieu Valbuena and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Valbuena's season has been overshadowed by the sextape blackmail affair in which he has been a victim and which has seen star striker Karim Benzema of Real Madrid dropped by his country.

Barcelona have the upper hand in a final day showdown with Real Madrid for the Spanish title on Saturday as they know a victory at Granada will ensure them a 24th La Liga crown.

Madrid are a point behind and have to stretch their winning La Liga run to 12 games at Deportivo la Coruna and hope for a Barca slip up to land the title.

Manuel Pellegrini has vowed to give Manchester City the perfect parting gift of a Champions League place at the expense of Manchester United, while champions Leicester will bring down the curtain on their astonishing season at Chelsea on Sunday.

With a memorable Premier League campaign coming to a conclusion with the final round of fixtures this weekend, the focus is split between the Manchester rivals' battle for the last spot in Europe's elite club competition and a fitting finale for Leicester as the fairytale champions bow out at the home of last year's winners.

It is a picturesque town 100 km south of Rome and notorious for high levels of pollution, but little Frosinone play the Serie A kingmakers on Saturday when Roma battle Napoli for runners-up spot and a sure Champions League place.

Despite Juventus securing a record-equaling fifth successive crown last month, there is still plenty at stake in Italy's top flight with Champions League and Europa League places up for grabs on the final weekend of action.

A delegation from Kuwaiti clubs lobbying for the FIFA Congress to lift a suspension of the nation's football association is confident of victory ahead of Friday's vote in Mexico City.

"So far, we have received a lot of support from the FIFA family and we are very optimistic," said Saad Al-Hootie, captain of the Kuwait team that reached the 1982 World Cup in Spain. "It's time to let our players play."

Borussia Dortmund signed France's young player of the year Ousmane Dembele from Rennes on Thursday, the German club fighting off strong English Premier League interest in the teenage forward.

Dortmund called the 18-year-old "one of Europe's most sought after talents" in a statement announcing the transfer on a five-year contract.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has extended his contract until 2021, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

The highly regarded Argentine, 44, arrived from Southampton in 2014 and came close to leading Spurs to their first league title since 1961 this season, only for them to lose out to Leicester City.

Five things on Spain as they seek to become the first country to win three consecutive European Championship titles at Euro 2016.

- World Cup rebound

As a pot-bellied, softly-spoken, 65-year-old, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque can rarely be described as a man on a mission.

Yet he is determined to put right a disastrous World Cup two years ago when La Roja defend their European Championship title.