Bayern Munich

The 27-year-old Frenchman’s current deal is due to expire in 12 months and that has resulted in reported interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea. However, with Bayern now proving they are capable of reaching the final of a major tournament under Louis van Gaal this term, it appears that has been sufficient for Ribery to pledge himself to the Bavarian giants until 2015.

Ribery will miss Bayern’s bid to lift the Champions League trophy (7/5 Bayern – Outright Winner) due to suspension, but he was given permission to take a break from training with the France national side ahead of next month’s World Cup (France 16/1 – Outright), and he will fly to Madrid to watch the final.

German newspaper Bild claims that, following talks between his agents Alain Migliaccio and Jean-Pierre Bernes and Bayern bosses in the club’s Madrid hotel on Thursday, Ribery will put pen-to-paper on a new club-record salary on his arrival on Saturday.

If everything goes to plan Sport1 television understands Ribery will make a formal announcement from the balcony of Munich town hall on Sunday when the team parades its German Bundelisga title and possibly the Champions League trophy after a procession from the Allianz Arena.

Meanwhile, former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who won the tournament with them in 2001, feels the German side will come out on top against Jose Mourinho’s Inter on Saturday, while he feels they ‘will dominate European football in the coming years’.

Comparing his victorious side of nine years ago and Van Gaal’s current crop, 61-year-old Switzerland coach, Hitzfeld, told the Welt newspaper: “We had a great team spirit back then and that is the case today also.

“Nevertheless, the current team has a bit more substance to it and has players like Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, who are two extraordinary players, among their ranks.

“They are world-class players who can create a lot of pressure down the wings.

“But also (Mark) van Bommel and (Bastian) Schweinsteiger are world class. For me, there is no better midfield in Europe at present than Bayern’s.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

The Frenchman will be forced to serve a three-match ban after the Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out Bayern’s appeal to have it overturned and the France winger will now have to watch from the stands.

Ribery was initially serving a one-match ban following his sending off against Lyon in the first leg of the semi-final but somewhat foolishly the Germans decided to appeal and it was increased to three games.

How they will be wishing they had not bothered because the skillfull winger will be a huge loss as they try to plot the downfall of Inter and Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu.

A CAS statement read: “A hearing was held at the CAS headquarters today, during which the parties and their legal representatives were heard.

“The CAS Panel has dismissed the appeal and confirmed the three-game suspension imposed by the Uefa appeals body on the Bayern Munich player Franck Ribery.

“Accordingly, the player will not be eligible to play in the final of the 2010 Champions League.”

Bayern can take heart from the fact they brushed aside Lyon 4-0 in the second leg as Ivica Olic grabbed a hat-trick but it will be a different kettle of fish against Inter who will not surrender like the French did.

There is no doubt Olic will be needed again if Bayern are to have a chance and the striker is priced 13/2 First Goalscorer while a price of 40/1 is available on him repeating his heroics in Lyon.

Robben is also going to be a key man for Bayern (15/2 to score first goal) and he has shown throughout the tournament that when he is on his game he can hurt anyone. The question is which Robben will turn up in Madrid?

Ribery will be sorely missed but if Olic and Robben find their shooting boots then the Germans may have a chance of upsetting the odds.

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

The Bayern Munich midfielder is one of France’s prize assets and is a certainty to be included in coach Raymond Domenech’s 23-man squad for South Africa.

France (11/2 to be eliminated in the semi-finals) struggled to qualify for the World Cup and only made it through due to a controversial win over Ireland in the play-offs – a game memorable for Thierry Henry’s handball in the build-up to William Gallas’s winning goal.

Les Bleus have been drawn in Group A for the competition, with hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay (4/1 to win Group A), and will kick-off their World Cup campaign against the South Americans on June 11th.

Ribery, answering questions put to him from football fans, told Fifa.com that he has high hopes that France can win the World Cup this summer.

“We have a very good team who are more than capable,” said the 27-year-old.

Speaking about France’s main rivals to lift the trophy, he added: “There are several other teams who are just as good, though, and at the moment I think England and Spain are both very strong.”

France coach Domenech recently came under fire from UEFA president and footballing legend Michel Platini.

He has previously supported the much-maligned manager, including during a poor showing in the 2008 European Championships, but now appears to have lost patience with Domenech.

He told Groupe Hersant Media there is a “Raymond problem” and Domenech has proved himself “hopeless” in many ways over the years.

When discussing France’s chances of success for the tournament he admitted he does not have high hopes for Les Bleus.

“I don’t see them winning, I see them passing the first round. After they will play either Argentina or Nigeria,” said Platini.

It remains to be seen whether Thierry Henry (33/1 to be top World Cup goalscorer), who played an infamous role in helping France qualify for South Africa, will actually be on the plane to the World Cup as Domenech recently said that he could not assure the 32-year-old a place in his squad.

The gaffer is set to name his preliminary squad on May 11th and Henry’s lack of playing time for Barcelona could play against him.

It remains to be seen if the former Arsenal legend will be among the party preparing for their opening game in Green Point on June 11^th.

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Bayern Munich

The France winger was sent off in the first leg of the semi-final against Lyon following a strong challange on Lisandro Lopez which saw him earn a straight red card from referee Roberto Rosetti.

UEFA subsequently handed Ribery a three-game ban rather than the automatic one-match suspension which ruled him out of the return leg against Lyon in France plus the final and the opening game in the tournament next season.

Bayern have now appealed the decision as they look for one of their best players to be available for the game against Inter, the conquerors of reigning European champions Barcelona.

A club statement read: “In detailing the reasons for their verdict from a jurisdictional point of view, UEFA said Ribery was guilty of assault. FC Bayern cannot accept this verdict in any sense and holds that it is entirely false.

“The accusation of assault is inapplicable in this case. Ribery certainly cannot be accused of intentionally attempting to injure his opponent. The player in question, Lisandro Lopez (Olympique Lyon), was able to continue the match uninjured.

“FC Bayern and Franck Ribery cannot accept the verdict and will lodge an appeal, using all legal remedies at the club’s disposal.”

Whether or not Bayern’s appeal is successful remains to be seen, but for now boss Louis van Gaal admits he is glad to be facing Inter rather than Barca, who were looking to become the first side to retain the Champions League.

He told the club’s website: “We have a little bit more of a chance against Inter than against Barcelona.

“Inter are not as attacking as Barcelona. In a final, we’re capable of beating anyone.”

Inter also had a player sent off at the semi-final stage of the competition in Thiago Motta following a tangle with Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets at the Nou Camp.

The Brazilian is now calling for Busquets to be punished by European football’s governing body.

Motta said: “I have seen the television pictures of how he looks up to see what action the referee is going to take and then continues rolling over.

“It is not the first time he has done it and UEFA should really do something about it.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Bayern Munich

The 27-year-old was sent off during the 1-0 win over Lyon in the first leg of their semi-final for a heavy challenge on visiting striker Lisandro.

However, numerical parity was soon restored when Ribery’s France team-mate, Jeremy Toulalan, who was playing as an emergency central defender, got himself dismissed after picking up two yellow cards early in the second half at the Allianz Arena.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Arjen Robben scored the only goal of the game as the French side turned in a poor performance away from home.

Ribery will definitely miss the return at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday while his availability for the final against either Inter Milan (4/6 To Qualify) or holders Barcelona (11/10) is in the balance, with a disciplinary panel set to meet in six days to decide if his automatic one-game ban should be extended.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has already called for Ribery’s punishment to fit his crime.

He said: “It’s unfortunate that the referee gave a red card.

“But we cannot change it and we have got to accept it and hope that UEFA are not too harsh on him so that he could be in final and that the ban reflects the incident.”

Match-winner Robben, who reacted badly to being substituted late on during the first leg, is warning his team-mates that they still have work to do in the second leg.

He said: “Nothing is decided yet. Perhaps we have a slight advantage but we have a difficult match ahead in Lyon.”

Lyon were badly out of sorts up front on the night but captain Cris has refused to blame the road trip to Germany for the result following the flight chaos this week.

The Brazilian central defender told rmc.fr: “There was a good atmosphere in the stadium. It was still a semi-final of the Champions League.

“Many players do not have the chance to play this kind of meeting. We should enjoy it.”

However, Cris also admitted: “Throughout the game, it was not good, really.

“In the second half, we went back a little too quiet. We did not take advantage of our superiority (following Ribery’s 37th-minute red card).

“We tried to play. We knew they were putting on pressure and trying to score right away. We tried to cope but it was complicated.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.