French look for sweet smell of success

French players allowed off Laurent Blanc’s leash to get acquainted with Donetsk patiently explained when asked by a reporter why they had piled into a store selling deodorant.

Midfielder Alou Diarra laughed before revealing: “We didn’t have time to stock up beforehand. Actually, the players on the France team are very stylish. we take great care of our hygiene.”

One way to get up Portuguese noses...

German fans believe they may have hit on a way to annoy fans of opening group stage opponents Portugal.

Congregating in Lviv for Saturday’s encounter several German supporters crowed “Messi! Messi!” when they came across their green and red-clad counterparts.

Mention of the Barcelona star is red rag to a bull for Portugal’s star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who insists he is the man to succeed Messi as Ballon d’Or winner despite the Argentine outscoring him in their two-man bid to destroy every defence in La Liga.

Press man mugged

English sports journalist James Lawton, in Ukraine to cover Euro 2012, was mugged in Kiev he revealed.

The 2011 Sports Journalist of the Year, who writes for ‘The Independent’ - recounted he was mugged in broad daylight on a city centre street after withdrawing money.

“As muggings go, it was more adroit than violent, an arm dropping over the shoulder, a sharp push and then a successful lunge into a back pocket containing some cash,” wrote Lawton, who said an elderly Ukrainian tried to come to his aid.

So did the police - and quickly.

Lawton wrote: “Within 15 minutes of reporting the crime to the city police, my rented apartment was filled with detectives, uniformed police, special police, a paramedic concerned that I had been hurt (I hadn’t) and several officers armed with automatic weaponry with lapels that said in English “alert team” and at least one photographer.”