FC Sochaux-Montbéliard playmaker Marvin Martin had a dream debut for France in June 2011, scoring twice against Ukraine in Donetsk after coming on as a late substitute. The diminutive schemer is a rising star of the French game who could be an ace up Laurent Blanc's sleeve at UEFA EURO 2012.

• Born in Paris, he grew up supporting local club Paris Saint-Germain FC but had to head east, to Montbeliard, to launch his career, joining Sochaux's renowned youth academy at the age of 14.

• Won the prestigious Coupe Gambardella youth competition in 2007 before making his first-team breakthrough in 2008/09 under coach Francis Gillot, his Ligue 1 debut coming on 30 August 2008 in a 2-1 defeat at Olympique de Marseille.

• Missed just two league games for Sochaux in 2009/10, scoring two goals − in successive matches against AS Nancy-Lorraine and Le Mans UC 72

• Took his career to a new level in 2010/11 as he inspired Sochaux to a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 – their highest final position for seven years – and qualification for Europe; provided 17 assists in addition to his three goals and started 37 of 38 matches.

• Moved up from the Under-21s to the senior national side and made a spectacular two-goal start to his full international career, helping Les Bleus to a 4-1 win against Ukraine in the Donbass Arena and thus emulating Zinédine Zidane's feat of scoring twice on his France debut; subsequently appeared in each of France's last four UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers.