A Ligue 1 runner-up with Paris Saint-Germain FC in 2011/12, his first season at the Parc des Princes following a four-year spell with AS Saint-Étienne, Blaise Matuidi has enhanced his stature sufficiently to earn a place in Laurent Blanc's UEFA EURO 2012 squad. He provides a mix of energy and composure in central midfield.

• A graduate of the Clairefontaine academy, he launched his professional career with ES Troyes Aube Champagne in Ligue 2 and was a regular in the team, aged 18, following their promotion to the top flight in 2005.

• Remained for another season with Troyes, but following the club's relegation he was transferred to St-Étienne, by which stage he was a stalwart for France's Under-21 side.

• A rock-solid performer for Les Verts, he made 132 Ligue 1 appearances for the club over the next four seasons, several of them as team captain; made his European debut in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, featuring prominently as St-Étienne reached the round of 16.

• Made his senior debut for France as an 80th-minute substitute in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo on 7 September 2010 but played no further part on the road to Poland and Ukraine.

• Recruited by PSG as the replacement for the retired Claude Makélélé in July 2011, he made 29 appearances, scoring one goal, as the capital club finished a close second to Montpellier Hérault SC.