PARIS: Euro 2016 hosts France will face Germany in an international friendly at the Stade de France on November 13, the French football federation announced. The fixture is a repeat of last year’s World Cup quarter-final, which Germany won 1-0 on the way to being crowned world champions. Before Joachim Loew’s men come to town France have friendlies scheduled against Portugal, Serbia, Armenia, Denmark and England. — AFP

Schweini gets choice

BERLIN: Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be given the choice of whether to stay or leave the Bundesliga champions, manager Pep Guardiola said on Thursday. The 30-year-old German World Cup winner has been linked in media reports with a move to Manchester United where he would be reunited with manager Louis van Gaal who converted him from a wide player into a central midfielder during his time at Bayern. “If Schweinsteiger wants to stay here then that’s perfect. He’s a top player,” Guardiola told a news conference on Thursday. — Reuters

Sevilla sign Rami

MADRID: Europa League winners Sevilla have agreed terms to sign French defender Adil Rami from AC Milan, the Spanish club said on their website. The 29-year-old joined Milan on loan in January 2014 after falling out of favour at Sevilla’s La Liga rivals Valencia and the move was later made permanent. However, Rami had a frustrating, starting only 18 Serie A matches for Milan who failed to qualify for Europe. Sevilla said Rami still has to undergo a medical and that “If everything goes as predicted, his contract will be for four seasons.”  Valencia opened disciplinary proceedings against Rami after he criticised then-coach Miroslav Djukic in an interview with Spanish radio and he was suspended for a week without pay. — Reuters

Rekik joins Marseille

MARSEILLE: Marseille have completed the signings of Dutch international defender Karim Rekik and Argentinian winger Lucas Ocampos, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday. Rekik moves to the south of France from Manchester City after spending last season on loan at Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven while Ocampos joins from Monaco having already spent the second half of the last campaign on loan at the Stade Velodrome. The 20-year-old duo take the number of summer signings at OM to four following the earlier recruits of Nantes winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, also 20, and former Sochaux goalkeeper Yohann Pele. However, Marseille fans have been worried about the number of players leaving the club this summer. Midfielder Giannelli Imbula was sold to Portuguese giants FC Porto for around 20 million euros on Wednesday, following last season’s top scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, Andre Ayew, defender Jeremy Morel and playmaker Dimitri Payet out of the door. — AFP