Michel Barnier’s tax raid is poised to cost France’s largest company an extra €800m (£670m) next year, as the French prime minister races to reduce the country’s “colossal” debt pile.

The bookmakers have made up their minds. France are clear favourite to raid the fortress once more. If they are right, England's most noticeable progress will be past some unwanted markers.

Belgian authorities spearheaded a series of raids across Belgium, Portugal, and France in a corruption investigation, ...