Leading Irish eventers Padraig McCarthy and Cathal Daniels are among the riders heading to Switzerland for this week’s CHI Geneva five-star fixture.

Mick McCarthy accepts that to reach the Euro 2020 Finals, Ireland will now have to do it the hard way, after this morning's play-off draw put two away games in their path.

Germany and Holland secured their places at Euro 2020 from qualifying Group C as Northern Ireland were left to try their luck in the play-offs.

Picture the young James McClean when he first wore a Sunderland jersey. Memories stir of a fearless winger slaloming down the touchline. It seemed, even then, to be almost old-fashioned in a league that was no longer so in thrall to the hustle and bustle of years gone by.

Ireland’s European survival hopes hang tentatively in the balance after another nightmare first quarter cost them dear against England in Antwerp.

Ireland’s men produced a stunning late two-goal salvo to draw 3-3 with Scotland to just about keep their European Championships campaign alive in Antwerp.

Ayeisha McFerran has been passed fit to play some part in the women’s EuroHockey Championships which get underway next weekend in Antwerp.

Donegal siblings Chloe and Sam Magee are just one match away from securing Ireland's latest medal in Minsk.

Ireland’s intense boxing schedule at the European Games in Minsk continues tonight with four in the ring as canoeing makes its bow at the Games, and cycling’s time trial medallists are decided.

Their total tally of 133 points was only two off the mark that earned the Italian pair a spot in the bronze-medal play-off.

Megan Fletcher may have bowed out at the quarter-finals stage of the European Games judo in Minsk, but the recently-declared Irish judoka is now a candidate to do big things at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Paddy McNair’s first international goal saw Northern Ireland snatch a 1-0 win over Belarus and make it four wins out of four in Euro 2020 qualifying.

The Kremlin’s military aggression in 2014 finally failed because of Ukraine’s strengthened links with the West, says Carl Bildt

"This is utterly wrong and we condemn sectarianism in any form."

Eden Hazard scored twice as Belgium recovered from a blunder by Thibaut Courtois to beat Russia 3-1 last night and start European Championship qualifying campaign on a high.

Manager Colin Bell says that every game will be “like a cup final” for the senior Irish women’s team as they bid to make it to their first ever major tournament, the 2021 European Championship finals in England.

In contrast to soundbites of rebuilding and transition by his predecessor Martin O’Neill, injected into the mission statement from Mick McCarthy is a reality check in pragmatism.

He called it "by far the biggest mistake I have committed in my entire career".

Portugal and France secured their places at next summer's World Cup finals but Holland will miss out on a second successive major tournament.

European champions Portugal got the victory they required over Switzerland to book their place in next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Blaise Matuidi's early goal proved enough for France to secure a crucial 1-0 victory away to Bulgaria which put them back at the top of World Cup European Qualifying Group A.

The Russian military has launched drills involving intercontinental ballistic missiles in Siberia.

Belgium qualified for next year's World Cup by beating Greece but France were pegged back by a humiliating goalless draw at home to Luxembourg.

France steamrollered Holland 4-0 with the help of goals from Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe as they edged closer to qualification for next summer's World Cup finals in Russia.

Ireland’s Under-18 girls’ basketball squad are aiming to write themselves into the history books tonight as they prepare for the quarter-final of the FIBA European Championship against Israel in Dublin.

From supporting Ireland at Euro fanzones last summer to being part of the squad aiming for World Cup qualification, Callum O’Dowda has enjoyed quite a year.

As World Cup qualification reaches the business end we look at how things stand in every group. 

Video replays took centre stage as Spain beat France 2-0 in a friendly at the Stade de France.

As a footballer, Callum O’Dowda seems to take all the big tests in his graceful stride – whether that be moving from League 2 Oxford United to Bristol City in the Championship, getting his first senior cap on the eve of the Euros against Belarus in Cork or, just last month, making his competitive debut for Ireland when coming off the bench in the 3-1 win in Moldova.

Leading figures in the European Olympic movement have said there is no proof of the “horrible accusations” against former Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey and have called for him to be allowed to return to Ireland.

The first medal to change hands at the Rio Games for doping has placed further doubt on weightlifting’s credibility as an Olympic sport.

Ireland boss Martin O’Neill hailed Shay Given as one of Ireland’s greatest goalkeepers after the Stoke City star last night confirmed his exit from the international arena.

BATE Borisov 1 Dundalk 0: Substitute Mikhail Gordeichuk’s 70th minute strike for BATE Borisov in the Borisov Arena last night finally broke Dundalk’s resistance to leave the League of Ireland champions with it all to do if they are to realise their Champions League dream.

Russia made it to Rio by the skin of its teeth and it may see Putin suspend his bid for military glory, writes Nina L Khrushcheva

Mikhail Gorbachev’s latest book contains plenty of righteous anger at the state of modern Russia but is marred by being one-sided and presenting a lack of context for the general reader, writes Neil Robinson.

After yesterday's 3-0 defeat to Belgium in Bordeaux, Martin O'Neill will have to hope his players get a win against Italy on Wednesday.

Initially, it sounds like Jeff Hendrick is going to give a predictably routine footballer’s response when he is asked how the Irish players are filling in their downtime between games and training sessions here at Euro 2016.

Despite being billed by many as among the favourites to win Euro 2016, Belgium currently find themselves off the pace as the only team in Group E with no points and no goals following their 2-0 defeat to Italy.

It was a day of corrections, clarifications, apologies but also no little defiance from Martin O’Neill, after Ireland training had resumed at Abbotstown yesterday.

Northern Ireland had their first training session at the squad base in St-Georges-de-Reneins yesterday ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2016 opener against Poland, with midfielder Oliver Norwood praising the IFA’s efforts to create an inspirational atmosphere.

If Cyrus Christie gets told his biggest obstacle in life is dislodging the best right-back in the Premier League to further his international career, then he’d have every reason to chuckle.

The Republic of Ireland squad has been gearing up for Euro 2016 at Fota Island in Cork.