Ah, France. A rugby cliche-magnet, if ever there was one.

Scotland bounced back from last weekend’s humiliation in Nice with a gritty 17-14 win over France at Murrayfield.

The Republic of Ireland have been beaten 4-0 by Portugal in their Under-19 European Championship semi-final.

His 30 Ireland caps already a distant memory, Simon Cox takes a break from Southend United's relegation scrap, talking to David Sneyd as he recalls what feels like someone else's life.

Leinster refuse to be a team that limits their eggs to the one basket.

Spain captain Sergio Ramos scored for the fifth international in succession as his side made a winning start to Euro 2020 qualification against Norway.

Sergio Ramos scored the winner from the penalty spot as Spain recorded a 2-1 victory over Norway in Valencia to begin their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

How much did you enjoy watching Ajax beat Real Madrid on Tuesday night?

Toulouse have held on to secure a one point one against reigning Champions Cup holders Leinster.

Leinster fly out for Toulouse this morning fuelled by a stunning declaration of intent against Wasps eight days ago and, you would imagine, in the hope that they can jettison some of the hyperbole that has enveloped them along the way.

Spain skipper Sergio Ramos is expecting a tough night against England and pinpointed star striker Harry Kane as player that could thrive in LaLiga.

Williams accused him of being a thief for taking a point away from her.

Atletico Madrid have won the European Super Cup after beating Real Madrid in extra time.

The clouds above this corner of Moscow had opened and mercifully eased some of the soul-sapping atmospheric pressure that had pressed down on the place all afternoon.

Egypt boss Hector Cuper has kept Russia guessing over whether or not he will be able to unleash “one of the best players in the world” on them in St Petersburg tonight.

There have been some remarkable stories in the World Cup over the years but this one you really couldn’t make up.

Uruguay captain Diego Godin bristled at the suggestion that his team might resort to a physical approach to neutralise Egypt forward Mohamed Salah on his return from a shoulder injury in their World Cup opener today.

It will either be the setback that brings Spain players closer than ever before, bound together by adversity; or it will be the moment their World Cup dream ended before it had even begun.

Irish football fans won’t have had too much trouble coming up with a comparison for 24 hours which saw World Cup challengers Spain come close to total meltdown just two days before their opening Group B game against Portugal in Sochi.

Two cramped rooms in a Moscow suburb could make or break countries’ dreams of World Cup glory.

It was a shameless act. Premeditated. Despicable, disgusting, dastardly. Did he mean it? Of course he did.

That hurt more than I thought it would.

This Champions League final is all about two great attacks: two sides with the ability to blitz opponents in a matter of minutes.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos believes Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah still has some way to go to match team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi as they are “in another orbit”.

The lead up to tomorrow’s late in the season La Liga Clasico has been quite unique with minds on both sides not quite as focused as usual in the days before the world’s biggest domestic club game.

Munster will go into Champions Cup semi-final weekend as the only one of Europe’s last four with a win behind them after their opponents this Saturday – Racing 92 – were defeated by Toulouse.

How big a loss would this be for Real?

The Criminal Assets Bureau has frozen more than $500,000 (€406,000) in two bank accounts linked to an international tech company that allegedly created encrypted smartphones used by some of the world’s top crime bosses.

Skipper Sergio Ramos scored a late penalty clincher as Real Madrid came from behind to win 3-1 at Leganes and ease themselves into third place in LaLiga.

Sergio Aguero could line up for Manchester City against Leicester at the weekend after the club eased worries about his health following a dressing-room incident on Argentina duty.

Isco scored twice as Spain beat Italy 3-0 at the Bernabeu to move clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group G.

A commuter boat carrying more than 100 passengers has flipped and sunk in north-east Brazil, killing at least 18 people and leaving dozens missing in rough ocean waters.

Andy Murray feels the odd man out after arriving at the French Open playing "garbage" but that did not stop him reaching a fourth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros.

Zinedine Zidane has refused to offer any clues as to whether Gareth Bale will start a Champions League final in his home city.

All sides of the Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos’ unique personality are on show as he leads his team towards an increasingly likely La Liga and Champions League double.

Real Madrid 3 - Atletico Madrid 0: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu sees Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid facing off for a fourth consecutive year in the competition — with Real aiming to confirm their dominance in the capital and Atletico looking to finally get over the final barrier of Diego Simeone’s time in charge.

Bayern Munich 1 - Real Madrid 2: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Bayern Munich 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Allianz Arena.

Napoli 1 - Real Madrid 3: Real Madrid weathered an early storm before easing through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Napoli which gave them a 6-2 win on aggregate.

Real Madrid weathered an early storm before easing through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Napoli which gave them a 6-2 win on aggregate.

Real Madrid 3 - 1 Napoli