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.

NICOSIA is Europe’s last divided capital. For more than four decades UN peacekeepers have patrolled a dead zone — others call it a green zone — but whatever it is called it bisects the Cypriot capital and stands as a monument to the hatreds dividing the island’s Greek-Orthodox Christian majority and minority Muslim Turks.

A Syrian woman says she gave birth aboard a boat loaded with 128 other migrants as they made their way from Turkey to Cyprus, police said.

European champions Portugal were brought crashing back to earth in their opening World Cup qualifier last night after suffering a deserved 2-0 defeat to Switzerland.

Russia's deputy defence minister has accused Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family of personally profiting from oil trade with militants from the so-called 'Islamic State' group.

Robin van Persie endured a miserable night scoring an own goal as Holland failed to qualify for the European Championships following a 3-2 defeat to the Czech Republic last night.

Holland striker Robin van Persie admitted to feeling terrible after yesterday’s 3-0 Group A defeat to Turkey, but vowed to ensure victory in their final two games.

Wales are poised to end their 58-year wait to play at a major tournament after Gareth Bale’s late winner on a balmy night in Nicosia.

Gareth Bale’s late header has put Wales within tantalising reach of qualifying for Euro 2016.

The UK's Ministry of Defence is investigating allegations that members of the British Army shouted sexist abuse while watching the England Women football team.

Talks between Greece and its eurozone creditors broke down without agreement or even a plan of action on how to move forward on the country's debts and bail-out.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras’s damage-control efforts calmed investors while failing to budge European policy makers on his week-old government’s key demands.

Leinster’s recent upswing in form may have coincided with the rare absence of an injured Jamie Heaslip from the line-up, but Matt O’Connor clearly isn’t the superstitious type, given his declaration his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

Leinster’s recent upswing in form may have coincided with the rare absence of an injured Jamie Heaslip from the line-up, but Matt O’Connor clearly isn’t the superstitious type, given his declaration that his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

While the spotlight in tonight’s Champions League Group F game between APOEL of Nicosia and Barcelona will as usual mainly be on blaugrana superstars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, Barca’s defenders will do well to keep an eye on the home side’s Cavan-born centre-forward Cillian Sheridan.

Tonight is when the Champions League starts to get serious.

Holland came from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA and get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign up and running.

Paris St-Germain shrugged off the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to inflict a first defeat on Barcelona under their new coach Luis Enrique, with a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Parc des Princes last night.

With their fourth win of the campaign Donegal’s Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru WRC) remain in contention to win back-to-back Dunlop titles.

So Cillian Sheridan, playing for APOEL from Nicosia in Cyprus, is the sole Irish representative in the Champions League group stages for 2014/2015.

Liverpool have been drawn to face Real Madrid, Basle and Ludogorets in Group B of the Champions League.

Ryanair will more than likely submit an expression of interest in troubled Cyprus Airways which is up for sale, CEO Michael O’Leary said yesterday. 

Republic of Ireland striker Stephanie Roche is hoping her winning goal against Switzerland at the Cyprus Cup yesterday will be the beginning of a hot streak.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill accepted his rebuilding process has a long way to go after overseeing another agonising away day in Cyprus.

Cyprus 0 Northern Ireland 0

Northern Ireland’s friendly in Cyprus next week is expected to go ahead despite the bombing of a referee’s car on the island.

Mario Balotelli fired Italy to next year’s World Cup finals as the Azzurri came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Turin last night.

Swansea’s Spanish stars face a daunting trip to Valencia in their first-ever Europa League group stage campaign as long-haul journeys to Russia, Moldova and northern Norway beckon for Tottenham.

The International Monetary Fund will contribute about €1bn as part of a rescue programme for Cyprus that aims to stabilise the nation’s banks and reduce public spending, said Christine Lagarde, the IMF managing director.

Russia won’t bail out people or companies that stand to lose money held at Cyprus’s two largest banks, first deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov said.

The president of Cyprus said yesterday the risk of bankruptcy had been contained and the country had no intention of leaving the euro, in a speech laden with criticism of Europe’s currency union for “experimenting” with the island’s fate.

Cyprus averted panic withdrawals as banks opened yesterday for the first time in almost two weeks, with government controls on access to cash leading to orderly lines rather than runs on deposits.

Restrictions on financial transactions in Cyprus could be fully lifted in a month, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides says.

Banks in Cyprus have reopened to customers for the first time in nearly two weeks, with people now able to access their accounts, albeit with strict restrictions on transactions.

Banks in Cyprus will open today for the first time in more than a week – with tough restrictions to prevent people from draining their accounts.

Cypriots will only be allowed to withdraw €300 euros in cash each day when the country’s banks open for the first time in more than a week tomorrow, the state news agency has said.

Thousands of students and bank workers protested in Nicosia yesterday as banks stayed shut to stop a run on deposits after the island agreed a painful bailout to avert bankruptcy.

Cyprus has clinched a last-minute solution to imminent financial meltdown by agreeing to take up to almost half of the bank savings of the wealthiest.

Cyprus has clinched a last-minute solution to imminent financial meltdown by agreeing to take up to almost half of the bank savings of the wealthiest, and avoided a disastrous exit from the eurozone, according to the country's finance minister.

Moscow is heavily invested in Cyprus but is in no rush to help out, writes Felix Salmon

This weekend, as we relax between two bank holiday weekends, maybe we should for a fleeting moment — anything longer would be too frightening — imagine ourselves Cypriot.