None of Ireland’s group opponents at Euro 2016 won their respective friendlies last night. It was a particularly chastening night for Italy as the Azzurri lost 4-1 against world champions Germany in Munich.

There were three veterans of Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph missing when the team met up at the Coverciano training centre in Florence yesterday to prepare for matches against Spain and Germany.

Antonio Conte has paved the way to take the Chelsea post after it was confirmed the Italy manager would be stepping down following Euro 2016.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Rule one of Italian football is that whenever Italy are due to compete in a major tournament, a big scandal will break in the previous six months.

Guus Hiddink has edged towards a second stint as interim manager at Chelsea after holding talks with Stamford Bridge bosses.

The crisis at soccer’s global governing body continues to spread as authorities in Germany and Switzerland target banks and national sport associations for financial transactions linked to Fifa.

Sepp Blatter has claimed a £1.35m (€2m) payment to Michel Platini which has seen the pair provisionally suspended by Fifa’s ethics committee was part of a “gentleman’s agreement” between the two of them.

Jacques Burger is afraid of nothing. Completely fearless, he says. Then he remembers. “No, but I am afraid of things off the pitch, I promise you that. Oooh, snakes for instance. I don’t like snakes very much,” he says with a theatrical shudder.

At the very least, there’s absolutely no doubting Ireland’s spirit. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a fair few doubts about this team, however, and their ability to qualify for Euro 2016. 

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke is to push for trials of video replay technology as the debate over refereeing standards rages on.

A judge has rejected charges of drug trafficking against Brazilian football star Adriano.

Joachim Low has denied that his Germany team will settle for a draw against the United States so that former boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s side can also progress in the World Cup.

Germany national team head scout Urs Siegenthaler believes coach Joachim Low is on the verge of the crowning moment of his coaching career.

Footballer Joey Barton has apologised after claiming Ukip’s European election victory made them the best of "four really ugly girls" on the BBC’s Question Time.

England boss Roy Hodgson’s decision to let his players decide whether to take their wives, families and girlfriends on their travels this summer is a “smart move”, experts have said.

STAR classical vocal group Il Divo will make City of Cork Symphony Orchestra’s midsummer night’s dream come true when they perform together at a fully seated, five-hour event in Musgrave Park, on Saturday, June 21.

Former Italy and AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has rejected accusations of his alleged involvement in match-fixing and dramatically claimed he would kill himself if found guilty.

“It was tremendous, a bit of a fairytale.”

It has to be said we in the readed meeja were a little put out when we learned Roy Keane wouldn’t be in attendance for the grand unveiling today of Martin O’Neill as the new Ireland manager.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has claimed in his new autobiography that he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2002 – and that he clashed with the Scot over Wayne Rooney’s inclusion in his 2006 World Cup squad.

The future hosts of the World Cup in Qatar have decided a statue depicting one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments is not worthy of public display.

The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed that it will be bidding for Euro 2024.

For many years, football referees have complained of being silenced. But if the card sharps are not to be blunted entirely, it is becoming increasingly clear that the gags must stay on.

At times during this World Cup qualification campaign, it has seemed Sweden’s approach has resembled that of their famed skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic — nonchalant and one-paced.

It was a frenzied start to Fifa’s attempt to fill the stands for next year’s World Cup in Brazil as fans applied for more than one million tickets in just seven hours.

Joleon Lescott is sure Wayne Rooney will not lose his temper in Montenegro as England look to claim top spot in Group H at the scene of perhaps the maddest moment of the striker’s international career.

Michael Owen will retire from professional football at the end of the season, the Stoke striker has announced on his website.

Gary Neville has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo changed the way he looked at football and regards himself as privileged to have been part of the same team.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has branded Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo a “bully” who preys on the weaknesses of defenders.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has branded Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo a "bully" who preys on the weaknesses of defenders.

Huddersfield could have grounds to request a replay of their 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday after Owls player Jeremy Helan was booked twice but remained on the field, a former Football League referee said today.

Brazil have appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new coach.

Sunderland have expressed an interest in bringing former Newcastle striker Michael Owen back to the north-east.

Tyrone’s Brian McGuigan has sensationally claimed Declan O’Sullivan exaggerated an injury to get him sent off last Saturday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has sent a letter to Germany’s Bild newspaper to clarify remarks he made in Switzerland’s Blick newspaper at the weekend in which he appeared to insinuate that Germany had only gained the 2006 World Cup due to malpractice.

Franz Beckenbauer has hit back at suggestions by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that there was irregularity in the decision to award the 2006 World Cup to Germany.

Marco van Basten insists he has no interest in returning to manage Holland after the departure of Bert van Marwijk following the team’s woeful performance at the European Championship.

Germany 1 Italy 2