Mirsad Jonuz has been sacked as the coach of Macedonia, the country's football federation has announced.

IRELAND versus Russia — more than most, it’s a tricky one to call.

IF THE prospect of a long, dark winter ahead fills you with gloom, there might be some consolation in reflecting that, while it seems like only yesterday Ireland’s 2010 World Cup campaign came to a shuddering halt, by this time next week the first match of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers will already be part of history. A game for all seasons, football’s big wheel is ever in spin.

THE FAI will unveil a new sponsorship deal with 3 mobile today in the wake of the news that eircom have ended their 11-year long association with Irish football.

eircom has announced its decision to end its sponsorship of the Irish soccer team from today.

JOHN O’SHEA has backed the Republic of Ireland to qualify for the 2012 European Championship finals.

FAI BOSS John Delaney remains to be convinced that FIFA President Sepp Blatter will follow through on his declaration that football’s world governing body will revisit the subject of goal-line technology in light of controversial incidents at the World Cup in South Africa.

A THREAT by FIFA yesterday to ban France’s national and club teams from international competition if the government did not stay out of soccer affairs failed to stop political debate over France’s World Cup debacle.

FABIO CAPELLO has provided England with the perfect World Cup boost by committing his future to the team until after Euro 2012.

BOSS Giovanni Trapattoni has given an unreserved thumbs-up to Ireland’s fixture schedule for the 2012 European Championship campaign.

THE map of Ireland’s 2012 European Championship campaign will be made clear today in Moscow.

Celtic’s Robbie Keane will miss the Republic of Ireland’s friendly with Brazil on Tuesday night after aggravating a knee injury during yesterday’s Old Firm defeat by Rangers.

ROY KEANE believes Giovanni Trapattoni will be ‘rubbing his hands’ in anticipation after the draw for the 2012 European Championship qualifying groups presented Ireland with a realistic chance of reaching the finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

IN A decision sure to prompt anger, European football’s governing body UEFA has confirmed that not only will the play-offs for the 2012 European Championships be seeded — but the seeded teams will then be guaranteed home advantage in the second leg.

JOHN DELANEY believes FIFA would have sanctioned a replay of Ireland’s World Cup play-off against France had the French Football Federation (FFF) joined the widespread calls for the match to take place.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has given his strongest hint yet that he would like to extend his tenure as Republic of Ireland manager.

Wales coach John Toshack has agreed a two-year extension to his contract.

The Scottish Football Association are eager to step into the breach if Poland and Ukraine are stripped of the 2012 European Championship finals.

The Scottish Football Association have asked to be considered as alternative hosts of the 2012 European Championship should Poland and Ukraine lose the honour.