He played no part in the national team’s qualification campaign, but the gifted young attacker was included when Giovanni Trapattoni named his squad for the European Championship finals.

Four first-phase clashes at Euro 2012 have a historical resonance, says Paul Kelly.

FRANCE team manager Raymond Domenech had a clear-the-air meeting with Arsenal trio Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira after watching the Gunners draw 2-2 with Bolton at Highbury on Saturday.

SOME 3,000 police officers will be present at an empty Lokomotiv stadium on Wednesday for the Euro-2004 qualifier between hosts Georgia and Russia.

SWISS newspapers yesterday piled praise on the national team’s winning display against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, hailing the start of a new cycle of success.