Irish fans hardly need a map for the English and Welsh capitals but taste buds will be tickled by the prospect of first visits to Wembley and the Olympic Stadium

Now that the Premier League is officially at its halfway point, what better time to dole out some festive imaginary awards?

Premier League

UEFA president Michel Platini’s vision of a European Championship spread across the continent came to fruition in Geneva yesterday, as Wembley Stadium was chosen to host the climax of Euro 2020 with 12 other cities — including Dublin — joining the party.

Barça almost don’t deign to regard their cross town neighbours Espanyol as a genuine rival.

Roy Hodgson has expressed his pleasure that Wayne Rooney has settled his future before the World Cup and believes the Manchester United striker could be England’s captain for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Glen Johnson hopes England can finally end their major tournament hoodoo and go beyond the quarter-finals in Brazil next year should they qualify.

The idea of Ireland hosting Euro 2020 was mooted by the FAI last year. Ireland has also been suggested as a host for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Franz Beckenbauer blamed a “lifeless” first half for Germany’s Euro 2012 semi-final exit to Italy last night.

Mario Balotelli insists Sunday’s Euro 2012 final will feature the best two teams in the competition.

It was, seemingly, the semi-final that many people demanded.

Ashley Young looks to be winning his battle for fitness ahead of England’s Euro 2012 quarter-final with Italy.

RUI COSTA led the so-called golden generation and Deco masterminded Luiz Felipe Scolari’s more combative side but now there is a big hole in the Portugal midfield.

It was a night when the worst fears of Ireland supporters came to pass.

When Holland’s divided and reportedly dysfunctional team lost to Denmark at Euro 2012 a tabloid newspaper back home in the Netherlands ran a headline that read ‘Legoland beat Egoland’; so goodness knows what kind of abuse is heading Bert van Marwijk’s way today after his team lost 2-1 to Germany to stand on the brink of elimination.

Ashley Young ia adamant he is not a diving “cheat”.

Ireland

Germany have received a fitness boost ahead of Euro 2012 after coach Joachim Low declared midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger’s injury had improved.

Roy Hodgson has taken the first step towards becoming the next England manager after telling West Brom he wants to speak to the Football Association about replacing Fabio Capello.

Barring an unexpected hitch, Roy Hodgson will become the new England manager after it was confirmed last night that the Football Association had been granted permission to speak with the West Brom boss.

GERMANY general manager Oliver Bierhoff insists Wednesday night’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain marks the beginning, not the end, of a dream for his young team.

Fabio Capello named an unchanged side for the first time as England manager for this afternoon’s World Cup clash with Germany in Bloemfontein.

Fabio Capello was expected to name an unchanged side for the first time as England manager this afternoon.

GERMANY coach Joachim Low insists his young side have no fear ahead of their last-16 showdown with England — but admits there will be a certain amount of “healthy tension”.

Philipp Lahm believes England may not enjoy as much confidence as Germany should their World Cup last-16 clash have to be decided by penalties.

Former Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger has retired from football at the age of 36 due to persistent knee problems.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has told Bobby Zamora not to listen to his critics because he is happy with the striker’s overall performances at Craven Cottage.

ANDY REID has waited 15 tortuous months for Giovanni Trapattoni to give him another chance with Ireland, but now he might just wish he had not bothered at all.

Comics David Baddiel and Frank Skinner are to rekindle their partnership to hold court about the World Cup, it was announced today.

Azerbaijan 0 Germany 2

STUART PEARCE has told his England Under-21s that heroic failure counts for nothing – and they must create a new chapter of history when they face Germany in the European Championship final in Malmo tonight (7.45pm).

GARETH SOUTHGATE was putting on a brave face in the wake of another harrowing afternoon at the Riverside, but the inner turmoil he was suffering spoke volumes for a plight that has now grown so extreme that even his own supporters have turned against him.

ALAN SHEARER’S first act as Newcastle manager was to name striker Michael Owen in the starting line-up and tell him he can score the goals to keep the club in the Barclays Premier League.

Roy Hodgson rates his first 12 months in charge of Fulham as one of the best years of his long and distinguished managerial career.

Spain 0 Italy 0 (Spain win 4-2 on penalties)

Coach Luis Aragones has played down any suggestion of tension or unrest in the Spain camp as his side prepare to face world champions Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

Leeds have confirmed the appointment of former skipper Gary McAllister as their new manager.

Jurgen Klinsmann will take over as coach of Bayern Munich from next season, the club announced on Friday.

GARETH SOUTHGATE has revealed how coping with the demons of his playing career has helped him deal with the demands of management.

A Stormont Assembly member today expressed shock that Northern Ireland international football player David Healy was omitted from the UK's New Year’s Honours List.

IT IS CUSTOMARY in these parts to wait until a new Irish manager is installed before we fall to tearing him and each other apart.

Kevin Doyle believes Terry Venables would be the ideal man to lead Ireland into their next World Cup campaign.

Steve Staunton is hoping Stephen Ireland’s face-saving winner proves to be a turning point in the Republic of Ireland’s sorry European Championship qualifying campaign.