CELTIC have firmly rebuffed a €10m bid from Spartak Moscow for the Hoops’ Republic of Ireland midfielder Aiden McGeady.

IN Dublin Castle on Thursday for the launch of the city as the European Capital Of Sport for 2010, Marco Tardelli was invited to turn his thoughts to another European capital, Warsaw, and the draw for the Euro Championships which will take place there tomorrow.

West Ham have signed Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac on loan from Spartak Moscow until the end of the season.

ON A CRAZY, shocking, unforgettable night in Berlin, World Cup 2006 ended with all ifs and one butt.

Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke could have played his last game for Trinidad and Tobago.

GERMANY crushed San Marino with a record 13-0 win last night as striker Lukas Podolski scored four in the Euro 2008 Group D qualifier.

THEY haven’t gone away you know — that seemed to be the message of a Panorama special called “Hooligan” screened on BBC 1 during the week.

Police were hunting thieves today who broke into the home of Wayne Rooney’s parents and stole valuable football memorabilia belonging to the England star.

British police were hunting thieves today who broke into the home of Wayne Rooney’s parents and stole valuable football memorabilia belonging to the England star.

THE tears and emotion flowed even from strong men such as John Terry.

BEFORE yesterday’s final games, the second round of World Cup 2006 had served up a mixed bill of fare to follow the lavish treats of the opening series of matches.

AS THE knock-out stage of World Cup 2006 fast approaches, some of the game’s heavyweights are already on the ropes, hoping the bell will give them a reprieve.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek thought it was a “joke” when he first found out he had been left out of Poland’s World Cup squad.

FRANZ BECKENBAUER, president of the World Cup 2006 organising committee, has hit back at a report which claims some of the venues for this summer’s tournament are not up to scratch.

Franz Beckenbauer, president of the World Cup 2006 organising committee, has hit back at a report which claims some of the venues for this summer’s tournament are not up to scratch.

A legal row over sales tactics for World Cup 2006 tickets has been resolved after a deal was struck today between Fifa and the German consumers’ association.

Holland have been drawn in the same group as Argentina in the 2006 World Cup.

ENGLAND left it late but a brace from Newcastle striker Michael Owen gave them a thrilling 3-2 win over Argentina and the bragging rights over their bitter rivals ahead of World Cup 2006.

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has denied reports he is about to give up on international football and concentrate on his Gunners career.

EUROPE’S big guns play World Cup 2006 qualifiers this afternoon in the knowledge they have little room for error.

THE Tartan Army may have to wait another nine days for news on whether Berti Vogts is finally to be relieved of the Scotland manager’s job.

PARIS might have got used to invasions during the past century but the French capital has still never experienced anything like the friendly Green Army which has descended on it for tonight's crucial World Cup qualifier.

GREECE’S Euro 2004 triumph has given a lift to all soccer’s smaller nations, Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez said yesterday before his team’s World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign.

Dick Advocaat has indicated he may quit as Holland coach after Euro 2004 following stinging personal criticism from Dutch fans and media during the tournament.

Brian Kerr believes his Republic of Ireland fringe players will return to their clubs brimming with confidence after the impressive 1-0 victory over Holland.

Clinton Morrison gave a player’s insight into just how much Roy Keane’s decision to come out of retirement and return to international football meant to the Republic of Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland will play Holland in a friendly international in preparation for the World Cup 2006 qualifiers.

Liverpool’s Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf has been banned for three international matches following incidents in the African Nations Cup quarter-final with Tunisia.

FAI CEO Fran Rooney said he was delighted with the outcome of the World Cup 2006 fixtures meeting held in Dublin today.

WORLD champions Brazil yesterday guaranteed the FAI that they would bring “a top selection” to Lansdowne Road for a friendly against Ireland on Wednesday, February 18.

FAI chief Fran Rooney has announced that the Republic of Ireland will start its friendly fixtures for 2004 with a game against Brazil at Lansdowne Road on February 18.

Former Scotland international Colin Hendry believes the spirit of the underdog must work in Berti Vogts’ favour in the World Cup 2006 qualifying group.

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted England’s World Cup 2006 qualifying draw is “absolutely not easy” after being paired with Wales and Northern Ireland.

Chris Hughton was licking his lips at the mouth-watering prospect of the Republic of Ireland facing France in the World Cup 2006 qualifiers – even though he knows the European champions will be red-hot favourites to win the group.

Ryan Giggs can expect to learn tomorrow whether he will miss the start of Wales’ World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign.

CHIEF executive of the FAI Fran Rooney was in no doubt as to which teams he would like to see in Ireland’s group when the draw for the qualifying tournament of World Cup 2006 is made tomorrow in Frankfurt.

TODAY’S budget is unlikely to include provision for financing a new national stadium — leaving the FAI and the IRFU in a pickle.

Mark Hughes has broken his silence and insisted he will continue as Wales manager.

WALES soccer chief David Collins warned that his association would have to tighten their belts after the failure of Mark Hughes’ side to win their way to the Euro 2004 finals.

Franz Beckenbauer is to run for the presidency of Bayern Munich again.

The organisers of World Cup 2006 in Germany have promised a major overhaul of the ticketing system that caused problems in Japan and Korea.