Belgium 1 Russia 0

Any preconceived ideas we had before the World Cup have been cast aside in an amazing tournament

Surviving planes, trains and stampedes armed only with a pen and stick of roll-on deodorant

More than 1,800 Leaving Certificate students took on Applied Maths papers which opened the last day of exams in 2014.

The World Cup still dominates the schedules, but Donal Skehan does begin a new show on the previous generation of top Irish cooks

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

England 1 Italy 2

The 2014 World Cup is finally here and kicks off in a few hours when Brazil take on Croatia, at a stadium in São Paulo which was still under construction this week and which has never held a capacity crowd.

World Cup 2014 kicks off in nine days so Ger McCarthy looks at how some of the contenders and outsiders are shaping up ahead of their final friendlies before boarding the plane to Brazil.

Roy Hodgson is still putting his £10 on England to win the World Cup, but Football Association chairman Greg Dyke clearly thinks the team have no chance of getting out of their “group of death”.

You can really feel it now, can’t you? I’m talking about the emptiness, the absence, the yearning.

Ireland need to beat Kazakhstan at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night if they are to be in with a chance of being second seeds in the draw for the qualifying rounds for the Euro 2016 finals in France.

Spain’s senior soccer squad trained last Wednesday at suburban Madrid’s ‘Ciudad del Futbol’ campus, with national manager Vicente Del Bosque preparing Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta and company for their last two crucial World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

One goalkeeper to another, David Forde felt for Keiren Westwood, the man between the Irish sticks when Germany ran riot at the Aviva this time last year.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Ireland is willing to consider ending his international exile under the national team’s next manager.

The FAI have revealed their ticket prices for the 2013/14 season with chief executive John Delaney claiming the prices “represent great value” for Irish supporters.

There was something dispiriting about the last half hour of Barcelona’s 0-3 Champions League semi-final second leg defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Swedish winger Sebastian Larsson will have no time for friendship in tomorrow night’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has plenty to think about this week as he readies his previously all-conquering side for their crucial upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Finland in Gijon on Friday, and then France in Paris three days later.

Chris Hughton, Mick McCarthy and Owen Coyle — these are Liam Brady’s preferred candidates for the job of succeeding Giovanni Trapattoni as Ireland manager.

Polish manager Waldemar Fornalik is hoping that the sizeable away support in the Aviva Stadium tonight will help his side overcome Giovanni Trapattoni’s Irish side.

In a jailbreak to rival the acquisition of those three World Cup points in Kazakhstan, Giovanni Trapattoni was last night reaffirmed as manager of the Republic of Ireland by the FAI, ending days of feverish speculation about his position.

Tiny, placid Torshavn provides an almost surreally inappropriate backdrop for such a landmark sports story — the last stand of one of the biggest names in world football taking place in the smallest capital on earth.

Manchester United winger Ashley Young has been ruled out for two to three weeks with a “bruised cartilage”, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed.

The Republic of Ireland squad to face Kazakhstan in the World Cup 2014 qualifier on September 7 has been named this afternoon.

Portugal manager Paulo Bento will be forced to field a weakened backline in tomorrow’s friendly against Panama at the Estádio Algarve after central defenders Pepe and Bruno Alves pulled out through injury.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is facing a mounting defensive crisis ahead of the start of the World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign after Sean St Ledger was yesterday ruled out of next month’s trip to Kazakhstan.

The FAI have insisted Richard Dunne received the "highest level of medical attention" at Euro 2012 after Aston Villa claimed his injury was mishandled in Poland.

Richard Dunne looks certain to miss Ireland’s opening World Cup 2014 qualifier against Kazakhstan on September 7 — presuming, of course, he opts to continue his international career.

Ex-Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy says Giovanni Trapattoni is right to be giving youth its fling in Belgrade next month.

Midfielder Keith Andrews will be suspended for the Republic of Ireland’s opening World Cup qualifier following his sending-off at Euro 2012.

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has been banned for one competitive fixture and fined €100,000 by UEFA after he lowered his shorts after scoring in the Euro 2012 clash with Portugal.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has given his backing to the idea of an all-Ireland soccer entity, as it would make us a “far stronger team”.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland are set to face China in a friendly international after the European Championships.

MICHAEL O’NEILL intends to “restore a sense of belief and pride” in the Northern Ireland national side after being appointed on a two-year contract by the Irish Football Association.

Michael O’Neill intends to “restore a sense of belief and pride” in the Northern Ireland national side after being appointed on a two-year contract by the IFA.

The Irish Football Association have announced a friendly against Finland at Windsor Park on August 15.

DARREN FLETCHER put his own health at risk in order to help the Manchester United cause before finally admitting defeat yesterday.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has taken a 30% pay cut to secure his position as Republic of Ireland manager for the next two years.

BRIAN KERR has admitted to mixed feelings about his Faroe Islands side drawing the Republic of Ireland in the qualifiers for World Cup 2014.

The Republic of Ireland have been drawn against Germany and Sweden for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

IRELAND’S World Cup 2014 destiny will be partly in the hands of Ronaldo this evening.

FIFA will make a final decision on goal-line technology in March, according to president Sepp Blatter.

Gregory Coupet has hailed his successor as France number one, Hugo Lloris, a “phenomenon” after the Lyon goalkeeper’s clean sheet against the Republic of Ireland put Les Bleus on the brink of the World Cup finals.