REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will deliver a firm and strong rebuttal today of “arrogance” claims made recently against him by Stephen Ireland after a meeting between the pair last year.

AFTER heading home the winner in the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Saturday night, Irish captain Robbie Keane celebrated with four fingers raised on one hand and a zero formed with the finger and thumb of the other.

THE Republic of Ireland will use London as their training base for the June World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria, with a friendly match against Nigeria the centrepiece of their build-up.