Head coach Pete Strickland has made two changes to the Ireland senior men’s team ahead of their 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries campaign, which tips off in San Marino next week.

Portugal and France secured their places at next summer's World Cup finals but Holland will miss out on a second successive major tournament.

European champions Portugal got the victory they required over Switzerland to book their place in next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Blaise Matuidi's early goal proved enough for France to secure a crucial 1-0 victory away to Bulgaria which put them back at the top of World Cup European Qualifying Group A.

When Martin O’Neill named three uncapped strikers in his latest squad at a press conference in Dublin on Tuesday, almost lost in the discussion about Ireland’s need to locate a cutting edge was the manager’s low key reference to Kevin Doyle “suffering a bit from concussion”.

Belgium qualified for next year's World Cup by beating Greece but France were pegged back by a humiliating goalless draw at home to Luxembourg.

France steamrollered Holland 4-0 with the help of goals from Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe as they edged closer to qualification for next summer's World Cup finals in Russia.

As World Cup qualification reaches the business end we look at how things stand in every group. 

Cork City’s U19 boss Stephen Bermingham believes his side’s Uefa Youth League success will inspire more young players to remain in the country and play League of Ireland football.

Ireland are in final four action in the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries this evening with the men’s side facing Armenia and the women’s side taking on Andorra.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit out at Belgium after captain Vincent Kompany featured in their final Euro 2016 qualifier this week.

Robin van Persie endured a miserable night scoring an own goal as Holland failed to qualify for the European Championships following a 3-2 defeat to the Czech Republic last night.

Wales full back Ben Davies says his teammates know just how close they are to making history as they battle for qualification for Euro 2016. 

Ireland maintained a 100% record in their Uefa U21 qualifiers last night as a pair of early goals killed off Andorra on their home patch.

Wales are poised to end their 58-year wait to play at a major tournament after Gareth Bale’s late winner on a balmy night in Nicosia.

If this stellar weekend for Irish sport was Live Aid, then Gibraltar versus Ireland would be Status Quo — bottom of the bill, and everyone knows what to expect.

Ahead of the resumption of European Championship qualifying with the game against Gibraltar in Faro on Friday, the Irish team will get its first taste of its new training base when they commence preparations at Abbotstown on Monday morning.

England U-21s 3 Republic of Ireland U-21s 1

Euro 2016 qualifier round-up          

Ireland U21 striker Conor Wilkinson is hoping to put the advice he’s received from Neil Lennon and Emile Heskey at Bolton Wanderers to use for his country tonight at the Waterford RSC (7.45pm).

Italy couldn’t provide Carlo Cudicini with a breakthrough to realise his international ambitions but he’s hoping a coaching stint with Ireland’s U21s this week provides fulfillment of a different kind.

The entire board of Spain’s Banco de Madrid has resigned after its Andorran owner was accused by the US of money laundering for clients from China, Russia and Venezuela.

Wales manager Chris Coleman believes Gareth Bale embodies the spirit of a side still unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying after the Real Madrid star’s injury-time goal-line clearance in Brussels.

The Netherlands’ World Cup hangover continues to linger and they remain off the pace in their bid to qualify for Euro 2016, after a 2-0 loss in Iceland.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has calmed worries about his fitness.

Holland came from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA and get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign up and running.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 4 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

Uefa has started disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Wales for the pitch invasion following Gareth Bale’s late winner against Andorra on Tuesday night.

UEFA has started disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Wales for the pitch invasion following Gareth Bale’s late winner against Andorra

Gareth Bale came to Wales’ rescue last night after an early Andorra goal got their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign off to the worst possible start.

Gareth Bale spared Wales blushes when his stunning free-kick late helped his side overcame tiny Andorra in their Euro 2016 Group B qualification opener.

Andorra 1 Wales 2

New Italy coach Antonio Conte says he will lay down the law, vowing to "show no mercy" as he looks to build a successful team.

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.

Have you ever wondered which country has the largest amount of gold reserves or how Ireland's youth unemployment rate compares with the rest of the world?

Mario Balotelli fired Italy to next year’s World Cup finals as the Azzurri came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Turin last night.

Robin van Persie struck an injury-time penalty as The Netherlands maintained their unbeaten record in World Cup qualifying with a last-gasp draw in Estonia tonight.

In a game where the only element that was ever really going to be remembered was the numbers, Robbie Keane duly obliged.

EU efforts to tackle tax evasion by individuals and corporations have gained pace with Taoiseach Enda Kenny acknowledging that new digital industry may need a different kind of tax structure — something that applies to companies like Google and Facebook.