There was a time when a woman’s place on TV coverage of the World Cup was restricted to leering crowd shots of female fans.

Brazil, already anxious and nervous after drawing their opening game against Switzerland, were given an almighty scare yesterday when Neymar limped off the training field with an ankle injury.

The possession football championed by coaches like Pep Guardiola is supposed to produce aesthetically-pleasing goals. Against strong defences and world-class goalkeepers, sometimes you need to go back to basics.

Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez isn’t in the business of sugarcoating the truth before his team makes history by playing in its first World Cup.

Marcus Rashford is set to boost England’s World Cup preparations by returning to training today.

Do you remember the first time?

Brazil boast more recent Champions League experience than even the leading European nations at this summer’s World Cup.

Raheem Sterling insists scrutiny surrounding his gun tattoo has not negatively affected World Cup preparations, with the England forward instead taking heart from the love showed to him by the public.

The next generation's emergence in Michael O'Neill's senior squad has reinvigorated Northern Ireland after their World Cup play-off heartache, according to Jonny Evans.

Gareth Southgate has decided against selecting Joe Hart or Jack Wilshere.

The draw has been held for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

England manager Gareth Southgate has promised to deploy his best poker face during today’s World Cup draw in Moscow regardless of who the Three Lions must play next summer.

The line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is close to completion after Australia became the 31st nation to book their place at the finals.

Shane Duffy puffs out his cheeks and exhales at the thought of clinching World Cup qualification over the next week, fully aware he’ll experience better emotions than Ireland’s last successful tournament tilt.

The race to succeed sacked Everton boss Ronald Koeman may see a winner before the weekend is out.

“GOL! GOL! GOL-GOL-GOL-GOL!! HAMEZ MAKLAINES!!! GOL! GOL! GOL!!!!” Which is how George Hamilton might have sounded in Cardiff had he donned a Panama hat.

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

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”.

Stephen Graham’s character continues to search for evidence in real-life murder drama Little Boy Blue at 9pm on ITV on Monday.

There was a moment during the last World Cup finals when it seemed the Dutch might be about to write a new chapter in their glorious football history, writes David Shonfield

As the Spain national football squad arrived at the team hotel in Alicante ahead of Friday evening’s friendly against England, there were cheers for each of the players stepping off the bus.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is “not close” to making any new signings and will not do so just for the sake of it. The Gunners continue to be linked with Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, but so far neither club has gone public.

England U21s 1 Italy U21s 3: England have once again fallen short at a major tournament after Gareth Southgate’s side capitulated against Italy, resulting in a third successive group-stage exit at the U21 European Championship.

Zinedine Zidane says he would have accepted the chance to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid coach had he been offered the job.

Twenty-five years ago today at Italia ‘90, Brazil were beating Scotland 1-0 and Costa Rica were beating Sweden 2-1 but, putting the kibosh on what was the most keenly anticipated contest of the day back in Ireland, Jack Charlton was simply refusing to even take the pitch against Eamon Dunphy.

Forget about Robbie Keane and Wes Hoolahan, the most pounding selection headache awaiting Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill will be choosing his goalkeeper.

Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 1: Louis Van Gaal’s side moved a small step closer to Champions League qualification as Ashley Young’s 89th minute smash and grab goal secured three vital points for Manchester United.

Premier League

Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista is confident he can take his game to the next level at Arsenal and help deliver more silverware to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s protracted move for Gabriel Paulista has been completed, with the Brazilian defender arriving in a deal which will see Joel Campbell complete the season on loan at Villarreal.

Not many Arsenal fans may have heard of their new €20m signing centre-back Gabriel Paulista.

Arsenal are expected to press ahead with their interest in Valencia centre-back Gabriel Paulista following the completion of a deal for teenage midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw.

“Unfortunately in that situation Mertesacker showed the agility of a rhinoceros.”

FA Cup holders Arsenal secured their place in the fourth round with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium over last season’s beaten finalists Hull.

Centre-back Gary Cahill has credited coach Gary Neville for helping England toughen up defensively and feels the team are becoming more savvy on the field, having been “too nice” in the past.

Everton 3 Aston Villa 0

Roy Keane insists he’s "quite relaxed" about the Jack Grealish situation but feels people are guilty of over-hyping the Aston Villa teenager.

The biggest surprise of Liverpool’s epic penalty shoot-out victory over Middlesbrough in Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup tie was not that the home side, who had a 60/40 advantage in the shoot-out before a ball was struck courtesy of kicking first, won, but that Middlesbrough pushed them so close.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil accepts he will always be an easy target for the critics and says he has nothing to prove to anybody.

Roy Keane has insisted the Republic of Ireland have nothing to be frightened of as they prepare to finally launch the Martin O’Neill era in earnest.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill is remaining coy over Shay Given’s chances of starting the opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Georgia on Sunday.

Ireland striker Kevin Doyle is back in the Premier League after last night completing a loan move from Wolves to Crystal Palace until January.