FRANCE coach Laurent Blanc was yesterday cleared to continue in his job following an investigation into the racial quotas row.

JERMAINE BECKFORD was on target as Everton hit five to ease into the third round of the Carling Cup at the expense of 10-man Huddersfield last night.

Portsmouth have completed the signing of defender Younes Kaboul from Tottenham.

The Ireland Under 21 team to play Wales Under 21 this Friday in Dubarry Park shows three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting team that lost to France U21 in Strasbourg.

NORTHERN Ireland ended the year in style by holding Portugal 1-1. Warren Feeney grabbed the equaliser from a Keith Gillespie cross to cancel out an own goal from Stephen Craigan.

Northern Ireland 1 Portugal 1

ARSENAL are poised to complete their first major signing of the summer as Belarus midfielder Aleksander Hleb agreed to join them in a deal worth up to €15million.

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play in their opening game against France U21 in the IRB U21 World Championship tomorrow has been named.

WITHIN minutes of the final whistle a massive black cloud descended on Lansdowne Road. It captured the mood perfectly.

ARSENE WENGER is facing a striker crisis ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth-round replay at Sheffield United tonight after Thierry Henry was ruled out with an Achilles injury.

France U-21 1 Republic of Ireland U-21 0

U21 Internationbal result:

ASTON VILLA moved closer to signing Mathieu Berson after his club Nantes conceded defeat in their bid to retain the midfielder.

ARSENAL have completed the signing of France U21 international Mathieu Flamini from Marseille.

Six Nations U21 result:

The Ireland U21 team to play France U21 on Friday, February 13 in Stade Beaublanc, Limoges is as follows:

The Ireland U21 squad from which the team and replacements to play France U21 on Friday next in Limoges has been named.

Two tries from Ulsterman Tommy Bowe gave Ireland Under-21s victory over their

Under-21 International

Under-21 International