Liverpool have informed Swansea they are ready to pay the £15million fee to trigger the release clause in Joe Allen’s contract.

To produce a performance they can stand over is St Patrick’s Athletic’s goal in Lower Saxony tonight.

If Greece can reach the quarter-finals, why can’t Ireland?

Alexandros Tziolis and Panagiotis Kone were today omitted from the Greece squad for Euro 2012.

An Arjen Robben goal in the 69th minute was enough to decide the Bavarian derby in favour of Bayern Munich and take them to within three points of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

Germany

IT has been said of the Bundesliga that it’s the most exciting competition in the world, except when Bayern Munich are playing well, and a look at the table seems to confirm it.

MARIO GOMEZ made it eight goals in seven Bundesliga games this season with a brace as Bayern Munich hammered Hertha Berlin 4-0 to strengthen their position at the top.

Lazio have confirmed the signing of Germany striker Miroslav Klose.

Bayern Munich today confirmed Germany striker Miroslav Klose will leave the club at the end of the month after talks over a new deal broke down.

West Brom are to open talks with leading scorer Peter Odemwingie over a new contract, the player’s agent has confirmed.

Dimitar Berbatov will miss Manchester United’s Champions League semi-final against Schalke tomorrow.

Borussia Dortmund gave Bayer Leverkusen a glimmer of hope in the Bundesliga title race as they lost 1-0 to basement boys Borussia Monchengladbach this afternoon.

Germany will be without captain Philipp Lahm and Real Madrid pair Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira for their friendly against Australia on Tuesday.

Germany extended their lead at the top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group A to move closer to the finals in Poland and Ukraine next year with a comfortable 4-0 win over Kazakhstan tonight.

Louis van Gaal insisted he would not resign following Bayern Munich’s 3-1 defeat at Hannover this afternoon.

Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways after two consecutive draws to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 13 points thanks to a 2-0 win in a one-sided game against St Pauli.

LUKAS PODOLSKI and Milivoje Novakovic each netted a brace as Cologne gave their Bundesliga survival hopes a further boost with a convincing 4-2 victory over Mainz yesterday.

Mario Gomez led the way with a hat-trick as Bayern Munich steamrollered Kaiserslautern 5-1 to go third in the Bundesliga standings.

Cologne’s hopes of making a successful start to 2011 have been dealt a blow by an outbreak of the swine flu virus at the club.

THIS has been a record-breaking World Cup for Miroslav Klose whichever way you look at it: he earned his first red card in a Germany shirt against Serbia, his 50th international goal against England, his 100th appearance against Argentina and now, before the semi-final against Spain, he is one goal away from equalling Brazil legend Ronaldo’s all-time record of 15 goals in World Cup matches.

Cameroon manager Paul Le Guen has named star man Samuel Eto’o in his 23-man World Cup squad despite the striker’s claims he might walk away from the tournament.

LIVERPOOL fans may believe that this was their weekend, but even beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge doesn’t quite match the achievements of Hoffenheim and Leixoes.

LIVERPOOL’S youngsters are expected to step aside tonight as Rafael Benitez’s outfit play their final warm-up game before the Champions League gets under way.

Liverpool 2 Kaiserslautern 3

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez accepts signing Jermaine Pennant is a “risk” and that the £6.7m (€9.8m) winger has been given his last chance at a big club.

Liverpool complete signing of Jermaine Pennant from Birmingham on a four-year deal.

Jermaine Pennnt is having a medical this morning at Liverpool with a view to completing a £6.2m (€9m) move from Birmingham.

Newcastle 1 Lillestrom 1

Craig Moore has warned his Australian team-mates they must avoid red cards in tomorrow’s historic World Cup knockout tie with Italy.

Australia coach Guus Hiddink has axed blunder goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac for the Socceroos’ World Cup showdown against Italy.

Paraguay 2 Trinidad and Tobago 0

There were few surprises as Czech Republic boss Karel Bruckner named his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cup.

JUVENTUS moved a step closer to the Serie A title as they beat Palermo but the race for the top spot will go to the final day as Milan won at Parma.

Bayern Munich have been crowned champions of Germany with a game to spare.

Bayern Munich took a major step towards the Bundesliga title today without kicking a ball.

Werder Bremen opened the door for Hamburg to re-enter the Bundesliga title race by beating leaders Bayern Munich 3-0 on Saturday.

Hamburg completed a notable double over Bayern Munich but it is unlikely to deny the Bavarians another Bundesliga title.

Stuttgart 1 Middlesbrough 2

A DREADFUL mistake from Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes gifted Valencia all three points and cut Frank Rijkaard’s side’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points at the Mestella last night.

Birmingham captain Kenny Cunningham faces another three weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury, it has been confirmed.

Bayern Munich maintained their seemingly relentless charge towards the Bundesliga title with a 2-1 away win at Borussia Dortmund.

AN INJURY time goal from Adriano gave Inter a dramatic 3-2 victory over Milan in the city derby at the San Siro last night.