We’ll start, given the week that’s in it, with a nod to the Leaving Cert.

Yet again the talk surrounding England as they approach a major tournament is marooned somewhere between hope and hype but Damien Duff has questioned whether Gareth Southgate’s players have the commitment required to make a mark at the World Cup.

It is hard to imagine now, in this era of micro-managed media opportunities, that a generation ago, football reporters could routinely shoot the breeze with leading players, without an agenda, tape recorder, or press officer in sight.

Most people will have been amazed when they saw the ball hop up just before Cristiano Ronaldo converted his penalty last night.

Liam Miller's former teammates have paid tribute to a "down to earth" man off the field and "model pro" on it, after the 36-year-old died from pancreatic cancer.

Virgil van Dijk is ready to prove his worth by helping Liverpool win more trophies after Southampton agreed to sell the centre-back in a world-record £75m deal.

Wayne Rooney reached 200 Premier League goals when he put Everton 1-0 up against Manchester City tonight.

The mother of Rio and Anton Ferdinand has died after a battle with cancer.

The future of home and building design will be on display next week as young scientists compete for a new innovation award. The prize is part of Government-backed efforts to encourage engagement in architecture among young people.

Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein hopes Sam Allardyce does not receive a compensation payment after "hubris" brought about the end of his reign as England manager.

Four years after the FA passed over him and opted instead for Roy Hodgson, the erstwhile people’s choice Harry Redknapp has made it clear he would still love to have a crack at the job of England manager.

Manchester United has appointed a wounded animal with a ferocious appetite to prove some people wrong, writes Tony Leen

Leicester got another lucky break during the week.

Roy Hodgson accepts he has a challenge to overcome at the heart of England’s defence, but tempting back John Terry is not a solution that has seriously crossed his mind.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic expects to face a “wounded lion” when they travel to Manchester United for tomorrow’’s FA Cup quarter-final.

Rio Ferdinand thinks Manchester United would be taking a risk if they appointed Ryan Giggs as their next manager.

Stars from the world of football and beyond paid tribute to the former footballer and presenter Jimmy Hill who died at the weekend aged 87.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime

Brian O’Driscoll might have been at the Web Summit to talk technology yesterday but he dedicated some of his time to issuing out words of warning when it comes to social media use.

It’s almost a year now since this column fulfilled a near life-long sporting ambition with a trip to Chicago to see the Bears host the Green Bay Packers at the iconic Soldier Field.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Rio Ferdinand has urged John Stones to think carefully about his future, suggesting he could become a linchpin in Manchester United’s backline instead of a supporting act for Chelsea.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has conceded it may take a huge fee to prise Everton defender John Stones away from Goodison Park.

Looks like Cristiano Ronaldo is as cheesed off as everyone else with the Sergio Ramos to Manchester United will he/won’t he saga.

Another week when we could only be inspired by the breadth of vision shown by sporting luminaries in the constant quest for improvement.

It’s off, in ways we wouldn’t have expected under a manager of Martin O’Neill’s standing.

Rio Ferdinand has branded the valuations placed on young English players “a joke”.

Gary Lineker has been unveiled as the face of BT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League from next season.

Harry Redknapp appears to be finally catching up with technology after creating a Twitter account.

Rio Ferdinand has described being “overwhelmed” by the support he received from football fans after his wife died.

Liverpool 2 QPR 1: With just one more Anfield performance to go in a career that marks him down as one of Liverpool’s greats, Steven Gerrard gave another reminder of just how badly he will be missed.

Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United’s credentials are so unquestionable that the West Brom midfielder, 15 years a player at Old Trafford, admitted he lined up on the wrong side of the tunnel before his new team’s surprise victory.

This week, over the water, Britain is agog. What will the nation decide? It’s too close to call: It may even be several weeks before we get a definitive answer to the question in front of us.

Manchester United gave Liverpool more than a glimmer of hope in their push for Champions League qualification as Louis van Gaal’s team slipped to a damaging 1-0 defeat to West Brom.