Swedish coach Erik Hamren has warned that Ireland will set out to be party poopers in Stockholm when the countries meet in a World Cup qualifier on Friday week.

ROBBIE KEANE last night reiterated his commitment to the Irish team and insisted he hadn’t moved to southern California for a holiday.

Russia have named four Premier League players in their squad for their Euro 2012 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on October 8.

Big-spending Manchester City face a glamorous clash with Italian giants Juventus in the Europa League group stage.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s international career appears to be over after the veteran striker missed out on Bert van Marwijk’s 30-man preliminary World Cup squad today.

Arsenal have been drawn to face Celtic later this month to reach the Champions League group stage.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has played down speculation that he is to make a bid for Reading’s £4m rated winger Stephen Hunt.

Real Madrid remains the world’s largest revenue generating football club, according to the latest Football Money League from business advisory firm Deloitte.

TOTTENHAM head coach Juande Ramos insists the UEFA Cup is as important as Tottenham’s battle to lift themselves off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp could be set to bring in two new faces as the club prepare to make their UEFA Cup debut.

Tottenham will face Wisla Krakow in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

Chelsea have denied making a bid for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o despite claims from the Cameroon international he has received offers from the Blues, Tottenham and Inter Milan.

The squad new Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will lead into battle for domestic and European honours appeared to become clearer yesterday.

As Ireland’s new manager takes the reins, Conor Kane looks at the man who would be king.

VfB Stuttgart 3 Rangers 2

Rangers were handed a boost ahead of their Champions League opener against Stuttgart with the news that Barry Ferguson had been passed fit to play.

REAL MADRID beat Sevilla 3-2 in a topsy-turvy match at the Santiago Bernabeu to go second in La Liga.

RONALDINHO scored a sensational overhead kick as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-0 at the Nou Camp to stay at the top of La Liga.

SEVILLA’S dream season continued yesterday as they took command of the Spanish Primera Liga at Barcelona’s expense with a 2-0 win over Osasuna.

Gordon Strachan has confirmed his interest in signing Thomas Gravesen and Serbian hitman Daniel Ljuboja.

GILBERTO has warned the Barclays Premiership that Alexander Hleb is ready to fire for Arsenal following an inconsistent first season in England.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren once again left leading scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu out of his European starting line-up as his side looked to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

IT’S all back to Ray’s place for the Green Army.

Ugo Ehiogu’s transfer to West Brom from Middlesbrough has collapsed following an injury to Gareth Southgate.

Thierry Henry knows his Arsenal team must “raise our game” when the Gunners head to Charlton for their “crucial” Barclays Premiership clash on Boxing Day.

Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate admitted his side’s defending was not up to standard as they twice allowed victory to slip from their grasp against Tottenham.

MIDDLESBROUGH meet Stuttgart in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

A NIGHT of contrasting fortunes for Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga.

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman has warned boss Arsene Wenger the sale of Highbury will not see him handed transfer funds in the January window.

Besiktas 1 Bolton 1

MIDDLESBROUGH will face last season’s UEFA Cup semi-finalists AZ Alkmaar in Group D of this season’s competition.

The teams taking part in the group stages of the UEFA Cup have been grouped as follows:

LA LIGA champions Barcelona crashed to a 2-1 defeat away to Atletico Madrid last night.

JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON scored an extra-time winner as Inter Milan beat Juventus 1-0 to lift the Italian Super Cup.

GHANA midfielder Michael Essien is poised to join Chelsea from Olympique Lyon, a source close to the French champions said last night.

FRANCE’S hopes of making the 2006 World Cup finals received a further boost yesterday when defender Lilian Thuram confirmed he would make his international comeback.

Belarus international midfielder Aleksander Hleb has today agreed to join Arsenal from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart on a long-term contract in a deal which could be worth up to £9.94million.

JUVENTUS coach Fabio Capello believes team spirit was the decisive factor in his club’s 28th Serie A title win.

SOME Brazilian magic returned Barcelona to winning ways at the summit of La Liga last night.

Real Madrid 4 Barcelona 2

THOMAS Hitzlsperger claims he is quitting Aston Villa because he did not get a “fair chance” from manager David O’Leary.

ASTON VILLA midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has agreed a move to VfB Stuttgart, according to the German club.

SOME good news for Chelsea. Bayern Munich’s two top strikers, Claudio Pizarro and Roy Makaay, were injured in their 3-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

REAL MADRID slumped to a 2-1 defeat at lowly Getafe as the 29-times Spanish champions fell 11 points behind league leaders and bitter rivals Barcelona in the race for the title.