Diego Costa has the full support of Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte despite the striker’s intermittent goalscoring record this year.

A four-goal comeback in the Champions League sounds like fantasy football, and maybe it is — but Carlo Ancelotti has been on the receiving end.

With Chelsea forging clear in the Premier League, James Whelan casts his eye over the pacesetters and chasing packs in Europe’s top flight competitions.

"I'm hoping to get back there soon," says Tommy McNamara.

So the Italians will rest their star performers on Wednesday to afford Ireland an easy ride to joining them in the knockout stages of Euro 2016? Well, think again.

There were three veterans of Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph missing when the team met up at the Coverciano training centre in Florence yesterday to prepare for matches against Spain and Germany.

As many expected,

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Bosnia has been here before, and so has Miralem Pjanic.

Captain Vincent Kompany claims Manchester City are hungry for success and determined to deliver in the Champions League.

The LA Galaxy, in third in the MLS table, saw off bottom side Colorado Rapids with a 3-1 comeback win after Marcelo Sarvas had given the hosts the lead.

Former England midfield duo Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard admitted they were raring to get their Major League Soccer debuts under their belts for the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New York City FC respectively this month.

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is relishing the challenge ahead after leaving Juventus for MLS side New York City FC.

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho has joined Guangzhou Evergrande on a four-year deal, the Chinese Super League side have announced.

Juventus have reached an agreement to sign German midfielder Sami Khedira on a free transfer, the Italian champions have announced.

Xavi’s brief consoling of Pirlo at the end of the Champions League final was a much-needed reminder, in the wake of the FIFA scandal, that the game can still be beautiful, writes Ciarán O’Connor.

Amid all the scandals assailing the sport, Liam Brady is hoping Barcelona and Juventus can provide football with a night to remember in Berlin.

Real Madrid 1 Juventus 1 (Agg 2-3): Alvaro Morata was again the hero as a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu sent Juventus through to the competition’s final.

The Old Lady of Italian football — not to mention one or two of its old men — is long overdue a European trophy; and after Carlos Tevez inspired Juventus to a 2-1 Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Real Madrid there is a growing feeling that this could finally be their year.

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has described Champions League semi-final opponents Real Madrid as the “most important club side in the world”, but insists his team will face the holders without fear.

There is enough intrigue as well as quality in the Champions League semi-finals this week to have any football fan salivating, writes David Shonfield.

Monaco 0 Juventus 0: Juventus moved into the last four of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years after playing out a goalless draw with Monaco in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

What's on telly? This stuff.

Benfica youngster Romario Baldé produced perhaps the worst ‘Panenka’ of all time in the Uefa Youth League.

Paris Saint-Germain believe they can beat Chelsea in the Champions League tomorrow night, writes David Shonfield.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed speculation linking him with a move for Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling.

New Italy coach Antonio Conte says he will lay down the law, vowing to "show no mercy" as he looks to build a successful team.

Andrea Pirlo continued his campaign to be considered football’s coolest man with this beauty of a free-kick at the weekend.

An Irish commentator uses a strange and slightly unfortunate word on US radio last week.

Italy 0 Uruguay 1

IT HASN’T been easy but I have had to face reality. This will probably be my last World Cup.

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

EVERY World Cups needs its Matches that Made History, though sometimes you struggle to find them. Less than a week in, and we already have two candidates: the Slaughter of Salvador and the Stumble in the Jungle.

England 1 Italy 2

England put on a good display of attacking football, but they emerged from their trek into the jungle with a 2-1 defeat in their World Cup opener thanks to Mario Balotelli's winner in the draining heat of Manaus.

England 1 Italy 2

Steven Gerrard admits England will have no excuses if they fail to deliver the win the country is yearning for tonight.

Slamming, body-rocking heat greeted the traveller in Manaus yesterday. When even the local taxi driver wipes his forehead and declares it’s "mucho calde" you know this isn’t a climate for the faint-hearted.

Your guide to all the weekend’s World Cup action

Much of Italy’s success for the past decade owes to the creativity and determination of Andrea Pirlo.

Andrea Pirlo has signed a two-year contract extension with Juventus, the Serie A club have announced.