Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill was handed un unwanted headache last night after Shane Long was forced off injured in Southampton’s 1-0 Europa League defeat to Inter.

Wales are poised to end their 58-year wait to play at a major tournament after Gareth Bale’s late winner on a balmy night in Nicosia.

Croatia coach Niko Kovac has apologised for the ugly scenes in the crowd that marred his side’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Milan yesterday.

Wales manager Chris Coleman believes Gareth Bale embodies the spirit of a side still unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying after the Real Madrid star’s injury-time goal-line clearance in Brussels.

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.

Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon will miss his side's opening World Cup Group D match against England in Manaus tonight.

Real Madrid registered their first Primera Division victory of the season after a comfortable 3-0 win over Granada at the Bernabeu — but an unhappy Ronaldo suggested all is not well within the camp.

AC Milan 4 Parma 0

Roma climbed to second in the Serie A standings tonight thanks to a 3-0 win over luckless Cagliari.

Fulham 4 Juventus 1 (Agg: 5-4)

DAVID BECKHAM has been ruled out of the World Cup after tearing his achilles tendon during AC Milan’s Serie A game with Chievo last night.

FULHAM’S hopes of a fairytale place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League were left hanging by a thread last night as European heavyweights Juventus outclassed Roy Hodgson’s side at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus 3 Fulham 1

Italy 0 Northern Ireland 0