Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his team to ignore people writing them off as no-hopers after crashing out of the FA Cup 1-0 to Blackburn and show their true character against European giants Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

Blackburn will today hold talks with Michael Appleton over becoming their third manager this season after he was granted permission to speak to the Blackpool boss.

He could potentially be sacked by the time the transfer window closes if comments from the club’s global adviser are to be believed but Blackburn manager Steve Kean is on the lookout for a new striker and is looking for players close to these shores.

A fresh storm was brewing at Blackburn Rovers last night after controversial comments from their director of football, while the team were pre-season training in Cork, ended with him being forced to make an apology after several first team players threatened to walk out.

The Czech Republic joined Ireland in the Euro 2012 finals tonight after negotiating a potentially tricky night in Montenegro, Petr Jiracek's 81st-minute goal enough to give the Czechs a 1-0 win on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.

REAL MADRID secured their progression and kept alive their outside hopes of winning Group H after Raul’s early strike earned them a 1-0 victory over BATE Borisov.

GERMANY’S performance in their Euro 2008 semi-final triumph over Turkey was their worst in the tournament according to defender Per Mertesacker, but he believes that can only bode well for the final.

Germany 3 Turkey 2

TURKISH striker Nihat Kahveci has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2008 with a thigh injury he picked up in the quarter-final win over Croatia.

Croatia 1 Turkey 1 (Turkey won 3-1 on penalties)

COLIN KAZIM-RICHARDS is set to complete his journey from League Two to Euro 2008 quarter-finalist when Turkey face Croatia in Vienna tonight (7.45pm).

Avram Grant has underlined his faith in third-choice goalkeeper Hilario after a hamstring injury to Carlo Cudicini took the shine off Chelsea reaching the Champions League semi-final.

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)

FENERBAHCE coach Zico has claimed that tonight’s Champions League opponents Chelsea were affected by ‘negative pressure’ during the quarter-final first-leg defeat in Istanbul last week.

Colin Kazim-Richards has been tipped for a bright future with Fenerbahce and Turkey, after putting a dent in Chelsea’s Champions League hopes.

Fenerbahce 2 Chelsea 1

DAVID PIZARRO stole a late deflected equaliser to put Roma back on course for a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and hand Manchester United confirmation of their spot.

Sheffield United have agreed a deal with Turkish champions Fenerbahce for striker Colin Kazim-Richards.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock will be beating a path to the door of referees’ chief Keith Hackett over the penalty that never was at Old Trafford last night as his side lost 2-0 to Manchester United.

Manchester United 2 Sheffield United 0

Bolton 1 Sheffield United 0

Liverpool 4 Sheffield Utd 0

Sheffield United 1 Arsenal 0

West Ham fans were out in force to welcome new chairman Eggert Magnusson to Upton Park in the hope that the Icelandic takeover would also herald a new era of success on the pitch.

Sheffield United 1 Manchester United 2

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was given the all-clear to start his side’s Barclays Premiership clash with leaders Manchester United at Bramall Lane.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was left "dejected and disappointed" after seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead at Sheffield United.

Sheffield United 2 Bolton 2

Everton 2 Sheffield United 0

Sheffield United 2 Middlesbrough 1

Brighton have accepted a bid from Sheffield United for midfielder Colin Kazim-Richards.

Sheffield United closed the gap to Coca-Cola Championship leaders Reading to seven points with a 3-1 win at home to Brighton.

Dave Kitson fired a second-half hat-trick as Coca-Cola Championship leaders Reading thrashed Brighton 5-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United showed their title credentials by recovering from two goals down to beat promotion rivals Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road.

Southend moved into the Coca-Cola League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win at Cambridge.