A Stormont Assembly member today expressed shock that Northern Ireland international football player David Healy was omitted from the UK's New Year’s Honours List.

SO CONGRATULATIONS to Paul Doolin on being named Philips Sports Manager of 2007.

A Stormont reception is to be held to honour the Northern Ireland football squad for its performances in the European Championship qualifying campaign, it was confirmed today.

THE IRISH Football Association are calling for David Healy to be rewarded by UEFA for breaking Davor Suker’s 12-year record in a European Championship qualifying campaign.

David Healy has spoken of his admiration for Davor Suker after breaking the Croatia legend’s 12-year-old scoring record in a European Championship qualifying campaign.

N Ireland 2 Denmark 1

REPUBLIC of Ireland and Liverpool soccer ace Steve Finnan has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

At 71, Otto Baric is no spring chicken, but in Euro 2004 the veteran campaigner will once more get the chance to coach a national team in a major tournament.

As a player, Mick McCarthy’s solid and uncomplicated career was perhaps best summed up by his reaction after the Republic of Ireland lost a tight and tense European Championship match with Holland in 1988.

Two goals in four second-half minutes gave Croatia a remarkable come-from-behind victory which has left another of the World Cup favourites unsure of their future in the tournament.

Two goals in four second-half minutes gave Croatia a remarkable come-from-behind victory which has left another of the World Cup favourites unsure of their future in the tournament.

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni showed his respect for Ecuador by changing his formation to counter any attacking threat from the South Americans down the wings.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni showed his respect for Ecuador by changing his formation to counter any attacking threat from the South Americans down the wings.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni showed his respect for Ecuador by changing his formation to counter any attacking threat from the South Americans down the wings.

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.

Mexico 1 Croatia 0

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre declared himself ‘‘not satisfied’’ with his side’s winning start to their World Cup campaign.

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave Mexico a dream start to their World Cup campaign this morning, scoring the game's winning goal from the penalty spot to deny Croatia.

Australia-born Christian Vieri is the injury-jinxed footballing nomad who names cricketing legend Allan Border as his sporting hero and caused alarm in the Vatican when Inter Milan signed him three years ago.

Croatia coach Mirko Jozic has dropped defender Goran Sablic and forward Marko Babic from his World Cup squad.

Luizao scored the only goal of the game as Brazil gave their World Cup hopes a boost with a victory over Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro.

Mick McCarthy is banking on the midfield partnership of Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland to nail down the Republic’s place in the World Cup finals.

Jason McAteer insists the Republic of Ireland’s journey into the unknown to take on Iran in the second leg of the World Cup play-offs holds no terrors for manager Mick McCarthy’s players.

Diego Maradona returned to the field to play his farewell match in front of 50,000 devoted fans in Buenos Aires.

Mick McCarthy is still tipping Scotland to beat Croatia in their crucial World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park on September 1.

Frederic Kanoute could be the sacrificial lamb for West Ham at Bradford as Harry Redknapp protects the Hammers' FA Cup hopes.