Everything will be done to help Ireland alleviate its debt burden, including early repayment of IMF loans, as long as what is proposed complies with existing rules, according to Germany’s EU Commissioner, Günther Oettinger.

Borussia Dortmund 2 Real Madrid 0 (Real Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate)

Germany’s top security official said yesterday he will try to find a way for Edward Snowden to speak to German officials if the former National Security Agency contractor is willing to provide details about the NSA’s activities including alleged surveillance of chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone.

Germany’s security chief wants to arrange a meeting with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden if he is willing to provide details about the agency’s activities including the alleged surveillance of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone.

Oscar Pistorius was denied the chance to even run, never mind add to his World Championship relay medal, after South African team-mate Ofentse Mogawane crashed out during the second heat of the 4x400m today.

Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voller has condemned the behaviour of Michal Kadlec and Manuel Friedrich following the pair’s over-exuberant efforts to swap shirts with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in their Champions League encounter on Tuesday.

Barcelona put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over a Leverkusen side who might wonder what might have been had they attacked from the start last night.

IF CHELSEA weren’t a club in crisis before last night, they are now.

Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1

Andre Villas-Boas rested Chelsea captain John Terry for tonight’s Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge.

Austria 1 Germany 2

Three Swiss engineers suspected of giving nuclear weapons technology to a rogue network in Pakistan should face smuggling charges, a magistrate said today.

JOACHIM LÖW insists his Germany side can leave the World Cup with their heads held high after exceeding expectations in South Africa.

Argentina 0 Germany 4

Argentina 0 Germany 1

Lionel Messi is starting for Argentina in their World Cup quarter-final against Germany today.

Fabio Capello named an unchanged side for the first time as England manager for this afternoon’s World Cup clash with Germany in Bloemfontein.

GERMANY set up a mouthwatering last-16 clash with England as Mesut Ozil’s second-half strike proved the difference against Ghana at Soccer City last night.

RADOMIR ANTIC dedicated his side’s stunning World Cup victory over Germany yesterday to the Serbian people as Group D was blown wide open.

The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urged President Barack Obama to try taking a more humane attitude the next time he’s pestered by a fly in the White House.

THE RDS woodwork twice denied St Patrick’s Athletic last night, as the League of Ireland side gave it everything but ultimately came up short in their efforts to turn around a 2-0 deficit against Hertha Berlin and reach the promised land of the group stages of the UEFA Cup.

St. Patrick's Athletic 0 Hertha Berlin 0 (Hertha win 2-0 on aggregate)

Burberry denied animal rights group Peta entry to its annual general meeting today where protesters planned to call on the designer brand to stop using fur.

Portugal 2 Germany 3

PRESSURE was growing yesterday for Italian officials to place in custody the son of a former police chief accused of causing the deaths of two Irish women as they celebrated St Patrick’s Day.

TV cook Nigella Lawson has dished up some decidedly racy revelations.

LISTENING to some of the attacks on Mr Justice Alan Mahon over his handling of Tom Gilmartin reminds me of the story of Friedrich Riesfeldt, 46, of Paderborn, Germany, a highly conscientious zookeeper who cared passionately about his animals.

San Marino 0 Germany 13

WOLFSBURG’S Mike Hanke has withdrawn from the German squad for Saturday’s opening Euro 2008 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Stuttgart.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made way for long-time rival Oliver Kahn as Germany prepared to take on Portugal in the third-place play-off match in Stuttgart.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi sprung no surprises when he named his team for the World Cup semi-final showdown against host nation Germany.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose has dismissed reports about a potential rift between him and attacking partner Lukas Podolski following the future Bayern Munich star’s dip in form.

Germany 1 Poland 0

YOUR Arena supplement on the World Cup (Irish Examiner, June 7) was very interesting.

Graham Norton is hosting a new BBC Saturday night show to find an undiscovered star to win the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End stage production of The Sound of Music.

GERMANY have major defensive problems ahead of tomorrow night’s Group D qualifier against Ireland.

ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has played down suggestions Manchester United’s Alan Smith does not have a future with the national team.

Teams for Holland v Latvis and Germany v Czech Republic

Rudi Voller was pleased with Germany’s performance in the 1-1 draw with Holland and is unlikely to make many changes to that line-up for the match at Porto’s Estadio do Bessa.

Germany 2 Scotland 1

Germany 2 Scotland 1

Christian and Jewish clergy in the US say a billboard that promotes vegetarianism by claiming “Jesus was the prince of peas” is historically inaccurate and sacrilegious.

Fulham 0