Fifa will allow the public to vote in a rebranded version of its player of the year of the award, world soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

Wales boss Chris Coleman has emphatically quashed speculation linking him with the England managerial vacancy.

Newcastle United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3: Newcastle United supporters who refused to join a boycott of the game only witnessed further evidence of the decline of a team head coach John Carver accepts is now involved in a fight against relegation.

Paul Lambert last night paid the price for Aston Villa’s plunge into the Premier League relegation zone as the club announced his departure with immediate effect.

The fact remains that this is a club with a default setting of one step forward followed by two back, writes Brendan O’Brien.

International Friendly

In football, there is an infinite number of reasons why a manager can be asked to pack his bags, but the bottom line when the new man is hired is always the same: do better than the last guy.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill immediately turned his attention to next year’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Poland and Scotland after seeing his under-studies deliver their lines to perfection.

Robbie Keane’s stock may have dropped at home, but he is still big in America.

It’s not clear yet what Thierry Henry is planning to do next season but there’s plenty life in the old dog, suggests John Riordan.

Tomorrow is Pele’s birthday — or maybe it was yesterday. Depends on where you fact check.

Martin O’Neill will go head to head with Jurgen Klinsmann in the Republic of Ireland’s final match of the year.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. This seems to be key in any great sporting triumph.

For Belgium the penny dropped in 2000 while Germany’s nadir arrived four years later but both have shown Ireland there’s plenty to be gained by recognising the inherent faults of their football systems.

Joachim Low inspired Mario Gotze to win the World Cup for Germany by telling him to show the world he was better than Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

The FAI have announced that the Republic of Ireland will play the USA in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 18.

Brazil’s humbling at the hands of Germany has become the most tweeted-about sporting event in history.

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann hailed Tim Howard’s “phenomenal” performance as the Everton number one produced the greatest performance by a goalkeeper in a generation to defy Belgium until extra time.

Belgium 2 USA 1 (after extra time)

Belgium 2 USA 1 (after extra time)

Argentina v Switzerland(Sao Paulo, 5pm)

It is almost too cliched to seem possible; the manager of the American national side spending his free time driving a VW camper van driving from beach to beach, looking for the perfect surf spot.

Troubling times — a new international superstar and nobody’s sure what to call him.

Turkish club Galatasaray have confirmed that they have spoken to David Moyes - but the former Manchester United manager is not their top managerial target.

USA 0 Germany 1

USA 0 Germany 1

This great video shows Ferrell making a surprise appearance in a bar in Recife last night, saying he "will bite every German player if I have to.”

Joachim Low has denied that his Germany team will settle for a draw against the United States so that former boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s side can also progress in the World Cup.

Mesut Ozil has brushed aside any suggestions that Germany would be involved in another ‘biscotto’ affair and manufacture a convenient draw against the United States in Recife today.

This was supposed to have been Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament. His heroics against Sweden had taken Portugal to the finals.

United States 2 Portugal 2

Germany national team head scout Urs Siegenthaler believes coach Joachim Low is on the verge of the crowning moment of his coaching career.

France were held to a 1-1 draw with Paraguay after a dramatic finish to Les Bleus’ penultimate warm-up game for the World Cup.

Landon Donovan needed a bit of head space at the end of 2012 and came back refreshed in March of the following year.

Shane O’Neill is expected to end months of speculation over his international future by snubbing the Republic of Ireland in favour of the United States.

Tim Sherwood is to take charge of Tottenham in an interim role after Spurs sacked Andre Villas-Boas as manager.

Fabio Capello, Glenn Hoddle and Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino have emerged as contenders for the vacant Tottenham manager’s position after Spurs sacked Andre Villas-Boas yesterday.

It takes some cheek to gain an advantage by diving or feigning injury but a whole lot more to keep a straight face while solemnly deflecting responsibility for same.

Tottenham 1 Southampton 0

Germany boss Joachim Loew is in the frame to be Arsenal’s next manager, with Arsene Wenger’s current deal expiring next summer, according to reports.