Iceland are planning to ratchet up the pressure on Croatia tonight and become the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup finals.

ROY KEANE was yesterday linked with a dramatic return to management — as manager of Iceland.

The Football Association of Wales have announced the appointment of Gary Speed as the new Wales manager.

The three-month search for a new Wales manager finally comes to an end today with the expected appointment of Gary Speed.

Gary Speed is poised to be confirmed as the new manager of Wales tomorrow.

Gary Speed today moved a step closer to becoming the new manager of Wales.

Nigeria 2 South Korea 2

SOUTH KOREA coach Huh Jung-moo is confident his side can reach the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil.

The Nigerian Football Federation have revealed Everton striker Victor Anichebe was left out of the World Cup squad because of injury.

Striker Henrik Larsson bid an emotional farewell to football last night, admitting his decision to retire had left an “emptiness”.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Sweden coaching role, the Swedish FA announced today.

PORTUGAL booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup after an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

Portugal booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup with an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

The Swedish Football Association has played down reports linking Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson with the national team.

RUSSIA coach Guus Hiddink will make a late decision on unleashing Andrei Arshavin against Sweden, giving the playmaker another opportunity to spark interest among Premier League clubs.

Sweden 1 Spain 2

SWEDEN striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is desperate to play against European Championship holders Greece despite a lack of match-fitness following a knee injury.

CROATIA squeezed past Israel 1-0 to consolidate their position at the top of England’s Group E and keep them on course for Euro 2008 qualification.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has sounded out Roland Andersson about becoming his assistant should be accept Manchester City’s offer and take over as manager.

Howard Wells believes there will be no shortage of top names interested in becoming Northern Ireland’s manager following the departure of Lawrie Sanchez.

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez is giving nothing away about his long term plans as his stock continues to rise.

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is in no doubt that in Henrik Larsson Manchester United have signed the finest Scandinavian footballer of his generation.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback is understood to be trying to tempt Henrik Larsson out of international retirement.

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg missed Sweden’s friendly international with Ivory Coast after suffering a migraine, according to coach Lars Lagerback.

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has been named the new Sweden captain by coach Lars Lagerback.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has a message for Argentina ahead of their quarter-final meeting with World Cup hosts Germany in Berlin on Friday; hit top form or pack your bags and head home.

Lars Lagerback remains optimistic his attacking talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be fit for Sweden’s highly-anticipated second-round clash with Germany in Munich.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback insisted his team would not settle for the draw they need against England to progress to the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Freddie Ljungberg believes Sweden have broken their scoring hoodoo – just in time for their meeting with England next week.

SWEDEN captain Olof Mellberg has already conceded top spot in Group B to England and is viewing tonight’s match against Paraguay as the decider for who takes the runners-up place.

Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is set to return to the Sweden line-up for their crucial Group B game with Paraguay on Thursday.

Alexander Ostlund was the surprise omission from Sweden’s provisional squad for the 2006 World Cup.

England’s World Cup rivals Sweden have appointed scouts to watch each of their three opponents in Germany this summer.

THE new Republic of Ireland era last night received a ringing endorsement from an unlikely source - Sweden.

Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton is under no illusions that future matches will be as easy as last night’s 3-0 win against a shocking Sweden side.

Republic of Ireland 3 Sweden 0

As part of the new regime Steve Staunton had already taken the rare step for a Republic of Ireland manager of naming his team more than 24 hours before kick-off.

IN a suite the size of your average sitting room, eight or nine Swedish players sit around tables, most ignored by the attendant press and filling in the time chatting or playing games of noughts and crosses.

SWEDISH coach Lars Lagerback believes Ireland’s unorthodox managerial team of Steve Staunton and Bobby Robson has the ingredients to work.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has given his blessing to the Republic of Ireland’s managerial ‘dream ticket’ of Steve Staunton and Bobby Robson.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has confirmed he will pick the strongest squad available ahead of the March 1 clash with the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin.

DENMARK coach Morten Olsen last night insisted claims that his side and Sweden had engineered the 2-2 draw here were "ridiculous".

Ajax star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been singled out as Sweden’s biggest dangerman as they prepare to face neighbours Denmark in the clash that will settle Group C at Euro 2004.

DENMARK’S fine wing play and Sweden’s gifted strikers should determine the result of tonight’s Group C decider, being played in the rarefied atmosphere of Italian-generated conspiracy theories.