When you really stop and think about it, Giovanni Trapattoni’s comments on Monday night were pretty startling.

They tell me that Kaiser Chiefs had been set to share the billing with Aslan at Shamrock Rovers’ ground later this month.

It would seem curious to tear up a four-year plan at the 11th hour, but in light of Trap’s long-held determination to Do A Greece, his admission that Ireland might change tactics during this next nine days shouldn’t be too surprising.

Giovanni Trapattoni insists he feels like a 20-year-old as he prepares to become the oldest coach to send his team into European Championship finals battle.

In 19 World Cups, there’s never been a shock winner. By contrast, the Euros have seen three in 13. This is a competition where miracles can happen, says Miguel Delaney

Helenio Herrera was in one of his more abrasive, arrogant moods. But then, he had cause to be. His Barcelona had just battered Wolves 9-2 on aggregate in the 1959-60 European Cup and, at Birmingham airport, he was holding court.

Shay Given will miss training this morning and tomorrow due to a knee injury but after undergoing a scan he is not believed to be a doubt for the Euro 2012 tournament.

REALLY, it was a surprise that Giovanni Trapattoni was even in Kiev for yesterday’s Euro 2012 draw.

THIS has been a record-breaking World Cup for Miroslav Klose whichever way you look at it: he earned his first red card in a Germany shirt against Serbia, his 50th international goal against England, his 100th appearance against Argentina and now, before the semi-final against Spain, he is one goal away from equalling Brazil legend Ronaldo’s all-time record of 15 goals in World Cup matches.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has called on his critics to apologise to his team, after they emerged from Group B with a 100% record after last night's 2-0 defeat of Greece.

DEFENDER Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina’s multi-talented strikeforce had failed as they scored the goals to break Greece’s resilience and end their World Cup hopes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last night.

Greece 0 Argentina 2

ARGENTINA coach Diego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he might rest Lionel Messi for today’s final Group B clash against Greece, insisting it would be a “sin” to deprive the public of seeing the best player on the planet.

A BLUNDER by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama handed Greece their first victory at the fifth attempt in two World Cup finals.

Greece 2 Nigeria 1

Greece striker Theofanis Gekas is calling for the vuvuzelas to be banned by the World Cup organisers.

South Korea 2 Greece 0

Giourkas Seitaridis and Christos Patsatzoglou have proved their fitness to gain inclusion in Greece’s 23-man World Cup squad.

GREECE striker Angelos Charisteas toasted another significant chapter in Greek football after Otto Rehhagel’s team claimed a place at the 2010 World Cup at the expense of Ukraine.

Ukraine 0 Greece 1 (Greece win 1-0 on aggregate)

UKRAINE are favourites to progress after defying a powderkeg atmosphere in Athens to hold Greece.

Greece 0 Ukraine 0

GREECE coach Otto Rehhagel has urged his players to play “beyond their limits” if they want to claim a place in the 2010 World Cup by defeating Ukraine in their two-legged play-off.

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.

Switzerland secured qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by claiming the point they needed in a draw against Israel in Basle tonight.

HE HAS played for Franz Beckenbauer, Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish, Gerard Houllier, Otto Rehhagel, Berti Vogts and Rudi Voller, but as far as Didi Hamann is concerned Giovanni Trapattoni is simply the best.

JOAQUÍN BOTERO netted a hat-trick to help Bolivia hammer Argentina 6-1 and keep their slim 2010 World Cup hopes alive last night.

Greece maintained their position at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Two with a 2-1 victory over Israel at the Pagkritio stadium in Crete.

WORLD champions Italy shared the honours with Greece after a low-key encounter in Athens ended in a draw between the two European rivals.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi will give former Manchester United starlet Giuseppe Rossi his first senior start in tonight’s international friendly against Greece in Athens.

Greece 1 Spain 2

THERE will be two unfamiliar sides on view when Greece take on Spain in what is effectively a dead rubber in their Euro 2008 Group D clash today.

Greece 0 Russia 1

RUSSIA coach Guus Hiddink wants to keep Roman Abramovich smiling this week by plotting a way past the famed rearguard of European Championship holders Greece in Group D tonight (7.45pm).

SWEDEN striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his international goal drought in style as Greece’s defence of their European Championship title started with defeat in Salzburg.

Greece 0 Sweden 2

Celtic have clinched deals to bring Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras and Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno to Parkhead.

POLAND moved a step closer to qualifying for Euro 2008 after a goalless draw against a Finland side that could still join them in Switzerland and Austria.

THE draw for Euro 2008 made in Switzerland yesterday pitted together two of the continent’s traditional powerhouses, France and Italy, while England, under new management, go into unknown territory.

Shels were not the only side to upset the form book in 2004, writes James Whelan.

HOLLAND will be eager to step up their World Cup qualifying bid tomorrow night against an Andorra side boosted by their first ever win in a competitive international.

A great summer for Greek sport came to a shuddering halt tonight.

FLORENTINO PEREZ is close to a landslide victory in his bid to be re-elected as Real Madrid president.

Greece’s Euro 2004-winning coach Otto Rehhagel has turned down the chance to lead his native country Germany into the 2006 World Cup.