Marco Reus and Toni Kroos both helped themselves to two goals apiece as Germany made an emphatic statement of intent in World Cup Qualifying Group C with a 6-1 rout of Ireland in Dublin.

Mario Balotelli will miss Italy’s World Cup qualifier with Armenia tonight after failing to recover from the flu, the FIGC announced on their official website this morning.

Robin van Persie’s 30th international set the Netherlands on their way to a hard-fought 2-0 victory in their opening World Cup qualifier against Turkey last night.

Mario Balotelli was last night forced to issue a grovelling apology for his dismissal against Arsenal after it emerged his place in the Italian national side for Euro 2012, where Italy play Ireland in the final game of Group C, was in jeopardy.