Yet again the talk surrounding England as they approach a major tournament is marooned somewhere between hope and hype but Damien Duff has questioned whether Gareth Southgate’s players have the commitment required to make a mark at the World Cup.

And so they left with a bang not a whimper, as Spurs said goodbye to White Hart Lane after 118 years in emphatic style, playing Manchester United off the park, sealing second spot in the Premier League, and showing why they are considered the most exciting young side in the country.

Brendan O’Brien talks about the "challenges, strategies, and governance of sport in Ireland" and what the men in charge plan to do about them.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Former football star Paul Gascoigne was taken to hospital after an alcohol-fuelled fight at a hotel, it has been reported.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

David Moyes has called for managers to be given time to implement their plans as he plots the way forward at Sunderland.

Four years after the FA passed over him and opted instead for Roy Hodgson, the erstwhile people’s choice Harry Redknapp has made it clear he would still love to have a crack at the job of England manager.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is confident Dele Alli can handle the hype after Alex Ferguson said he was the most talented midfielder since Paul Gascoigne.

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has said he is "determined to get back on track" as he continues his struggle with alcoholism.

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne, who has struggled with alcoholism for a number of years, has had another relapse, a friend said.

Correct us if we’re wrong here, but isn’t football’s silly season supposed to peter out once the season actually starts? Not so, it seems. Here we are with three games gone in the Premier League and the fluff is still overshadowing the important stuff. It’s almost as if a media that had to rely on the mad and mundane for the off-season finds itself unable to kick the habit.

The formation of a new centre-left party movement will challenge the policies of the Government parties; Representatives of the dairy industry are warning against an over-reaction to a suspected case of BSE in Co Louth; A second man has died following the industrial accident in Portmarnock in Dublin. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Over £1m (€1.4m) in damages has been awarded to stars including Paul Gascoigne and Sadie Frost over phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers.

Chris Smalling insists Manchester United are capable of overtaking bitter rivals Manchester City and finishing second in the league.

Wayne Rooney believes he is the finest singer at Manchester United.

Paul Gascoigne told the High Court he “would like to trade my mobile phone in for a coffin because these guys have ruined my life. I have no life.”

The ex-girlfriend of footballer Rio Ferdinand sobbed as she told the British High Court that the hacking of her voicemails had left her feeling “hounded” by the press.

Actress Shobna Gulati has told the High Court that phone-hacking led to her son being bullied at school.

Christian Eriksen can become one of the Premier League’s best playmakers and go down in Tottenham folklore, according to team-mate Jan Vertonghen.

Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has said he felt "victimised" by doctors who sectioned him following a recent drinking binge.

Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has said he felt “victimised” by doctors who sectioned him following a recent drinking binge.

Tottenham Hotspur say they are supporting troubled former star Paul Gascoigne after it was reported he had been placed on an emergency three-day detox.

Tottenham Hotspur say they are supporting troubled former star Paul Gascoigne after it was reported he had been placed on an emergency three-day detox.

Arsenal 2 Man City 2

Troubled former England football maestro Paul Gascoigne has said he can overcome the demons which saw him admitted to hospital in a drink-fuelled stupor.

Troubled former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has said he can overcome the demons which saw him admitted to hospital in a drink-fuelled stupor.

Harry Redknapp has offered an open invitation to Paul Gascoigne to help out with coaching his young players at QPR as he voiced concern for the former England midfielder’s health.

Paul Gascoigne is set to make his return to football after a journey for cigarettes led him to meet taxi driver and Abbey FC manager Chris Foster - who convinced the former England international to sign for the Hayward Sunday League side.

As Premier League transfer activity intensifies, armies of sports lawyers are poised for an orgy of t-crossing and i-dotting on complicated contracts.

Being the invisible artist brings its challenges, discovers Richard Fitzpatrick.

England’s repeated failure from 12 yards at World Cups prompted Ben Lyttleton to go in search of the perfect penalty kick.

BRAZIL NUTS

More than a quarter of professional footballers suffer from depression or anxiety problems, according to a new study carried out by the international players’ union FIFPro.

Photographer Billy Stickland rewinds through 25 years of Ireland ’s award-winning Inpho Sports Agency and tells the stories behind some of his own most memorable shots. Liam Mackey reports.

A footballer in the UK has lost an estimated £7m in three years of gambling, according to charity Sporting Chance.

You gotta larf. The only other option is to cry, to look ahead to next summer’s World Cup with a knowing dread and to what will, on all recent form, be another public bout of self-flagellation on the part of the England football team, its supporters and a media that feeds off the national XI like a shoal of sharks.