For Andy Reid, it must have been just like old times. Five years ago he earned his 25th international cap in an end-of-campaign knockabout against Wales under interim gaffer Don Givens.

The Europa League is such a contrived competition that it’s hard to work up much enthusiasm about it, even for the clubs involved.

The Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest has long been due for demolition but with its marble halls still echoing to the legendary achievements of yesteryear, it’s a place of fading grandeur which still has the power to evoke fantasy football.

Champions League semi-finals have been decided by phantom goals, crazed officials, injuries, moments of brilliance and even by one team being better than the other.

OF all the countless tributes paid in recent years to the star player on a star-filled Barcelona team, we particularly liked the one The Guardian penned after he’d ripped the champions of England apart, so much so we’ll recite it here.

WHEN the Champions League trophy had been hauled around Wembley and the colourful Catalan hordes had sung themselves hoarse, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was asked a question which resonated in bars from Las Ramblas to Las Vegas.

FORGET about Keano in Saipan, Anelka in South Africa or all those rebellious Dutch players down the years who have seen it as their birthright to rail against the perceived idiocy of football’s powers that be. When it comes to both getting mad and getting even in football, none of the above could hold a candle to Bela Guttman.

WHEN IS a five-point margin not a five-point margin?

CRISTIANO RONALDO has warned title rivals Arsenal that they are in a fight to the finish – and that reigning champions Manchester United are even stronger than when they won the Premier League last season.

Jake Payne was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham after being unshipped from Puskas in the Betfair Apprentice Handicap at the track.

HUNGARIAN football legend Ferenc Puskas, the inspiration of the “Mighty Magyars” side that dominated world football in the 1950s, has died after a long illness. He was 79.

Hungary and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas – one of football’s all-time greats – has died after long battle against pneumonia.

MICK CHANNON now trains the first and second in the market for next year’s 1000 Guineas after Silca’s Sister was the surprise winner of the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville yesterday.

Eoghan O’Neill believes Always Hopeful has a “great chance” of success in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday.

AIDAN O’BRIEN is still three-handed in Sunday’s Group One Prix Morny at Deauville following the first forfeit stage.

IT IS probably the only football match to be known simply by the scoreline — 6-3.

WHEN Gerhard Aigner starts talking about introducing sin-bins to reduce indiscipline and Bobby Robson compares the left foot of England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson to that of Ferenc Puskas, it is time to ask what soccer can learn from rugby.

SO, finally, the great adventure is about to start for Ireland and in exceptional circumstances. Before Ireland play Cameroon at Niigata tomorrow they will share in a special ceremony to inaugurate the World Cup finals tournament.