OF all Ireland’s play-off defeats, this one was the hardest to take.

CRISTIANO RONALDO added another two goals to his growing Real Madrid collection as the Spanish giants continued their barnstorming start to the season by seeing off 10-man Marseille with a 3-0 win at the Bernabeu.

GERMANY’S performance in their Euro 2008 semi-final triumph over Turkey was their worst in the tournament according to defender Per Mertesacker, but he believes that can only bode well for the final.

Croatia 1 Turkey 1 (Turkey won 3-1 on penalties)

Newcastle 1 Fenerbahce 0

A late goal from European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved gave Juventus a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich last night to put the Italians in command of Champions League Group C.

Man Utd 6 Fenerbahce 2

Manchester United 6 Fenerbahce 2

Crystal Palace have completed a double signing today.

BARCELONA announced a major squad clear-out yesterday by revealing that Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Rustu Recber will leave the club this summer.

Barcelona announced a major squad clear-out today by revealing that Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Rustu Recber will leave the club this summer.

BARCELONA continued their slide into mid-table obscurity after slumping to a 3-0 defeat away to a lively Racing Santander in the Primera Liga last night.

REAL MADRID ace Raul is confident perennial underachievers Spain will make it to the Euro 2004 finals despite only scraping past Norway 2-1 in the first leg of their playoff tie.

Turkey 0 England 0

David Connolly is keeping his fingers crossed that he might just have fired his way into Brian Kerr’s plans for the Republic of Ireland’s decisive Euro 2004 showdown in Switzerland next month.

THE big issue for Brian Kerr in tonight’s challenging game against a slick and sophisticated Turkey is what role to assign to Ireland’s outstanding player, Damien Duff.

Arsene Wenger believes the arrival of Jens Lehmann will help make Arsenal “competitive” again as they seek to reclaim their Barclaycard Premiership crown.

Arsene Wenger tonight confirmed the Gunners have signed Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, according to Sky Sports News.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down the seriousness of the injury which saw goalkeeper Stuart Taylor carried from the field during the friendly against Peterborough.

PARIS ST GERMAIN star Ronaldinho is happy with a proposed deal to take him to Manchester United and now only needs the French club to approve the move, his agent and brother, Roberto Assis, revealed last night.

United confirm interest from continental clubs

DAVID SEAMAN could sign a new one-year deal at Arsenal after all – provided the veteran England goalkeeper receives assurances he will be given every opportunity to prove he is still Highbury number one next season.

David Seaman could sign a new one-year deal at Arsenal after all – provided the veteran goalkeeper receives assurances he will be given every opportunity to prove he is still Highbury number one next season.

ARSENE WENGER will decide this week on David Seaman’s future as Arsenal’s first-choice keeper — a move which could see the veteran No 1 leave Highbury if the Gunners’ manager relegates him to a coaching role.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that David Seaman will lead out Arsenal for the FA Cup final as captain, but with doubts still surrounding his future at the club.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he will have to be a magician in the transfer market this summer as he bids to stop Manchester United dominating the Premiership with their financial might.

Richard Wright has agreed to join Everton in a £4.5m (€7.1m) switch from Arsenal today.

Everton’s hopes of landing Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber have been dashed after the World Cup star ruled out a move from Fenerbahce.

Arsene Wenger has challenged David Seaman to swiftly follow the agreement of his one-year contract extension at Arsenal with a pledge to continue his England career.

Turkey coach Senol Gunes is disappointed even though his side exceeded expectations by reaching the last four.

By Steve Black, Saitama

Brazil 1 Turkey 0

Brazil 1 Turkey 0

IRELAND’S Damien Duff and Robbie Keane have been bizarrely excluded by a FIFA panel of so-called experts in a 33-strong short-list for its all-star team of the tournament.

Turkey reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history as Ilhan Mansiz scored four minutes into golden goal extra time to secure a 1-0 win over Senegal.

Turkey reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history as Ilhan Mansiz scored four minutes into golden goal extra time to secure a 1-0 win over Senegal.

Salif Diao believes mental strength will prove decisive in Senegal’s showdown with Turkey today as a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Brazil looms on the horizon.

Turkey captain Hakan Sukur is fighting a desperate battle to be fit for the most-important match in his country’s history on Sunday.

Japan’s hopes of World Cup glory came to an end as the co-hosts bade a fond sayonara on an ignominiously wet, grey afternoon.

Japan’s hopes of World Cup glory came to an end as the co-hosts bade a fond sayonara on an ignominiously wet, grey afternoon.

Philippe Troussier has a full squad to choose from as Japan prepare to take on Turkey for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.