Leon Goretzka put an injury scare firmly behind him to score his first goal for Bayern Munich as the defending Bundesliga champions enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at Stuttgart.

Japan’s meeting with Russia at the 2002 World Cup produced one of Eamon Dunphy’s most famous RTÉ moments.

It seems churlish to use the word ‘crisis’ after only one defeat but Germany’s World Cup defence is looking increasingly nervous as criticism of Mesut Ozil reached abusive levels yesterday and players had to rebut reports of cliques and disunity in the camp.

The FAI were making no comment yesterday on Sepp Blatter’s suggestion that the UK and Ireland could jointly host the 2030 World Cup.

Daniel Storey selects 10 young players who can propel their careers to the next level during the World Cup.

Bayern Munich are through to the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in nine years after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final second leg with Sevilla.

Bayern Munich coasted into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 win over Besiktas in Istanbul to complete an 8-1 aggregate win.

Bayern Munich look assured of a Champions League quarter-final spot for a seventh straight season after thrashing 10-man Besiktas 5-0 in Germany.

Champions League talking points with Ger McCarthy

Sven Ulreich saved Chadrac Akolo's 95th-minute penalty as Bayern Munich ground out a hard-fought 1-0 win at Stuttgart.

The line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is close to completion after Australia became the 31st nation to book their place at the finals.

Celtic 1 Bayern Munich 2: Celtic exited the Champions League on their shields after a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in a pulsating encounter at Parkhead.

Celtic exited the Champions League on their shields after a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in a pulsating encounter at Parkhead.

Celtic discovered Bayern Munich are still very much a European force as the Hoops suffered a 3-0 defeat in their Champions League clash at the Allianz Arena.

Northern Ireland 1 Germany 3

Germany will be in Russia next summer to defend their World Cup crown having sealed their qualification by inflicting a first competitive home defeat on Northern Ireland in four years.

Former England manager Roy Hodgson will be lavished with a £1m bonus if he rescues Crystal Palace, the Daily Mail reports.

Captain Manuel Neuer has been left out of the Germany squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Norway.

Juventus have signed Brazil winger Douglas Costa on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.

Australia 2

Joachim Low's much-changed Germany opened their Confederations Cup campaign with a 3-2 victory over Australia in Sochi.

Germany coach Joachim Low felt the 7-0 thrashing of minnows San Marino was a good test for his young squad before they head off to the Confederations Cup in Russia.

Bayern Munich 1 - Real Madrid 2: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Bayern Munich 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Allianz Arena.

A trio of former Arsenal stars have turned on Arsene Wenger and his players after a humiliating 5-1 Champions League thrashing at Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich 5 - 1 Arsenal

There were losses for Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Five things we learned in France.

This was the night when France began to heal before our very eyes, a night when La Marseillaise was sung louder than it has ever been sung, a night when Antoine Griezmann became a national hero — and when Les Bleus dramatically and deservedly reached the final of Euro 2016.

Portuguese defender Pepe doesn’t exactly make himself easy to like — one brutal temper tantrum, the kind that would make even Joey Barton blush, earned him a 10-match ban at Real Madrid after he raked his studs down the back of an opponent in 2009.

Thomas Muller says Germany are not afraid of France ahead of tomorrow night’s Euro 2016 semi-final in Marseille.

Germany 1 Italy 1 (AET, Germany won 6-5 on penalties): Some stereotypes simply refuse to go away.

Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1: Defeat on the night for Northern Ireland but it was one that ended with history being written as Michael O’Neill’s side advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 thanks to the heroics of Michael McGovern and a Turkish win in Lens.

One French media outlet labelled him ‘the unknown Irishman’, and no-one is throwing his name into the list of Golden Boot contenders, but few players are so central to their team’s hopes in France as Kyle Lafferty is to Northern Ireland.

As Richard Keogh outlines every bump along his trek to the Euros, he’s well within his rights to pause and describe it as a “good story”.

An own goal from Adam Lang and a second-half effort from Thomas Muller saw a dominant Germany side defeat Hungary 2-0 at Schalke's Veltins-Arena home today.

Few tears may have been shed when Louis van Gaal left Carrington for the final time, but in years to come Man United fans may well be thankful for his uncomfortable two-year residency.

Bayern Munich 2 Atletico Madrid 1

Bayern Munich will have to wait at least another week before being crowned Bundesliga champions after their advantage at the top of the league was cut to five points by Borussia Dortmund.