Gareth Bale is determined to propel Tottenham back into the Champions League after signing a new four-year contract.

Midfielder Christian Maggio expects Italy to be put to the test by a strong Croatia side in today's European Championship Group C encounter in Poznan.

At the very least, we now know.

By Brendan O'Brien

Robbie Keane is hoping history repeats itself as he goes head-to-head with Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa once again.

Croatian defender Vedran Corluka last night emerged as a possible injury concern for the side’s opening Group C game against the Republic of Ireland in Poznan on Sunday.

Slaven Bilic still walks with a slight limp, the legacy of an operation he had back in January. Doctors tried to fix his old hip injury, which dated back to the most glorious period of his playing days, an episode which effectively ended his career.

Slaven Bilic overshadowed the announcement of Croatia’s preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2012 by confirming that he would be standing down after the tournament.

Slaven Bilic has announced he will step down as coach of Croatia’s national team after Euro 2012.

Tottenham failed in an audacious bid to sign Manchester City maverick Carlos Tevez in January, Harry Redknapp has confirmed.

Tottenham failed in an audacious bid to sign Manchester City maverick Carlos Tevez in January, Harry Redknapp has confirmed.

Vedran Corluka believes Tottenham could finish sixth in the Premier League because of Harry Redknapp’s refusal to rotate his squad.

Tottenham may have been hammered by Chelsea in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, but they left Wembley with two valuable commodities: an excuse and a burning sense of injustice.

It’s half-time at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb and Croatia are halfway to disaster.

Barcelona put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over a Leverkusen side who might wonder what might have been had they attacked from the start last night.

David Bentley could make a shock appearance for Tottenham before the end of the season after he was named in the club’s 25-man squad for the rest of the current campaign.

QPR were the Barclay’s Premier League’s biggest spenders on transfer deadline day with almost £9million invested on strikers Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse.

QPR were the standout big spenders as the transfer window slammed shut last night.

QPR moved to bolster their forward line in the final few hours of the transfer window after signing Djibril Cisse and entering into negotiations with Fulham’s Bobby Zamora.

Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan until the end of the season, the Barclays Premier League club have announced.

Tottenham will not be stopped from completing any 11th hour deals tonight despite their game against Wigan ending just before the transfer window shuts, according to first-team coach Joe Jordan.

TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp admits he faces a tough battle to keep his fringe players at White Hart Lane this month.

Tottenham 1 PAOK Salonika 2

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could recover from his hamstring injury in time for Monday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

CROATIA all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey in the first leg of their play-off at the Ataturk Stadium last night.

Turkey 0 Croatia 3

Tottenham defender William Gallas could make his first Barclays Premier League appearance of the season at Fulham on Sunday after he suffered no reaction when making his comeback from a calf injury in last night’s defeat to Rubin Kazan.

Tottenham defender William Gallas will have a fitness test on his calf injury before manager Harry Redknapp decides whether to give him his first game of the season against QPR on Sunday.

The likes of Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart will be recalled for Tottenham’s game at Blackburn on Sunday after they were rested for last night’ Europa League win over Rubin Kazan.

Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul are Tottenham’s only fit central defenders for tomorrow’s Europa League clash against Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham will give a fitness test to Emmanuel Adebayor to see if he is fit to play in Sunday’s game at Newcastle, after the striker suffered a hamstring injury in the club’s win over Arsenal two weeks ago.

THERE was some good news for the Shamrock Rovers spy in the crowd at the DW Stadium.

Luka Modric made his first appearance of the season as Tottenham set about the difficult task of registering their first league win of the season against Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni reserved special praise for his defenders after last night's 0-0 draw with Croatia at the Aviva Stadium.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was delighted to see his side keep a fifth successive clean sheet in last night’s goalless friendly with Croatia.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni paired captain Robbie Keane with new West Brom striker Shane Long in attack for this evening’s friendly against Croatia at the Aviva Stadium.

Tom Huddlestone and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are extremely doubtful for Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League game against Blackpool on Saturday and could even miss Tuesday’s trip to Manchester City.

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone looks likely to miss tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at Chelsea after his ankle injury flared up.

Gareth Bale is a major doubt for Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League clash against West Brom tomorrow after sustaining a knee injury in Wednesday’s north London derby.

Tottenham 3 Arsenal 3

Aaron Lennon trained with his Tottenham team-mates this morning, raising hopes that he will be fit for tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

VEDRAN CORLUKA was involved in an angry slanging match with one of his own fans at White Hart Lane.

HARRY REDKNAPP has urged Tottenham fans not to hold a grudge against Peter Crouch over his damaging dismissal against Real Madrid.

Aaron Lennon is a doubt for Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League game against Stoke tomorrow as he is struggling to recover from the illness which prompted his late withdrawal from Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid.