Four first-phase clashes at Euro 2012 have a historical resonance, says Paul Kelly.

Zinedine Zidane has revealed he will take over the post of sporting director at Real Madrid next week to work more closely alongside coach Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu.

Kerry’s Mike McCarthy survived a decade at the highest level in the GAA without once sharing his thoughts with the public. Until now. He sat down with Tony Leen for his first – and last – interview.

ARSENAL midfielder Abou Diaby has compared himself to Zinedine Zidane and insisted he is ready to become one of the best players in the world thanks to surviving a boot-camp organised by French fitness guru Renaud Longuevre that has transformed his game.

PELE’S visit to Ireland this week reminded me that I’ve been lucky enough to meet with the five footballers I consider to be the greatest of all time: George Best, Maradona, Johann Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane and ‘El Rei’ himself.

ITALY defender Marco Materazzi claims Zinedine Zidane refuses to even acknowledge him over 12 months after that infamous head-butt in the World Cup final.

IT was one year ago this weekend that ZZ blew his top, 12 months and what seems like forever since Zinedine Zidane kicked a ball in anger for the last time and then, in even angrier mode, butted Marco Materazzi to floor the Italian giant and, with him, French hopes of winning the 2006 World Cup.

NOTHING falls down more easily than an Italian soccer player — with the possible exception of an Italian soccer player’s pants.

ON A CRAZY, shocking, unforgettable night in Berlin, World Cup 2006 ended with all ifs and one butt.

France legend Zinedine Zidane believes Fabio Cannavaro is a deserved winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

France defender William Gallas today claimed that Marco Materazzi must have severely provoked Zinedine Zidane for the midfielder to headbutt Italy‘s defender.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi said winning the World Cup was the most satisfying moment of his life.

AU revoir Zizou. Adeus Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and maybe Ronaldo. Goodbye Claudio Reyna. Auf wiedersehen Oliver Kahn and ciao Alessandro Del Piero.

THE WORLD Cup isn’t what it was. It’s twice what it was, you might say, given the expansion to 32 teams, but that’s not what we’re getting at.

FRENCH renaissance? More like a French revolution. Zinedine Zidane reborn?

Zinedine Zidane has ensured he will leave football on a high after some superb performances in his last competition before retiring.

FRANCE boss Raymond Domenech may already be planning for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with Brazil but he admits he will never forget the 3-1 second round win over Spain he believes “lit up France”.

Man-of-the-match Patrick Vieira warned France’s last eight opponents Brazil that Les Bleus can still improve on a pulsating 3-1 win over Spain which set up a World Cup quarter-final between the last two teams to lift the most important trophy in world sport.

BEFORE yesterday’s final games, the second round of World Cup 2006 had served up a mixed bill of fare to follow the lavish treats of the opening series of matches.

AS THE knock-out stage of World Cup 2006 fast approaches, some of the game’s heavyweights are already on the ropes, hoping the bell will give them a reprieve.

Arsenal striker and reported Barcelona target Thierry Henry insists he is fully concentrated on the Gunners’ Champions League campaign and is not currently considering his future.

Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira insists he has plenty of respect for Roy Keane ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and France in Dublin.

THE COMFORTABLE 3-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in Lens on Saturday night may have helped put the smile back on the face of French football but at the local club’s training centre in nearby Avion yesterday, manager Raymond Domenech was counting the physical cost of a game which saw France draw level with Ireland and Switzerland atop what is literally the group of four.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has warned his players against complacency after Les Bleus’ 3-0 win over Ivory Coast in a friendly on Wednesday.

ZINEDANE ZIDANE made a triumphant return to the international stage last night the talismanic midfielder lifting France to a 3-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire.

SWITZERLAND, who face France in a potentially decisive 2006 World Cup qualifier in October, have shrugged off the return of Zinedine Zidane to the French side.

David Junior gave a taste of what is hopefully to come as he proved the star act on the opening day of Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse meeting this afternoon.

FORMER France midfielder Zinedine Zidane will not come out of retirement to help the national side, his agent Alain Migliaccio insisted.

Former France playmaker Zinedine Zidane has revealed that one of the reasons he called time on his international career last summer is because he believes he lacks leadership skills.

France captain Patrick Vieira has declared himself physically and mentally ready to start Les Bleus’ 2006 World Cup qualifier against Israel at the Stade de France on Saturday.

France international Zinedine Zidane is set to announce his retirement from international football.

THIERRY Henry says that he and his French team-mates have yet to fire on all cylinders as they approach tonight’s final Euro 2004 Group B match with Switzerland.

THE mood was doggedly upbeat when England's bronzed captain David Beckham spoke of his ambitions of beating the champions France in tomorrow's fascinating match in Lisbon.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE is determined Sunday's showdown between France and England in Lisbon should not be billed as the Beckham versus Zidane show.

Zinedine Zidane claims he is fed up with people asking him to make a decision on his international future as he prepares for Euro 2004.

David Beckham bristled at suggestions that his first season at Real Madrid had been a “failure” as he insisted that he had proved himself as a player in the Spanish capital.

IT was a case of third time lucky for France striker Thierry Henry after he was voted French Player of the Year for 2003 by magazine France Football.

It was third time lucky for France striker Thierry Henry after he was voted French Player of the Year for 2003 by magazine France Football.

Thierry Henry has pledged his immediate future to Arsenal in the wake of reports that Chelsea and Real Madrid are interested in the France striker.

THIERRY HENRY is determined to break the Real Madrid monopoly on FIFA’s World Player of the Year award, despite losing out to Zinedine Zidane yesterday.

THERE was nearly an hour on the clock when Marseille’s most famous supporter, Zinedine Zidane, ended hopes of a shock result in their first Champions League game of the season.

Denmark midfielder Stig Tofting is determined Zinedine Zidane will not make up for lost time at the World Cup against his side.

FIFA will not prevent Senegal’s midfielder Khalilou Fadiga from playing in tomorrow’s opening World Cup match against France despite the theft charge hanging over his head.