All friendly matches are equal but some are more equal than others, writes David Shonfield.

Euro 2016 qualifier round-up          

Jan Vertonghen believes success in the Capital One Cup this season can instil a belief in Tottenham’s players that can see them go on and add further silverware in the coming years.

Since that 1-0 defeat of the Dutch 13 years ago, Ireland have played 32 competitive games at Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and at the Aviva.

Holland came from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA and get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign up and running.

Manchester United’s pay-off for David Moyes will be "single-digit millions" it has emerged, as club chiefs promised major investments on new transfers to ensure a return to the Champions League.

Charity wants to make dream come true for sick Dutch kid. Ajax pull out all the stops to make it happen. Good show.

An Ajax fan suffered “serious head injuries” last night after falling from the stand during his team’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona.

Ajax produced a superb win over Barcelona to keep alive their hopes of qualifying from Champions League Group H.

Celtic 0 AC Milan 3

Despite opposition from heritage campaigners, Heineken Ireland and their joint venture partners BAM Contractors secured planning permission for their €150m Brewery Quarter regeneration project on the historic Beamish and Crawford site on South Main St.

Neil Lennon believes Celtic will have to be at their best against an Ajax side he believes are as good as AC Milan and Barcelona to take anything from their crunch Champions League clash in the Amsterdam ArenA tonight.

Frank De Boer hopes the tiny percentage of Ajax fans he describes as “crazy” do not disrupt Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Celtic at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Scott Brown and Nir Biton are suspended for Celtic’s Champions League Group H clash with Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday night.

Frank Lampard added a Europa League winner’s medal to his collection and then spelt out his desire to finally sign a new deal at Chelsea.

How Chelsea have been desperately looking for a hero.

Chelsea captain John Terry will miss a second successive European final tonight.

Highlights include new RTÉ/BBC thriller, The Fall, and the Eurovision semi-final

Two early goals helped the Czech Republic heap more problems on struggling Turkey with a 2-0 friendly win at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium tonight.

German champions Borussia Dortmund made sure of their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2003 with a comprehensive dismantling of Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA last night.

Holland and Germany played out a low-key goalless draw in their friendly at the Amsterdam ArenA last night, with both sides missing a number of key players due to injury.

AJAX have apologised for the incident which saw AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban attacked by a pitch invader on Wednesday night.

Manchester City and Manchester United will both face difficult matches in the last 32 of the Europa League after Roberto Mancini's side drew holders Porto and their neighbours were paired with fellow Champions League dropouts Ajax.

Martin Jol was today confirmed as Fulham’s new manager.

IT’S not that long since Ajax were the best club in the world.

Jose Mourinho was delighted with the performances of his side’s fringe players in Real Madrid’s impressive 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax.

AC Milan booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after posting a scrappy 2-0 victory over Auxerre in Burgundy.

DENMARK’s goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has confirmed that Manchester United are considering signing him to replace Edwin van der Sar who is expected to retire at the end of the season.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk admitted today that he is very concerned about the hamstring injury picked up by Arjen Robben in today’s World Cup warm-up victory over Hungary.

MARK LAWRENSON’S was the name on a lot of lips late on Saturday night as the full ramifications of Ireland’s 1-0 defeat – and the extent of the task facing them in two days’ time – began to sink in.

Fabio Capello insisted he kept his cool at half-time in the Amsterdam Arena last night even though his England side appeared to be in the process of handing victory to The Netherlands.

Holland 2 England 2

Steven Gerrard has pulled out of the England squad for tomorrow night’s friendly with Holland in Amsterdam.

Michael Owen has missed out on an England recall today.

Marco van Basten has resigned as Ajax head coach following the club’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Dirk Kuyt scored twice as Holland maintained their 100% record in 2010 World Cup qualifying with a comfortable 4-0 win over FYR Macedonia.

Holland 3 Scotland 0

Holland 2 Scotland 0

George Burley admits victory in the Amsterdam Arena tonight would represent the pinnacle of his managerial career.

LIKE a good thriller, the battle for the title in Italy has produced half a dozen twists with one episode left. Those left dangling over the cliff edge after yesterday’s games include both Milan clubs, after Inter could only draw 2-2 at home to Siena and Milan suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Napoli.

Ajax captain Edgar Davids is likely to retire from football at the end of this season.

Ajax have named Marco van Basten as their new coach with the former AC Milan striker set to take over after Euro 2008.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.

REUNITED pop group The Police appear to have snubbed their Irish fans yesterday when they confirmed dates and venues for the European leg of their world tour — and no gig here is planned.