Two more days until the dawn of a new era for the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team and, with Mick McCarthy’s hand back on the tiller, there has been an inevitable focus on the contrast between his current rank and file and those under his command when he first roamed international waters with the Boys in Green.

DUTCH police said they had arrested a 25-year-old woman on suspicion of killing at least three of her babies over an eight-year period, echoing a similar case in France last month.

The sparrow, subject of an exhibition at the Natuurhistorisch Museum in Rotterdam until mid-May 2007.

A sparrow knocked over 23,000 dominoes in the Netherlands, nearly ruining a world record attempt before an exterminator shot it dead today.