Eleven new fires broke out this afternoon in Portugal, after firefighters had tamed several other forest blazes that were burning across the country, officials said.

Cooler temperatures helped firefighters bring most of Portugal’s devastating wildfires under control today, although seven small new blazes broke out this afternoon.

FIREFIGHTERS returned to parched, sweltering forests yesterday to tackle huge wildfires that were racing out of control in Portugal for a second straight day.

THE Irish women’s athletics team have retained their first division status in the European Cup.

Kelly Holmes is confident she has overcome a minor injury problem and will be in top shape before competing at the Cork BUPA Ireland City Games next weekend.

ANTANETTE KIRKLAND, partner of sprint sensation Bernard Williams, will join the line-up for the 100m hurdles at the BUPA Cork City Sports at The Mardyke on Saturday week.

WHILE Ireland’s seniors were succumbing to relegation at the European Cup in Leiria, an elite junior squad was doing extremely well in the prestigious junior international meeting in Mannheim, where two more athletes added their names to the team for the European junior championships.

THEY may have reclaimed their position in the top division but British athletics suffered a stunning blow at the European Cup match in Leiria, Portugal, yesterday, when Paula Radcliffe trailed in a remote second to Volha Krautsova from Belarus in the women’s 5,000m - a performance that must throw her plans for the world championships into turmoil.

BERNARD WILLIAMS, silver medallist in the 200m at last year’s Olympics and member of the USA gold medal winning 4 x 100m relay team in Atlanta will line up in the 100m at the BUPA Cork City Sports on July 2.

Barcelona star Deco today revealed Jose Mourinho’s success as a manager can be traced to his workaholic lifestyle.

France coach Jacques Santini may reinstate Claude Makelele, Robert Pires and Bixente Lizarazu to his starting line-up for the final Group B match with Switzerland where a draw would guarantee the defending champions a berth in the last eight.

Croatia boss Otto Baric has a tricky selection dilemma for the winner-takes-all match with England on Monday at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.

Croatia 2 France 2

Switzerland defender Stephane Henchoz admits there is little anyone can do to stop Michael Owen when he is at his blistering best.

Switzerland will launch an all-out attack on Croatia in tomorrow’s Group B opener in a bid to lay the platform for qualification for the knock-out stages.

Croatia’s deputy goalkeeper Tomislav Butina seems certain to start in Sunday’s Euro 2004 Group B opener against Switzerland with first-choice Stipe Pletikosa likely to be out injured.

Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn is hopeful that key midfielder Johann Vogel will shake off a thigh injury for Sunday’s Group B opener against Croatia in Leiria.

Switzerland midfielder Johann Vogel handed coach Kobi Kuhn a major boost today when he promised that he will be fit for Sunday’s Euro 2004 opener against Croatia.

Switzerland started their preparations for Sunday’s opening Euro 2004 clash with Group B rivals Croatia in earnest today.