Up to 500,000 British football fans, around half of whom do not have tickets, are expected to travel to France for Euro 2016, police have said.

LENS, in northern France, has several claims to fame. Its railway station is unique and the only branch of the Louvre, outside Paris, has been established in the town.

A late-stage cancer patient has saved the life of an ambulance driver who suffered a heart attack, by taking the wheel of his vehicle and driving him to hospital, French medical officials said.

LESS than an hour after Ireland had succumbed to a very average Scotland side in this year’s Six Nations in Murrayfield, Warren Gatland — present to run the rule over potential Lions — noticed a familiar gathering of IRFU officials in a corner of the hospitality room.

It’s normal for fans to leave early when their side has taken a beating.

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.

Tottenham misfit Adel Taarabt has completed a permanent move to QPR for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1m.

Chelsea 2 APOEL 2

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.

Portsmouth 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

RANGERS manager Walter Smith is confident Daniel Cousin will eventually win over the Ibrox support after claiming his seventh goal of the season against Motherwell yesterday.

IT SEEMED fitting in a French-based tournament that the guillotine should finally fall on Ireland’s World Cup aspirations in the Parc Des Princes, a venue that has wreaked so much pain and havoc on a succession of Irish teams throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Tonga captain Nili Latu is battling to be fit for his team’s World Cup eliminator against England in Paris on Friday night.

Namibia captain Kees Lensing is desperate for his side to end their World Cup with a first victory in the competition.

Georgia coach Malkhaz Cheishvili is convinced the ’Lelos’ will build on their heroics against Ireland by registering their first World Cup victory tomorrow.

South Africa 30 Tonga 25

ARGENTINA captain Agustin Pichot returns for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Namibia. Pichot was struggling with a hamstring injury, but will lead the Pumas in the Pool D match at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

NEW ZEALAND have recalled their big stars for Sunday’s World Cup Pool C clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

THE nervous tension in the Irish camp is tangible ahead of tonight’s second World Cup game against Georgia at Stade Chaban Delmas (8pm, Setanta, TV3, ITV).

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger’s four-match ban has been reduced to a two-game suspension following a Rugby World Cup appeal hearing in Paris today.

Andy Farrell will play the biggest game of his Rugby Union career on Friday night when he lines up at fly-half in the World Cup showdown against South Africa.

England’s World Cup captain Phil Vickery has been banned for two matches, dealing the Web-Ellis Trophy holders another damaging blow.

SPRINGBOK coach Jake White has dismissed any prospect of complacency creeping into the South African camp as they prepare for a World Cup showdown with England.

JONNY WILKINSON faces an intense fitness fight to make England’s crunch World Cup clash against South Africa at the Stade de France.

Jonny Wilkinson faces an intense fitness fight to make England’s crunch World Cup clash against South Africa at the Stade de France.

England have announced that Jonny Wilkinson will receive intensive treatment over the next few days in his battle to recover from an ankle injury.

ENGLAND star Jonny Wilkinson’s World Cup campaign could be over before it has even started after his injury jinx struck again to deal the defending champions a potentially shattering blow.

England’s World Cup campaign has got off to a bad start after fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson suffered a twisted ankle in training today.

Jonny Wilkinson will arrive in Paris on World Cup business tomorrow, admitting he still “can’t bear the idea” of missing a kick.

England coach Brian Ashton believes 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson is a better player now than he was the day he landed the crucial drop goal which sank Australia in the final four years ago.

England coach Brian Ashton has already decided his starting line-up for the opening Rugby World Cup pool match against the USA in Lens on September 8 – but he will not tell the players until Tuesday.

England believe former Test skipper Martin Corry will be fit and available for their opening World Cup game against the United States in Lens next week.

BRIAN ASHTON claims it would be “wrong to interpret” that Nick Easter has moved ahead of Lawrence Dallaglio in the battle for England’s World Cup number eight shirt.

THE agonising waiting game for England’s World Cup hopefuls could be over sooner than expected.

With her immaculately coiffed copper-coloured hair, designer jeans and obvious cosmetic surgery, Jamila M’Barek was every inch the high-class Riviera call-girl.

Manchester United and Roma are both facing the threat of disciplinary action following the shameful scenes of violence in the Stadio Olimpico last night.

Alex Ferguson is confident Manchester United’s Champions League trip to Rome will pass off peacefully.

UEFA have handed fines to both Lille and Manchester United following the crowd trouble which marred their Champions League last 16 encounter last month.

LILLE have decided to end their protest against Ryan Giggs’ winning goal for Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League tie a fortnight ago.

Lille have decided to end their protest against Ryan Giggs’ winning goal for Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie a fortnight ago.

UEFA have rejected Lille’s attempts to invalidate Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs’ winning goal in their Champions League match.