‘Alie told often enough becomes the truth.’

The countdown continues to the first game of the 2018 World Cup.

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov insists he is comfortable with the level of scrutiny being directed at the World Cup hosts.

Newly-appointed captain Harry Kane wasted little time setting out his stall by expressing his belief England can win this summer’s World Cup.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit out at the state of the pitch for his side’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

Usain Bolt took his World Championships career medal tally into double figures by anchoring Jamaica to gold in the 4x100 metres relay in Moscow tonight.

Paul Pollock has recorded the best ever position achieved by an Irish athlete in a World Athletics Championships men’s marathon.

Mo Farah sealed his status as one of Britain’s best ever athletes tonight as he sprinted to victory in the 5,000m at the World Championships.

Athletics Ireland chairman of High Performance Ray Flynn described Robert Heffernan’s victory in the 50km race walk as the “best day of my athletics life” and that the main message of the Corkman’s performance was to “the athletes themselves.”

Ireland's newest world athletics champion has collected his gold medal.

Nothing was going to derail Robert Heffernan’s goal of winning the world 50km race walk title yesterday — not even his own team-mate knocking him down while driving behind him on a 40km walk at a high altitude training camp in Ifrane, Morocco back in April.

Utterly dedicated to one another and to the pursuit of each other’s athletic goals, Rob and Marian Heffernan have long been described as “Team Heffernan”.

The Irish athletics community loved Robert Heffernan even before he struck gold yesterday. They feel he is one of them.

Emma Gallivan has come to appreciate Rob Heffernan’s idiosyncrasies, so much so that his wise-cracking prior to yesterday’s event didn’t surprise her in the least.

As Rob Heffernan conquered the streets of Moscow yesterday, Gillian O’Sullivan was pacing around the sitting room of her Ballincollig home.

President Michael D Higgins said all of Ireland will share in celebrations as Rob Heffernan won a gold medal at the world championships in Moscow.

Rob Heffernan has joined the list of Irish sporting greats by claiming Ireland’s third ever gold medal at a World Athletics Championships, becoming only the fifth person in all to medal, by winning the men’s 50k walk in Moscow this morning.

Rob Heffernan has claimed Ireland's third ever gold medal at a World Athletics Championship, winning the men's 50k walk in Moscow this morning.

Robert Heffernan’s medal chances have been significantly enhanced with the withdrawal of Russian Olympic champion Sergey Kirdyapkin for this morning’s 50km race walk at the World Championships in Moscow and double 50km Olympian Colin Griffin believes the Corkman is on course for a treasured medal.

Mo Farah dragged himself out of bed at 6am to move a step closer to the double-double by cruising through his 5,000 metres heat at the World Championships in Moscow.

Ireland’s Brian Gregan, the sole Irish performer on day three at the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, finished 7th in his 400m semi-final in 45.98.

Usain Bolt racked up his sixth world title in Moscow to go alongside his half dozen Olympic golds – and then declared he was far from done with winning.

Usain Bolt crowned himself the new Czar of Russia as he lit up the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow last night by winning the 100m in 9.77 while Brian Gregan brought some welcome Irish cheer qualifying for the 400m semi-finals.

Mo Farah proved he is still the undisputed king of distance running by racing to 10,000 metres gold at the World Championships in Moscow tonight.

Rubin Kazan 3 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea win 5-4 on aggregate)

Wherever Rafael Benitez goes he cannot escape the history achieved at Liverpool — not even ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Rubin Kazan in Moscow today.

England defenders Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole are recovering well from their recent injury setbacks, Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed.

Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea seized the initiative in their Europa League quarter-final tie with Rubin Kazan last night.

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1

Chelsea’s Europa League opponents Rubin Kazan insist they want to play at their home stadium instead of Moscow.

Newcastle 2 Stoke 1

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is relishing the opportunity to unleash Hatem Ben Arfa on the Barclays Premier League once again as he anticipates a late push.

Anzhi Makhachkala 0 Newcastle 0

Anzhi Makhachkala 0 Newcastle 0

Andre Villas-Boas has warned Inter Milan that Gareth Bale is now even more capable of wreaking havoc against them than when he tore them apart the last time around.

Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse is out of tomorrow night’s Europa League clash with Anzhi Makhachkala with a virus.

Neil Lennon hopes Celtic’s good recent form will help take them past Irn-Bru Second Division side Arbroath in tonight’s William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round replay at Gayfield Park.

Juventus were made to come from behind to salvage a draw for the third Champions League match running as FC Nordsjaelland’s first ever goal in the competition left them scrambling in Denmark.

Neil Lennon hopes his Celtic side will get the respect he believes that they are due after last night’s dramatic and historic 3-2 Champions League Group G win over Spartak Moscow.

Spartak Moscow 2 Celtic 3

Spartak Moscow 2 Celtic 3