Poland coach Adam Nawalka doesn’t want his star striker Robert Lewandowski compared to Cristiano Ronaldo as he searches for his first goal of Euro 2016 against Switzerland in St Etienne today.

The world of football has grown used to Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-absorbed fits of pique but he appears to have met his match after making the mistake of criticising Iceland after the Euro 2016 minnows held out for a fairytale draw against his Portugal side in St Etienne.

Iceland 1 Portugal 1: It was meant to be all about Cristiano Ronaldo in St Etienne but a man nicknamed Thor stole his thunder as Iceland held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Group F.

Irish attempts to reclaim the country’s place at the summit of European club rugby next season look like becoming even more difficult if the news from France that Marseille is being lined up to host the 2016 Champions Cup final rings true.

The French will take Twickenham by storm next month for the first time since they subjected the All Blacks to the most riotous half-hour in World Cup history.

Never again let it be said that you need the perfect performance to win a European semi-final in France.

Johnny Sexton had suffered a few knockouts in his time but never one like this — sitting on a chair in a Paris suburb just off the peripherique.

Much has changed since Robert Lewandowski became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final last season as his Borussia Dortmund side prepare once again to face Real Madrid tonight.

Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) president Frederic Thiriez has threatened to impose “systematic bans” on supporters after violence marred Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Nice and St Etienne at the Allianz Riviera stadium.

As the olés reverberated across the old Lansdowne Road, a smiling Robbie Keane looked around and took it all in. This, it seemed at the time, had the potential to develop into something great.

Michael Owen will retire from professional football at the end of the season, the Stoke striker has announced on his website.

Almost single-handedly, they salvaged the wreckage that was the 2007 World Cup in France.

MUNSTER were handed a home run to the Heineken Cup final in May last night but champions Leinster face an away semi-final following the last-four draw by organisers ERC.

Serena Williams was forced to dig deep as she opened the defence of her Wimbledon title with a three-set victory over the spirited Aravane Rezai on Centre Court.

Liverpool winger Nabil El Zhar has joined Greek club PAOK on a season-long loan.

Tottenham have agreed a fee with Sevilla for the sale of Didier Zokora to the Primera Division club.

Ryanair has today announced it will open its 33rd base at Porto in Portugal with two based aircraft and four new routes (16 in total).

Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro insists he has done nothing wrong amid reports he could face a two-year ban for acting as an agent.

Carlos Sastre revealed his delight at finally getting his hands on the prestigious Tour de France title after clinching overall victory following the last-stage ceremonial trek into Paris.

MARCUS BURGHARDT — best remembered for being knocked off his bike by a dog in last year’s event — profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

Marcus Burghardt profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

SCOTLAND head coach Frank Hadden was happy to stick with his tried and tested as his unchanged team look to cement their place in history with a win over Argentina in tomorrow night’s World Cup quarter-final.

SCOTLAND hooker Ross Ford believes his team’s narrow victory over Italy in the Pool C eliminator is the “ideal warm-up” for Sunday’s quarter-final against Argentina.

Scotland 18 Italy 16

Scotland 18 Italy 16

ITALY have never made it through to the last eight of the Rugby World Cup, but now is the hour, believes Roland De Marigny ahead of today’s crucial Pool C match with Scotland in St Etienne.

The United States have made just two changes to their team for Sunday's World Cup Pool A clash with South Africa in Montpellier.

FRANK HADDEN may have sprung few surprises when naming his Scotland team for tomorrow’s World Cup eliminator against Italy — but he insisted it had not been such a straightforward selection.

Samoa 25 United States 21

Italy captain Marco Bortolami is an injury doubt for Saturday’s crucial World Cup Pool C match against Scotland in St Etienne.

Hooker Ross Ford is confident Scotland’s front five will stand up to scrutiny in Saturday’s make-or-break World Cup Pool C clash against Italy.

Scotland insist they are reading nothing into Italy’s abject performances in the World Cup so far ahead of Sunday’s qualification decider between the two teams in St Etienne.

United States coach Peter Thorburn has challenged his side to improve their cutting edge and perform for the full 80 minutes when they take on Samoa in St Etienne tomorrow.

SAMOA captain Brian Lima’s landmark fifth World Cup was brought to a premature end yesterday when he was banned for three weeks for a high tackle on England’s Jonny Wilkinson in Saturday’s 44-22 defeat.

Brian Lima has been selected for his World Cup swansong on Wednesday - despite a disciplinary cloud hanging over the Samoan centre.

SCOTLAND coach Frank Hadden insists his side’s schedule in Pool C of the World Cup forced him to field a weakened team against tournament favourites New Zealand at Murrayfield yesterday.

Scotland 0 New Zealand 40

ITALY’S stuttering World Cup campaign showed no sign of improvement last night as they struggled to an unconvincing Pool C win over brave Portugal at the Parc des Princes.

Italy 31 Portugal 5

ALLY HOGG claimed a hat-trick of tries as Scotland warmed up for their clash with World Cup favourites New Zealand by strolling to victory in the Pool C match with Romania at Murrayfield last night.

Scotland 42 Romania 0

Italy will be looking to put down a marker ahead of their probable winner-takes-all Pool C match against Scotland when they meet Portugal at the Parc des Princes tomorrow.

Scotland flanker Allister Hogg insists it is not just on the rugby pitch that injured prop Allan Jacobsen will be missed.

AS IRISH eyes turn to France for the Rugby World Cup, one Irish rugby fan will be taking on his very own Tour de France in the hope of raising thousands of euro for charity.