MANCHESTER UNITED will remember their first visit to the Aviva Stadium as a pleasant stroll in a lovely park, Alex Ferguson’s team banging in seven against an Airtricity XI — and that without Smokin’ Wayne Rooney ever catching fire in front of goal.

World Cup Group A

World Cup Group C

EIGHT years on, Roy Keane insists his decision to quit the Republic of Ireland on the eve of the 2002 World Cup has never caused him to lose sleep.

THE Premier League’s biggest names are set to battle it out for Joe Cole’s signature this summer after it was confirmed yesterday that the England midfielder will leave Chelsea.

PORTUGAL suffered a major injury blow yesterday after it was announced winger Nani would play no part in the World Cup after damaging his collarbone.

HARRY REDKNAPP insists he is “loyal to Spurs” and would be keen to extend his contract with Tottenham, despite reports linking him with the vacant manager’s job at Liverpool.

GORDON BANKS has warned Wayne Rooney he risks wrecking England’s dreams of World Cup glory if he produces a repeat of Monday’s “ridiculous” behaviour which saw him booked for insulting a referee.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has indicated there will be few changes to his playing staff as they seek to regain the title.

REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez has no desire to sign “the second best player in the world” – which in his opinion is Barcelona’s Lionel Messi – or Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney this summer.

JOHN TOSHACK’S six-year tenure in charge of Wales is poised to come to an end following the 1-0 defeat by Montenegro on Friday.

CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he wants to emulate Alex Ferguson’s longevity at Manchester United and manage the Blues for over 20 years.

WAYNE ROONEY has assured Fabio Capello he is fully focused on England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Basle tonight.

JAMES MILNER has assured Wayne Rooney he will be a welcome presence in the England team tomorrow night.

GOLEADO is the Italian for goal-glut, the kind of riotous scoreline which can sometimes occur when sharks encounter minnows and a feeding frenzy ensues.

THE current Premier League table is highly misleading in regard to my recent visit to Villa Park: Aston Villa in fourth place?

BRENDAN CUMMINS has been around the block a few times, and will be playing his 62nd championship match tomorrow, yet even for him it’s a unique occasion, with Tipperary in a position to shatter Kilkenny’s dreams.

It was gut-wrenchingly tense at times but, thanks to a goal on his competitive debut by substitute Keith Fahey, Ireland came away from a hot and heavy night in Yerevan with a vital win in their opening Group B European Championship qualifier.

HAT-TRICK hero Jermain Defoe hailed his partnership with Wayne Rooney after the pair teamed up profitably in last night’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria in their opening Euro 2012 Group G qualifier at Wembley.

BULGARIA coach Stanimir Stoilov has called for referee Viktor Kassai to protect his players should England striker Wayne Rooney lose his cool in today’s Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.