SCOTLAND manager Berti Vogts has revealed that the surprise recall of international rookie Paul Dickov had been specifically designed to unsettle Holland’s most capped player of all-time.

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY is set to become the first victim of the ‘Battle of Old Trafford II’ but probably not the last after the FA launched an investigation into Sunday’s ‘soupgate scandal’.

MEMORIES of lost leads and late collapses loomed large for Tipp coach Michael Doyle at Croke Park yesterday, even though they ultimately cruised into the semi-final of the Guinness All-Ireland championship.

CHELSEA midfielder Joe Cole has denied he is a “diver” after being accused of feigning a foul during the 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on Saturday.

ITALIAN soccer referee Pierluigi Collina was yesterday awarded an honorary degree to mark his contribution to the sport.

Chelsea 4 Barcelona 2

NOT since the US Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills in 2003 has Pádraig Harrington finished in the top ten of a major championship.

Galway 0-17 Tipperary 3-16

JOHN MITCHELL is on the phone as he swings his car into the driveway of his suburban Hamilton home. New Zealand’s head rugby coach is hardl ever off it these days. Eventually, he ends the call and we head indoors.

VALENCIA clinched their second Spanish title in three seasons after goals from midfielders Vicente and Ruben Baraja earned them a 2-0 victory at Sevilla last night.

CORK’s Intermediate Football Championship crackled into life at the weekend as North Cork outfit Newmarket overcame Castletownbere in a battle of two title hopefuls at Inchigeela.

KILKENNY manager Maurice Power was the first to acknowledge the tremendous resilience and courage of his side who dramatically denied Cork victory in yesterday’s drawn extravaganza.

Kilkenny 1-8 Tipperary 0-10

NEXT Saturday’s replay between Sligo and Roscommon will be decided in the old-fashioned Gaelic football way — with the more dominant midfield emerging from the battle.

ISLAMIC militant Hamas has won a landslide victory in Palestinian parliament elections, winning 76 seats in the 132-member parliament.

It is no coincidence that Chelsea’s dip in Premiership form coincided with the absence of the injured Damien Duff. Now back to fitness, Duff is ready for the pivotal months of the season. He spoke to Bill George.

ALTHOUGH disappointed at failing to make the best of the favourable early morning conditions, Paul McGinley goes into the final two rounds of the US PGA at Whistling Straits on one under par.

BOBBY CHARLTON has apologised to the Glazer brothers for having to run the gauntlet of angry Man United fans at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

IF the tickets are as rare as they say they are, then the discerning hurling fans of Cork and Waterford are obviously anticipating a classic Munster final in Thurles tomorrow.