Paul O’Connell hopes to guide Ireland to World Cup glory in 2015 in what potentially could be the end of his career.

Germany’s national team have agreed on a structure of bonuses for their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup.

Reigning European champions Leinster have announced the signing of New Zealand World Cup winner Brad Thorn on a three-month contract.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has announced he will retire from the national team after the World Cup.

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JAPAN booked their place at a third consecutive World Cup finals as goals from Atsushi Yanagisawa and Masashi Oguro gave the Asian champions a 2-0 win over North Korea in Group B of Asia’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Bangkok.

Follow live updates below or across social media, with expert analysis and insight from our panel of Irish Examiner columnists Ronan O'Gara and Donal Lenihan, who are joined on stage by Munster Rugby's Johann van Graan and Stephen Larkham.

Joe Schmidt says Johnny Sexton is positive about returning to these shores next season and that his star fly-half’s move from Racing Metro to Leinster will be really beneficial to Ireland’s cause.

Referee Horacio Elizondo insists Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo did not influence his decision to send off England striker Wayne Rooney in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

Newcastle striker Albert Luque remains determined to fight back from his disappointing first season in the Premiership.

Corporate travel firm Hogg Robinson posted a 28% rise in profits today after ferrying the England football team and their WAGS – wives and girlfriends - during the World Cup.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel remains sceptical of calls for Iran to be thrown out of this summer's soccer World Cup, which her country will host, her spokesman indicated today.

Llanelli captain Leigh Davies today stood down from the Wales squad preparing for the World Cup because he is concerned by his lack of fitness.

German striker Miroslav Klose was included in Rudi Voller’s starting line-up, despite fears over a knee injury, for their crucial World Cup Group E clash in Shizuoka.

Steve Staunton has said that the 2002 World Cup is his last chance to play in the finals.

FIFA look set to make the Confederations Cup, arguably the most unpopular competition in international football, a four-yearly event in response to claims it is putting too much pressure on overworked players.

Anyone who follows sport on television understands the commentators’ curse.

REGGIE, what game were you watching? Corrigan’s selection of Clermont centre Marius Jobert as man of the match at Thomond Park certainly got the former Leinster prop into a pot of boiling water yesterday.