Luiz Felipe Scolari thanked Germany for staging a “fantastic” World Cup, despite seeing his side lose 3-1 to the host nation to miss out on a bronze medal.

England scrum-half Danny Care has been ruled out of the Rugby Word Cup with a toe injury.

IRELAND rugby coach Declan Kidney was one of four former UCC graduates honoured last night at the university’s annual alumni achievement awards.

Joachim Low inspired Mario Gotze to win the World Cup for Germany by telling him to show the world he was better than Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

Australia have officially joined the race to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup after submitting their bid to FIFA.

Senegal 3 Uruguay 3

Mexico 0 USA 0

Ireland 1 Spain 1

Ireland 0 Spain 0

Nations bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will not be permitted to make presentations to African football leaders later this month after Qatar signed an exclusive sponsorship deal.

Injured Arsenal and France winger Robert Pires today conceded his World Cup hopes are dead and buried.

Luis Fabiano has agreed a two-year contact extension with Sevilla, the Primera Division club confirmed today.

England’s Word Cup-winning rubgy team are to be given the Freedom of the Borough which gave the sport its name.

Slovakian referee Lubos Michel will take charge of the UEFA Cup final between Celtic and Porto in Seville on Wednesday.

Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien has beaten world champion Peter Ebdon 5-4 at the LG Cup in Britain.

Tottenham captain Sol Campbell may miss the rest of the season after damaging ankle ligaments in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes will host a meeting next month to investigate the nation's dismal World Cup campaign.