Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has claimed he would have been “carted off” if he suggested he could lead his country to European Championship glory before they reached the quarter-finals.

Wales number eight Ryan Jones has been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash against Argentina due to a calf problem, coach Warren Gatland has announced.

Star forward Darren Bent has been given an extended holiday due to his stay in England’s pre-World Cup training camp, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has explained.

Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to hand the men who slipped to World Cup play-off defeat at the hands of France on Saturday a chance to gain revenge in Paris tomorrow evening.

The Ireland Sevens coach Jon Skurr has named a 12-man squad for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai.

Hull’s new signing Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink believes he has found the perfect springboard from which to launch a bid for a place at next year’s World Cup.

Jessica Kurten narrowly missed racking up her third major consecutive victory at Gothenburg today when she placed second in the Speed Final with Lady Georgina Forbes's eight year-old mare Castle Forbes Cosma, behind Norway's Tony André Hansen.

Diego Maradona touched down in Scotland today, sparking a media frenzy at Glasgow airport.

A whistleblower who made corruption allegations against the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid claims she will live the rest of her life in fear after receiving threats against her and her children.

Roma captain Francesco Totti has ruled out a return to international football despite Italy qualifying for the finals of Euro 2008.

Up to 100 England fans were arrested overnight in the World Cup city of Stuttgart after trouble flared with other supporters and the police.

Rio Ferdinand remains a fitness doubt for England’s World Cup second-round clash with Ecuador in Stuttgart on Sunday.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and legal advisers Abbey Legal have produced a guidance leaflet on how firms can avoid employment problems during the World Cup.

Ireland were struggling on 161 for six against the West Indies when rain stopped play with 4.4 overs of their innings remaining in their final World Cup group match at Sabina Park, Kingston.

John O’Neill has been re-installed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

Pierre Berbizier will not extend his current contract as coach of Italy, according to the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

A Dutch expert on football hooliganism believes England fans still represent a high security risk despite good behaviour at the last two major championships.

Managers’ union chief John Barnwell has admitted Sven-Goran Eriksson’s departure as England coach was “inevitable”.

A leading member of Germany’s Green party has called for this summer’s World Cup finals to be scrapped if strains of the deadly bird flu virus reach the country.