THE Ivory Coast Football Federation have confirmed captain Didier Drogba has broken his arm but are still not ruling him out of the World Cup.

Gus Hiddink has emphatically ruled out any chance of becoming the next Chelsea manager – but believes fellow Dutchman Frank Rijkaard could be a good choice to succeed Avram Grant.

FORMER world player of the year Rivaldo could be on his way to Bolton. The Barclaycard Premiership club confirmed tonight they were involved in talks with the Brazilian playmaker.

Ireland face a rematch with India in the Hockey World Cup quarter-finals tomorrow evening as the Asian side eased by the challenge of Italy 3-0 in their crossover tie in London.

Two cramped rooms in a Moscow suburb could make or break countries’ dreams of World Cup glory.

Leicester have signed New Zealand World Cup winner Brad Thorn.

Former Great Britain scrum-half Bobbie Goulding was today appointed as national coach of France.

Martin Johnson called on England to bring the crowd to its feet in tomorrow’s Cook Cup showdown with old enemy Australia and start rebuilding Fortress Twickenham.

ENGLAND coach Brian Ashton has questioned the value of planning for the next World Cup by declaring any blueprint becomes irrelevant once the tournament begins.

Joe Schmidt fears Canada could prove “an incredible banana skin” for an Ireland side chasing their best-ever World Cup return.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has insisted the investigation into 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding will not be reopened despite the world governing body lodging a criminal complaint with the Swiss attorney general over "suspected unlawful activity" of unnamed individuals connected with the bidding contests.

Yaya Toure has been praised by Europe’s leading anti-discrimination group for raising the prospect of black players boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Moon Ballad warmed up for his tilt at the one million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Saturday with a workout at the track on Monday.

Anti-apartheid campaigner and IOC member Sam Ramsamy wants to bring the Olympics to South Africa so that he can fulfil one of Nelson Mandela’s last wishes.

Brian Ashton is set to be retained as England’s head coach when Rob Andrew delivers his World Cup review at Twickenham tomorrow.

The Irish hockey team are up to eighth place in the latest World Rankings.