Leicester Tigers fullback Geordan Murphy has announced his retirement from international rugby.

Ireland winger Damien Duff has said last night's qualification for the Euro 2012 Championships means more to him than qualifying for the 2002 World Cup finals.

Mike Tindall is poised to return to the England team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Romania.

France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan has insisted the whole squad should be punished for boycotting training ahead of their crucial World Cup game against South Africa.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque’s job is safe no matter what happens in their next two group matches at the World Cup, according to RFEF president Angel Maria Villar.

Robbie Williams and Russell Brand have re-recorded a new version of ‘Three Lions’.

Spain striker David Villa believes England can win the World Cup and has likened them to his own side who struggled to live up to expectations until their victory in Euro 2008.

UEFA president Michel Platini believes France coach Raymond Domenech will stand down if Les Bleus fail to qualify for the World Cup.

Burnley striker Martin Paterson has been drafted into the Northern Ireland starting line-up for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia at Windsor Park tonight.

Juan Roman Riquelme has revealed he turned down an offer from Tottenham before agreeing to move back to Boca Juniors.

Scotland manager Alex McLeish is expected to be offered an extension to his contract which expires after the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Australia coach John Connolly has today moved quickly to dispel rumours that he will be sacked before the World Cup.

Jessica Kurten failed to break the 30-year jinx that has denied Irish riders a World Cup win, when finishing equal fourth after today's final competition at Gothenburg, Sweden, but an American-owned Irish-bred horse did claim the runner-up spot.

Mexico manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes he could be out of a job later this month if his side fail to beat Costa Rica in their World Cup qualifying fixture.

REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni believes England manager Fabio Capello is keen to take charge of Inter Milan.

GOVERNMENTS may fall and stock markets may fluctuate, but those events will be eclipsed by the global epidemic of football fever set to dominate the planet for the next month — following yesterday’s opening of the 18th World Cup in Germany.

Liverpool have won the Club World Cup, beating Flamengo 1-0 after extra-time in Doha.

Spain can be considered favourites for the 2018 World Cup while Gareth Southgate's England are the fifth most likely to win the tournament, according to research group CIES Football Observatory.