According to football lore, the goalkeeping position is the loneliest place on the pitch. Maybe Joseph Farrell, Ireland’s No 1 at the recent Homeless World Cup, knew about it.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants FIFA to pay compensation for Djibril Cisse’s injury while on World Cup duty with France, warning football’s governing body that coaches could start withholding their players.

Scotland fly-half Dan Parks is wary of Argentinian opposite number Juan Martin Hernandez ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

The Irish Rugby Union will respond to an independent review of Ireland’s World Cup disappointment by creating three new positions within the national coaching set-up.

Bray native Ed Joyce has been included in England's 15-man squad for the cricket World Cup.

The Ireland Under 21 management have named the squad that will travel to Argentina to take part in the 2005 IRB Under 21 World Cup.

worldcup.ie's fans' correspondent Carrie Tighe reports from Suwon on a bittersweet night for Irish football.

CHELSEA full-back Wayne Bridge’s hopes of making England’s World Cup squad have been boosted after he completed a loan move to Fulham.

Referees will have the power to abandon games in the face of discrimination from the stands under a new three-step procedure unveiled by FIFA ahead of the start of the Confederations Cup in Russia.

FIFA today insisted there were no plans to abandon the Confederations Cup in Brazil despite the protests that have affected the tournament.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney is predicting a ferociously contested RBS 6 Nations that is unlikely to produce a Grand Slam winner.

Cork referee Alan Kelly has been nominated to take charge of the FAI Carlsberg Cup final between Longford Town and St Patrick’s Athletic at Lansdowne Road on Sunday, October 26, 2003 (ko 3pm).

Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Ronaldo has announced he will retire from football at the end of next year.

David Beckham’s wife Victoria believes England can win the World Cup, despite Wayne Rooney’s foot injury.

Japan became the first country to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals, other than hosts Germany, with a 2-0 win over North Korea today.

The Republic of Ireland qualified for their first World Cup finals since USA in 1994 despite losing 1-0 to Iran at a hostile Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

PAUL McGINLEY has leapt from 92nd to 68th in the world rankings and to within touching distance of joining Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke in the European Ryder Cup team as reward for his share of sixth place in the USPGA.

The 2007 European Solheim Cup team will be announced after the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe in August.

KEITH EARLS is facing a fight to be fit for Munster’s third and fourth round Heineken Cup clashes against the Scarlets.

David Wallace believes Ireland can use Munster’s Heineken Cup heroics to inspire them to World Cup victory against Argentina this weekend.