Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson heads into his first game at the helm tomorrow confident his team have the ability to progress from the World Cup’s ’group of death’ next month.

The United States are through to the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup.

Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson combined to produce a scintillating performance in the final-round foursomes today to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL is confident new head coach Declan Kidney has all the right credentials to put a smile back on the face of Irish rugby.

ITALIAN World Cup winner and former U21 coach Marco Tardelli has confirmed he will be assistant to new Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni.

WORLD Cup-winning South Africa coach Jake White yesterday appeared to rule himself out of the immediate running for the England job.

RIET KUPER yesterday tendered her resignation as coach to the Irish senior women’s hockey team in a move which could ultimately see several changes in the sport’s international coaching system.

Alex Ferguson has called on Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and particularly David Beckham to step forward and take responsibility for England’s World Cup bid.

A rare night of football will take place in Manchester next month – with both City and United at home on the same night.

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged yesterday to contribute £1 billion (€1.081bn) every year towards educating children around the world when he was joined by sporting heroes and world leaders for the launch of a global campaign.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to step up his summer recruitment drive after a deal was agreed with Barcelona for “fantastic” Chile international Alexis Sanchez.

Devin Toner is expected to be a shock omission from Ireland’s 31-man World Cup squad.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has stressed he will not risk damaging the club’s Barclays Premier League campaign for the sake of progress in Europe.

HEAD coach Warren Gatland has warned Wales players plying their trade in England they face missing out on a World Cup spot due to Premier Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision not to release them until August 4, the latest date allowed, next year.

Cardiff. The very mention of the city’s name has long been enough to bring a broad smile to the faces of Irish rugby fans.

A change of attitude worked instant wonders for Welsh World Cup winner Bradley Dredge on his 33rd birthday today as he took a share of the first round lead in the European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

Irish football fans are facing a television blackout amid a row regarding the rights for the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup showdown with France.

Slovakia booked their place in the World Cup finals tonight as a 1-0 win in Poland confirmed them as Group Three winners.

FULHAM yesterday signed Senegal international Papa Bouba Diop from French club Lens on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

England have announced that Jonny Wilkinson will receive intensive treatment over the next few days in his battle to recover from an ankle injury.