Michael Owen’s World Cup is over after he was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament in Germany..

– A tearful Michael Ballack claimed “it just isn’t meant to be” for him to play in a World Cup final after Italy clinched an epic semi-final victory over Germany in Dortmund last night.

Doctors in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires reported progress today in treating Diego Maradona for alcohol abuse and other excesses that prompted the soccer great’s latest trip to hospital.

David Beckham’s England career appears to be over as Steve McClaren prepares to axe him from his squad.

Triumphant goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wants Italians to celebrate the Azzurri’s World Cup title instead of immediately turning their attention to the match-fixing scandal.

A Frenchman believed to be linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network may have been in Japan during the 2002 World Cup finals, when the country was on alert for a possible terror strike, a Japanese newspaper said.

French hardman Jean-Jacques Crenca promised referee Jonathan Kaplan he will be a paragon of virtue during Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with Ireland.

THE FAI is to set up an independent investigation into its handling of Roy Keane’s expulsion from the World Cup.

Mexico 1 Croatia 0

GERMAN coach Rudi Voeller praised goalscorer Michael Ballack for sacrificing himself with a booking in yesterday’s 1-0 semi-final victory over South Korea and said the team will try to win the World Cup for their suspended playmaker.

SPANISH coach Jose Antonio Camacho has warned his side there is no room for error tomorrow in the World Cup round of 16.

Germany coach Rudi Voller has called up uncapped Hertha Berlin defender Arne Friedrich for next week's friendly against Bulgaria in Sofia.

Former All Black Paul Steinmetz and Ireland World Cup late replacement Tyrone Howe have been included in Ulster's side for the Celtic Cup semi-final with Glasgow in Hughenden on Friday night (7.30pm).

Minority sports crave that moment that propels them into the national sporting consciousness. Think Katie Taylor at London 2012 and the O’Donovans in Rio 2016. Hockey Ireland’s Phil Oakley swears that after Irish ’s exploits at the Cricket World Cup in 2007, he saw lads using hurleys to play cricket in Mayfield on Cork’s northside.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced that Declan Kidney has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Ireland rugby team.

The world rankings will be used for the first time when qualifying for Europe’s next Ryder Cup team starts in September.

Rhys Priestland has lost his fitness battle for Wales’ World Cup semi-final clash against France at Eden Park on Saturday.