Ivory Coast coach Henri Michl savoured the country’s first ever World Cup win – a 3-2 comeback with against Serbia and Montenegro in a Group C match between two sides already eliminated – but lamented the frailties that cost his side a place in the last 16.

England striker Michael Owen believes he is ready to return to Barclays Premiership action this weekend.

Arsenal mid-fielder Silva Gilberto insists Theo Walcott represents the future of Arsenal and is confident the club will nurture him carefully despite the negative publicity surrounding the teenager regarding his inclusion in the ill-fated English World Cup squad.

Gary Neville has rubbished suggestions Manchester United do not want Wayne Rooney to be fit for the World Cup.

The Ireland Under 21 management have named an unchanged side to play New Zealand in the final of the IRB Under 21 World Cup in Hughendeen Road, Glasgow on Sunday.

DANISH officials were forced to step in to part two scuffling World Cup players after a training ground bust-up between Jesper Gronkjaer and Stig Tofting.

FRANCE will learn today whether Zinedine Zidane’s thigh injury will keep him out of their World Cup opener.

New Zealand RFU's board of directors have been asked to resign after the country was dropped as co-hosts of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has claimed that the process for choosing where the 2026 World Cup will be played is the fairest, most objective and most transparent in world sport.

The IRB’s vow to invest money on world rugby’s middle tier will have been met with hearty applause in an Italian camp acutely aware just how wide the gap is between themselves and the world’s heavyweights.

World number six Monica Seles suffered a shock defeat in the Federation Cup but backed the United States' decision to drop Jennifer Capriati.

Wales coach Warren Gatland could field a team containing just eight survivors from the World Cup quarter-final win against Ireland in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

AC Milan have confirmed David Beckham will be returning to the Italian club.

Before the final of last week's World Match Play Championship, Paul Casey was asked whether he would prefer to win at Wentworth or lift the Ryder Cup. Now he has one, he would love the other.

Alex Cusack and Trent Johnston propelled Ireland to a 59-run win over Afghanistan in the ICC World Cricket League Championship at Clontarf.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed any racist abuse between players on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.

A GROUP of dedicated cyclists may miss out on a chance to compete on the world stage because their valuable bikes have been stolen.

Ireland Under-20 captain Charlie Ryan vowed his team will take the momentum from sealing Six Nations Grand Slam glory into this summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

FIFA say they have made a “final offer” to Newcastle of €1.48m in compensation for Michael Owen’s injury at the World Cup – six times less than the club are claiming from the game’s world governing body.