World Cup Group 4 Qualifier result:

Charlton right-back Luke Young has withdrawn from England’s standby squad for the World Cup because of an ankle injury.

Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al Johar will be spared the axe even if he fails to deliver a royal command performance and guide them into the second round of the World Cup.

Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has urged Juan Pablo Angel to stay and fight for his first-team place.

Newly crowned world lightweight champion Katie Taylor jetted in to a heroine's reception at Dublin Airport this morning following her exploits at the 5th AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo City, China.

Ruud Gullit has criticised former club Chelsea saying it has been "downhill" ever since he was sacked.

Ireland’s Caroline Ryan produced a phenomenal performance to win a bronze medal in the Points race at the Track World Championships in Melbourne yesterday.

FIFA have said they have yet to receive an official complaint from the FAI over the controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France.

THE first five qualifiers for next year’s World Cup finals in Germany could be known today, a year and a day before the competition begins.

England’s World Cup-winning scrum-half Matt Dawson has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.

Andy Hall has refused to get excited at the prospect of figuring in Scotland’s World Cup plans – because he fears it might not happen.

World Cup winner Steve Thompson has been ruled out of England’s entire RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign due to a neck injury.

South Korea coach Guus Hiddink claims he has not spoken to PSV Eindhoven about becoming the Dutch club's new manager.

He’s back in favour with Les Bleus, but the mercurial No 10 of the unpredictable temperament continues to be the poster boy for France’s fragility, says Gavin Mortimer

Some Ireland cricketers love the attention that playing in a World Cup brings. 

Alan Gilpin, the under-fire Rugby World Cup tournament director, showed his face in the media room at the International Stadium in Yokohama before yesterday’s crucial World Cup Pool A match between host nation Japan and Scotland.

Ireland is in the final stages of competing to host the 2023 World Cup which could provide as much as a €2bn economic boost and a television audience of 4bn.

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss Italy’s World Cup qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus through injury.

FIFA have agreed to allow Poland's World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Slovakia to be played this month after steps were taken to broker a deal between the Polish government and the national football association.