Former Brazil great Socrates, who captained Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, died today. He was 57.

Australia will try to target England’s lack of experience at fly-half when the two sides meet in June’s World Cup final rematch at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer is relishing the prospect of his return to international football – and is already aiming for a spot at the 2006 World Cup finals.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko’s performances on the pitch are being affected by “psychological problems”, his agent has claimed.

England defenders Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole missed training today as a precaution ahead of the trip to Kazakhstan for their World Cup qualifier.

ULSTER’S latest signing arrived at Belfast airport yesterday with a confident pep in his step.

Montgomerie did not realise the special Ryder Cup World Rankings list for European players only started at last week’s European Masters in Switzerland, meaning everyone starts from zero points – even the likes of current world number nine Padraig Harrington and world number 17 Sergio Garcia.

LEICESTER have parted company with head coach Marcelo Loffreda – and raised the possibility of South Africa’s World Cup-winning supremo Jake White replacing him at Welford Road.

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman pulled out of the American Express World Championship before the start at The Grove near Watford today in order to attend the funeral of golf legend Byron Nelson.

Ireland international Alan Quinlan will make his return after a shoulder injury in the World Cup for Munster's trip to Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League on Friday night.

Gloucester’s South African World Cup star Thinus Delport is out for the season after suffering serious knee ligament damage.

Last year’s champion older horse Sakhee has been retired, it was announced today.

1 Johan Cruyff

Watford will hold a press conference at Vicarage Road tomorrow to announce their new manager following reports that former Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli is set to take over.

UEFA president Michel Platini has warned France coach Raymond Domenech about the threat of any team coached by Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni and has called his former Juventus boss “a maestro”.

FORMER French star and current French league president Serge Blanco has warned tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) that French teams could boycott the competition in the 2007-8 season.

Football Association chief executive Alex Horne insists he will push for reform in the World Cup bidding process.

Ivory Coast became the second African nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup tonight after a second-half strike from Chelsea star Didier Drogba earned them the point they needed to secure their place in South Africa.

Referees for this season’s RBS 6 Nations championship have been told to carry on their emphasis on the International Rugby Board’s five main areas of concern outlined before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

While most soccer-loving fans around the globe will be glued to their televisions next year during the World Cup, restaurants and cinemas around Italy might find themselves extra busy during the summer.