England’s World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward believes something must have gone “badly wrong” for Mike Ruddock to quit his job with Wales.

Michael Owen is on course to play for England in the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.

Alexander Ostlund was the surprise omission from Sweden’s provisional squad for the 2006 World Cup.

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie insists Andrew Johnson is capable of stepping in for Michael Owen at this summer’s World Cup.

Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze will be fit to face the Ivory Coast next Saturday at the World Cup despite sitting out the team’s latest training session in Herzogenaurach.

Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna went off injured in the 16th minute as the USA were beaten 1-0 by Morocco in a World Cup warm-up game in Nashville.

Marcello Lippi has resigned as coach of Italy. The former Juventus boss decided to quit just three days after leading the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup triumph.

Ireland will open their World Cup campaign against Namibia in Bordeaux after the Africans qualified for Pool D with a comprehensive victory over Morocco.

Marco Materazzi has signed a new four-year contract at Inter Milan.

England's Luke Donald and Paul Casey were back in front after three holes of the final round in golf's World Cup in Seville.

France coach Raymond Domenech today confirmed Zinedine Zidane has retired from international football.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has admitted it is now looking unlikely that the club will sign Brazil World Cup star Rivaldo this summer.

Scotland captain Bryan Redpath has urged the team to pick themselves up after the 51-9 defeat to France left them needing to beat Fiji to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll won a surprise recall to the Northern Ireland team tonight for this World Cup qualifier.

The Football Association of Wales have given Mark Hughes permission to speak to Blackburn over their vacant managerial post.

Serena Williams, the top seed and world number one, maintained her perfect record in 2003 with a 6-3 6-0 second-round rout of qualifier Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar in the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

The Republic of Ireland were expecting a warm welcome from the sell-out 34,000 Lansdowne Road crowd for their first match on home soil since their World Cup heroics.

Blackburn's flying Irish winger Damien Duff will sign a new long-term contract at Ewood Park before or after tomorrow night’s clash with Liverpool.

Brazil 2-0 Germany

Southampton have finally received a fax from AWOL Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado.