Dutchmen Maarten Lafeber and Robert-Jan Derksen looked to have made their long journey to Malaysia worthwhile after a sparkling better-ball 61 in the third round of the World Cup qualifying tournament.

Aston Villa’s Milan Baros has been included in the 23-man squad Czech Republic squad for the forthcoming World Cup play-offs against Norway.

Prize money at Cheltenham for the 2005-06 season will stand at a record £4.82m (€7.14m) – with £2.87m (€4.25m) spread over the four days of the festival.

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

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

South Africa rugby officials will take a decision on the fitness of key stars Akona Ndungane and Jean de Villiers at the end of the week as the start of the World Cup moves ever closer.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Sweden have held a crisis meeting to avoid defensive blunders when they take on England in their World Cup opener on Sunday.

Roy Keane left the Pacific island of Saipan alone a day after being kicked out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup team by Mick McCarthy.

Roque Santa Cruz is revelling in his status as a World Cup goalscorer and has no fear of Spain.

Six England fans have been stopped by the Japanese authorities at Kansai International Airport serving Osaka.