Tottenham have agreed a €20m deal to sign midfielder Paulinho from Corinthians, according to the Brazilian club.

Louis Saha appeared in his first FA Cup final in five attempts as Everton bid for their first trophy for 14 years in their clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

NO more play-offs, smaller groups and a two-phase qualifying competition are among the major changes to the 2016 European Championship being proposed by Michel Platini.

SUNDERLAND striker Stephen Elliott is gunning for Arsenal tonight after grabbing his third goal in four games.

Iraq FA president Hussein Saeed has confirmed that talks have taken place with coach Jorvan Vieira with regards to the Brazilian continuing at the helm of the national team.

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is aware his Middlesbrough counterpart Steve McClaren has an extra incentive to lead the Teessiders to UEFA Cup glory tomorrow night.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is out of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup clash with AZ Alkmaar in Holland after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier embarked on the club’s UEFA Cup campaign feeling able to rest senior stars who had slight injuries, with vital league games against Charlton and Arsenal coming up.

In the continuing saga of the Ryder Cup eligibility controversy, Jesper Parnevik has rejoined the European Tour and can now win a fourth cap in Detroit this September.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has offered Croatian international star Milan Rapaic the chance to win a dream move to Parkhead after inviting him to train with them this week.

Rory Best insists Ireland will embrace the support of New Zealand when they face Australia at Eden Park tomorrow.

Colin Montgomerie has backed Rory McIlroy’s decision to take up a full US PGA Tour card next season ahead of an expected Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor.

The Republic of Ireland has fallen eight spots to 36th in the latest FIFA rankings.

Scotland will hope to have forwards Jonny Gray and Ross Ford in their team to face Australia in the World Cup quarter-final after confirming they are appealing the three week ban handed to the pair.

WORLD CUP winner Ossie Ardiles is one of three new faces on the RTÉ Sport team for their extensive coverage of this summer’s tournament in South Africa.

REFEREE Martin Hansson broke his silence yesterday by insisting “life must go on” after his blunder contributed to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup exit.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE has decided that he is fit enough to play in this week's Linde German Masters.

The small market town of Marcoussis used to supply Paris with tomatoes and strawberries. Today, it will deliver to the French capital an Irish women’s rugby team intent on making history.

England World Cup winner Neil Back has admitted his shock at being axed from the squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy – but has vowed to win back his international place.