NOBODY and nothing has been immune to the soccer question for the past few weeks. Irrespective of whether the issue was religion, sex, economics, culture, politics, the question was asked: Who do you support?

That breathless Wales-Australia World Cup classic this morning had enough about it to turn Saturday’s Shizuoka shocker into the realm of a bad dream.

Ireland’s World Cup adventure may have ended with defeat to France in the quarter-finals, but Eddie O’Sullivan is already turning his mind to the future.

The morning after Ireland had been dismantled by a stunning French performance in the World Cup quarter-final, newly-retired captain Keith Wood found life a bit confusing.

Leeds are locked in talks with the Australian Soccer Association in the hope striker Mark Viduka will not be banned from Saturday’s crucial Premier League clash at Manchester United.

Matt Holland admitted he and his Republic of Ireland team-mates could not wait to put the Roy Keane affair behind them and launch their World Cup campaign.

Everyone knows about the famous New Zealand war dance, the Haka, but what about the Tongan Sipi Tau?

RORY McILROY finally acknowledged last night that the Ryder Cup is no “exhibition” and instead that it is “the greatest golf tournament in the world.”

NEIL BACK begins his 13th season at Leicester this week with a confession about the notorious piece of gamesmanship which denied Munster’s European Cup final dream last May.

World players’ union FIFPro has called for an investigation into FIFA’s concussion protocol after Uruguay’s Alvaro Pereira was allowed to play on despite taking a blow to the head against England at the World Cup on Thursday.

The former Manchester City boss is said to have agreed a two-year deal to take charge of the Azzuri.

DERBY hero Workforce is far from certain to return to Epsom for the Investec Coronation Cup in June.

WHEN JONNY Wilkinson kicked his third drop goal in less than an hour during the World Cup semi-final win over France, English fans began dancing in the rain.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN may be looking forward to his reunion with the Ireland team this weekend, but you can be sure he won’t be spending too much time looking back on it once his first Test match in charge of the USA is over.

Cousin Vinny will revert to timber when he bids for a second triumph at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

UEFA have confirmed that Slovakian referee Lubos Michel will take charge of the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Scotland’s Marc Warren, who missed the cut in both his previous appearances, today moved into a share of the lead in the Dunhill Links Championship.