United States coach Bruce Arena described it as a ‘‘great day for US soccer’’ after his side reached the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in 72 years.

Roy Keane shrugged off his ‘‘personal problems’’ and trained with the rest of his Ireland team-mates in Saipan this morning.

Daryl Murphy will remember last Friday’s home game against Moldova as the night he trebled his international tally.

Wales captain Gareth Thomas will win his 100th cap in Saturday’s World Cup eliminator against Fiji after making a rapid return from injury.

By Mark Gallagher, Tokyo

Frankie Dettori was left in a euphoric mood after bagging a fantastic big-race double in Japan this weekend.

Mary McKenna, Ireland’s most successful female amateur golfer, has been appointed captain of the teams that will represent Great Britain and Ireland in the 2007 Vagliano Trophy and the 2008 Curtis Cup.

Alex Ferguson has virtually abandoned hope of Gary Neville and Louis Saha featuring for Manchester United in next weekend’s FA Cup final.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO has warned Twickenham officials not to make a panic appointment and hand World Cup-winning skipper Martin Johnson the vacant England coach’s role.

BOBBY ROBSON, international football consultant with the Republic of Ireland, has vowed to “battle as I’ve always done” after been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.

CORK Church of Ireland’s John Jermyn has been named men’s hockey player of the year.

John Higgins pocketed a £25,000 bonus in Preston tonight with a magical 147 maximum break in his LG Cup final against world champion and world number one Mark Williams.

Luizao scored the only goal of the game as Brazil gave their World Cup hopes a boost with a victory over Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro.