Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the potential Republic of Ireland playoff rival's final World Cup qualifier against Malta on Wednesday due to a right ankle injury.

The Republic of Ireland will start their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with a tough double-header later this year.

Argentina’s stand-in captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has demanded his Pumas end their European tour on a triumphant note against Ireland tomorrow.

The Scottish Football Association have confirmed they will ask the Scottish Premier League to consider moving fixtures at the start of next season in a bid to help the national team prepare for their World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Jason McAteer has spoken of the lingering tension between himself and Roy Keane.

Jack Charlton believes that guiding the Republic of Ireland into the knock-out stages of Euro 2012 would be an achievement to rank alongside Giovanni Trapattoni’s greatest in a distinguished career.

Donal Lenihan today calls for a radical overhaul of the way Irish rugby is run as the game moves into its next phase, 18 years after the advent of professionalism.

MUNSTER assistant coach Anthony Foley has described the knee injury to veteran international flanker David Wallace as ‘a personal tragedy.’

QUADE COOPER may be viewed as public enemy number one in New Zealand but the Australia fly-half insists he is still enjoying the World Cup.

SPONSORS are standing by Thierry Henry after his blatant handball dashed Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup.

PADDY POWER enjoyed a strong return to growth during the first half of the year, with pre-tax profits up by 54% on the same period last year and earnings per share rising by 31%.

GAA chiefs yesterday announced television viewer figures have increased for the first three months of this year’s All-Ireland championships, despite the competing attraction of the World Cup during June and July.

ALGERIA coach Rabah Saadane refused to blame goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi for the blunder which handed Slovenia their first points at a World Cup with a 1-0 Group C win in Polokwane yesterday.

BAYERN MUNICH midfielder Michael Ballack has denied reports he has come to a gentleman’s agreement to join Manchester United after the 2006 World Cup.

STEVE STAUNTON has admitted that his decision to quit international football with the Republic of Ireland is enabling him to extend his career with Aston Villa.

VOTED Italy’s most popular player in a recent poll, Alessandro Del Piero could be forgiven for showing frustration when asked whether he feels overshadowed by team-mate Francesco Totti.

FRANCE have a full-strength squad to select from for their last World Cup Pool D game, against Georgia, on Sunday in Marseille.

CHRIS PATERSON hopes Scotland’s two August Tests will result in his country approaching next month’s World Cup in a more positive frame of mind than they did in 2003.

GRAHAM HENRYS future as All Blacks coach hung by a thread last night as the New Zealand Rugby Union said he would have to reapply for his job following the failed World Cup campaign.