Korea have beaten Portugal 1-0 in the final World Cup Group D qualifier.

A 43rd minute penalty converted by Ian Harte divides the two sides in the first leg of the World Cup play-off.

Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury.

A true legend of the Italian game, Maldini remains one of the best defenders in world football with a CV that has it all - except a World Cup winners' medal.

France’s World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet has questioned whether the current squad is good enough to play themselves into contention.

Alex Bogdanovic battled for almost two hours but he could not avoid defeat against Agustin Calleri who gave Argentina a 2-0 lead against Great Britain in the Davis Cup World Group first-round tie.

"A leader, a warrior, a gentleman - Paul O'Connell has played his last for Ireland."

Mike Tindall has been reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 (€29,124) fine reduced to £15,000 (€17,475) after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

Paul the octopus, which won unlikely worldwide fame correctly predicting a host of World Cup matches, has died, his owners said today.

German organisers have played down trouble involving England fans in Stuttgart and insisted the scale of the problem is small compared to the numbers of supporters at the World Cup overall.

Australia’s World Cup hopes could be dealt a severe blow with vice-captain Toutai Kefu a doubt because of a shoulder injury, according to media reports.

Ulster scrum-half Neil Doak was the only uncapped player named in Ireland’s 2003 Rugby World Cup squad when it was announced this morning at Lansdowne Road.

Australia national team coach Frank Farina has fired a warning shot at Premiership clubs over the availability of his players for World Cup duty.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Ray Houghton admitted he did not expect FIFA to order a replay of the Ireland v France World Cup play-off, but he appealed to the French Football Federation to play the Irish again.

European golfers will no longer have to fly to the Far East or Aruba to try to qualify for November’s World Cup in China.

UEFA president MichelPlatini says he would be willing to move European soccer club competitions in order to allow the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played in the winter.

Howard Webb hailed the legacy Jack Taylor left on refereeing as tributes poured in for the former official, who has died at the age of 82.

Of all the drop goals in all the world, Johnny Sexton’s is destined to keep flying ever higher on its steep climb towards the heavens.

Irish sports broadcaster Setanta Sports Ireland today secured a contract to show live coverage of all matches from the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups.