Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admits his appetite for working in the English game remains intact despite the farce surrounding his doomed appointment to the national team job last year.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi named his squad for the 2006 World Cup with Filippo Inzaghi of AC Milan and Udinese’s Vincenzo Iaquinta both getting a late call.

The tradition of national anthems being played before international matches is under threat after FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested they could be banned to avert crowd trouble.

World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio will consider coming out of international retirement to help England defend the trophy.

FIFA are facing allegations of impropriety involving a senior figure for the third time this year after South American federation president Nicolas Leoz was alleged to have received inducements relating to television rights.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is bringing Geordan Murphy, Gavin Duffy and Brian Carney with him to the Rugby World Cup, although Tommy Bowe will travel and train with the squad as emergency cover for Shane Horgan.

Sergio Garcia, Europe’s only player in the world’s top 10, is set to turn down his place in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in San Diego in two weeks’ time.

Wales are considering a protest to FIFA over their treatment on the trip to face Azerbaijan in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.

London Irish 9 Sale Sharks 3

Veteran prop Jason Leonard led out England’s World Cup hopefuls at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon for the first of three warm-up Tests which will help Clive Woodward finalise the make-up of his 30-man squad.

Martyn Wood’s World Cup adventure officially ended today – after just 63 hours in Australia.

First-half tries from Mark Jones and Sonny Parker gave Wales the half-time lead against Italy, leaving them just 40 minutes from securing a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

BRAZIL’S players have denied reports claiming they were each due to receive a consignment of pornographic magazines for the World Cup finals.

ROY KEANE’S decision to quit international football after the World Cup follows a season of utter frustration for the hardman.

Spain became the first side to qualify for the second round of the World Cup after supersub Fernando Morientes steered them to a 3-1 victory over Paraguay.

The Football Association of Ireland today voted in reforms which they say will change the way football is governed in Ireland.

The Spanish FA have decided to lodge an official protest against referee Gamal Ghandour and his two linesmen following yesterday’s controversial World Cup exit at the hands of hosts South Korea.

By Liam Mackey

The Argentinian whose two-footed lunge may have ended David Beckham’s World Cup dream has described the incident as ‘‘unfortunate’’.