REAL MADRID presidential candidate Arturo Baldesano claims Sven-Goran Eriksson has agreed to become the club’s new head coach, subject to the result of next month’s elections.

Yaya Toure has launched an astonishing attack on referee Carlos Vera, blaming him for Ivory Coast’s World Cup elimination at the hands of Greece.

Cristiano Ronaldo could still leave Manchester United this summer despite the Old Trafford outfit’s categoric insistence the winger will not be sold.

Ireland are looking to sleep their way to World Cup glory over the next six weeks.

Padraig Harrington is three down to Ernie Els at lunch in their HSBC World Match Play semi-final and the Irish Ryder Cup player was is up against it.

ALEX FERGUSON believes England will beat Brazil in Shizuoka and then go on to win the World Cup.

Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer attempted to take the pressure off Denmark ahead of today’s World Cup second round clash against England by portraying his side as the underdogs.

MUNSTER will face an old friend when they meet Cornish Pirates in the inaugural British & Irish Cup final in Camborne on Sunday (6pm).

New Zealand back-row colossus Kieran Read has targeted an improvement from the All Blacks at next year’s World Cup.

ENGLAND headed for Melbourne last night with their World Cup campaign gathering huge momentum, and red rose supreme Clive Woodward declaring: “I think we are going to get better and better.”

With France, it’s always about the known unknowns.

Jonathan Davies believes mental toughness must be prominent in Wales’ armoury if they are to emerge from the so-called World Cup pool of death.

KEITH ANDREWS has admitted the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of clinching automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup are all but over but insists Giovanni Trapattoni’s side can still reach South Africa via the play-offs.

TOTTENHAM striker Robbie Keane hopes his namesake Roy will be back in the Republic of Ireland fold in time for their next Euro 2004 qualifier against Georgia in March.

CLIVE WOODWARD last night urged rugby chiefs to hand England's £10,000 World Cup fine to cash-strapped Samoa.

England’s build-up to their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand took a theatrical turn yesterday after Eddie Jones claimed that their training session was spied upon.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes the Pacific Islands hold the key to establishing a more competitive World Cup.