Real Madrid have hit out at Uefa president Michel Platini for suggesting the Ballon d’Or should go to a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ireland coach Darren Smith admits there is plenty of scope for improvement as his side continue their Olympic qualification campaign with a clash with Turkey at UCD today.

World Racing Series champion jockey Frankie Dettori fears the Japanese challenge as he prepares to travel to Hong Kong for Sunday’s Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, the second leg of this year’s championship.

Chelsea defender John Terry today insisted he is “fine” and looking forward to Saturday’s FA Cup final against Portsmouth.

Everton duo Tony Hibbert and Joseph Yobo are winning their battles to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United next month.

Stewart Downing has brushed aside speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham by insisting he wants to stay at Middlesbrough.

Robbie Savage claims all the pressure will be on Chelsea to seal a place in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley stadium.

Manchester United’s new forward Louis Saha claims his team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy is not as complete a player as his Arsenal rival Thierry Henry.

Ireland’s quest to feature at major tournaments could be made easier by a new World League which will revamp the qualification process.

GERARD HOULLIER believes Liverpool will see the best of their Senegalese duo, striker El-Hadji Diouf and midfielder Salif Diao, in the second half of the season.

Munster have moved to ease their fly-half problems by adding academy number 10 Ben Healy to their Heineken Champions Cup squad.

French club rugby boss Serge Blanco has applauded the decision by England’s Guinness Premiership clubs to pull out of next season’s Heineken Cup if French teams press ahead with their expected boycott of the tournament.

By Peter O’Dwyer

Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson is a slight doubt for the World Cup qualifier against Sweden because of an ankle injury.

It is being reported that the roof will be closed over the Friends Arena for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier with Sweden.

The microstate have arrived in Belfast as a clear underdog.

Freddie Michalak will approach his revival as France’s playmaker for the World Cup by treating every minute on the pitch as his last.

South Africa are set to be without lock Victor Matfield and centre Jean de Villiers for their second World Cup Pool D match with Fiji on Saturday, the defending champions have said.