Craig Fulton has expressed frustration that little movement has been made to support Irish athletes – both from hockey and beyond – who work full-time in addition to representing their country.

Shay Given is being tipped to prove he is the best young goalkeeper in Europe at the World Cup finals.

GREECE striker Angelos Charisteas toasted another significant chapter in Greek football after Otto Rehhagel’s team claimed a place at the 2010 World Cup at the expense of Ukraine.

PHILIPPE TROUSSIER yesterday claimed he had been approached by the Republic of Ireland to succeed Mick McCarthy as coach.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi admits the Azzurri need to raise their game after only scraping past Cyprus in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

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.

Tony Jacklin will put his famed captaincy skills to the test once again when the Rest of the World take on the United States in the third UBS Cup.

The life and times of Mick McCarthy.

There is no stage finer for a player with a point to prove than the World Cup, and Turkey’s Hakan Sukur will be eyeing the finals as an opportunity to establish himself in a principle role.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

European Ryder Cup player Henrik Stenson did his best to overshadow world number one Tiger Woods in the Target World Challenge in California last night.

Seeking The Dia will bid to emulate the feat of compatriot Agnes World and give Japan a second success in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket tomorrow.