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Rooney torments Roma
Manchester Utd 1 AS Roma 0: Manchester United opened up a clear lead in Group F by proving fractionally better than Roma. This was in keeping with their muted yet mostly effective showings in the Premier League. There was great distinction, though, to the goal with which Wayne Rooney opened his account for the season. p

Embarrassment of riches means Howlett and Mauger not in 22
New Zealand v France: For New Zealand and their All Blacks, the 2007 Coupe du Monde starts now. Their predictable jaunt through the pool stages having been completed with 309 points and 46 tries scored in four matches (and just four conceded) they move to Cardiff ahead of the anticipated invasion of 20,000-plus of their supporters.

Terry sprints back
$Chelsea captain John Terry sports a mask to protect his fractured cheek during a training session at the Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, yesterday. Terry will lead his side in tonight's Champions League match against Valencia.$ SOCCER/Group B/Valencia v Chelsea: John Terry will complete a remarkable recovery tonight when he captains Chelsea at the Mestalla Stadium little more than 72 hours after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone. There were fears that Terry might be out for up to six weeks when he suffered the injury on Saturday after he was struck by Fulham striker Clint Dempsey's elbow, but, aided by a mask, the 26-year-old has made clear his desire to play. p

Soccer

O'Brien and Miller still out in the cold
Steve Staunton yesterday recalled a predictable list of regulars for this month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Germany and Cyprus at Croke Park, but there was no place in his 25-strong squad for either Andy O'Brien or Liam Miller. p
Van Persie fires the crucial shot
Steaua Bucharest 0 Arsenal 1: Arsene Wenger's dynamic young team have not been held up by much this season, during their imperious march to the Premier League summit and their sweep into the Champions League. Last night was no different. They took a bold step towards qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League after Robin Van Persie's clinical 76th-minute finish. p
Cisse back on Merseyside
Group A/Liverpool v Marseille: History suggests there is no way back for a player who falls from grace with Rafael Benitez and the consequences of crossing the Liverpool manager should be apparent to Peter Crouch at Anfield tonight in the shape of the man wearing the number nine jersey for Marseille. p
Donati keen to get one over on Milan
Group D/Celtic v AC Milan : The Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati has given tonight's game against AC Milan an extra edge by speaking of his desire to prove a point to the coach of the European champions, Carlo Ancelotti. p
Nine-man Rovers see slim title chances fade
Bray Wanderers 3 Shamrock Rovers 0: The chances of Shamrock Rovers pilfering the league title from Drogheda United's grasp were slim enough before this encounter, but they're all but dead in the water now. p

Rugby

You can't un-sign a contract - lucky Eddie O
Hors de Combat: So everyone has got it off their chests now. Amid all the turmoil, the shattered optimism and the tattered dreams, surely there must be some positive to pick up from the debris? p
France less than happy in cloudy, chilly Wales
L'Horizon est noir ran a headline in L'Equipe after the weekend confirmed their quarter-final fate, and the French countenance was grim as they began their comparatively small-scale trek to a comparatively cloudy, chilly Cardiff for Saturday's rendezvous with the All Blacks.
Irish in knockout rounds
Match officials: The elimination of Ireland from the Rugby World Cup should mean more work for referee's Alain Rolland and Alan Lewis.
Argentina recognise need for discipline
Quarter-final/Argentina v Scotland: Argentina will continue to thrive on adversity, Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda said yesterday ahead of their big clash with Scotland at the Stade de France on Sunday.
Johnson favourite to replace Gareth Jenkins
Scott Johnson was surprised to learn he had been installed as favourite to replace Gareth Jenkins as Wales head coach. Jenkins was sacked after Wales were sent crashing out of the World Cup in the group stages following a 38-34 defeat to Fiji last Saturday. p
Ashton needs a new game plan
World Cup, quarter-finals: England have spent the past four years as world champions but less than four days now remain in which to rediscover the indomitable powers of 2003. Unless they can conjure up some sort of X factor a very painful Provencal exit awaits on Saturday afternoon, and Brian Ashton's team selection today should reflect that harsh reality. p
Leinster to treat returning five with kid gloves
Celtic League news: At least the Munster and Leinster players coming off Ireland's World Cup failure return to winning environments. Both provinces broke long-standing losing streaks in Wales last weekend - Munster's stretching back two years - with victories over Cardiff and The Dragons that mean they bring 100 per cent records into round three of the Magners Celtic League. p

Gaelic Games

McCarthy ready to remain in charge of Waterford
Waterford hurling manager Justin McCarthy is prepared to give that elusive All-Ireland title one more crack. After six years in charge, and a series of disappointments climaxing with this summer's second successive All-Ireland semi-final defeat, speculation had been mounting that McCarthy would step down. But yesterday he confirmed his intention to stay on for another year - in the process confirming the last of the major hurling management positions for 2008. p
McGeeney to manage Kildare
The time of year when on-field action takes a back seat to off-field manoeuvring got busy yesterday as several county managements positions were either lost or gained, writes Ian O'Riordan. p
GAA's real genius is in local identity
On Gaelic Games: It's a while back now and then GAA president Peter Quinn may be a little bewildered at the durability of his throwaway remark. During an interview that took place over 17 years ago Quinn said that whereas the GAA could never compete with huge international sporting events, such things by their nature didn't take place that often and Ireland's involvement in them was even less frequent. p

Racing

Coolmore boss Magnier forks out €2.4m for Sadler's Wells filly
Economic highs and lows mean there is usually a steady flow of different names at the top table of Ireland's most important yearling sale but yesterday's best-priced animals came from tried-and-tested sources at Goffs, including a massive €2.4 million paid out by the Coolmore boss John Magnier for a Sadler's Wells filly. p

Other

Australia get some revenge
CRICKET: Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin powered to 87 runs apiece to set up Australia's convincing, 84-run win over India in the second one-dayer in Kochi and avenge last month's Twenty20 World Cup semi-final defeat. p
Renault target Alonso
MOTOR SPORT: Fernando Alonso's options for next season have narrowed after Ferrari closed the door and the Spaniard himself ruled out taking a break from Formula One. p
Dein hopes dashed by Usmanov
SOCCER/DIGEST: David Dein's hopes of returning to Arsenal were dealt a blow last night when Alisher Usmanov said he would put the club's wishes first, reports Matt Scott. p
Ireland advance to elite phase
WOMEN'S SOCCER/DIGEST/Republic of Ireland 3 Switzerland 2: The Republic of Ireland under-19s advanced to the Uefa Championship, Elite Qualifying Phase as group winners following a magnificent 3-2 victory over Switzerland in Slovakia yesterday. p

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Rooney torments Roma

Embarrassment of riches means Howlett and Mauger not in 22

Terry sprints back

O'Brien and Miller still out in the cold

Van Persie fires the crucial shot

Cisse back on Merseyside

Donati keen to get one over on Milan

Nine-man Rovers see slim title chances fade

You can't un-sign a contract - lucky Eddie O

France less than happy in cloudy, chilly Wales

Irish in knockout rounds

Argentina recognise need for discipline

Johnson favourite to replace Gareth Jenkins

Ashton needs a new game plan

Leinster to treat returning five with kid gloves

McCarthy ready to remain in charge of Waterford

McGeeney to manage Kildare

GAA's real genius is in local identity

Coolmore boss Magnier forks out €2.4m for Sadler's Wells filly

Australia get some revenge

Renault target Alonso

Dein hopes dashed by Usmanov

Ireland advance to elite phase

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