Previous Day
Staunton needs to settle the score
Soccer: Republic of Ireland manager Steve
Staunton's observation yesterday that last year's defeat in Nicosia
is "history" left the media at Croke Park in need of some
clarification. p
Strain to sell interprovincial finals
Gaelic Games: The GAA are struggling to generate
ticket sales for the interprovincial finals, set for Croke Park on
Saturday week. p
Thinking outside the Boks
Rugby: Word has it that in making his presentation to first the South African Rugby Football Union and then the Springboks players in applying for the newly-devised position of technical adviser, Eddie Jones' analysis of each individual player was so detailed and eye-opening it blew their minds away - that is both administrators and players.
Rugby 
Sting in tail from enduring Wasp
England have not been a purist's delight but if Ireland were competing in Saturday's final against the Springboks, and had done so with the same rugby and results, we'd assuredly be singing a different tune. Think of Italia '90, the beautiful game, and all that. And, in a squad of venerable old fairytales, if Simon Shaw was in the second row, we'd undoubtedly be heralding it as one of the most heart-warming sports stories of 2007.It's just been one long bleepin' blip
Hors de Combat The expression on Brian Ashton's face when he realised his team had beaten France and reached the final of the World Cup reminded me of Jack Charlton's face when David O'Leary turned around, arms raised having slotted that penalty against Romania in Italia '90.Laporte makes 10 changes to face Argentina
Third-Fourth place play-off France coach Bernard Laporte stirred controversy even before joining the French government by saying yesterday he would stay there only if he liked it. p
McShane prefers to look forward
Footballers, whether they're injured or suspended, tend not to make good spectators but Paul McShane, by his own admission, is worse than most. pBlack cloud of Nicosia to be lifted at last
Bobby Robson's suggestion that 1-0 would be enough tonight will hardly keep the whingers happy. writes Brian Kerr pCyprus boss has his say on Staunton
It's difficult to be sure about which was his finest line in that unforgettable post-match press conference at Nicosia's GSP stadium last year: the one about us having just witnessed a game "nobody" could have failed to enjoy or his suggestion that he had seen it all coming and told his players that if they played well they would beat Ireland, "very easily". But this time there were no doubts. pEarly lapses cost Ireland dearly
Euro 2009 Under-21 Qualifying championship/Republic of Ireland 0 England 3 A first-half collapse condemned the Republic of Ireland's under-21 side to a heavy defeat to England at Turner's Cross last night. pLoew to risk Schweinsteiger
Germany v Czech Republic Germany coach Joachim Loew will have injury doubt Bastian Schweinsteiger in his line-up for the showdown for first place in Group D in Munich tonight. pMcClaren must plan without Terry
Russia v England Steve McClaren has acquired the quirk lately of declaring England are in pole position. Unless second is the new first this is untrue. Croatia are actually three points clear in Group E, but the manager's statement was a reliable account of his mood before John Terry was, in effect, ruled out of today's game. pSeventeen reasons to be confident
Georgia v Scotland Standing before Scotland in Georgia tonight will be a 17-year-old goalkeeping debutant who is third choice for his club, third choice for his country and one of three teenagers expected to start for Klaus Toppmoller's team here. pJantelagen does not always apply
Sweden v Northern Ireland The term jantelagen is popular here. It means you should never believe you're better than anyone else and reflects a national preference for understatement. p
Minister, just write that grants cheque
On Gaelic Games Not since the three-stranded relationships of the peace process has there been such a delicate tri-partite conundrum on the Government's desk. It is largely of their own making and concerns the Department of Sport, the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association. pO'Rourke to take charge of Fermanagh
Managerial Moves One of the last managerial posts for next year has been filled with the appointment of Malachy O'Rourke as Fermanagh's new county football manager. O'Rourke takes over from Charlie Mulgrew, who stepped down at the end of this summer's championship campaign, but for now his main concern will be with the Cavan Gaels club, whom he recently managed to the Cavan county title. p
Curragh behind schedule
Racing news: The Curragh's €100 million facelift is estimated to be four months behind schedule due to a delay in an An Bord Pleanála decision regarding planning permission for the new grandstand complex although Turf Club officials remain confident a Derby Day 2009 deadline for completion of most of the work remains achievable. p
Bismarck rises but Bull shies
Against the odds Getting grief in Foley's was nothing new to Vinny. He was expecting it after his "Bismarck", Ernie Els, instead of sinking, had cruised imperiously to victory in the World Matchplay at Wentworth. pSports Digest
Golf/Harrington thrives in balmy Bermuda British Open champion Padraig Harrington fired a three-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over US Open champion Angel Cabrera in the first round of the 36-hole PGA Grand Slam at Mid-Ocean in Bermuda yesterday. p
