Previous Day
Arsenal face the might of Milan
SOCCER: The true cost of Arsenal and Liverpool's
failure to win their qualifying groups became apparent in Nyon
yesterday when the Champions League draw gave both Premier League
clubs daunting trips to San Siro. Arsenal will face the holders, AC
Milan, and Liverpool must overcome Internazionale in the first
knockout phase of the European Cup. p
United eye Manucho
SOCCER: Alex Ferguson is set to limit his January recruitment campaign to one African striker, Manucho Goncalves, after ruling out another move for former Celtic star Henrik Larsson. p
Cullen happy to be bringing it all back home
RUGBY/European Cup: Johnny Watterson talks to
Leinster secondrow Leo Cullen, who despite his side's recent
setbacks believes the province is moving forward p
Soccer
Fully Bent on justifying his price tag
English Premier League/Arsenal v Tottenham: Daniel Taylor finds the young Tottenham striker remarkably relaxed and confident - though still nursing the wounds of his World Cup omission pWenger accuses Terry of 'violent tackle'
Arsene Wenger says John Terry was fortunate to escape harsher sanction for a "violent tackle" on Cesc Fabregas during his side's victory over Chelsea last weekend, with the Arsenal manager denying Emmanuel Eboue had then sought retribution with the challenge that has put the England captain out of the game for up to two months. pArsenal set to help Beckham
David Beckham is set to train with Arsenal during the Los Angeles Galaxy's close season. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger revealed there is "a good chance" the former England captain will use the club's London Colney training ground to maintain his fitness. pKeen to 'give a little back' when abused
A year on the Wear: Tis the season to be thinking of Selhurst Park, clearly. One year ago today Sunderland were losing there 1-0 to Crystal Palace, a result that left Roy Keane's side 11th in the Championship and with no sense of promotion momentum. It was a bleak performance and for Wearside the best thing about is that it feels longer than a year ago. pCollins in the frame for return to Fulham
English Premier League News: John Collins will listen to any approach from Fulham to become their new manager after Mohamed Al Fayed, the west London club's owner, sacked Lawrie Sanchez yesterday. Collins, who shocked Hibernian by resigning his managerial post on Thursday, is on a short-list of candidates which also includes Martin Jol, the former Tottenham manager. pEnglish teams receive a mixed bag
Uefa Cup Draws: Tottenham Hotspur were drawn against a side familiar in north London yesterday when they were paired with Slavia Prague in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup. Spurs saw off the Czechs in the first round of the competition last season and Arsenal beat them 7-0 in the Champions League in October. pSoccer Digest
Today's other stories in brief p
Noisy blip is silent on the real issue
Genesis Report: The more Gerry Thornley looks at the World Cup review and its aftermath the more convinced he is the IRFU powerbrokers are trying to buy time pARU in favour of creating a role for Argentina
The annual Super 14 and Tri-Nations rugby competitions could be reinvigorated by introducing Argentina, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said yesterday. p
Questions and answers
Questions, and some answers, on the new rules changes pOlazabal hopes to return soon
Jose Maria Olazabal, out of action since August with rheumatism, is hoping to return to golf late next month - but he accepts it will be difficult to keep his Ryder Cup place. p
Ascot plan morning inspection
Ascot will have to pass a 7.30am precautionary inspection before today's showpiece meeting can go ahead. Course officials had not planned to inspect following yesterday's fixture but the minor threat of frost means they will now take a look. pHughes is confident Eustace will get trip
There may be plenty of anticipation about the upcoming Christmas action but this holiday period will seem a lot happier for the Dessie Hughes team if Hardy Eustace can win today's Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. pWalsh faces his first big test on shoulder injury
Irish Racing Thurles and Navan previews: Ruby Walsh returns to action with two rides at Thurles tomorrow five weeks after the champion jockey dislocated a shoulder at Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting and just in time to prove his fitness ahead of some hugely important Christmas dates. pMullins's Knocknabooly looks the one to follow
An eight-race card means a morning start at Navan today where the in-form Willie Mullins-Davy Condon team again looks the one to follow especially with Knocknabooly in the Beginners Chase (2m). pHobbs Hill's reputation grows
English Racing/Ascot report: Hobbs Hill's stellar reputation shines a little brighter following his poignant victory in the BGC Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot yesteday. p
Move to combat match fixing
TENNIS: Australian Open organisers have introduced anti-corruption measures including fines, bans and jail terms for any players found to be involved in match fixing at next year's opening grand slam. pLet's all go that extra mile this Christmas
On Athletics: They say charity covers a multitude of sins, although when it comes to the GOAL Mile that's not strictly true. Running four laps of the track on Christmas Day will very quickly reveal any sinful excesses in alcohol or calorie intake, no matter how much money you donate. pBoos and banner spur England
CRICKET: They say charity covers a multitude of sins, although when it comes to the GOAL Mile that's not strictly true. Running four laps of the track on Christmas Day will very quickly reveal any sinful excesses in alcohol or calorie intake, no matter how much money you donate. pPádraig best in Open and shut contest
Sports Awards: As widely expected, Pádraig Harrington was named the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year at last night's award ceremony, broadcast live on RTÉ. pGriffin lies 10th in the Tour of Thailand
CYCLING: Paul Griffin finished 41st on the fifth stage of the Tour of Thailand, a 176.1-kilometre race from Uttaradit to Phayao, reports Shane Stokes. pGorgeous Gael stirred up a storm
BOXING: Johnny Watterson gets a preview of Gerry Nelson's documentary on the extraordinary life of the Irish heavyweight legend Jack Doyle pSportswriters defer to men in box seat
Sideline Cut: The last column of the year brings the sound of trumpets and an unmistakable sense of triumph. Maybe not the sort of dreamy elation that must have been Pádraig Harrington's after his nerve-jangling "will I, won't I?" flirtation with the history books on the last day of the Open at Carnoustie this summer. And nothing that could, in all probability, hold a candle to the feeling of actually being Colm Cooper or Kieran Donaghy for the duration of last year's football final. p
