Tuesday 18 June 2013
Robbie Keane celebrated his record-breaking 126th cap with a hat-trick as the Republic of Ireland eased past the Faroe Islands to bank three priceless World Cup points.
The latest Fifa world rankings see Brazil slip to an all-time low.
If you watched it in a movie, you would say that the script was too far fetched but the extraordinary story of Johnny McKinstry is true.
Superb strikes by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wayne Rooney rescued some dignity for England after Brazil had handed out a footballing lesson at the Maracana.
Republic of Ireland 4 Georgia 0: Robbie Keane marked his record-equalling 125th appearance for the Republic of Ireland with a double to see off 10-man Georgia.
Michael O'Neill made the point earlier this week that not enough Irish League players are going across the water to ply their trade at a high level in England and Scotland before going on to establish themselves as Northern Ireland internationals.
When Gary Lineker tweeted his thoughts that Roy Hodgson's tactics against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday night were "a step back to the dark ages" it prompted near unanimous agreement. But there was another comment buried under the stacks of replies which deserves airing.
We look at how each individual performed in the international friendly between England and Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium last night.
Roy Hodgson was last night forced to defend himself against allegations that he had taken England back into the footballing “dark ages”.
Irish football, on both sides of the border, has long experience of Manchester United players who were regulars for their country but not their club, but it is a relatively recent phenomenon for England, and especially for a player who cost around £30m and is England's fifth-highest goalscorer.
Giovanni Trapattoni hailed his young guns as the Republic of Ireland marked their return to Wembley with a tenacious performance to earn a draw.
A night that was preceded by thoughts of the past concluded with hope for the future. Let that be the legacy.
Coaching. With every passing year, it seems to have become more important in football.
Tim Wareing is one of those football coaches who forensically studies the game.
Get them early and they'll enjoy it for life. That's the message from youth coach Tim Wareing in relation to bringing kids into football.
England 1 Republic of Ireland 1: England departed for Brazil with a whimper as they were held to a disappointing draw against the Republic of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland have held England to a draw at Wembley during their first clash in almost two decades.
Michael O'Neill is putting the work in. I'd go as far to say in my time reporting on the Northern Ireland international team, he's the most diligent, industrious and conscientious international manager we've had.
Not since 1985 has an England manager beaten the Republic of Ireland, when Liam Brady scored in a 2-1 defeat for the Irish at Wembley and Glenn Hoddle was a late substitute for the home team. There have been only four games since then, plus the match abandoned in Dublin in 1995, and the capacity for the Republic to embarrass and frustrate is well-established.
It is half a century since Giovanni Trapattoni first walked out at Wembley. His job that day was to mark Eusebio, the best player in Europe; Trapattoni did as instructed and Milan won the European Cup. Fifty years down the line he is still doing his job, as efficient off the pitch as he was on it, and at the age of 74 still bubbling with an enthusiasm for the game that has occupied his life.
Gerry forces Sammy into Mexican wave
Pubs, clubs and parties
British and Irish Lions lock Geoff Parling admitted the first tour defeat Down Under "hurts like hell" after Warren Gatland's side were edged out by the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.
Andy Carroll is on the brink of joining West Ham permanently after passing a medical with the Barclays Premier League club.
Andy Carroll will have a medical with West Ham on Wednesday as he moves closer to a permanent move from Liverpool, Hammers chairman David Gold has confirmed.
Stoke have confirmed that winger Jermaine Pennant has signed a new one-year deal with the club.
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