Giovanni Trappatoni Looking at Payback For Ireland and Italy at Brazil 2014

Even at 72 Giovanni Trappatoni has lost none of the bite you would expect. The most successful manager in the history of Serie A and one of the games all time greats seems to be enjoying the twilight of his career in Ireland, to such an extent that now he wants to lead the Irish to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup where he feels he may have some unfinished "business."

Champions League vs. The World Cup: Attacking Football or Negativity? You Decide

The king is dead, long live the king.

The World Cup may be long gone, but this season's UEFA Champions League has kicked off in spectacular fashion with some of the most exciting football seen in decades. You could tell straight from the start that almost every team has learned a valuable lesson from this years World Cup; negativity will only get you so far.

Team USA Set To Go to War with Team Ireland Over 18-Year-Old Conor Doyle

Fresh from their recent battles with the IFA and the SFA, the Football Association of Ireland are turning their guns towards U.S. Soccer over the services of 18-year-old Conor Doyle.

The Texan recently signed for Championship side Derby County after impressing Nigel Clough in a three week trial during the summer. Clough Jr. was so impressed with the physique and technique of the youngster that he awarded the player with his debut against Crewe Alexandra just four days after Doyle signed on the dotted line.

David Beckham Replacing Fabio Capello as England's Manager in 2012?

Fabio Capello has announced that a new English coach will be added to his England backroom team before September. The man to take the job and succeed the Italian in 2012 could be David Beckham, for a number of reasons.

Despite the 115 cap international star stating on July 14 that he had "no interest in being a coach or becoming a manager," speculation has begun to grow that Beckham will be talked around by Trevor Brooking into taking the job.

Newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, who in turn owns NewsCorp and Sky TV, have begun to print articles stating that Beckham would be the ideal successor to the Italian because of his experience and Diego Maradona-like celebrity.

World Cup 2010: The Only Question Left for Fabio Capello: Shaun Wright Phillips vs. Theo Walcott

Perhaps the biggest decision awaiting Fabio Capello is which right-sided midfielders he will bring to South Africa. He has at least four to choose from: James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Theo Walcott - or maybe even Joe Cole?

2010 World Cup: Ireland 2-1 Paraguay Back to the Drawing Board For La Albirroja

Paraguay's World Cup plans took a severe knock after the South American side were easily beaten 2-1 by Ireland in Dublin.

Giovani Trappatoni's side tore into the World Cup Group F team right from the start, pressurising them as high up the pitch as possible. This simple tactic created havoc in the Paraguayan defence as their players panicked at every opportunity.

Everton's Shane Duffy Almost Dies After a Freak Accident on Ireland Duty

18-year-old Everton defender Shane Duffy almost died in an Ireland developmental squad practice match on Friday night after his liver was lacerated following an innocuous clash with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh.

The friendly was put together to allow Giovani Trappatoni time to assess his newest members of the squad before Ireland take on Algeria and Paraguay next week.

What makes the accident even harder to bear is that Duffy has yet to receive his papers which would allow the Everton youngster to play for Ireland following a massive diplomatic row between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

England's Midfield Problems Solved: Everton's Uncapped Spanish Ace Mikael Arteta

With the World Cup just around the corner, England's injury problems are beginning to mount. Ashley Cole and Aaron Lennon are very doubtful while David Beckham is definitely out. However, the solution is simple. Everton's Spanish play-maker: Mikael Arteta.

Euro 2012 Qualifiers Draw: Analyis and Predictions for Every Group

The draw for the qualifying section of Euro 2012 was made this morning and it threw up a few tough groups that the likes of England, Holland, Germany, and France should negotiate but will find the going difficult.

Fifty-one countries entered the draw, with duel host nations, Poland and Ukraine, waiting for them in the finals.

The groups will be contested across the usual league system on a home-and-away basis, with all matches scheduled between September 2010 and October 2011.

Ireland Turns Down FIFA's Patronizing Fair Play Award For 2009

While Lionel Messi deservedly won FIFA's Player of the Year Award for 2009, the real story from the star-studded Gala in Zurich was the FAI's refusal to accept a highly patronizing Fair Play Award.

"I think the way the president of FIFA behaved was an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to FIFA. There is an awards ceremony and they have offered us a Fair Play award. We've respectfully declined." said a dignified John Delaney, President of the FAI.

South Africa World Cup 2010: World Awaiting Friday's Draw

On Friday, the World Cup draw will be beamed to over 190 countries as the world waits with baited breath for the greatest show on Earth to officially begin.

But only those lucky final 32 will be biting their nails, hoping to avoid that dreaded "Group of Death" that every tournament seems to throw out...

Ireland 0-1 France: Advantage Les Bleus After Priceless Anelka Away Goal

France took one giant step towards the World Cup finals in South Africa this evening after they beat Ireland 1-0 at Croke Park in the first leg of the UEFA Playoffs. Nicolas Anelka's deflected strike was enough to secure a deserved advantage for Les Bleus ahead of the return leg in Paris on Wednesday.

Lifeless England Well Beaten by Ukraine as Robert Green Sees Red in Qualifier

Ten man England lost their 100 percent record in Group Six of the World Cup Qualifiers going down 1-0 to Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk, after Robert Green became the first-ever English goalkeeper to be sent off in an international fixture.

Wayne Rooney: The Key Player for Fabio Capello as England Qualify for World Cup

It was going to take something special from the not-so-special Croats to deny England at Wembley tonight, but judging by this performance nothing was going to deny Fabio Capello's team a deserved place in South Africa next year.


England well and truly humbled the team ranked ninth in the world by FIFA, a 5-1 mauling sending a clear message to all who will travel to the World Cup in South Africa next summer that England are a team who could go far in the tournament.

Adel Taarabt Declares for Morocco Over France, Spurs Win Either Way

Adel Taarabt says a need to play first-team football has helped him decide to play for Morocco over France and join QPR on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old midfielder has pledged his international future to Morocco over France, whom he played for at U-17, U-18, and U-19 level. And has since played three games for the Atlas Lions...

Dimitar Berbatov Out For Bulgaria, On Current Form It's a Bad Move For Ireland

With Giovanni Trappatoni worrying over the fitness of Shay Given and Aiden McGeady ahead of Ireland's crucial World Cup Qualifiers against Bulgaria and Italy he was hit with the hammer blow news that Dimitar Berbatov has pulled out of the Bulgaria squad.

The Manchester United striker has failed to deliver on his £30m stg price tag this season and his last few performances in the famous red shirt of United have been abject at best...

Spurs' Ledley King Called Up and Then Removed from England Squad. Why?

In a sensational move, Ledley King has left England's training camp two days after he was originally called up, and now will not feature in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia or in the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine on Wednesday.

Spain 2-0 England: David Beckham and The Three Lions Get Exactly What They Deserve

England were comprehensively beaten by a rampant Spanish side on a historic night for "Brand Beckham" as David Beckham claimed his 108th cap to join the great Bobby Moore as England's most capped outfield player.

Spain won 2-0 thanks to goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente, bringing Fabio Capello's unbeaten run to an end. In truth, England were outplayed from start to finish, and although the team was a much weakened side, Capello will have to do much soul searching as he analyses his squad...

SFA v FAI: The James McCarthy War

For those of you who don't know, James McCarthy is the hottest midfield prospect plying his trade in Britain today. At the tender of 17 he has affirmed himself as one of the best midfielders playing in Scotland, for Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish Premier League. But the Scottish Football Association and Football Association of Ireland are at loggerheads over James, why?

The Death Match: Dynamo Kiev vs. The Nazis

This is a true story that I was told by my father. It has inspired athletes, filmmakers, children, and sports fans around the world—but most of all it inspired a nation.