Robbie Keane scored a late winner here on Saturday to keep Ireland s hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals on track as they struggled to overcome a stubborn Cyprus side 2-1 in the Group 8 qualifier.
The Tottenham striker who was a member of the Irish side that were humbled 5-2 in a Euro 2008 qualifier three years ago scored with a header on 83 minutes after he beat keeper Sofronis Avgoustis to the ball from a Damien Duff cross.
This was a must win game for Ireland who remain unbeaten in the group and jubilant Irish supporters outnumbered the home fans by about 2-to-1 among the 7,000 crowd.
Ireland got off to a perfect start when Kevin Doyle scored from six yards after the Cyprus defence failed to clear a corner with only five minutes gone.
Th…
Lorient have completed their second signing in as many days with the arrival of Abdul Majeed Waris from Trabzonspor.
The Ghanaian striker returns to France after a successful loan spell at Valenciennes in the second half of the 2013-14 campaign, which saw the 23-year-old net nine goals in 16 starts.
A permanent move failed to materialise and he opted to leave parent club Spartak Moscow for Trabzonspor, but failed to score a single league goal last season.
Waris is the fourth signing ahead of the new campaign for Lorient, who brought in Benjamin Moukandjo from Reims on Wednesday.
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Former Egypt international Mido hopes Mohamed Salah can get back to full fitness for the nation s World Cup campaign.
Salah s availability for Egypt s Group A opener against Uruguay Friday remains uncertain as the Liverpool forward continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.
The 25-year-old s absence would be a huge blow to Hector Cuper s men, who also face Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Mido – who scored 20 goals in 51 games for Egypt – is hopeful that Salah will be ready to go for the showpiece event.
All Egyptians are proud to have a player playing at the top level and in the final of the Champions League and to become the best player in the Premier League, it s such an honour for all of us, he said.
But now we want him [Salah] in the World…
(GSM) It seems like Raymond Domenech doesn t have many friends these days. The national coach of France is still backed by the the French Football Federation but he is criticised by various people from the football world. Aime Jacquet, who was in charge when Les Bleus won the World Cup in 1998, is among them.
Jacquet questions Domenech s position on the official website of the Fifa. When holding a position like this (as a national coach), four years is enough. There are too many factors that prevent you from working well.
I blame the French Football Federation, they failed to understand this. It is a job you can only do for four years because you are so exposed. Jaquet took on the job as France coach in 1993 and led the French to the World Cup title in 1998 at their ho…
Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano says the £35m figure they have been quoted for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso means they are close to pulling out of any deal to sign him. Independent
The Spanish club have spent about £170m this summer but the asking price for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is one step too far and could open the door for Chelsea to sign the French international. Guardian
But Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Ribery and he will become a galactico next summer. Independent
Wayne Bridge gave Manchester City reason to believe they could sign Chelsea captain John Terry when he signed for them from the Stamford Bridge club in January 2009. City are now preparing a third bid for Terry. Independent
Terry is …
Miralem Pjanic described Cristiano Ronaldo s signing as a huge coup but the Juventus midfielder refused to confirm his future with the Italian champions amid links with Chelsea.
Five-time Ballon d Or winner Ronaldo swapped three-time reigning European champions Real Madrid for Juve in a sensational €112million deal.
The 33-year-old – Madrid s all-time leading goalscorer – signed a four-year contract with the Serie A giants.
Asked about new team-mate Ronaldo, Pjanic told Sky Sport Italia: He s a huge coup, a great player.
However, Pjanic s future in Turin is far from certain as new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reportedly tries to lure the Bosnia-Herzegovina international to Stamford Bridge.
According to speculation, Chelsea have been discussi…
(GSM) Former Portsmouth manager and current Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes clubs must be cautious with their spending. Redknapp thinks Portsmouth s financial downfall should present a warning to those clubs that are tempted to take risks with cash to achieve quick success.
Redknapp led Pompey to FA Cup glory in 2008, but the club has since then suffered huge financial losses that have put them in risk of entering administration and made them slip to the bottom of the Premier League table in the process.
And Redknapp believes the owners need to take responsibility for their huge over-spending.
I don t know where it all goes, Redknapp said.
We all thought we built a terrific team there. But you re only relying on the owner.
They ve had f…
that Everton’s hat-trick hero Arouna Kone has earned a new one-year deal at Goodison Park.
The Ivory Coast international moved from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2013, shortly after his manager Roberto Martinez made the same switch.
His man-of-the-match performance in Sunday’s 6-2 win over Sunderland was his thirty-fifth in an Everton shirt, and that tally has triggered a clause which extends his contract by twelve months.
Before the weekend the thirty-one year old had scored just three goals, and he has largely played second fiddle to Romelu Lukaku since arriving on Merseyside.
Prior to moving to England, Kone had spells in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, having begun his career in his home country.
He also has been capp…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted he had no regrets over his team selection after Manchester United lost 3-1 at Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Former Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice either side of Youri Tielemans solo strike as Brendan Rodgers men booked a Wembley semi-final against Southampton.
Mason Greenwood equalised shortly before half-time in a rare moment of inspiration for United, as Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek combined to fine effect.
But the midfield duo were only fit to play for an hour, having recently returned to action, and Bruno Fernandes was unable to have a decisive impact from the bench.
Solskjaer felt such juggling was a necessity after a packed schedule in which his side overcame Milan in …
Chelsea F.C. are reportedly on the verge of signing Tottenham Hotspur target Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala for a fee of £30 million, understands.
Willian, who underwent a medical at Tottenham earlier this week, had been tipped to join Spurs in a deal worth £30 million, but the Brazilian ace is now expected to reject a move to White Hart Lane in order to team-up with compatriots David Luiz, Oscar and Ramires at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil international, 25, remains a top priority for Spurs, but the bookmakers and manager Jose Mourinho are under the impression that a move to Chelsea is rather imminent.
Thus, Willian is 1/8 to sign for Chelsea before 3 September, with Spurs (5/1) and Liverpool (33/1) set to miss out on the 25-year-old play-maker.
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