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International Soccer

Decorated goalkeeper Emma Byrne calls time on her 21-year Ireland career 

Emma Byrne has hung up her boots after 21 years of service with the Republic of Ireland.

Revealed: First picture of Ireland's first ever New Balance jersey is released 

A first look at Ireland's new home jersey has emerged, with the Boys in Green set to debut their first ever New Balance kit next month.

Meyler return gives O'Neill boost 

David Meyler handed Martin O'Neill a fitness boost ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers when he returned to full training with Hull yesterday after being sidelined for four months.

James McClean an early injury doubt for crunch World Cup qualifiers after suffering knee injury in friendly 

James McClean is an early injury concern for Martin O'Neill ahead of the September World Cup qualifiers as he suffered a knee injury during a pre-season...

'I still get stick' - Aiden McGeady on choosing Ireland over Scotland and strained relationship with Gordon Strachan 

Aiden McGeady has copped a lot of flak over the years for deciding against playing for the...

Martin O'Neill and James McClean escape ban over TV comments 

Martin O'Neill and James McClean will not be banned for Ireland's crunch World Cup qualifier against Georgia on September 2.

Comment: Loud questions continue to fall on deaf ears at the FAI AGM 

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

O'Neill urges Irish players to seal deals ahead of window 

Ireland boss Martin O'Neill wants any of his players eyeing a move before the summer transfer window closes to set an earlier deadline for themselves to avoid interrupting preparations for the crunch...

Martin O'Neill expresses frustration over FIFA interview sanction 

Martin O'Neill says that the possibility of sanctions from FIFA over his comments after last month's draw with Austria could stop him from offering genuine post-match opinions in the future.

Martin O'Neill believes court case may have affected Jeff Hendrick's form 

Martin O'Neill has admitted that the form of midfielder Jeff Hendrick might well have been affected by the court case that was hanging...

'I knew it was so wrong' - Goalkeeper David Forde reveals drinking culture during his time with Ireland 

Goalkeeper David Forde has revealed that he and his team-mates regularly drank alcohol while on international duty with the Irish team.

Northern Ireland leapfrog Martin O'Neill's men in latest rankings and it could be very significant 

Northern Ireland have achieved their highest ever FIFA world ranking of 22nd, though they may still face a daunting task if they reach the play-offs...

Germany hold on to claim Cup honours 

Lars Stindl struck the only goal as world champions Germany beat Chile in St Petersburg to win the Confederations Cup.

Banned former FIFA vice-president Warner insists World Cup bid demands were 'nothing out of the ordinary' 

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner insists he asked for "nothing out of the ordinary" in the controversial race for the 2018 World Cup.

Bravo shuts out Portugal as Chile march on 

Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was the hero as Chile reached the Confederations Cup final by beating Portugal 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out after extra-time had failed to break the deadlock.

Bonus costs eat into FAI's €11m Euros haul 

An unprecedented outlay of €6.5m - including a multi-million bonus payment to players and staff - shrunk the FAI's Euro 2016 net prize-money to €4.5m.

FA boss admits proposed Thailand friendly was a 'form of bribery' in 2018 bidding race 

Former FA chairman Geoff Thompson told FIFA ethics investigators that a plan for England to play a friendly in Thailand in order to secure a vote...

Key points from Garcia report into FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process 

FIFA has published a controversial internal report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.

England World Cup bid team broke rules when courting disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner 

The England 2018 World Cup bid team was found to have "accommodated or at least attempted to satisfy the improper request" of FIFA executive...

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Mutko rubbishes report of doping investigation into Russian football team 

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko has rubbished a Mail on Sunday report alleging that...

Australia earn draw against Cameroon after VAR awards Socceroos second-half penalty 

Mark Milligan's second-half penalty meant Australia and Cameroon had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the Confederations Cup in St Petersburg.

Ronaldo strikes to see off Russian hosts 

Cristiano Ronaldo's 74th senior international goal gave Portugal a 1-0 win over hosts Russia in the Confederations Cup yesterday.

Bayern issue hands-off warning over to Man United and Chelsea over Robert Lewandowski 

Bayern Munich took the unusual step yesterday of publicly reminding striker Robert Lewandowski that he was under long-term contract to the club and...

No reason for James McClean or Martin O'Neill to be alarmed by FIFA probe 

The suggestion that James McClean and his manager Martin O'Neill could be sidelined for September's double-header with Georgia and Serbia is a...

Cristiano Ronaldo on target as Portugal go top of Group A with win over Russia 

Cristiano Ronaldo's 74th senior international goal was enough to hand Portugal Confederations Cup victory over hosts Russia.

James McClean and Martin O'Neill could be banned for World Cup qualifiers as investigation launched into ref comments 

Ireland manager Martin O'Neill and winger James McClean face the possibility of being banned for...

'Don’t talk to me unless you come back with medals’ - The Malaysia Marvels and Ireland's World Cup glory 

Members of Ireland’s famed 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship squad gathered in the foyer of Dublin’s Gresham Hotel earlier this month for...

Portugal denied by Moreno's late leveller 

Hector Moreno snatched a stoppage-time equaliser as Mexico hit back to draw 2-2 with Portugal in their opening Confederations Cup match in Kazan yesterday.

'This is turning into a shambles' - Damien Duff tears into VAR after Chile goal is disallowed for offside 

Shamrock Rovers assistant and RTE football pundit Damien Duff has lamented the use of the Confederations Cup's video assistant referee...

Pickford showing his worth 

After the week he has had, it is no surprise to learn that Jordan Pickford has always backed himself. The penalty save near the end of England's opening match at the Under-21 European Championship to earn a 0-0 draw against Sweden on Friday came 24 hours after he became the third...

Walters closes in on 50 with spring in his step 

Jon Walters is enjoying his summer holiday now. That goal, that scream, that run to the gigantic green trampoline in the corner changed his whole outlook on his break from football. He will sleep...

30 minutes halves? Pass to yourself from a free-kick? - Football rule-makers consider radical changes 

World football's rule-makers are to consider a proposal to reduce each half of a game to 30 minutes in a bid to prevent time-wasting.

Reality check for Southgate as new stars inspire France 

Just as it appeared the VAR would decide this game, it ended up being about a French team with the qualities of the TGV. England lost to 10-man opposition because they simply could not cope...

England benefit from VAR decision but lose thanks to the attacking prowess of 10-man France 

Gareth Southgate left the Stade de France still searching for a significant scalp on the international stage after falling to defeat 10-man France. His...

WATCH - France and England supporters praised for singing along to 'Don't Look Back in Anger' ahead of friendly 

French football fans have won praise for singing along to the English national anthem ahead of...

Eamon Dunphy hits out at Roy Keane over pre-match comments against Austria 

Eamon Dunphy has criticised Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane for his comments ahead of the Austria match when he urged his players to "go...

O'Neill insists Serbia game is still a must-win 

Martin O'Neill is expecting Ireland's World Cup qualifying group to go to the wire but has identified September's visit of Serbia as a must-win encounter.

Stones set for England midfield role as Southgate backs Hart 

Gareth Southgate has claimed that Joe Hart remains England's first-choice goalkeeper, but he has ramped up the pressure on him by revealing that Jack Butland will play the second-half of...

Hero Walters delighted his finals dream is still alive 

Jon Walters hopes to be sending postcards marked "from Russia with love" back home next summer despite the disappointment of gaining just a point from Sunday's Group D clash with Austria.

Ireland should be 'brave enough' to play Harry's game 

Rarely has Irish soccer's intense invocation of self-sacrifice reached such a zenith.

Steven Reid: We struggle to deal with expectations of victory 

When you have a dressing room made up of players that are conditioned to expect adversity with their club, it's always going to be difficult to change that mindset when they play for their country.

Glass half-empty or half-full? Ireland in control of destiny but there’s two sides to the story of this campaign 

David Borbalan was the villain of the piece last Sunday, a Spanish referee who has plenty of experience with angry managers.

John Giles: Ireland are very, very ordinary without Wes Hoolahan but Martin O'Neill can't see it 

I have to admit, I’m weary with this debate about Wes Hoolahan and annoyed that Martin O’Neill cannot see what is obvious to me and many others.

Everything you need to know about Ireland's World Cup Group D run-in and what's needed to qualify 

It was a chance missed to bury any hopes Austria had of sneaking into a play-off but Ireland's shortcomings mean that the four big guns in...

Austrian defender admits Shane Duffy's late disallowed goal should have stood 

Shane Duffy's late disallowed goal should have stood, according to Austrian defender Sebastien Prodl.

O'Neill hails fighting spirit after North grab victory 

Stuart Dallas' stoppage-time strike earned Northern Ireland a smash-and-grab 1-0 success over Azerbaijan that kept them firmly on the road to Russia.

David Kelly: Romance takes a back seat on road to Russia 

There are no pictures on the scorecard. Probably just as well. This was the ugly side of the international game, one to which Irish teams seem to be so consummately wedded.

Wales draw little comfort as Serbia hit back to stay top 

Wales remain unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying group, but a fifth successive draw means they still have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the finals of a second successive championship.

Duffy adamant 'goal' should have stood as Ireland rue ref's decisions 

Blessed are we with goalkeepers and defenders.

Defiant manager showers praise on loyal servants Walters and Randolph 

The bulk of Martin O'Neill's post-match press conference was taken up by his frustration with refereeing decisions.

Frustrated Irish pay penalty for their own errors 

It was a strange evening in Dublin that ended with the Irish camp crying foul after a disallowed goal in a frantic finish.