Alan Pardew departed The Valley after a stinker against Sheffield United. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
What wasn’t to like about the weekend? Australia’s rugby league players were thrashed by the Kiwis in the World Cup final, temperatures across the country soared to a balmy –37C and Oasis finally broke America by standing behind Ricky Hatton [...]

Theo Walcott injured his shoulder during England training. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Arsenal could be eligible for up to £1.5m in compensation for Theo Walcott’s injury while on England duty, the Football Association has confirmed. The FA insures all players on international duty and up to £100,000 per week can be paid out to clubs by [...]

Frustration for Arsène Wenger. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
On a weekend in which the Premier League’s fixture computer was found more wanting than any number of children in need, Arsenal against Aston Villa was always likely to be the most intriguing encounter. The meeting of two Premier League sides consistent only in their maddening inconsistency [...]

Titus Bramble heads home Wigan Athletic’s late equaliser. Photograph: Steve Drew/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
An hour or so after the final whistle, Steve Bruce’s mobile phone rang. “Sir Bobby,” exclaimed Wigan Athletic’s manager, suddenly beaming. “I’ll be there in five minutes and we’ll have that cup of tea.” With Sir Bobby Robson having recently made it plain [...]

England coach Tony Smith has kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the semi-final. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
New Zealand sprung a double surprise today in Brisbane in the embarrassingly cagey build-up to Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against England. They have switched the Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai to hooker, although the biggest shock was [...]

Fiji player Akuila Uate scores a try during the World Cup win over Ireland. Photograph: Jason O’Brien/Action Images
Ireland’s unlikely World Cup adventure came to an end against a tough and skilful Fiji team who now have the dubious reward of facing Australia in the semi-finals next weekend. Andy Kelly’s Wolfhounds again played with spirit and [...]

New Zealand’s Manu Vatuvei scores. Photograph: Greg Wood/Getty Images
Where as last week’s defeat by Australia was embarrassing, in its own way this was every bit as devastating. England led 24-8 on the 27-minute mark after a slick and purposeful opening to the game, but crumbled horribly after half-time on a night that turned into [...]

The Ireland rugby league team. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images
One endearingly naive British journalist, who must remain nameless for obvious reasons, had a bit of a giggle, but caused many more, when two homegrown players were selected in Ireland’s initial World Cup squad and it was suggested to him that one of them had a funny [...]

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/Empics/PA
The jeers that began less than 20 minutes into the game were ringing around The Valley long after the final whistle on Saturday. Charlton’s 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley leaves the Addicks in the Championships’s relegation zone and Alan Pardew hanging on to his job by a fraying [...]

Australia’s Billy Slater breaks through a tackle during the Kangaroos’ 52-4 thrashing of England. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
England’s World Cup credentials were dumped in a Melbourne gutter this morning after a humiliating nine-try defeat by the apparently unbeatable Australians.
The local Melbourne Storm favourites Greg Inglis and Billy Slater each scored a stunning hat-trick as Tony [...]