Andy Reid scores for the Republic of Ireland against Cyprus in 2004. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Here’s a good way for a manager to generate public interest in a humdrum international friendly: make an incendiary decision, one that hints at spite and hypocrisy and will almost definitely impact on the team’s long-term welfare.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s omission of [...]

Jamie Staff and Chris Hoy on the track. Photograph: Brandon Malone/Action Images
A day before Britain’s track cyclists take to the velodrome a top English Institute of Sport coach said that many of his charges in the cycling team have been pedalling faster than ever and pushing bigger weights than before in the run-up to the [...]

England have kept faith with the same side that took a 1-0 series lead at Old Trafford. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
England will head to Trent Bridge on Thursday hoping for more of the same after naming an unchanged 12-man squad for the third Test against New Zealand. Last week’s six-wicket victory at Old Trafford has [...]

Michael Owen is set to miss England’s games against the USA and Trinidad & Tobago with a virus. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images
Michael Owen has been forced to withdraw from Fabio Capello’s England squad for the friendlies against the USA and Trinidad & Tobago. The striker has been struck down by a virus and has returned [...]