Soccer: Internationals
Irish manager Martin O'Neill looks set to have a full bill of health to pick from for Sunday's friendly against England, with Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, Paul McShane and Wes Hoolahan the only minor doubts.
Arter sat out the side’s training session yesterday because of a bruised foot but is expected to return to training this morning, McShane has already resumed non-contact work, while there is some uncertainty about when Hoolahan will join up due to a family bereavement.
Everton winger Aiden McGeady says he's hoping to finally put the disappointment of the Scotland defeat behind him with this next set of internationals.
“It was a game I wasn’t really looking forward to because I knew it would be like that. It would have been great if we had won, if I’d scored, if I’d played well, to be honest with you. But we didn’t.”
Meanwhile the big news which broke yesterday evening; Sepp Blatter announcing his resignation as Fifa president. Ken Early says that Blatter failedto steer the ship of Fifa's reform and ultimately paid the price.
Blatter made the announcement at an unexpected news conference, explaining that an extraordinary congress will be organised to elect his successor and in the mean time (until at least December) he will resume his post.
“I cherish Fifa more than anything,” he said without any great display of emotion, “and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football”.
GAA: Reform
The GPA have said that intercounty players are in favour of reform of the provincial structures, and they will be shortly submitting their own championship proposals to Central Council.
Darragh Ó Sé's column is a must-read this morning, he's talking about why players want managers to tell them what to do.
His story about a young Jim McGuinness turning up at Kerry training looking to take part, and a shocked Paidi O Se’s reaction sums up both great managers.
Rugby: Consistency
Andy McGeady feels that disciplinary measures must be applied in a consistent manner, he says Dylan Hartley is an easy target and will miss the World Cup but Yoann Huget has got off lightly.
Those who’ve seen the video footage of the French international’s left boot making violent downward contact with the face of Bordeaux’s South African lock Jandré Marais two weeks ago might have been somewhat surprised that Huget played in Toulouse’s 20-19 win over Oyonnax on Saturday.
Tennis: Federer
Brian Boyd has a great piece today on Roger Federer, and his 10-year obsession with the tennis great;
"While others metronomically hit from the baseline as if it's a game of attrition, the blessed Roger is finding near impossible angles on court and seemingly defying the laws of physics with the most aesthetically pleasing array of shots the game has seen since Maria Bueno last wielded a racquet."
What to watch out for:
More French Open action today from Roland Garros where the action is really heating up at the quarter-finals stage. Novak Djokovic versus Rafael Nadal starts at 2pm.
ITV4 from 12.30pm-9pm
In the cricket there's day one of the first test between West Indies and Australia.
Sky Sports 2 from 2.55pm
