Ireland’s 19-18 win over Scotland, their third Triple Crown triumph, in four years was overshadowed on Saturday by a row over an alleged choking assault on flyhalf Ronan O’Gara. Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan claimed after the match that an unidentified Scots player had left O’Gara blue in the face and close to losing consciousness.
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool can open the door to a second Champions League title in three years by shutting down Barcelona at Anfield on Tuesday night. A memorable 2-1 win in the Nou Camp a fortnight ago has left the 2005 champions as favourites to progress to the quarterfinals of this year’s tournament at the expense of the holders.
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/ 23 February 2007
In rugby terms, the Six Nations match that takes place in Dublin on Saturday is all about the short-term future: the next four weeks that will decide this season’s tournament. But when it comes to Ireland and England clashes, it has always been hard to ignore the past, and that will be the case when the strains of God Save the Queen echo around Croke Park.
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/ 22 February 2007
Chelsea emerged from a Champions League battle with FC Porto as favourites to reach the quarterfinals after a pulsating 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao. But the English champions’ night was marred by the sight of their captain and defensive lynchpin John Terry being stretchered off with what looked like a serious injury.
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/ 20 February 2007
The strength of Chelsea’s recent revival faces its first real test when the English champions take on their Portuguese counterparts, FC Porto, on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho returns to the club he guided to 2003 Uefa Cup and 2004 Champions League triumphs with a Chelsea squad that has put together a run of six successive wins.
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/ 8 February 2007
A sublime goal from Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta settled an encounter that was anything but in Spain’s favour as another insipid England performance added to the pressure on their manager, Steve McClaren. Spain were far from at their fluent best for England’s last home international before they take up residency at the new Wembley.
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/ 17 December 2006
Liverpool’s recent revival gathered pace on Saturday as Rafael Benitez’s side overcame Charlton to climb to third in the English Premiership table. A 3-0 lunchtime win at the Valley ensured Liverpool were able to leapfrog Arsenal and Portsmouth, who held the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
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/ 1 November 2006
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s exhilarating current form can carry them all the way to Champions League glory next May. The Scot, who will celebrate 20 years in charge at Old Trafford next week, has made no secret of his frustration that he has only once, on a memorable night in Barcelona seven years ago, managed to get his hands on European football’s biggest prize.
Aston Villa maintained their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday by holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw that could cost the champions their place at the top of the Premiership. Villa’s battling display epitomised the resilience they have acquired since Martin O’Neill took over as manager in the close season.
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/ 29 September 2006
Jose Mourinho will cross swords with Martin O’Neill on Saturday for the first time since getting the better of the Northern Irishman in a memorable and controversial Uefa Cup final in 2003. Mourinho’s Porto made full use of the game’s black arts on the way to a 3-2 win over Celtic.