Mick McCarthy appointed as Blackpool head coach
Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has returned to management after he was appointed as head coach of English Championship side Blackpool.
County Republic Sport News
South Africa stun South Korea, advance in second place from Group A
Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal lifted South Africa to a must-win 1-0 result against South Korea in their Group A finale in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, sending Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Maseko put South Africa in front in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, burying a shot from his favored left foot to the right corner after a precision pass by Tshepang Moremi. Ronwen Williams preserved the lead with a save on Park Jin-seob’s header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. South Korea (1-2-0, 3 points) needed a win or draw to finish runner-up to Mexico and advance to the round of 32. South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points) had to win and have Czech Republic lose to Mexico in the concurrent match to claim the second spot. Mexico (3-0-9, 9 points) logged a 3-0 win over the Czechs (0-2-1, 1 points), and when the hosts’ 1-0 lead was posted in the Guadalupe stadium in the 55th minute, the South African fans joined the Mexicans in attendance in celebrating. South Africa was written off by many after losing the opening match of the World Cup 2-0 to Mexico while having two players sent off. The South Africans had failed to get out of the group stage in their previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010. South Korea still have a chance to advance in the event as one of the best third-place teams, but they will need other results to go their way. South Korea started as if it were playing for the win with several forays into the penalty area in the first three minutes but soon fell into a conservative mode.
Confident DR Congo ready to bring African flair to World Cup after long wait
HOUSTON, June 13 : Jubilant singing and the raspy sound of vuvuzelas have created an unmistakingly African feel to Democratic of Republic Congo’s training in Houston, where supporters are confident their side can shine at the World Cup and have a message for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Why Ecuador could be sleeper team of the 2026 World Cup - ESPN
Back at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, Republic of Ireland coach Jack Charlton hit upon a revelation. In a World Cup where many third-place teams in their groups advanced to the knockout phase, it was possible to lift the trophy without winning a single game in regulation time.
Republic of Ireland head to playoffs after narrow defeat to France
The Republic of Ireland’s dreams of automatic qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup were ended after by 1-0 defeat by France in Grenoble.
Iran beats Mali in last World Cup warm-up before heading to Tijuana
(Corrects to 'beat' from 'beats' in headline)
Iran to play World Cup warm-up behind closed doors, head to Mexico on Saturday
June 3 : Iran will play their final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before departing for their tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian FA (FFIRI) said on Wednesday.
Former heavyweight champion Fury announces August return in Dublin
LONDON: Tyson Fury has said he plans to return to the ring in Dublin on August 1 — one week after fellow former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua makes his comeback. The pair are heading for a long-awaited ‘Battle of Britain’, probably in November, although it appears that both boxers will first have a warm-up fight. Joshua will face unheralded Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 in his first bout since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December which killed two of his close friends. Fury posted a video in an Instagram story showing him back in training in Thailand alongside the caption: “Let’s go August 1, Dublin, Ireland.” Fury could take a place on a card being put together by veteran promoter Frank Warren in the Republic of Ireland capital on that date. No opponent has yet been named, although Warren has ruled out Fury fighting Andy Ruiz Jr, who dethroned Joshua as world champion in 2019 before losing the rematch later that year. Fury marked his return from a 16-month retirement with a dominant points win over Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, after which he immediately called out Joshua, who was present at ringside. Rather than face-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a verbal exchange followed in which Joshua taunted Fury by declaring: “I’m the landlord, remember that.