It’s going to go right down to the wire now. We’ve drawn France home and away in the World Cup play offs.Ireland will meet the French in Dublin on November 14 and in Paris on November 18 with a place in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa up for grabs.One of the consolations we can take from today’s draw is that French coach Raymond Domenech is stark, raving mad and capable of anything. He’s straight out of central casting for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, as loony as an, er, bag of

Clubs were back at it this week after two weeks of international play. Imagine playing an international match on Wednesday, flying halfway across the world on Thursday, flying to another part of the country on Friday and having to play again Saturday. Unsurprisingly, many of the bigger clubs dropped points. Decorum: Diego Maradona was “god” on the field. This just in, but that might have bolstered his ego. After Argentina qualified for the 2010 World Cup last week, barely, the legend

David Beckham has set his sights on helping England win the 2010 World Cup as well as lending his support to the country’s bid to host the 2018 edition of the tournament.Beckham revealed he will take up a role as an official ambassador for the bid in an attempt to convince the FIFA executive committee to award England a first World Cup since 1966.The former Manchester United midfielder was speaking just days after FIFA vice-president Jack Warner insisted the English bid team must take advantage