Football Corner

Ireland boss Brain Kerr says keeper Shay Given is likely to be fit for his country's crucial World Cup qualifier against Switzerland on Wednesday. Given, who produced a superb display in the 1-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday, sustained a foot injury in training on Monday, and had to undergo an x-ray. "There is no bone damage, but there is some soft-tissue swelling," explained Republic manager Brian Kerr. "We are confident he will be fit to play on Wednesday," he added. Given suffered the injury while playing in a five-a-side match, but confirmed later that he had only suffered bruising. The Newcastle United goalkeeper is expected to be fit to train on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Damien Duff will miss the game at Lansdowne Road because of a knee injury while Kevin Kilbane is doubtful with a 'dead leg'. Full-back Stephen Carr has recovered from a knee injury and Sunderland defender Gary Breen has returned to the squad after missing the victory in Nicosia with a calf problem. Also back in the squad are striker Clinton Morrison and midfielder Andy Reid, who were banned for the Cyrpus game. The Republic need to beat the Swiss in their final Group Four game to ensure at least a place in the play-offs.

Good and bad news for Ireland, the good news is that Shay Given will play, the bad news Damien Duff won't play on Wednesday at Landsdowne Road. Given really did win the match for Ireland on Saturday with a penalty save and a superb performance. The Duff injury is a very big blow because he is one of Ireland's key players and without him Ireland will struggle on Wednesday. Good luck to to the Irish boys on Wednesday and fingers crossed they can win and qualify for the World Cup.

The Match on Sky One at St. james' Park tonight has finished 2-0 to the Legends but the Celebs weren't at all embarrassed. The series has been ruining on Sky One all through last week as the Celebs trained to try and beat some great footballing ledgends but they just couldn't beat experience. The Legends couldn't have hoped for a better start when former Arsenal left back Nigel Winterburn finished nicely past Alex Lawler (the goalie in Dream Team) to give his side the lead.

But the Celebs battled back strongly and nearly were back level straight away when Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton nearly put the ball past former Everton keeper Neville Southall but the big man made an outstanding save. The Celebs really should have been level on the stroke of half time when Jonathan Wilkes missed a golden oppurtunity. Most of the half was marred by late challenges and a few bookings, Celebs captain Jonathan Wilkes needed stiches in his head after a nasty collision with Des Walker.

The age difference was really starting to tell and many substitutes were made by Legends manager Sir Bobby Robson. The Celebs were almost level after a lengthy spell in possesion Anthony Hutton let fly with an outstading shot only to be denied by Southall again. But the Legends really killed the game of 10 minutes from time when David Batty chipped a lovely ball in for Ally McCoist finished neatly. The Celebs had a last minute penalty saved by Woods when Darren Campbell shot to his left.

Personall I thought this years game was far better because it was far more open and there was more goal mouth chances. The Celebs really gave a good account of themselves and although last year they only lost 2-1 I believe they played better. On the night the Legends just had that final touch in the area to finish their chances.

A few intresting things coming out of the England camp in the last twenty four hours or so. First of all they have qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany already with a game to spare because Holland beat Czech Republic on Saturday. Secondly, Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of the Poland game on Wednesday with a shin injury picked up against Austria on Saturday. Liverpool have said that Gerrard may be sidelined for two to three weeks. Defender Sol Campbell had already been ruled out of the game on Wednesday against Poland with a hamstring injury picked up in the game on Saturday.

Finally The F.A have said today that they do not plan to appeal the red card David Beckham picked up on Saturday. Beckham, who is the first player to be sent off twice for England, received two yellow cards for fouls on Andreas Ibertsberger in the second half. The Football Association's director of football Trevor Brooking told BBC Radio Five Live: "It was a harsh decision. "But the regulations won't allow us an appeal - we'll have to take that one."

A bit of bad news for England but I'm sure they weren't even planning to play Campbell, Gerrard and Beckham for the game on Saturday because all the game means is wheter or not they top the group. Very bad news for Liverpool and Arsenal because they will be missing their skipper's for at least a few weeks. Great news for England that they have qualified for the World Cup in Germany in 2006 with a game to spare, and they are the first England team to do that for twenty years.

Ireland edged past Cyprus in a game of few chances to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. The Irish team had a 10,000 travilling support to cheer them on in Cyprus and the team rewarded the travilling fans when young Sunderland striker Stephen Elliot finished well past the Cyprus keeper. But Cyprus were nearly level just five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty when Irish defender Richard Dunne took down Ioannis Okkas but the same player was denied giving his side an equaliser when Shay Given made a tremendous save from the penalty. It wasn't Given's first great save of the night as he had denied Okkas a minute earlier after Kenny Cunningham had got in a tangle in his own penalty area. Cyprus were in control of most of the procedings but Ireland managed to hold out and the victory means they need to win on Wednesday at home to Switzerland to reach the play-offs.

Great result for Ireland because they were in desperate need of the win to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. Great to see young Elliot scoring and I believe that he will become one of Ireland's great strikers in the future. Shay Given was quite rightly awarded man of the match because without him Ireland certainly would not of been coming home with three points.