Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ireland edged out by Slovakia on international return

Ireland suffered an agonising 85-84 loss to Slovakia in their first competitive game since 2019 after a pandemic-enforced absence.

Basketball • 17 Jul 21

Spain crush Slovakia to set up Croatia date

Spain claimed the biggest win of the tournament with a 5-0 thrashing of Slovakia in their final Euro 2020 Group E match to finish second in the group and set up a last-16 clash with Croatia in Copenhagen.

Euro 2020 • 23 Jun 21

Recap: Spain come good but Sweden top group

Relive all the action as Group E came to a conclusion.

Euro 2020 • 23 Jun 21

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) and Portugal have work to do to make the knockout stages

Euro 2020: Judgement day in 'Group of Death'

The final places in the last 16 of Euro 2020 will be decided today with four games across Groups E and F.

Euro 2020 • 23 Jun 21

The best is yet to come from Spain, according to their coac

Enrique: Spain like a bottle of champagne about to pop

Spain may have flattered to deceive at Euro 2020, but coach Luis Enrique says he is a born optimist and believes "champagne" football is about to flow against Slovakia on Wednesday.

Euro 2020 • 22 Jun 21

Emil Forsberg celebrates after scoring Sweden's goal from the spot

Sweden edge Slovakia to close in on last-16

Sweden closed in on reaching the European Championship knockout stages for the first time since 2004 with a 1-0 victory over Slovakia.

Euro 2020 • 18 Jun 21

Denis Vavro has tested positive for Covid-19

Two Covid-19 cases in Slovakia camp at Euro 2020

Slovakia defender Denis Vavro and another staff member have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the team's Euro 2020 match against Sweden, head coach Stefan Tarkovic said on Thursday.

Soccer • 17 Jun 21

Alvaro Morata will shoulder some of the goalscoring burdern

Euro 2020 Group E: New-look Spain eye past glories

Spain, minus record cap holder and talisman Sergio Ramos, are the leading lights in Group E, where Sweden, and Poland look likely to battle it out for a place in the knockout stages.

Soccer • 11 Jun 21

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough consoles Kyle Lafferty at Windsor Park

Baraclough believes veterans can soldier on

Ian Baraclough denied Northern Ireland's defeat to Slovakia represented the end of an era as his side's hopes of reaching Euro 2020 were cruelly ended in a 2-1 play-off final defeat at Windsor Park.

Soccer • 13 Nov 20

Michal Duris slots home the winning goal

Northern Ireland's Euro dream quashed by Slovakia

Northern Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifying campaign ended in heartache as Michal Duris' extra-time goal condemned them to a 2-1 play-off final defeat at home to Slovakia.

Soccer • 12 Nov 20

Ian Baraclough's side are one game away from Euro 2020

Baraclough wants Northern Irish players to make history

Ian Baraclough has urged his Northern Ireland players to go out and create history in Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifying play-off final against Slovakia.

Soccer • 11 Nov 20

Paddy McNair was on target against Norway in September

Experienced North confident for Slovakia test - McNair

Paddy McNair believes Northern Ireland will benefit from ever-increasing big-game experience within the squad when they take on Slovakia in Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifying play-off final.

Soccer • 10 Nov 20

Stefan Tarkovic has spent the last seven years in Slovakia's international set-up

Slovakia turn to Tarkovic for Northern Ireland play-off

Slovakia have named Stefan Tarkovic as their caretaker head coach ahead of next month's Euro 2020 play-off final against Northern Ireland.

Soccer • 20 Oct 20

Pavel Hapal during match against Republic of Ireland

Slovakia sack manager despite win over Ireland

Slovakia have parted ways with their manager Pavel Hapal despite reaching the Euro 2020 play-off decider after beating Republic of Ireland in the semi-final in Bratislava.

Soccer • 16 Oct 20

Aaron Connolly reacts as Finland players celebrate their victory

Connolly frustration evident over Slovakia episode

Aaron Connolly did not hide his frustration at both Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League loss to Finland on Thursday night and the circumstances that saw him miss the penalty shootout defeat to Slovakia last Thursday in the Euro 2020 play-offs.

Soccer • 14 Oct 20

The Scots are a point clear at the top of Group B2

Scotland overcome Slovakia at Hampden Park

Lyndon Dykes scored his second goal in four internationals as Scotland maintained top spot in Nations League Group B2 with a 1-0 Hampden win over Slovakia.

Soccer • 11 Oct 20

Matt Doherty's missed penalty was the ultimate act of Ireland's prolonged qualification campaign

Green shoots evident despite Ireland heartache

The agony of the Republic of Ireland's penalty shootout loss to Slovakia is tempered by the green shoots in evidence in Stephen Kenny's side, writes Lisa Fallon.

Soccer • 09 Oct 20

Stephen Kenny could not fault the efforts of his players

Proud Kenny hails his players after penalty heartbreak

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was left feeling proud of his players and the nature of their performance after they were denied a place in the Euro 2020 play-off final, losing to Slovakia on penalties.

Soccer • 08 Oct 20

Next summer's Euro party will go ahead without Stephen Kenny's side.

'We tried to impose our way of playing'

While disappointed that Ireland will not be at next summer's Euros after losing on penalties to Slovakia, Richie Sadlier was impressed with the proactive approach of Stephen Kenny's side in Bratislava.

Soccer • 08 Oct 20

Callum Robinson with an effort on the Slovakian goal

Ireland's Euro dream ends on penalties - as it happened

Stephen Kenny's men put on the kind of performance that fans have been crying out for in their Euro 2020 play-off game with Slovakia but they couldn't find a goal and were beaten on penalties. See how it all unfolded here.

Soccer • 08 Oct 20

Stephen Kenny consoles Matt Doherty and Alan Browne after they missed penalties int he shootout

Ireland hopes dashed after penalty drama in Slovakia

Ireland suffered the pain of penalty shootout defeat, crashing out of Euro 2020 contention in Bratislava as Slovakia beat Stephen Kenny's side 4-2 on spot kicks after extra-time.

Soccer • 09 Oct 20

Just where will Ireland's goals come from?

Goals. They're a problem for Ireland and on the face of it, Stephen Kenny doesn't have too many of them in his squad, so just where will the goals that Ireland need to beat Slovakia come from?

Soccer • 08 Oct 20

Milan Skriniar misses out Slovakia crunch Euro 2020 play-off with Ireland

Slovakia's Skriniar out of Ireland tie after Covid test

Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar has been ruled out of Slovakia's Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Ireland after testing positive for Covid-19.

Soccer • 07 Oct 20

Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina walk out onto the pitch before the start of their Euro 2016 play-off at the Aviva

Mixed fortunes so far for Ireland on the play-off route

We look back at the highs and a fair few lows from the Republic of Ireland's play-off clashes down through the years.

Soccer • 08 Oct 20

Stephen Kenny has challenged his players to turn their away form on its head

All you need to know: Slovakia v Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland are in Slovakia on Thursday night for a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final. We look ahead to the game and the various questions around it.

Soccer • 07 Oct 20