CHELSEA LEGEND PAYS HEARTWARMING TRIBUTE TO BOBBY TAMBLING AFTER ICON'S DEATH

Ron Harris has paid tribute to former Chelsea team-mate Bobby Tambling after his sad passing.

The Blues legend, who spent 13 years at Stamford Bridge, has died aged 84

Chelsea legend Tambling has sadly passed away aged 84Credit: Getty

.Tambling scored 202 goals in 370 appearances for Chelsea between 1957 and 1970.

His tally made him the club's all-time top scorer until he was surpassed by Frank Lampard in 2013.

The former England striker also won the League Cup alongside Harris in 1965.

After leaving Chelsea, Tambling joined Crystal Palace before ending his career in the Republic of Ireland.

During his time in Ireland, he had spells with Cork Celtic, Waterford, Shamrock Rovers and Cork Alberts.

Tambling tribute

Following Tambling's death, Harris joined Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor on Thursday's talkSPORT Breakfast show.

Paying tribute to his former team-mate, the Chelsea icon said: "I played with Bob for many years.

"He was a fantastic player. A good trainer, came in every day, very seldom missed games and scored goals left, right and centre.

"I think he would have a field day today with people not allowed to tackle, whereas years ago in our time, people used to put some stick around and that.

"Bob was a fantastic trainer, a fantastic lad and a fantastic player."

Harris and Tambling were Chelsea team-mates for eight years during the 1960sCredit: Getty

Tambling had been tasked with replacing Jimmy Greaves in the side after his move to AC Milan in 1961.

Asked if those were big shoes to fill, Harris added: "That is true for somebody to do that, but Bob very seldom missed games.

"He was a good trainer, good lad and always worth a goal or two in games. He’s a fantastic lad. It’s sad that he’s passed away."

The former Chelsea captain continued: "Most of the lads were mingled together and had a laugh and a giggle.

"If somebody got invited out to a function or anything like that, Bob would be one of the first ones to put his name down to go and do a presentation and things like that.

"He was a great lad, Bob, on and off the field."

Harris played alongside Tambling at Chelsea for eight years after making his first-team debut in 1962.

The defender went on to become the club's all-time record appearance maker with 795 outings for the Blues.

As well as winning the League Cup with Tambling, Harris also lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971.

He left the club in 1980 to join Brentford before retiring three years later.

- Ciaran Wiseman

ISRAEL FOOTBALL DISPUTE TO 'HEAT UP' AFTER PROTEST IN IRELAND

Ireland’s football match against Qatar was stalled by pro-Palestinian protests as pressure builds on upcoming games against Israel.

Palestine flags are displayed in the stands as part of a protest during the match in Dublin [Cathal Mcnaughton/Reuters]

Republic of Ireland midfielder ‌Jamie McGrath has warned that the controversy surrounding Nations League games against Israel could intensify after their friendly win over Qatar in ⁠Dublin was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests.

Ireland are set to host Israel at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on October 4, ⁠while a September 27 fixture designated as an Israel home match is expected to be staged at a neutral venue.

Qatar"s match against Ireland was part of their preparations for this summer’s World Cup, where they begin their campaign against Switzerland on June 13. Ireland failed to qualify for the event.

Earlier this month, leading Irish footballers joined with celebrities in a campaign ‌calling for a boycott of Israel’s matches, but Ireland’s governing body for football (FAI) has said it will go ahead with the fixtures and that a refusal to play could lead to disciplinary measures.

Tennis balls featuring the Palestinian flag were thrown on to the pitch in Thursday’s friendly, ⁠causing the match to be halted twice, ⁠and McGrath expected more protests to follow.

“I’m sure it’s going to heat up over the next few months. We (the players) don’t want to be put into ⁠a position,” he told the BBC’s Northern Ireland bureau after the match.

“It’s obviously a unique scenario. The people [protesters], we have to listen to them, they have the right to do what they do, as long as it’s done in a peaceful way, that’s all that matters.

“Hopefully, the powers above us can work something out or use it for the greater good, I’m not sure what the process will be as it heats up.

"At the end of the day, we’re footballers and we don’t want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to.”

In November last year, 93 percent of FAI members voted ‌for ‌its leadership to press UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from Eu huropean competitions.

On Tuesday, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a protest at the Dail (Irish parliament).

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has also regularly weighed in on the debate and, ahead of the Qatar match, said his players must “win this war” against Israel in the upcoming matches.

McGrath was pressed further on the matter as to whether he believed a resolution would be found ahead of the matches.

“To be honest, I’ve no idea,” he replied.

“We obviously touched on it a few days, I’m sure as it heats up, it might be taken out of our hands, I’m not sure.”

- Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters

UEFA CONFIRM QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR EURO 2028 COMPETITION

epa10911066 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after the UK and Ireland were elected to host the Euro 2028 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

UEFA have announced the qualifying system to enter the EURO 2028 tournament, with news host nations England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will not be given automatic participation.

As is often to case now, the competition will be hosted not by a single nation, but with a combination of different countries sharing the venues.

Italy and Turkey will be co-hosts for the EURO 2032 tournament.

epa10911065 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after Italy and Turkey were elected to host the Euro 2032 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Number of EURO 2028 co-hosts poses problem for UEFA

In the case of EURO 2028, it will be England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

As having all four of those given an automatic berth would reduce the options for others, UEFA has confirmed they will all have to come through qualifying.

Italy are vying to be one of the 20 nations qualifying for the competition, with 12 going through as group winners, and eight as the best-placed runners-up.

There are four remaining spots to be assigned, two will go to the two best-ranked host nations who failed to qualify directly.

Another two are assigned via play-offs between the remaining runners-up and the sides who ranked best in the 2026-27 Nations League, but still didn’t qualify as group winners.

This means the number of spots open via the play-offs will depend on how many of the co-host nations qualify.

The qualification schedule should be finalised this autumn.

EURO 2024 was won by Spain.

- Susy Campanale

ROBBIE KEANE APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF HUNGARIAN CHAMPIONS FERENCVROS

Former Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has been appointed head coach at Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.

The 44-year-old, who left his role as Maccabi Tel Aviv boss in June having guided the Israeli club to the league title, replaces Pascal Jansen following his departure for New York City FC.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “We announce the successor to Dutchman Pascal Jansen to lead our 35-time champion and 24-time cup winner team, as the 146-time national team player of the Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane has signed on Monday.

“The new head coach arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening and will leave on Tuesday to join our team at the training camp in Spain.”

Keane scored a record 68 senior international goals during a 19-year playing career which included spells with Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, LA Galaxy and Aston Villa.

He moved into coaching in 2018 as player-manager at ATK in India and worked as an assistant to Ireland boss Mick McCarthy during his second spell in charge, and later took up a similar role under former Spurs team-mate Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough.

He was part of Sam Allardyce’s staff at Leeds as they unsuccessfully tried to pull off an unlikely escape from Premier League relegation at the end of the 2022-23 season, but was then offered the chance to manage in his own right by Maccabi.

Robbie Keane (left) served as an assistant to Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy (Niall Carson/PA)

Keane guided the Tel Aviv club to a league and cup double and took them to the last 16 in the European Conference League in his one season at the helm.

However, his reign attracted criticism at home in Ireland after he opted to remain in his post following Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Keane, who will be joined in Budapest by assistant coach Rory Delap and analyst Phill Hudson, later said he had stayed on for the sake of his players and staff and revealed he had rejected a lucrative offer to carry on his work.

- Damian Spellman, Pa

CRISTIANO RONALDO: PLAYING EURO 2024 AGED 39 'A GIFT'

Cristiano Ronaldo will represent Portugal at a record-extending sixth European Championship. Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

 Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has called the national team "the love of his life" and considers it "a gift" to still be playing at the highest level aged 39.

Ronaldo warmed up for his record-extending sixth European Championship by scoring twice in Tuesday's 3-0 triumph over the Republic of Ireland to increase his international men's record goal tally to 130.

"I know I don't have many years of football left," Ronaldo said. "It's a gift to play year after year, after 35. I'm 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream."

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has represented Portugal since 2003 and lifted the European Championship in 2016.

"For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love," he said. "Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record.

"Playing in 2004, when I made my [European Championship] debut, or playing today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn't get any better than this."

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez recently described Ronaldo as "unique."

Despite missing out on silverware this season, Ronaldo scored a Saudi Pro League record 35 goals for Al Nassr in his first full campaign at the club.

"The most important thing is that I am well physically and psychologically," Ronaldo said. "I am prepared, I always prepare in the best way, I am 100% professional. I will be ready as always to help our country [at the Euros] and respect the coach's decisions."

Ronaldo did not start in Portugal's last two games at the 2022 World Cup, including their 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarterfinals.

The benching, according to then Portugal coach Fernando Santos, was not well received by the player.

Portugal, now under Martinez, are among the favourites to win Euro 2024.

Asked if they can replicate the feat of 2016, Ronaldo said: "The thought has to be that, be positive, take it step by step. Dreaming is free and this team has the talent to dream. Nothing can be achieved without work, we have to work and fight.

"We need to take advantage of this generation of talent to do something beautiful at the European Championship. But I repeat again: talent is not enough. We have to work. We want to start the European Championship in the best possible way."

Portugal kick off their Group F campaign against Czechia on June 18. They also play Turkey and debutants Georgia in the first stage.

- Adriana Garcia

ROBBIE KEANE: KEANE WILL RETIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL DUTIES

Robbie Keane has announced that he will  no longer serve his country...He said he will retire the Republic of Ireland duties after playing with Oman...In 145 appearances he has scored 67 goals for his country...He said it has been an incredible journey and words cannot express the 18 year with the Irish team. 

EURO 2016: BELGIUM WAZINDUKA NA KUWACHAPA IRELAND 3-0

Belgium wamefufuka na kucheza mpira mashabiki wao walikuwa wanataka leo baada ya kumwachapa Republic of Ireland 3-0...Ni ushindi wa kwanza wa Belgium...Mabao 2 yalitoka kwa Romelu Lukaku na 1 kutoka kwa Axel Witsel...Hali ni tete kwa Ireland kwani wako chini kabisa ya Group E wakiwa na point 1...

Itabidi wacheze Italy Jumatano ili wazee kupata nafasi nzuri ya kufuzu 16 bora...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.