Quotes of the week

"I would say France have the home advantage because they are at home

"I would say France have the home advantage because they are at home." No flies on Kingstonian's French forward Amara Simba, previewing the France v England game.

"Of course it doesn't make it any easier for us - it just would have been more difficult if they had a full squad." Mick McCarthy sounding an awful lot like Kevin Keegan when asked if Holland's injury problems would make Saturday's game less tricky (with thanks to Colm).

"Now we know it works we don't just have to stick with it." Kevin Keegan (sounding an awful lot like Kevin Keegan) on how he plans to abandon the system he used against France, because it worked. Eh?

"Players are known to whisper comments about another player's mother or the size of parts of his body. I don't like that side of the game very much but if it helps us to win then it's worthwhile." Holland's Michael Reiziger on plans to call Roy Keane "Big Ears" during Saturday's game.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times