http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/ Read our national sports news for all the latest UK sport headlines and reports. Updates on all the main sporting events across the country. en-gb Birmingham Mail no Read our national sports news for all the latest UK sport headlines and reports. Updates on all the main sporting events across the country. national sports, sports news, UK sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/keane-won-t-give-up-on-world-cup-dream-97319-25218143/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:45:13 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/keane-won-t-give-up-on-world-cup-dream-97319-25218143/ Robbie Keane is refusing to accept that his World Cup dream is over despite FIFA rejecting the Republic of Ireland's call for a replay of their play-off with France. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/kidney-we-ll-be-ready-rain-or-shine-97319-25217455/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:45:15 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/kidney-we-ll-be-ready-rain-or-shine-97319-25217455/ Ireland rugby coach Declan Kidney continues to take an upbeat view of Saturday's international against Fiji at the RDS in Dublin despite an horrific weather forecast of wind and rain. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/jordan-expects-schumacher-comeback-97319-25217454/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/jordan-expects-schumacher-comeback-97319-25217454/ Former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan believes Michael Schumacher will replace Jenson Button at the newly-named Mercedes team for next season. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/moody-england-out-to-answer-critics-97319-25217456/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/moody-england-out-to-answer-critics-97319-25217456/ Lewis Moody insists England's wounded players are "chomping at the bit" to prove their army of critics wrong in Saturday's final autumn showdown against New Zealand. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/uefa-investigate-match-fixing-allegations-97319-25216928/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/uefa-investigate-match-fixing-allegations-97319-25216928/ UEFA are looking into 12 matches in the Europa League and three in the Champions League as part of their investigation into alleged match-fixing. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/south-africa-england-odi-abandoned-97319-25216586/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/south-africa-england-odi-abandoned-97319-25216586/ England's first one-day international against South Africa was washed out at the Wanderers on Friday. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/westwood-capitalises-on-duo-s-errors-97319-25216164/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:17 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/westwood-capitalises-on-duo-s-errors-97319-25216164/ Lee Westwood is back on course for a £1.6million jackpot on Sunday following a day of amazing twists and turns at the Dubai World Championship. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/replay-would-be-fair-henry-97319-25216163/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:16 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/replay-would-be-fair-henry-97319-25216163/ France captain Thierry Henry has admitted replaying the World Cup qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland would be "the fairest solution". National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/blair-ruled-out-97319-25215361/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:15 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/blair-ruled-out-97319-25215361/ Scotland co-captain Mike Blair was ruled out of Saturday's international with Australia. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/england-one-dayer-in-doubt-97319-25215362/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:15 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/england-one-dayer-in-doubt-97319-25215362/ England's opening MTN one-day international against South Africa was in danger of being washed out as rain continued to fall at The Wanderers. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/smith-rules-out-scotland-return-97319-25215360/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/smith-rules-out-scotland-return-97319-25215360/ Rangers manager Walter Smith has ruled himself out of the running to become boss of Scotland for a second time. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/top-bosses-back-video-assistance-97319-25215363/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/top-bosses-back-video-assistance-97319-25215363/ Sir Alex Ferguson believes the row over video technology will be futile until the game's powerbrokers change their own stance on the issue. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/mcilroy-leads-the-way-97319-25214722/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/mcilroy-leads-the-way-97319-25214722/ Rory McIlroy roared into the lead with a dazzling front nine of 31 at the Dubai World Championship today - and was on course for a £1.6million bonanza on Sunday. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/fifa-rule-out-irish-replay-97319-25214721/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:45:13 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/fifa-rule-out-irish-replay-97319-25214721/ FIFA have dashed the Republic of Ireland's hopes replaying their World Cup qualifying play-off with France. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/united-figure-out-ferdinand-injury-97319-25214723/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:45:13 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/united-figure-out-ferdinand-injury-97319-25214723/ Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Rio Ferdinand will not be consigned to a lengthy period on the sidelines after identifying the root of his current injury problems. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/setback-for-murphy-97319-25214385/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:45:15 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/setback-for-murphy-97319-25214385/ Birmingham defender David Murphy may require further surgery after suffering a setback to his recovery from a broken knee-cap. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/fifa-rule-our-irish-replay-97319-25214384/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:45:14 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/fifa-rule-our-irish-replay-97319-25214384/ FIFA have dashed the Republic of Ireland's hopes replaying their World Cup qualifying play-off with France. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/wilkinson-warning-for-england-97319-25213234/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:45:16 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/wilkinson-warning-for-england-97319-25213234/ Jonny Wilkinson has warned England will have to toughen up if they are to stand any chance of overturning the odds and beating New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/strauss-staying-out-of-twenty20-format-97319-25213236/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:45:16 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/strauss-staying-out-of-twenty20-format-97319-25213236/ Andrew Strauss has confirmed he has no plans to go back on his decision to stop playing Twenty20 cricket. National Sport http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/scholes-enjoys-a-break-away-97319-25213231/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:45:15 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/national/2009/11/20/scholes-enjoys-a-break-away-97319-25213231/ Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes enjoys the international breaks now he is no longer involved with England. National Sport