Football's youngest nation Kosovo are on the brink of qualifying for their first ever World Cup and will achieve the remarkable feat with victory over Turkey in tonight's playoff final. That same year, Kosovo played Turkey in a 6-1 defeat and still haven't forgotten the respectful 'gesture'. Posting ahead of Tuesday's crucial match, Kosovo football wrote: 'Back in 2014, when no one would face us, Turkey showed up. 12 years later... we’re on our way to a World Cup final.' The World Cup playoff is also a huge night for Turkey, who have not qualified for the tournament since finishing third in 2002.

Middlesex are 'drifting towards irrelevance' and chairman Richard Sykes must stand down, according to a bombshell open letter to the club's members from half a dozen of their legendary figures, led by ex-England captain Mike Gatting. The group of six international cricketers, which also included Mark Ramprakash and West Indies great Desmond Haynes, expressed dismay at the direction of travel. ‘As former players of Middlesex, we have become increasingly disturbed at the way the club has been allowed to sink to its current level,’ they wrote. Middlesex is first and foremost a cricket club, but the leadership lacks any real cricketing knowledge. Only one person with first-class cricket experience occupies a Board position, while only two such former players appear on any of the club’s committees.

A fresh theory on why Ben White quit England's camp at the 2022 World Cup has emerged after the Arsenal defender returned to the international fold over the past week. 'This is what I’m led to understand has happened with Ben White,' Durham said. 'When asked about it, Ben White got really upset about it to the point where he quit England. 'There has been no story that has ever come out of the World Cup when Ben White left to say that Gareth did something wrong or Steve Holland did something wrong,' he said. Ben White needs to explain why he walked out of an England camp in a World Cup.

“It is a serious, serious problem,” Mr Clogher said, speaking at AGSI’s 48th Annual Delegate Conference in Westport, Co. Mayo. It is expected that he will be asked about improving social media protections for gardaí. Giving a recent anonymous example of online abuse, Mr Clogher said: “Different rumours were put up about the person. “And these are members [gardaí] just carrying out their duty. Social media companies “have a very significant responsibility” in this sphere, he said.

Bomb squad at the scene outside police station in Co Armagh (Photo: Kevin Scott/BelfastTelegraph)A delivery driver in Lurgan, Co Armagh, was threatened at gunpoint and forced to drive his car with an object inside to the town’s police station, sparking a major security alert, Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has said. The alert was sparked after the car was abandoned outside a police station close to Church Place in the town. Several streets were cordoned off while bomb disposal experts examined the vehicle. “There is absolutely no place for this utterly reckless and abhorrent behaviour. Bomb squad at the scene outside police station in Co Armagh (Photo: Kevin Scott/BelfastTelegraph)Today's news in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, March 31“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is due to get underway.”

Wet and windy weather is in store for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, as Met Éireann says rain, cold, and some wind will dominate those days. Dry weather and spells of sunshine will follow from the northwest with highs of 10C to 14C before it becomes cooler as the rain clears. Friday night will see clear spells and showers early before it becomes cloudy and temperatures drop as low as 3C. There is potential for wet and windy weather on Saturday, with highs of 10C to 13C before it quickly becomes cold during the evening. Rain will give way to clear spells and scattered showers and some of these may turn wintry as temperatures fall to between 0C and 3C.

Alongside them in the second-tier competition will be Ulster and Connacht, and Ireland’s imprint on that tournament has been minimal. Only Leinster, in 2013, have won it outright and that remains the only time we have had an Irish finalist. LEINSTER:If ever a side didn’t add up to the sum of its parts then it is Leinster this season. Five defeats in their first 14 URC games tell a story that goes deeper than the elite players. All five of their Six Nations players – Prendergast, Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray and Billy Bohan – returned in fine fettle and Lancaster has already given notice of an intent to make it to Bilbao.

Roberto De Zerbi is set to take on the sizeable task of keeping Tottenham in the Premier League after talks between the parties reached an advanced stage, the Press Association understands. Reports in De Zerbi’s homeland of Italy on Monday morning stated he was now willing to listen to Tottenham’s advances and had a five-year contract offer on the table, which would make the 46-year-old the club’s fourth head coach in the last 10 months. Tottenham therefore turned to Tudor as interim head coach, but his shambolic 44-day reign produced five defeats in seven matches alongside a catalogue of questionable tactical choices and only increased the realistic threat of a first relegation since 1977. However, PA understands Tottenham expected a new head coach would be hired by the middle of this week to give them 10 days to prepare for the April 12 trip to Sunderland – and that is set to be De Zerbi. Igor Tudor (left) departed Spurs on Sunday, with Bruno Saltor (right) tasked with overseeing training (Bradley Collyer/PA)Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach all expressed their concerns with ‘No to De Zerbi’ statements.

WHATSAPP group chats now sit quietly in the background of daily life, picked up in spare moments, during a tea break, or when we’re looking for a quick distraction. Some WhatsApp group chats are purely functional: Reminders about World Book Day, arrangements for a Zumba class, updates on workplace events. For many, that’s where group chats have found their place — not as a replacement for friendship, but as something that keeps it going in the background of busy lives. That flexibility is part of what makes WhatsApp group chats work so well. Some group chats are purely practical, but the ones we return to most are often those built on friendship.

Man Utd given Sandro Tonali encouragement as Newcastle CEO makes transfer admissionManchester United have been linked with a move for Newcastle and Italy star Sando Tonali as they look to strengthen their midfield this summerView 2 Images Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been linked with Manchester United (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson has admitted the club will have to be open for business as Sandro Tonali continues to be linked with Manchester United. Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba have been among the names linked alongside Tonali. View 2 Images Sandro Tonali continues to be the subject of speculation (Image: PA)“For me, Isak was a good sale (in terms of getting a British record fee). England's 2026 World Cup kits This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Everyone is waiting for the World Cup; then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but it all kicks off after the World Cup.”United have also been linked with Tonali's Newcastle teammate, Bruno Guimaraes.

The ­procedure is used to investigate polyps (a benign growth in the womb), unexplained bleeding and causes of infertility. Dawn recalls: ‘On the day, before the procedure, the consultant said I might feel a bit of cramping. ‘That’s why postmenopausal women or breastfeeding women can find it more painful.’The coil is then inserted through the cervix. Sometimes, if the cervix is too rigid, other instruments are used to dilate it – some women find this intensely painful. HOW TO IMPROVE IT: Dr Byrom says the size of the speculum used is crucial.

Turning the corner into summer, here's a mix of further positives to be accentuated and rooms to be improved. A welcome conundrumBrian Hurley began Cork’s opening two League games. His latest cameo, in Sunday’s League final, saw him finish the goal that brought a flailing Cork back into contention. Sherlock’s 11 orange flags were the main driver in a marginal increase in Cork’s two-point total, up three from last spring to 22. No-one needs to linger on Cork's lack of a clinical final product in previous campaigns.

Donald Trump has reportedly signalled he is willing to end the Iran war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The President yesterday threatened to bomb Iran's power plants, oil wells, desalination plants and Kharg Island if the waterway is not opened 'immediately'. But according to the Wall Street Journal, he has told aides he would be willing to pull out of the conflict if the strait remains blocked. It comes after the US unleashed devastating air strikes on an ammunition depot believed to house Iran's enriched uranium. Follow the latest updates on the US-Israel war with Iran

Minister for Finance Simon Harris is set to outline a plan to encourage Irish households to invest in a special savings scheme. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish TimesMinister for Finance Simon Harris is set on Tuesday to unveil the outline of a plan to encourage households to invest, with money put into a special savings scheme set to attract only a small flat rate of tax – and avoid taxation on capital gains. The Swedish tax rate is currently 1.065 per cent. The aim is that all investments made within the account would receive consistent tax treatment, he will say. The plan is in line with a push by the European Commission for EU member states to adopt tax-friendly models to encourage individuals to invest.

“One of the problems is Irish Rail’s ‘flexible’ ticket, which is barely flexible at all. But once you make the outward journey you cannot change the time on the return journey. [ The Irish rail network’s absurd lack of connectivityOpens in new window ]“Like your reader, I’ve never complained to Irish Rail about having to buy a second ticket, delayed trains, long waits in Limerick Junction, seat allocation not being displayed, antisocial behaviour etc. He did not do that.”She says it appears that “Irish Rail has changed their policy recently but they have not informed the public. “At very busy times, we may prioritise those with online tickets in boarding first to assist those with seat reservations.