England’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in Brazil next year were boosted last night when group leaders Montenegro were thrashed 4-0 at home in a bad-tempered game by Ukraine.

A look ahead to tonight’s game in Novi Sad

Champions League game in England is one of 700 fixtures that Europol say are under suspicion

Ahead of David Cameron's much-vaunted speech on Britain's relation with Europe, our Chief Economics Commentator surveys the Prime Minister's options

The Independent has apologised and will pay a substantial sum to charity for an article that falsely claimed that Peter Cruddas, the former co-treasurer of the Conservative Party, was under formal police investigation.

Scotland probably need to win in Brussels to save the manager's job

England's players were due to meet up for the first time at their plush new HQ in Burton with coach Gary Neville admitting the best way to prepare for Friday's World Cup qualifier with San Marino might be to scare themselves by wondering what would happen if it all went wrong.

Up to £3bn will be raised by 2016 from UK taxpayers with money hidden in Liechtenstein, surpassing previous expectations, HM Revenue and Customs has said.

Up to £3 billion is set to be raised by 2016 from UK taxpayers with money hidden in Liechtenstein, surpassing previous expectations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said.

How much do you care if our government was being corrupted by shady donors? What would you be prepared to pay once a year to stop it happening? The cost of half a pint of beer? Too much? How about a pound coin? Still too much? Surely we can settle for 50p then, the price of a first-class stamp?

Brazil's Fifa member and 2014 World Cup chief, Ricardo Teixeira, spent three hours being questioned by fraud investigators this week, according to reports from Rio de Janeiro.

Spain must share the blame for an ugly brawl that marred their friendly game against Chile on Friday and the image the team projected was regrettable, said the world champions' coach Vicente del Bosque.

Craig Levein is not weighed down by the pressure he will be under as Scotland host the Czech Republic at Hampden Park this afternoon. Scotland must win, and win again against Lithuania on Tuesday if they are to finish second in Group I and enter the qualification play-offs.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been on the phone and there is a pile of nine DVDs of Czech Republic matches to watch. "I go from being here most of the time," says Craig Levein of his workload as he holds his hand low, palm down. "Then all of a sudden it's up here." He smiles as he raises his arm, but the impression is still of a serious, often intense manager; he reflects, in his tone and his mood, the gravity of the events Scotland are about to face.