PATRICK COLLINS: In a week of sound and fury, of passionate conviction and vigorous dissent, the voice of Steve Bruce soared out above the din to give his contribution to the Ched Evans saga.

The most depressing words of this young sporting year were spoken by Jimmy Anderson. One of the more discordant sounds of an English summer is the distant drone of him sledging.

PATRICK COLLINS: Sport at its cleanest and brightest generates a sense of wonder, a feeling that peaks are being scaled and limits are being breached.

PATRICK COLLINS: Bolt, Ali, Woods, Pele, Bradman and a precious few others — Jack Nicklaus, certainly, and, in time, Lionel Messi — constitute an elite on whom the term ‘genius’ sits lightly.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: With Carlo Ancelotti as a manager and Duncan Ferguson as a mentor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is getting the best of both worlds. He can become a true No 9.

JAMIE REDKNAPP - Word is Jordan Henderson could be fit to face Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's second leg at Anfield and do not underestimate the impact that would have for this team. 

As a result of his support, Michu reached out to the Borussia Dortmund star to send him a signed Brugos jersey with Haaland's name on the back. 'Wow what a legend!!' Haaland responded.

David Alaba believes that Bayern Munich teammate Robert Lewandowski should be rated alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best player's in the world. 

Jorge Mendes' house in Portugal has been searched by Portuguese tax authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.

The Barcelona captain scored from the penalty spot with nine minutes remaining to give his side all three points, and in doing so scored his 438th La Liga goal in his 474th appearance.

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo could be seen pretending to high five the absent fans as he made his way off the team bus ahead of the match at Allianz Stadium in Turin.

The footballer, 35, is self-isolating after his Juventus team-mate Daniele Rugani tested positive for COVID-19, however his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez did enjoy some retail therapy on Tuesday.

Writing in Spanish, she said of the Portuguese star: 'By your strength and courage you will always be our HERO. By protecting us at night and by day you will be our GUARDIAN ANGEL.'

AS report that Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has spent a significant amount of money buying 200,000 gowns and three ventilators for the hospital in Porto.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes will finance three intensive care units for patients suffering from coronavirus at hospitals in Lisbon and Porto - with the donation worth £1million.

Former Manchester United winger Nani jokingly revealed global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo everything he knows in an interview this week. 

Pele this week said that he believes Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi, a view that goes a long way in strengthening the Portuguese's case. But what have other legends made of the rivalry?

The current nationwide lockdown is due to expire on Friday but Italian health experts have said the need to try to contain COVID-19 will likely last weeks beyond that.

The global sporting vacuum caused by the coronavirus pandemic continued this week but a lack of live action hasn't stopped the debate. Here's 10 things we learned from the past seven days.

Cristiano Ronaldo had initially agreed to swap shirts with former Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino before his penalty was saved during a 3-0 win in Turin last year.

Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez took part in a couple's workout during a lockdown exercise session on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo was every inch the doting dad as he shared an early morning selfie with his kids and partner Georgina Rodriguez on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the two biggest stars in world football. Though Roberto Mancini has claimed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 'on the same level'.

A tricky game has been sweeping social media in which you are challenged to select a World XI, who you've seen play, but with no two players having represented the same club or country.

Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend, 26, showcased her sensational figure in a workout video she shared to Instagram on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo 's girlfriend, 26, made sure to keep up with her fitness routine during the quarantine, as she took to Instagram to share another workout video on Friday.

The Spanish beauty, 26, fully exposed her pert bottom in a black thong while appearing to air laundry on a clothes rail.

The forward was accompanied by members of his family and a huge security presence on Monday evening as he made his much awaited return to Italy.

The former Arsenal veteran believes his country should be positive after their narrow defeat to Spain but has called on his side's youngsters to step up on the big stage.

While Group A, B and C may be taking shape, attention turns to Group D and E on Friday. Italy stormed to a 2-0 victory over Belgium and will want more success against Sweden.

UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Association for the chaotic scenes that saw Mark Clattenburg halt the Euro 2016 Group D fixture on Friday night.

Although the permutations over the third-place teams who will progress are complicated enough to require some serious mathematics the make-up of the individual groups are rather simpler.

Euro 2016 may have got the final it deserved as Portugal beat France in a low-key affair on Sunday night, but the fans showed that they were the life and soul of the party over the past month.

CHRIS WHEELER AT GENERALI ARENA: It wasn’t pretty by any means but Northern Ireland have the point they wanted to get their World Cup qualifying campaign up and running.

KIERAN GILL AT WINDSOR PARK: Michael O'Neill may need to start brushing up on his Russian after his Northern Ireland side guaranteed a top-two finish in World Cup qualifying Group C.

The manager of the Czech Republic national team Karel Jarolim has left his position by mutual consent, the country's Football Association said on Twitter on Tuesday.

The Prague-West county court on Tuesday turned two previous suspended sentences for drunk driving into jail terms because of his convictions for other crimes since receiving the initial terms.

SAMI MOKBEL IN PRAGUE: England boss Gareth Southgate is set to keep faith with Jadon Sancho for tonight's Euro 2020 clash in Czech Republic, and will start ahead of Marcus Rashford.

MARTIN KEOWN - INSIGHT: Gareth Southgate will have learned a lot about his players on Friday in what would have been a very disappointing night for him. 

Stuart Dallas has called on Northern Ireland to pick themselves and get a result in Monday's friendly against the Czech Republic after Thursday's last-gasp defeat to Holland left them floored.

The Real Madrid superstar believes he is now back to his physical peak and playing with a menacing smile on his face as he edges closer to a summer move away from the Spanish capital.

Before the tournament begins Gareth Southgate's side will travel to Vienna on June 2 to play Austria, before returning to England for a tie against Romania at an undecided English stadium.

Following news that Kane would be out of action until April after tearing his left hamstring while playing for Tottenham, there were calls to bring Vardy out of international retirement.

The 49-year-old singer sported a comfortable black sweatsuit and checkered shoes to pick up a few things at the local market with her country star beau.

The country musician turned 43 on June 18 and after he got a birthday kiss from a seal, the singer has revealed his partner got him a 'Welcome to the Ranch' sign made for their home.

The Anaheim, California thanked Kanye, and tagged his wife Kim Kardashian into the post, asking, 'Please send me whole version Kanye' with the hashtag, #dontwasteyourpain.

They've been dating since 2015. And on Saturday, Gwen Stefani proved her relationship with Voice co-host Blake Shelton is still going strong when she Insta-storied a video of herself supporting him.

The 49-year-old singer and Blake Shelton, 43, flirted, mouthed 'I love you' and fought over contestants on Monday's season 17 premiere of The Voice. 

Blake Shelton took to social media to say: ''Happy Birthday @gwenstefani!!!! I love you so much it's actually stupid… And possibly illegal in the state of California.'

The beauty turned 50-years-old and her country music star boyfriend Blake Shelton made sure his sweetheart of nearly four years was appreciated. The country crooner was seen bringing a cake.