OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Are we so desperate for football to return that we turn a sport that we cherish for its escapism, its tribalism and its beauty into a giant sterile zone?

The spread of coronavirus has brought the world of sport to its knees after multiple multi-million pound tournaments were postponed or cancelled as the death toll continues to rise.

The Premier League had already warned their 20 clubs last month that they were budgeting for a £1.1bn loss because of refunds to broadcasters, ticket-holders and commercial partners.

IAN LADYMAN: Football has a bigger heart and much greater intelligence than many may think and during this tricky time we are beginning to see it but the game needs to do more to publicise it.

Many wives and girlfriends of footballers are household names. But given just how many famous WAGs there are, can you match the woman to the footballer from a choice of four players?

Most footballers eye a career in coaching or punditry after hanging up their boots but Radamel Falcao is planning to go against the trend by turning his hand to baseball. 

Radamel Falcao bagged the winner on his Galatasaray debut against Kasimpasa on Friday night. The 33-year-old scored the only goal of the game as the Turkish champions won 1-0.

The scramble for Euro 2020 places comes to its conclusion this week as the final international fixtures of the year are played out across the continent.

Take a look at Jerome Sinclair's social media accounts, and you won't find out much. No tweets since 2017, and all of his profile pictures are black. In a way, it is a sad reflection of his struggles.

Daniel Sturridge has left Turkish club Trabzonspor because he has been suspended from all football-related activity worldwide until the middle of June following an appeal by the FA

The announcement of all public activities being restricted or completely shut down until March 29 include the expectation that international friendlies at the end of the month will be cancelled.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Having given up £1million of his salary, England manager Gareth Southgate must have been rather surprised to end up as the villain on Sunday.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

ON THE ROAD - ADAM SHERGOLD: Ronnie Radford's famous goal for Hereford in 1972 is generally considered a great football moment. But not in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There were only a few hours between Trabzonspor stating that Sturridge's contract had been terminated, and the specific explanation.

Lineker secured numerous achievements as a pro, including promotion with Leicester, an FA Cup at Tottenham, and a Copa del Rey at Barcelona. Now, though, he's better-known elsewhere.

Floyd Mayweather was dropped only once during two unbeaten decades in professional boxing, but already in retirement the 42-year-old has hit the floor harder than he ever did in the ring. 

COMMENT - JEFF POWELL: After more than 130 seasons of playing through rain, snow, ice and mud, our most over-paid and molly-coddled stars are getting a mid-winter break.

Sergio Ramos has explained the motive behind his celebration to mimic wearing glasses after scoring for Spain against Romania in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Rodri didn't leave Atletico Madrid to escape the intensity of Diego Simeone. If anything, things are even more demanding now under Pep Guardiola at Man City.

According to ESPN, Enrique (right) is not yet ready to make his return to football in any capacity after he stepped down from his role as Spain manager for personal reasons in June.

PETE JENSON: Carlos Matallanas has motor neurone disease. It's the same condition that Rob Burrow has recently been diagnosed with and what Doddie Weir has too.

The goalkeeper announced that he will run to become the next president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday. Porto president revealed that Casillas spoke to him.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill believes Germany will be more beatable at Windsor Park on Monday night with the four-time World Cup winners in the middle of a rebuilding process.

With six World Cup wins between them, Germany and Argentina need little introduction. Ahead of their friendly, ALEC FENN examines what has gone wrong with both nations, and what the future holds.

Experienced German centre-back Antonio Rudiger has played just 45 minutes all season for Chelsea after undergoing surgery on his knee back in April.

The latest batch of names, placing in from 20 to 11, includes a 21-year-old World Cup winner, a Brazilian who lifted 26 trophies this decade and a jewel in Manchester City's crown in the last decade.

KIT HOLDEN: The love affair between Bayern Munich and Thomas Muller is one of modern football's immovable certainties. A local boy with a goofy grin, Muller is the apple of Bayern's eye.

The head of the UK's football police unit has told clubs opposing plans to play at neutral grounds to 'get a grip'.Mark Roberts has reminded those complaining that 30,000 people in the UK died.

With England through to the quarter-finals, here is all you need to know about the history of England vs Sweden matches including the results, head-to-head stats and the 2002 World Cup meeting.

Spain midfielder Ceballos fouled Olsson and was subsequently shown a yellow card as Spain trailed in the match.

The 33-year-old Italian midfielder has decided to hang up his boots after leaving Russian outfit Zenit Saint Petersburg as a free agent in the summer.

Italian media have widely reported that Napoli will fine the players between one quarter and one half of last month's wages after they rebelled against an order by club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

SHERIDAN BIRD IN ITALY: Italy's love for football is on another level. But there is no live action. No sport. Where does all that energy go, and with no matches to talk about, what are fans doing?

Juventus defender Daniele Rugani was the first Serie A player to test positive for Covid-19, just days after he was in the matchday squad for the club's win over Inter behind closed doors.

The 16-year-old made his first appearance for Spain U21s as a substitute in their 2-0 win over Montenegro U21s on Tuesday night. He has been a sensation so far this season.

The title hopes of jump jockey Brian Hughes have been hit after he was suspended for three days for weighing in light on Carlisle winner Bingo D'Olivate.

The granddaughter of the late Lord Mountbatten has revealed how he gave up his German title of 'Prince Louis of Battenberg' when relations were at their worst with the country, during World War I. 

Prince George, 6, enjoyed a football themed birthday party at Kensington Palace. Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 37, hosted the 'after-school bash' before the family jetted off to Mustique.

Prince George, 6, charmed crowds yesterday after putting on an animated display at a football game. Royal fans gushed online about the little royal, commenting on how 'adorable' he is.

Prince William, 37, was given the football-themed gifts for Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1, during a visit to West Bromwich Albion Training Ground in Walsall yesterday.

Prince William, 37, revealed his son Prince George, six, had sent a list to Father Christmas ahead of this year's holiday and asked for something related to football or drawing.

Bana Ali, 54, was a Transport for London engineer and spent nearly a month in intensive care at the Royal Free Hospital before passing away on April 28.

The only Paris terrorist still at large, Mohamed Abrini, visited Britain and took potential reconnaissance pictures of a football stadium. He made the trip in July, just four months before Paris attacks.

Thousands of 'snowflake' students are to be issued with brightly coloured wristbands printed with their address and emergency contact details this Freshers Week.

The father of four-year-old Clara shared an image of his daughter watching an assistant female referee on the pitch at a local football match in Leeds. Nathan told his followers she wanted to be a ref.

What a bizarre book this is: three parts funny to one part stark, staring horror

The 28-year-old midfielder made the announcement on Monday, wanting to concentrate on his club career with Sheffield United - who are back in the Premier League after a 12-year absence.

The 39-year-old, who scored nine times in 80 appearances for his country and played at Euro 2016, was a free agent after leaving Rangers at the end of last season.

Both teams are talking up this match and the return fixture in Belfast next month as effectively being a play-off for a place in next summer's finals. Holland have missed tournaments in a row.