A sprinkler ruined Trent Sainsbury's World Cup dream two years ago. The Socceroos defender is hoping for a much smoother run to football's showpiece event this time around.

A sprinkler ruined the Socceroo defender's dream two years ago.

Its another intriguing night of FFA Cup action on Tuesday with five lower league teams hoping that they can snare a place in the last eight and a likely meeting in a home tie with a big drawing A-League opponent.

Former Socceroos captain Paul Okon has been announced as the new Central Coast Mariners coach for the next two seasons.

Champions Barcelona came through a gruelling La Liga test at a rainswept San Mames, beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0 thanks to Ivan Rakitic's first-half header.

The Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang have emerged as unlikely, but crucial destinations in the topsy-turvy career of South Korean winger Son Heung-Min.

Australia's contingent of Europe based internationals will arrive in Perth with mixed feelings about their club's early season performances.

Toni Kroos' late score ensured Real Madrid won its home opener over a feisty Celta Vigo 2-1, while Atletico Madrid stumbled in a second straight round of La Liga.

Juventus has won 1-0 at Lazio in a Serie A match dedicated to the victims of the earthquake in central Italy.

Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy has helped Huddersfield Town to their best start to a season in 64 years with the Terriers moving to the top of the English Football League table following a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton.

After Chelsea continued their 100 percent start with a 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, a last-gasp goal by Marcus Rashford helped Jose Mourinho keep pace with his old club as Manchester United beat Hull City 1-0.

A fine first half garnished by goals from Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal a 3-1 win at Watford for their first Premier League victory of the season, easing the pressure on long-serving manager Arsene Wenger on Saturday.

Danny Rose scored a second-half equaliser to cancel out James Milner's penalty as Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to draw 1-1 with Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

A plan to open Caulfield Racecourse for more public space is a step closer to reality after key members of its controversial governing board said they would be prepared to stand down, rather than be sacked by the Andrews government.

When Preston North End pulled off a shock last Saturday afternoon and defeated Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Loftus Road two Socceroos, Massimo Luongo and Bailey Wright, were quick to put the contest behind them when the final whistle blew on this English Championship fixture

Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick helped give coach Carlo Ancelotti a flying start to his first Bundesliga campaign as Bayern Munich cruised to an easy 6-0 win over Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena

Lionel Messi's bleached blonde hairdo wasn't the only crisis the star soccer player went through this summer. If you'll recall, the 29-year-old shocked the world by announcing his retirement from the Argentine national squad right after losing to Chile for the second year in a row in the Copa America final.

Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being drawn in a tough Europa League group on Friday alongside Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk.

​Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has opened the door to out-of-favour midfielder James Rodriguez leaving the club by admitting the player's lack of appearances could become a problem.

The Cooma Tigers have launched a protest in a bid to claim the league championship.

• COMMENT

Hope Solo has been a big inspiration between the goal posts but a small person off the field.

Guardiola's City were paired with Barcelona - along with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Brendan Rodgers' Celtic - in one of the more intriguing and eye-catching groups as the Champions League draw was made in Monaco.

After six months of working without a contract, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to get a pay deal.

Canberra Stadium has emerged as a potential venue for an FFA Cup blockbuster if Canberra Olympic secures a fixture against Socceroos legend Tim Cahill next month.

Melbourne Victory have won the race to sign Marco Rojas, with the New Zealand winger opting to return to the A-League club where he shot to fame.

National team goalkeeper Hope Solo has been suspended for six months by US Soccer after branding Rio Olympic opponents Sweden cowardly.

His home ground at Everton may have seen him playing before 40,000, but Tim Cahill has described his first club kick in Australia as "humbling".

An Angelo Konstantinou strike sent social media into overdrive as Canberra Olympic moved into the FFA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Redlands United.

Socceroo Tim Cahill has made his first senior club appearance in Australian football, coming on as 64th-minute substitute in Melbourne City's 2-1 victory over Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup round of 16.