Football; Republic hit by withdrawals

Tony Cascarino and Eddie McGoldrick have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's European Championship Group Six qualifier against Latvia. Jack Charlton has already lost the Manchester United pair, Roy Keane and Denis Irwin, for the game at Lansdowne Road, which the Republic must win to maintain their challenge.

Cascarino is ruled out by a calf injury while McGoldrick is suffering from a hamstring problem. Their replacements are Blackburn's Jeff Kenna and Aston Villa's Steve Staunton.

Wales have been hit with three of their most experienced players withdrawing from their Group Seven game with Germany in Cardiff. Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Dave Phillips are ruled out by injury.

Bobby Gould has called up Gareth Taylor, who moved to Crystal Palace in a pounds 1.6m deal last week, Leicester's Iwan Roberts, Birmingham's Jason Bowen and Kurt Nogan, the uncapped Burnley striker.

The Bolton centre-back, Gerry Taggart, has been called in as a replacement for the injured Alan McDonald for Northern Ireland's Group Six match in Liechtenstein.