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Hell hath no 'five-yard fury' than an England player scorned. Or something like that. Three Lions midfielder Jack Wilshere says Roy Hodgson's hungry side have been focusing on hunting down the ball more since their disappointing World Cup campaign.

"We've been working on closing down the ball more since the World Cup. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're on the right path and before the Euros we've got a lot of work to do.

"But we talk about the five yards fury a lot. We've been talking about the first five yards when we lose the ball, the way we hunt it down, and we did that well against Scotland.

"If you win it in the opposition half you're always going to be a bit more dangerous."

World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu has questioned the decision to give the 2019 World Athletics Championship to Doha.

Ohuruogu believes the heat in the Qatari city could put the health of endurance athletes at risk.

"To have the extra pressure of your body having to work against that heat, I just wonder how many people will manage," she told the Guardian., external

"It's a concern. Maybe the sprinters can get away with it because they are not out there for that long but for the guys who are running laps and laps, they are pushing their bodies to the limit anyway.

"To add the extra ingredient of extreme heat, I would be worried about what would happen to them and their health."

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Australia have beaten South Africa by 73 runs in Canberra to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day international series.

The home side hit an impressive 329-5 in their 50 overs with Aaron Finch scoring 109.

Hashim Amla also hit a ton for South Africa, making 102 before being dismissed, but his side could only get to 256 in their 44.3 overs with Mitchell Starc (4-32) and Josh Hazlewood (3-51) leading the Australian bowlers.

Jon Parsons:, external Loving the ambition shown by the FA in their friendly choices. Some real tests after an easy autumn.

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These England matches will take place ahead of Euro 2016, with France set to visit Wembley on 17 November next year and the Germany game being held in March 2016.

The FA has already announced fixtures against Italy on 31 March and Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 7 June.

"It's very encouraging that our search for opposition in the international weeks has led to quality teams such as France, Spain and Germany - with Italy and the Republic of Ireland already announced for 2015," says England boss Roy Hodgson.

"They will complement the important Euro qualifiers which remain the top priority and we are taking nothing for granted."

Patriotic passions still stirred by Scotland v England, Three Lions fans? Now you can get excited by the prospect of another adrenaline-pumping clash against Germany.

The Football Association announces England will face the world champions, along with Euro 2016 hosts France, as part of their preparations for the continental tournament (assuming they don't suffer a Devon Loch-style collapse in the qualification stage).

The FA is also hopeful of arranging further games against European title-holders Spain and World Cup semi-finalists the Netherlands.

Hampshire golfer Richard Bland says his success on this year's European Tour has been a "big step forward" for him.

The 41-year-old, who finished fourth at October's Portugal Masters, earned more than £368,000 - his best-ever haul - but just missed out on qualifying for the lucrative Race To Dubai season finale.

When asked how he reflected on the past year, Bland told BBC Radio Solent: "With a lot of positivity. "I was a little disappointed I didn't make top 60 (qualifying for Dubai)."

He continued: "However, a year ago I was lying on an operating table having a knee operation and missing the first part of the season. I probably played more consistently this year. I've had more top fives so it was a big step forward."

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England will name their starting XV to face Samoa later - but Billy Vunipola, Danny Care and Kyle Eastmond are not going to be hearing their names read out by head coach Stuart Lancaster.

The trio have been sent back to their clubs after failing to make the 23-man squad for Saturday's match at Twickenham.

Lancaster has brought in James Haskell, Richard Wigglesworth and Billy Twelvetrees instead following defeats by New Zealand and South Africa.

GP2 Series champion Jolyon Palmer will be a test driver for Sahara Force India in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday.

The 23-year-old has already wrapped up this year's GP2 title, which has been won in the past by Nico Rosberg (2005), Lewis Hamilton (2006) and current Lotus duo Pastor Maldonado (2010) and Romain Grosjean (2011).

"Sahara Force India have shown their faith in me by offering this opportunity and I am looking forward to repaying their trust in Abu Dhabi," says Palmer. "I have worked very hard for a chance like this and I want to help the team get the most from this test session."

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Missed any of England's 3-1 win in Scotland? Then let BBC Radio 5 live talk you through the goals in this handy catch-up. All 90 minutes rolled into under 90 seconds. Bitesize.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Steven Davies has signed a new contract with Surrey to run until the end of the 2016 season.

The 28-year-old, who has played eight one-day internationals and five T20 matches for England, joined Surrey from Worcestershire in 2010.

Andrew Neill:, external England had an easy win against unspectacular opposition. Judge them against better teams who we should be playing in friendlies.

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Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says he will interview Malky Mackay for his club's managerial vacancy despite the furore which followed his departure from Cardiff.

The Latics are in the bottom three of the Championship and manager Uwe Rosler was sacked last week.

Mackay was dismissed by Cardiff last December and came close to taking over at Crystal Palace in August, only to see that possibility dashed when details emerged of text messages, sent by Mackay, which he later admitted were "disrespectful of other cultures".

"I can confirm Malky Mackay has applied and we will speak to him," Whelan told the Daily Telegraph. "I believe he deserves a fair hearing."

England have won six games in a row. They last won six internationals in a row back in June 2006 (eight wins in succession).

Gareth Wilkinson:, external N. Ireland aren't losers for sitting second in their group with more points than Wales.

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Scotland captain Scott Brown insists the 3-1 defeat by England will not harm his side's Euro 2016 qualification prospects.

Brown does not expect the disappointment to affect Gordon Strachan's team when they meet Gibraltar in March.

"The lads will be hurting from this but the main thing is the qualifiers. We have games to look forward to and we'll bounce back," he tells BBC Scotland. "We let ourselves down against England, we weren't positive enough."

The British Paralympic Association has announced Penny Briscoe as the Chef de Mission for the GB team at the Rio Paralympics.

Briscoe, who is the BPA's Director of Sport and did the same role at the Sochi Winter Paralympics, will be responsible for all aspects of the team in the build-up to and during the Games.

BPA chief executive Tim Hollingsworth will be the Secretary General, focussing on the off-field activities, while chairman and former Paralympic medallist Tim Reddish will be the President and Head of Delegation.

Martin McHugh:, external Great Home Nations game! Not one player rolling on pitch crying for sympathy. Once again, this is FOOTBALL!

That leads us nicely into asking for your thoughts on the winners and losers of the international week.

Is Wayne Rooney a winner - after going from people questioning his England selection to being a two-goal, 100-cap hero? Are Scotland winners - for the crucial Euro 2016 qualifying win against the Republic of Ireland? Can Wales be classed as winners - even though they earned a draw, a very credible one at that, against Belgium?

And what about losers? Northern Ireland - for failing to continue their unbeaten start? Already-depleted Manchester United - as three more of their players, David De Gea, Daley Blind and Angel Di Maria, picked up injuries? Or those fans who shelled out £40 or more to watch Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at Old Trafford - only to see the pair depart after 45 minutes?

Let us know using #bbcsportsday on Twitter, via text on 81111, or by posting on our Facebook page., external

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The dust has settled on England's 3-1 win over Scotland in their friendly international in Glasgow on Tuesday night.

But who was man of the match and who disappointed?

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty & Alasdair Lamont have rated the players from both sides - see if you agree with their assessments?