This is the ball that Rooney, Bale, Lafferty and the rest will be hoping to put in the back of the net at Euro 2016.

It is the official match ball of the tournament and called the Beau Jeu or for the non-French speakers among us 'the beautiful game.'

Alex Capstick
BBC Sport

"Confirmation from Musa Bility that his removal from the list of Fifa presidential candidates was down to a six month ban from all football activities in 2013. 

"He was punished for using confidential documents from African football’s governing body in a legal challenge against Issa Hayatou. 

"He led an unsuccessful bid to overturn a rule change which essentially ensured that Hayatou’s long reign as president of the organisation continued."

Image source, Getty Images

On Friday, Wales will take on the Netherlands in a friendly. Only one of those teams will be at Euro 2016. And it is not the latter.

Wales are set to hold a news conference for that game very soon and we will bring the best of what is said as soon as we have it.

Image source, Getty Images

The debate surrounding England's Rugby World Cup failure and the subsequent departure of head coach Stuart Lancaster continues to rumble on.

Ex-RFU Chairman Martyn Thomas told BBC Radio 5 live: “It's been shambolic. We won in 2003, 2007 was not as good. 2011 got poorer and as for 2015 we've come off the precipice

"To be a successful national international team coach you've got to have an X Factor. You've got to be a Steve Hansen, a Michael Cheika. Finding that individual is the difficulty and then slotting them into an organisation and it's not an easy task.”

Image source, Getty Images

More on the appointment of Shaun Derry as Cambridge United manager.

The 37-year-old had been available since his sacking by Notts County in March, when the club were one place above the League One relegation zone.

Former Crystal Palace and QPR midfielder Derry replaces Richard Money at a side currently 18th in the fourth-tier and has signed a deal until 2018.

As a player, he made a total of 652 career appearances for eight clubs.

Shaun Derry has been appointed as the new boss of Cambridge United.

The former QPR and Crystal Palace midfielder was sacked as manager of Notts County in March.

The U's parted company with manager Richard Money on 2 November with the club 18th in League Two and having won just five league games this season.  

Image source, Getty Images

Apparently, Manchester City are drawing up their shortlist of managers to succeed Manuel Pellegrini. Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola tops the list (as he does that of most top clubs). But coming in at number two (according to the Daily Star, external at least) is former Chelsea and Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.

This and more in today's gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

This is the moment that Serbian basketball player Natasa Kovacevic returned to action two years on from having her leg amputated after a bus crash.

At 6ft 2in and as a bronze medallist at the European Under-18 Championships in 2012, Kovacevic was seen as one of her country's most promising players.

But after her accident, intensive treatment and rehabilitation allowed Kovacevic to sign for Red Star Belgrade for whom she made her debut on Wednesday.

Image source, Rex Features

Hampshire have signed South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren as their overseas player for the 2016 season.

The 32-year-old played the last four County Championship matches for the county in 2015 as they avoided relegation from Division One.

McLaren, who has played two Tests for his country, will be available for the entire season across all three formats.

Image source, Getty Images

It has not been a good season for Chelsea so far. And it could get even worse, with news that Paris St Germain are sniffing around midfielder, external and last season's player of the season Eden Hazard and could make their move in the summer. The fee? A cool £80m. 

This and more in today's gossip column.

Image source, Getty Images

Over on BBC Radio 5 live, you can find a number of podcasts - including one presented by Mark Chapman, paying tribute to 11-time flat racing champion jockey Pat Eddery who died earlier this week. The 5 live team speak to Eddery's daughter Natasha Dunson about his battle with alcohol, plus friend and rival Willie Carson picks out his fondest memories. Listen to that podcast here.

Thanks to Grundy, who has suggested the tale of Ivan Fernandez Anaya.

The Spanish runner lost a race in 2012, external but became an internet sensation for his sporting gesture.

He was in second, some way behind race leader Abel Mutai of Kenya, bronze medallist in the 3,000m steeplechase at the London Olympics. 

As they entered the home straight the Kenyan mistakenly pulled up before the finish thinking he had crossed the line.

Fernandez Anaya caught up with him, but instead of passing Mutai to win, he stayed back and gestured to the Kenyan that he had made a mistake and allowed him to cross the line.

Keep the suggestions coming, and remember we want YOUR heart-warming sporting tales when you or someone else has done something to help others.

Image source, Getty Images

At the Stoke City's fans' forum on Wednesday night, Ryan Shawcross was presented with a year's supply of deodorant.

It was in response to Diego Costa's suggestion that the Stoke defender had a problem with body odour,, external following their tussle in Chelsea's defeat on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has been championing the 'Ryan Shawcross for England' bandwagon again.

Shawcross has impressed for the Potters since his return from back surgery in September.

Since coming back into the side, Shawcross has helped the Potters see off Newcastle and beat Chelsea twice - including a League Cup victoryon penalties.  

Speaking at a fans' forum organised by BBC Radio Stoke, Hughes said: "Ryan Shawcross should be involved for England. Why he isn't involved I have no idea. He has been outstanding for the club."  

Image source, Reuters

Will Cristiano Ronaldo ever rejoin Manchester United? Graham Hunter believes there is a greater chance of Ronaldo joining Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain. You can find out more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037sygw

Fifa will hold the election to determine Sepp Blatter's successor at a special congress on 26 February 2016.  

The Swiss 79-year-old announced he would be stepping down in June, with world football's governing body at the centre of a corruption scandal.

You can find profiles on the five candidates here.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

"Fifa election committee won't say why Musa Bility has been barred. But they say he has been informed and he can appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport.  

"The integrity check included a review of corporate records, litigation, bankruptcy... and a review of media reports concerning potential red flags.

"As previously announced by Fifa, Michel Platini's candidacy will only be assessed if his suspension is lifted ahead of the 26 February election date."

One candidate to miss out in the Fifa presidential elections is Musa Bility.

The president of the Liberian Football Association has been ruled out after failing integrity checks.

Image source, AFP

The five candidates to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president have been confirmed.

They are:

• Prince Ali bin al-Hussein
• Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa  
• Jerome Champagne  
• Gianni Infantino  
• Tokyo Sexwale