Lyon (AFP) – Netherlands star Lieke Martens remains a doubt for the women's World Cup final against the United States as she struggles to shake off a toe injury, coach Sarina Wiegman said on Saturday. "We are not sure if she can start, but we are working on it. We don't know the outcome yet, […]

Lyon (AFP) – USA star Megan Rapinoe hit out on Saturday at the scheduling of the women's World Cup final on the same day as two major men's international finals and said FIFA president Gianni Infantino's pledge to double the prize fund for the tournament is not enough. "It's terrible scheduling for everyone. That's a […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek signed a five-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Saturday. The 23-year-old made a strong impression during his first season as a regular in the Chelsea team last term and new Blues boss Frank Lampard is expected to make him a key part of his plans. […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata will join Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal after the end of his 18-month loan deal, the Premier League club announced on Saturday. The 26-year-old has been at the Spanish club since January, scoring six goals in 17 games. The Spain international was Chelsea's record signing when he […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo was interviewed by Portuguese police in early June as a witness in the investigation into the hacker behind the "Football Leaks" revelations, local media reported on Saturday. Ronaldo was heard as a "witness and victim" in "complete discretion" by the judicial police while in the country playing for Portugal in […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil will be looking to maintain their defensive invincibility against Peru in Sunday's Copa America final, midfielder Casemiro says. The hosts have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, including when they thrashed Peru 5-0 in a group-stage match earlier in the competition. And keeping their goal intact will […]

Lyon (AFP) – The United States head into the women's World Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday seemingly in such rude health that the biggest controversy surrounding the holders in recent days has been Alex Morgan's tea-sipping goal celebration against England. Morgan, one of the faces of the USA side that has made history […]

Cairo (AFP) – Democratic Republic of Congo sharpshooter Cedric Bakambu is relishing the chance to face giantkillers Madagascar Sunday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in Egypt. The countries last met in a 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier and Bakambu bagged a brace for the Leopards in a 6-1 triumph on the […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Rising Dutch star Frenkie de Jong said that Barcelona's promise to make him a "key player" convinced him to sign for the Catalan giants earlier this year, as he was presented at the Camp Nou on Friday. The 22-year-old midfielder impressed as Ajax won the Eredivisie title and reached the Champions League […]

Cairo (AFP) – Sadio Mane became the leading scorer in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Friday when he scored the goal that gave Senegal a 1-0 win over Uganda in a feisty last-16 clash. The Liverpool star struck on 15 minutes with a close-range shot after a passing move carved open the Ugandan defence […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil midfielder Casemiro warned fans on Friday that there would be no repeat of the 5-0 group-stage thrashing of Peru when the two sides meet in Sunday's Copa America final. Casemiro opened the scoring in their Group A encounter when hosts Brazil ran away with the match as Peru goalkeeper […]

Cairo (AFP) – Hakim Ziyech's missed stoppage-time penalty proved extremely costly as 10-man Benin stunned Africa Cup of Nations title contenders Morocco in a spot-kick shootout Friday to reach the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw in Cairo. Moise Adilehou forced home at a corner early in the second half to put Benin on course for […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Atletico Madrid have accused Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann of a "lack of respect" after the Catalan giants' president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed on Friday that the two clubs had held talks about the signing of the France international. In a statement, the La Liga club confirmed Bartomeu's earlier announcement that there had been […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian champions Juventus on Friday announced the signing of Turkish international defender Merih Demiral from fellow Serie A side Sassuolo for 18 million euros ($20.2 million). The 21-year-old made a strong impression after joining Sassuolo from Alanyaspor in January on loan with an obligation to buy. Juventus said he had signed a […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina's football association on Friday asked the company supplying the VAR technology being used at the Copa America to clarify whether Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's security team interfered with Tuesday's semi-final. Argentina lost 2-0 to hosts Brazil in front of the watching Bolsonaro at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte but […]