Sao Paulo (AFP) – Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal on Saturday vowed to strike fear into Japan when the two sides meet in their Copa America opener on Monday. The two-time reigning champions are not among the favourites this time around having lost some of the players who took them to the 2014 World Cup and […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid captain, married Spanish TV presenter Pilar Rubio in Seville on Saturday in a 'Galactico' wedding that he said would be "like no other" although he was coy on whether AC/DC were playing. The crowd, who had gathered at Seville's famous 16th century cathedral to watch the […]

Lodz (Poland) (AFP) – Ukraine recovered from the shock of falling behind to an early penalty as they beat South Korea 3-1 to win the under-20 World Cup final in Poland on Saturday. Vladyslav Supriaha was the star for Ukraine, the 19-year-old Dynamo Kiev player scoring twice as his country won the prestigious title for […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid captain, married Spanish TV presenter Pilar Rubio in Seville on Saturday in a 'Galactico' wedding with hundreds of celebrity guests and AC/DC booked as the band. The crowd who had gathered at a famous 16th century cathedral to watch the celebrities arrive were delirious at the […]

Paris (AFP) – United States coach Jill Ellis insists her team's allegedly over-exuberant goal celebrations in their record demolition of hapless Thailand at the women's World Cup were nothing to do with humiliating their opponents and all about pride from "years and years of hard work". The holders began their defence of the trophy by […]

Valenciennes (France) (AFP) – Vivianne Miedema became her country's all-time record goal-scorer with a brace as the Netherlands saw off a spirited Cameroon 3-1 on Saturday to secure a place in the last 16 of the women's World Cup. Miedema's goals came either side of a close-range Dominique Bloodworth strike for the European champions in […]

Valenciennes (France) (AFP) – Vivianne Miedema scored twice as the Netherlands saw off a spirited Cameroon 3-1 on Saturday to secure a place in the last 16 of the women's World Cup. Miedema's goals came either side of a close-range Dominique Bloodworth strike for the European champions in Valenciennes, with Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene netting for […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – A brace from Philippe Coutinho handed hosts Brazil a winning start to the Copa America on Friday in a 3-0 victory over Bolivia as the absence of superstar Neymar was quickly forgotten. Barcelona's Coutinho scored from the penalty spot early in the second half and added a close-range header three minutes […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has been served with court papers related to a rape lawsuit in the United States, according to documents filed by his lawyers on Friday. Five-time world player of the year Ronaldo is accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga, who claims the Portuguese soccer star assaulted her in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The four Africa Cup of Nations Group C sides will have differing ambitions in Egypt this month with Senegal and Algeria eyeing the title and Kenya and Tanzania last-16 places. Algeria were crowned champions in 1990 when they hosted a then eight-team affair while Senegal came closest to glory in 2002, losing […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Following Japan's training session, Eiji Kawashima cut a lonely figure trotting gently around the pitch as his team-mates headed to the changing rooms at Sao Paulo FC's training complex. The 36-year-old goalkeeper stands out amongst the youthful Japanese squad brought to Brazil to make a second appearance as guests in the […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Her uncompromising management style may have divided opinion amongst players past and present, but United States head coach Jill Ellis is happy to let her results speak for themselves. The 52-year-old English-born Ellis stands on the cusp of history in France, with a chance to become the first coach to win […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – Phil Neville hailed the togetherness of his England side after they joined Germany, France and Italy in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup thanks to a hard-fought victory over a dogged Argentina. Jodie Taylor broke a 14-month goal drought to shoot England past Argentina and into the knockout […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – New teenage Real Madrid signing Takefusa Kubo said it was an "honor" to be nicknamed the "Japanese Messi" when speaking to reporters at the Copa America on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Spanish giants Real announced the 18-year-old was joining the record 13-time European champions from FC Tokyo, to play for […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – Jodie Taylor broke a 14-month goal drought to shoot England past Argentina and into the last 16 of the women's World Cup on Friday after Cristiana Girelli's hat-trick saw the Italians through with a 5-0 hammering of hapless Jamaica. Euro 2017 top scorer Taylor tapped home her first England goal […]