Berlin (AFP) – Germany's star player Dzsenifer Marozsan has been ruled out of her side's crucial Women's World Cup clash with Spain on Wednesday due to a foot injury, assistant coach Britta Carlsen said. Marozsan, 27, suffered a blow to her right foot during Germany's opening 1-0 win over China last Saturday, leading to doubts […]

Paris (AFP) – Argentina collected a first-ever Women's World Cup point with a determined defensive display against Japan on Monday, but holders United States can also expect to face a Thailand team determined to stifle on Tuesday. On a day of defence against attack, Argentina held Japan 0-0 in Paris in Group D while Canada […]

Oslo (AFP) – Guro puts in 60 to 70-hour weeks, half her time spent on football and the other half at her job, but that's just the way it is if you're a woman football player in Norway. The Scandinavian country made headlines when it announced in October 2017 that its national women's team would […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Ivorian Gervinho and Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho were significant casualties as 11 coaches named 23-man squads for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which kicks off on June 21. A 32-year-old veteran of five Cup of Nations, winger Gervinho was hopeful his impressive Serie A form with Parma would earn him […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – With Neymar sidelined by an ankle injury, Lionel Messi heads into the Copa America this weekend as the competition's main attraction but one with a desperate need to end more than a decade of hurt with Argentina. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has one of the most impressive trophy hauls […]

Paris (AFP) – Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata both scored penalties as Spain got the better of Sweden on Monday, while the Republic of Ireland and Poland continued their strong starts in qualifying for Euro 2020. Three-time European champions Spain ran out 3-0 winners in their Group F encounter with the Swedes at the Santiago […]

Paris (AFP) – On a day of defence against attack, Canada found the goal they needed to beat Cameroon but Argentina frustrated Japan and collected a first-ever Women's World Cup point. In Paris, Argentina restricted Japan, finalists in the last two World Cups, to three dangerous chances without creating a clear scoring opportunity of their […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata both scored penalties as Spain beat Sweden 3-0 on Monday to keep their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying intact. Spain struggled to break down a determined Sweden defence at the Santiago Bernabeu until Ramos struck in the 64th minute after Sebastian Larsson blocked Marco Asensio's cross […]

Milan (AFP) – Fifteen Serie A clubs have come out against the European Club Association's controversial plans to reform the Champions League, which are being backed by Italian giants Juventus, according to reports in Italy on Tuesday. Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who is also president of the ECA, last week defended plans to reform the […]

Paris (AFP) – Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the Women's World Cup. Japan, finalists in 2015 and winners in 2011, enjoyed almost two thirds of possession in front of a crowd of 25,000, but only forced two saves from […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry said on Monday he would 'love' to see Germany teammate and Manchester City star Leroy Sane join him at Allianz Arena. "I would love to have him at Bayern. I am having fun playing with him and he would be an improvement for our team," Gnabry, 23, […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Portugal's victory in the inaugural Nations League sparked celebrations long into the night in Porto on Sunday, but the hosts were far from the only ones happy at the end of UEFA's attempt to add more competition to the international calendar. A complex format that saw UEFA's 55 nations split into […]

London (AFP) – Newly promoted Aston Villa announced on Monday they had completed the signing of Netherlands international Anwar El Ghazi on a permanent deal from French club Lille. The 24-year-old midfielder has agreed a four-year contract, having spent last season on loan at Villa Park. El Ghazi starred in the Championship play-off final win […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler is hopeful that the Ferns can do enough at the World Cup in France to help the women's game grow in a country where rugby dominates and football often struggles for media attention. "It's a difficult one because rugby is so popular in New Zealand and everyone […]

Berlin (AFP) – Departing Bayern Munich defender Rafinha is returning home to join Brazilian club Flamengo, the Bundesliga champions confirmed on Monday. The 33-year-old bid farewell to Bayern last month after eight years at the club, and his contract officially expires on June 30. On Monday, both Flamengo and Bayern confirmed that the full-back had […]