Grenoble (France) (AFP) – Cristiane hit a hat-trick to ensure Brazil barely missed injured star Marta and opened their Women's World Cup campaign by brushing aside Jamaica 3-0 in Grenoble on Sunday. Cristiane started in place of Marta, who has not recovered from a thigh injury. The 34-year-old, collecting her 139th cap, headed in the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South Africa coach Stuart Baxter named a surprise-free 23-man squad Sunday for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt from June 21 to July 19. France-based Bongani Zungu and Lebo Mothiba are the only selections who play for clubs in the top five European leagues. Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, first and […]

Valenciennes (France) (AFP) – Barbara Bonansea ensured Italy a dramatic return to the women's World Cup after a 20-year absence on Sunday with a stoppage time winner that gave her team a last-gasp win over tournament dark horses Australia. Juventus' Bonansea popped up at the back post to head home the winner having already levelled […]

Valenciennes (France) (AFP) – Barbara Bonansea fired Italy to a remarkable comeback win over Australia after her brace, including a stoppage time winner, claimed a 2-1 Group C victory on Sunday. Juventus' Bonansea pounced on a dreadful first touch from Clare Polkinghorne to race through and level for the Italians 11 minutes after the break […]

Cary (United States) (AFP) – Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who will be right in the firing line for Canada at the women's World Cup in France, knows all about the fight for equality in a male-dominated sport. The 32 year-old is the player who wanted to take on the men at their own game, literally. After […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Macau's football chiefs have said they will not send a team to Sri Lanka for a World Cup qualifying match this week, citing security fears following the deadly Easter suicide attacks. The decision sparked a rebuke from Sri Lanka's football authorities who insisted the country was safe for international matches and […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar is expected to be sidelined for four weeks by the ankle injury that has ruled him out of the Copa America with Brazil, his club Paris Saint-Germain said Saturday. Two club doctors diagnosed his injury as a "sprain of the lateral ligament" in his right ankle, adding he would not require […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Substitute Oliver Burke ensured Steve Clarke's reign as Scotland manager got off to winning start as his late goal condemned minnows Cyprus to a 2-1 defeat in their European Championship qualifying match at Hampden. Scotland's talismanic captain Andy Robertson, buoyed by his recent Champions League success with Liverpool, fired in a sensational […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Germany launched their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China on Saturday, while Spain came from behind against first-time participants South Africa to win 3-1. In the final game of the evening, Norway scored three goals in 20 minutes in the middle of the first half to beat Nigeria […]

Konya (Turkey) (AFP) – World champions France slumped to a 2-0 loss to Turkey in Euro 2020 qualifying on Saturday amid a red-hot atmosphere in Konya. Kaan Ayhan headed Turkey ahead on the half-hour mark and Cengiz Under fired in a second before half-time to give the hosts a first ever win over France. Didier […]

Athens (AFP) – Italy crushed Greece 3-0 to notch up their third win in as many games and pull three points clear at the top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group in Athens on Saturday. The four-time world champions have put the failure to qualify for last year's World Cup behind them, and have now been […]

Reims (France) (AFP) – Former champions Norway kicked off their Women's World Cup campaign with a routine 3-0 victory over Nigeria, despite the absence of Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg. Guro Reiten's deflected shot gave the 1995 winners the lead on 17 minutes in Reims before a powerful strike from Lisa-Marie Utland doubled their advantage. […]

Borisov (Belarus) (AFP) – Germany assistant coach Marcus Sorg hailed an "impressive" performance after his team eased to a routine 2-0 win over Belarus in Saturday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Borisov. With Joachim Loew still convalescent after his recent accident in the gym, Sorg directed proceedings from the dugout as a young Germany side outclassed […]

Borisov (Belarus) (AFP) – Leroy Sane and Marco Reus both found the net as Germany eased to a routine 2-0 win over Belarus in Saturday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Borisov. Sane and Reus scored either side of half-time in a dominant performance which saw Germany notch up 23 shots to Belarus' six. The win puts Germany […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Germany launched their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China on Saturday, while Spain came from behind against first-time participants South Africa to win 3-1. Teenage midfielder Giulia Gwinn scored the only goal for Germany, for whom Lena Oberdorf became her country's youngest World Cup player at 17 years […]