Algiers (AFP) – Algeria's interim president missed the country's football cup final Saturday amid clashes between fans and police, a first in decades, local media reported. Violence broke out just before kickoff between supporters of CR Belouizdad and JSM Bejaia at Blida stadium, 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Algiers. Rowdy fans forced security forces […]

Algiers (AFP) – Algeria's interim president missed the country's football cup final Saturday amid clashes between fans and police, a first in decades, local media reported. Violence broke out just before kickoff between supporters of CR Belouizdad and JSM Bejaia at Blida stadium, 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Algiers. Rowdy fans forced security forces […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations outsiders Zimbabwe kept a third consecutive clean sheet in warm-up matches by drawing 0-0 with title contenders Nigeria in rain-lashed Asaba on Saturday. Zimbabwe, who will be in Group A with hosts Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, beat Comoros 2-0 last Saturday and drew 0-0 […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Phil Neville and his England women's team are determined not to wilt under the pressure of expectation as they enter the World Cup as one of the favourites going into their opening game against Scotland in Nice on Sunday. England are tipped to compete with holders the United States and hosts […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Virgil van Dijk deserves to win the Ballon d'Or should the Netherlands beat hosts Portugal to lift the first ever Nations League on Sunday, according to his club and international teammate Georginio Wijnaldum. Van Dijk was named man of the match as Liverpool claimed the Champions League last weekend. The centre-back […]

Grenoble (France) (AFP) – Brazil star Marta will not play in her country's opening women's World Cup match against Jamaica on Sunday due to a thigh injury, her coach has confirmed. "Marta's physical condition has improved, quicker than we had hoped, but it is a complicated injury," said Vadao at a press conference in Grenoble, […]

Guimaraes (Portugal) (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate insisted he cannot treat Sunday's Nations League third-place playoff against Switzerland as a "practice match" with tens of thousands of fans having travelled to Portugal to support his side. Southgate labelled those fans that caused trouble in Porto on Wednesday night ahead of Thursday's 3-1 semi-final defeat […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Defensive midfielder Giulia Gwinn scored the only goal on Saturday as Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over China in Group B. On a sunny but breezy early summer's day perfect for football, in front of a noisy crowd of 15,283 in Rennes, Germany, twice winners of this […]

Paris (AFP) – World Cup runners-up Croatia moved to the top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group as Ivan Perisic starred in a clinical 2-1 victory over Wales in Osijek on Saturday. Inter Milan winger Perisic was involved in both goals, setting up the first as James Lawrence deflected a cross into his own net […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Portugal's meeting with the Netherlands to decide the first ever winners of the Nations League on Sunday sees the unstoppable force of Cristiano Ronaldo face the immovable object in Virgil van Dijk. Ronaldo sat out the early stages of UEFA's new competition to save his 34-year-old legs for his first season […]

Paris (AFP) – France players savoured a "dream" opening to the women's World Cup after the hosts set the ball rolling in style with a 4-0 win over South Korea before a sell-out crowd on Friday in Paris. More than 45,000 supporters filled the Parc des Princes to watch Les Bleues cruise to a one-sided […]

Paris (AFP) – Some ten million viewers tuned in to see the Women's World Cup opening game on Friday as the 24 nation tournament got off to a colourful start. The tournament is being broadcast by both public and cable television in France with Friday's opener, a 4-0 win for France over South Korea, going […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a first-half double as Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Nicaragua on Friday in San Juan. The Central Americans, who will participate in this month’s Gold Cup tournament while Argentina battle it out in Brazil, frustrated the home side initially. But […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Nicknamed "Pele in a skirt" by the football great, the Brazilian star better known to her fans as "Queen" Marta will play in what could be her last women's World Cup in France. But the chances of winning the world crown that has eluded the 33-year-old veteran and her compatriots […]

Paris (AFP) – Host nation France crushed South Korea 4-0 in the opening game of the women's World Cup on Friday, leaving former winners Germany with plenty to live up to as they prepare to launch their campaign. It was a fine start to a tournament that has been billed as the biggest yet for […]