Berlin (AFP) – Marco Reus has called on Germany to win back the trust of their fans when they launch their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign against old rivals the Netherlands on Sunday. Germany were booed by fans in Wolfsburg during their 1-1 friendly draw against Serbia last Wednesday, and Reus has said that it is […]

Dhaka (AFP) – A young Bangladeshi architect has earned fame after his digital drawing of footballer Lionel Messi was matched in real life six years later. Suhas Nahian's 2013 artwork shows Messi dribbling past a group of players in green and white, leaning his head forward as one of the defenders grabs his red-and-blue Barcelona […]

Berlin (AFP) – Marco Reus has called on Germany to win back the trust of their fans when they launch their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign against old rivals the Netherlands on Sunday. Germany were booed by fans in Wolfsburg during their 1-1 friendly draw against Serbia last Wednesday, and Reus has said that it is […]

Tirana (AFP) – Albania have sacked national team football coach Christian Panucci after losing their opening Euro 2020 qualifier 2-0 to Turkey, the local football federation said on Saturday. The 45-year-old Italian, who made his name as a defender with Roma, Monaco and Real Madrid, had been in his job for 15 games since July […]

London (AFP) – Wales manager Ryan Giggs said midfielder Aaron Ramsey missing his country's opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday due to injury is a "blow". The 28-year-old Arsenal star — who is to join defending Serie A champions Juventus next season — has returned to his club having failed to recover from […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany stars Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry have spoken out in condemnation of the racist abuse directed at team mates Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan during Wednesday's draw with Serbia. "It is ridiculous to cheer on one player and insult another just because of their skin colour. Racism has no place in […]

London (AFP) – Scott Davies stood in his kitchen and held a knife to his chest as he contemplated the wreckage of his football career due to an obsession with gambling. Now he makes a career out of warning other players of the perils of betting. The 31-year-old former Ireland under-21 international, who describes himself […]

London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate hailed Raheem Sterling's coming of age on the international stage after hitting his first hat-trick for the Three Lions in a 5-0 demolition of the Czech Republic on Friday. The burgeoning talent at Southgate's disposal was on show as 18-year-old's Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi also played their […]

Paris (AFP) – Raheem Sterling showed that he is coming of age on the international stage as his hat-trick saw England start their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by hammering the Czech Republic 5-0, while Antoine Griezmann inspired France to a battering of Moldova. Manchester City attacker Sterling had scored just two goals in his first […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's friendly against Morocco next week after picking up a groin injury in the shock 3-1 defeat to Venezuela on Friday as he made his first international appearance since the 2018 World Cup. Barcelona star Messi started the fixture following a self-imposed eight-month exile in which he missed […]

London (AFP) – England thrashed the Czech Republic 5-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Friday: Here are three things we learned from the Wembley clash: Sancho seizes his chance Jadon Sancho gave a tantalising glimpse of his vast potential with an eye-catching display in his first competitive England start. The 18-year-old had made […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Ukraine snuffed out Portugal on Cristiano Ronaldo's return to international football, defending stoutly as they held the European champions to a goalless draw in their opening Euro 2020 Group B qualifier on Friday. Ronaldo was handed the captain's armband by Portugal coach Fernando Santos for his comeback nine months since he last […]

Madrid (AFP) – Argentina suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Venezuela on Friday as Lionel Messi made his first international appearance since the 2018 World Cup. Barcelona star Messi started the fixture following a self-imposed eight-month exile in which he missed six friendlies since the tournament in Russia, which they exited in the last 16 […]

London (AFP) – Raheem Sterling dedicated his hat-trick in England's 5-0 rout of the Czech Republic on Friday to a Crystal Palace youngster who recently died of leukaemia. Sterling has been touched by the plight of Damary Dawkins, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2014 and passed away on Sunday aged 13. When […]

Chisinau (AFP) – Winger Antoine Griezmann scored one and set up another as World Cup winners Frances easily beat Moldova 4-1 in Chisinau in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Friday. The Atletico Madrid attacker opened the scoring in the 24th minute of the Group H encounter before crossing for Raphael Varane to double the […]