Madrid (AFP) – Luis Enrique named a much-changed Spain squad on Friday as Isco, Saul Niguez and Koke were all left out while the 33-year-old Jesus Navas earned a surprise recall. Eight players were called up who were not in the previous squad, including Navas, Sergi Gomez, Juan Bernat, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City have a strong enough squad to cope if the club are banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows. City face a FIFA ban after breaking rules related to the protection of youth players and third-party ownership, according to a report in […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the […]

Brussels (AFP) – Belgium could be without Romelu Lukaku despite being picked in Roberto Martinez's 28-man squad for their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and Cyprus, after the Manchester United striker picked up a foot injury this week. Lukaku, who may not travel for United's FA Cup quarter final this weekend, is another headache […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, spearheading the ambitious country's attempts to become a footballing force at last. It was not immediately clear if the former Juventus and Real Madrid star will lead the team on a temporary or permanent basis — Chinese media speculated […]

Paris (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur clash in an all-Premier League tie following Friday's draw. The second leg will take Solskjaer back to the Camp Nou, where in 1999 the Norwegian won United the Champions League by coming off the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has offered a way back for Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo at Real Madrid as he prepares for his first game against Celta Vigo on Saturday since being re-appointed as coach. Bale, Isco and Marcelo have all endured difficult seasons under Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, with Bale heavily criticised […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo was named in defending European champions Portugal's squad on Friday nine months after his last international appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. With Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia coming up, coach Fernando Santos has recalled Ronaldo, who has 85 goals in 154 international appearances. He was […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool won't underestimate Porto after being handed a Champions League quarter-final clash with the Portuguese underdogs in Friday's draw. Klopp's side will go into the Porto tie as heavy favourites to advance to a semi-final showdown against Barcelona or Manchester United. Liverpool crushed Porto 5-0 on aggregate in the […]

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal will take on Napoli in the pick of the ties in the quarter-finals of this season's Europa League following Friday's draw, as Chelsea were paired with outsiders Slavia Prague. Unai Emery's team will host Napoli at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg on April 11, with the return in Italy […]

Paris (AFP) – Marseille's sudden recent revival has coincided with the arrival of Mario Balotelli, and they take on Paris Saint-Germain this weekend hoping for a long overdue victory against their old foes. PSG have not lost any of their last 18 meetings with Marseille in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat at the Velodrome […]

Paris (AFP) – Manchester United will face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur clash in an all-Premier League tie following Friday's draw. Liverpool were drawn to play FC Porto in the knockout rounds for the second year in succession, as Ajax's reward for eliminating the holders Real Madrid is […]

Abuja (AFP) – Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu will miss Nigeria's next two games due to injury, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Friday. The Super Eagles play the Seychelles in their last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 22 then take on Egypt in a friendly four days later. Nigeria are top of […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has invited Paul Scholes to come back to Manchester United if he wants any advice after leaving Oldham Athletic. United midfield great Scholes resigned as manager of fourth tier English league side Oldham on Thursday after just 31 days in charge, having become frustrated by the extent […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City will be banned by FIFA from making signings in the next two transfer windows after they broke rules related to the protection of youth players and third-party ownership, according to a report in the Sun newspaper. The club are already being investigated by the Football Association and Premier League over […]