London (AFP) – Southampton's dismal season hit a new low as the Premier League strugglers were dumped out of the FA Cup by second tier Derby after a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday. In a third round replay heavily influenced by the latest controversy over the use of VAR, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side blew a two-goal lead […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored one and set up another but could not prevent Atletico Madrid tumbling out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Girona progressed on away goals after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Real Madrid and Sevilla each avoided upsets, their first-leg victories proving enough despite losses to Leganes and Athletic […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored one and set up another but could not prevent Atletico Madrid tumbling out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Girona progressed on away goals after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Griezmann came off the bench in the second half and turned the tie in Atletico's favour, teeing up […]

Paris (AFP) – It was honours even between Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira as the old France and Arsenal teammates clashed for the first time as coaches on Wednesday in a controversy-laden 1-1 draw between Monaco and Nice. The presence of the two greats in the respective dugouts made an international event out of what […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal to hand Juventus their first trophy of the season with a 1-0 win over ten-man AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo — signed by the Italian giants last year from Real Madrid as they target a first […]

Dubai (AFP) – Iran finished top of their Asian Cup group on Wednesday after a hard-fought but goalless draw with arch-rivals Iraq at a packed Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The latest instalment in one of football's great rivalries began at a frenetic pace as the two teams reprised their classic 2015 quarter-final, won by […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – An effervescent Son Heung-min inspired title-chasing South Korea to a comfortable 2-0 victory over China on Wednesday to finish top of their Asian Cup group. Iran, joint favourites with the Koreans, also advanced as group winners despite being held to a goalless draw by bitter rivals Iraq, while Kyrgyzstan squeaked through […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United's iconic Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted on Wednesday he has spied on training sessions of all the Yorkshire side's opponents this season, adding more fuel to the debate over the tactic. Bielsa's side are four points clear at the top of the Championship, England football's second tier, after beating Derby […]

Dubai (AFP) – Iran claimed bragging rights over arch-rivals Iraq on Wednesday as they finished top of their Asian Cup group after an engrossing but goalless draw at a packed Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The latest instalment in one of football's great rivalries failed to live up to their classic 2015 quarter-final, won by […]

Doha (AFP) – Any decision by FIFA to increase the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams will only be made in agreement with hosts Qatar, a senior Gulf tournament organiser said Wednesday. Nasser al-Khater, talking to journalists in Doha, said at the moment the country was continuing to prepare for a 32-team tournament in three […]

Monaco (AFP) – Cesc Fabregas has admitted it was a wrench leaving the Premier League for a second time as he looks forward to helping his old mentor Thierry Henry turn around the fortunes of Monaco. The Spanish star moved to the Mediterranean principality last week from Chelsea, bringing to an end 13 years spent […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – An effervescent Son Heung-min inspired title-chasing South Korea to a comfortable 2-0 victory over China on Wednesday to finish top of their Asian Cup group. Hwang Ui-jo and Kim Min-jae were on target as the Koreans, boosted by the arrival of their talisman, ran China ragged in Abu Dhabi. Son won […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery believes he will be handed the time necessary to "get Arsenal back to where the club deserves to be" despite a recent slump threatening the Gunners' chances of a return to the Champions League. After a 22-game unbeaten run between August and December, Arsenal have lost three of their last […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic says Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez is unlikely to join the German champions this January as they look to replace their ageing squad with younger talent. Bayern, who trail Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund by six points, kick-off the second half of the German league season at […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Nineteen months of diplomatic rancour will be recast as 90 minutes of football when isolated Qatar take on Saudi Arabia in a clash bristling with political symbolism at the Asian Cup on Thursday. With Saudi Arabia the chief protagonist in a Gulf crisis that has left Qatar, the 2022 […]