Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane was among the goals as Senegal cruised to a 4-1 win over Namibia on Saturday, and near-certain qualification for the final World Cup elimination round in Africa. Another victory over the Namibians on Tuesday will seal first place in Group H for the Senegalese, who are chasing a […]

Paris (AFP) – Scott McTominay scored an injury-time winner as Scotland came from behind to claim a crucial 3-2 victory over Israel in World Cup qualifying on Saturday, while England thrashed Andorra 5-0 to stay on track to reach next year's global showpiece. The win takes Scotland four points clear of Israel in second place […]

Andorra la Vella (Andorra) (AFP) – Jack Grealish and Ben Chilwell scored their first England goals as the Group I leaders moved closer to World Cup qualification with a 5-0 rout of Andorra on Saturday. Chilwell put Gareth Southgate's side ahead in the early stages before Bukayo Saka doubled the lead at the Estadi Nacional. […]

Paris (AFP) – Scott McTominay scored an injury-time winner as Scotland came from behind to claim a crucial 3-2 victory over Israel in World Cup qualifying on Saturday, while Sweden beat Kosovo to keep up their chase of Spain. The win takes Scotland four points clear of Israel in second place in Group F with […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scott McTominay's dramatic late goal gave Scotland a crucial 3-2 win against Israel in the race to qualify for the World Cup on Saturday. Manchester United midfielder McTominay netted deep into stoppage-time to send the 50,000 crowd at rain-drenched Hampden Park into ecstasy. Eran Zahavi had given Israel an early lead with […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Jorginho said that Italy wanted to get back to winning ways in their Nations League third-place playoff against Belgium after having their record unbeaten run ended earlier this week. Italy had racked up 37 games without defeat before losing 2-1 to Spain in Wednesday's semi-final, and the Chelsea midfielder said the […]

Milan (AFP) – Hugo Lloris said Saturday that he hopes France can give Antoine Griezmann a fitting way to celebrate his 100th international appearance by winning the Nations League. Les Bleus head into Sunday's final at the San Siro with Spain after a thrilling semi-final win over the world's top-ranked team Belgium, and Lloris was […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's on-form striker Karim Benzema has been dreaming of winning the Ballon d'Or since he was a little boy, he told Spanish daily AS in an interview published on Saturday. Benzema was selected on the long list of 30 for the 2021 Ballon d'Or on Friday a day after scoring as […]

Milan (AFP) – Adrien Rabiot will miss France's Nations League final with Spain after testing positive for Covid-19, the French Football Federation announced on Saturday. Juventus midfielder Rabiot, 26, will not travel to Milan for Sunday's clash at the San Siro and will not be replaced, the FFF said, with Les Bleus also deprived of […]

Milan (AFP) – France have got their groove back as they prepare for the Nations League final against Spain on the back of a thrilling comeback win over Belgium which helped ease the pain of a poor Euro 2020. Down by two goals at half-time on Thursday following quickfire strikes from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Riyad Mahrez celebrated being included on Friday among 30 Ballon d'Or nominees by scoring twice as he captained Algeria to a 6-1 thrashing of Niger in World Cup qualifying. The result in Blida kept the reigning African champions top of Group A, ahead of Burkina Faso on goal difference in a two-team […]

Paris (AFP) – Germany needed a late winner from Thomas Mueller to beat Romania 2-1 while the Netherlands eked out a 1-0 win in Latvia to stay on course for the World Cup finals on Friday. Four-time world champions Germany now have a six-point lead in Group J after their win in Hamburg. However, it […]

Hamburg (AFP) – Thomas Mueller rescued Germany with a late winner as the hosts came from behind to earn a nervous 2-1 win over Romania in Friday's World Cup qualifier to open a six point lead at the top of their group. Romania took a shock ninth minute lead in Hamburg when Rangers winger Ianis […]

Prague (AFP) – Aaron Ramsey and Daniel James inspired Wales to a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Prague on Friday that kept them in sight of the World Cup play-offs. Both teams have eight points in the fight for the second spot in Group E, trailing leaders Belgium with 16, but Wales have […]

New York (AFP) – Sporting Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernandez was suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2021 season by Major League Soccer on Friday for gambling on matches. The 23-year-old Colombian-born American engaged in extensive unlawful sports gambling while a member of the MLS club, including placing bets on two MLS matches in […]