New York (AFP) – United States coach Gregg Berhalter said Tuesday he will seek an attacking style of football when his reign gets under way next month with a friendly international against Panama. Berhalter, who was named as head coach on Sunday after a year-long search by the United States Soccer Federation, was formally introduced […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Former Boca Juniors idol Juan Roman Riquelme lashed out on Tuesday at the decision to hold the Copa Libertadores final in Madrid, saying it would make it "the most expensive friendly in history". Riquelme, 40, said holding the final between Argentina's two great rivals "won't be the same" at Real Madrid's […]

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) – In-form South Africa striker Lebo Mothiba has a smile back on his face following his traumatic transfer to Strasbourg as he looks to continue his recent sparkling form against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Mothiba, 22, broke down in tears when he left Lille at the end of August, but has responded […]

Oslo (AFP) – Ada Hegerberg's star status on the world stage was confirmed as she won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or on Monday, and yet back home in Norway she also stands out for her ongoing absence from the national team ahead of the World Cup. The 23-year-old aptly wore a gold dress as she […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ernesto Valverde is optimistic Luis Suarez will be fit to face Espanyol on Saturday, three days before Barcelona take on Tottenham in the Champions League. Suarez has been out with a knee injury since Barca's draw with Atletico Madrid on November 24, but the Uruguayan could be available for this weekend's Catalan […]

London (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday the Leicester fairytale which he played such a pivotal role in came to an end with the death of Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash in October. Ranieri is preparing to welcome Leicester to bottom club Fulham on Wednesday, the first time the amiable 67-year-old […]

London (AFP) – Eric Dier escaped a scolding from Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino over his celebration after scoring a goal in Sunday's derby with Arsenal which provoked a fracas between the teams. Pochettino — whose side lost ground on the leaders Manchester City after losing 4-2 to their North London rivals — said on […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepted on Tuesday a charge of misconduct levelled by the Football Association (FA), saying "if you break rules you have to pay for it." The 51-year-old German had been charged after his exuberant celebrations following Divock Origi's goal in the 96th minute for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby […]

London (AFP) – Highly-regarded midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is important to Chelsea and will not be leaving in the January transfer window despite the limited starting opportunites he has had this season said Blues manager Maurizio Sarri. The 22-year-old — who shone for England when he was selected at the World Cup finals — came on […]

Doha (AFP) – World Cup matches in Qatar could kick-off as early as 1000 GMT if it holds four games a day during the 2022 tournament group stage, organisers confirmed Tuesday. The other three games would start at 1300, 1600 and 1900 GMT, Nasser al-Khater, assistant secretary general for the World Cup organising body the […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain will be without the injured Neymar as they look to continue their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 this season on Wednesday's trip to Strasbourg. The world's most expensive player came off early in the second half in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Bordeaux after hurting the same groin he injured playing […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – The River Plate team will leave for Spain on Wednesday to play the second leg of the highly controversial Libertadores Cup final, the club announced on Monday. In a statement to the South American football federation CONMEBOL, the Argentinian club said the team would leave for Spain "Wednesday at 1400 local […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's home Ligue 1 game against Montpellier on Saturday has been postponed after a request from police in the French capital, the club said on Tuesday. The match was due to be played at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) at the Parc des Princes. No reason was given for the postponement but […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has acknowledged Manchester United are unlikely to meet his target of climbing into the Premier League’s top four by the end of 2018. However, the United manager has played down comments he made to Brazilian television suggesting that it would be a "miracle" if his team finished in […]

London (AFP) – Spanish international Cesar Azpilicueta, one of the longest-serving players at Chelsea, signed a new four-year contract on Tuesday which if he sees it out will take him to 10 years with the Premier League club. The 29-year-old defender — who joined the Blues in 2012 from French outfit Marseille and has won […]