Milan (AFP) – France will take to the field for Thursday's Nations League semi-final against Belgium in Turin with something to prove following their shock early exit from Euro 2020. World champions France were among the favourites to win the summer's European Championship but failed to set the tournament alight despite having a squad packed with […]

London (AFP) – Premier League matches are once again being played in packed stadiums after Britain's successful coronavirus vaccine rollout — but the reluctance of many players to get jabbed is proving a headache for football authorities. The UK has one of the highest overall virus death tolls in the world, at more than 137,000, […]

Sydney (AFP) – Football Australia pledged Wednesday to investigate historic allegations of sexual harassment in the women's game raised by former members of the national team. Star striker Lisa De Vanna, who earned 150 caps for Australia before her retirement last month, said she was regularly subject to predatory behaviour early in her career. Her claims […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders Barcelona got the defence of their Women's Champions League title off to a impressive start on Tuesday with a crushing 4-1 win over Arsenal while former women's Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg made her long-awaited return for seven-time champions Lyon. Crowned champions after thrashing Chelsea in a clash of first-time finalists […]

Berlin (AFP) – Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm, the tournament director for the Euro 2024 finals, said Tuesday he is opposed to the controversial idea of staging a World Cup every two years. "I find the current rhythm should remain as it is," said Lahm, who captained Germany to their 2014 World Cup triumph and […]

Prague (AFP) – Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick on Tuesday relished the form he had taken from Euro 2020 to Leverkusen, for whom he has scored six goals in seven Bundesliga games this season. "Everything is going to plan," Schick beamed with Leverkusen sitting second in the Bundesliga, trailing leaders Bayern Munich on goal difference. […]

Milan (AFP) – Luis Enrique insisted Tuesday that the Nations League is an important goal for Spain as they prepare for a rematch with Italy, who knocked them out of Euro 2020. Spain face Final Four hosts Italy at the San Siro on Wednesday looking for some form of revenge for their penalty-shootout defeat in […]

Bogota (AFP) – When the drugs police slapped the handcuffs on him in Naples last month, Anthony de Avila was wearing the colours of America de Cali, the controversial Colombian club where he became a star. The former international's arrest and conviction in Italy should be shocking but it is, in fact, just the latest […]

Milan (AFP) – Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday he wants Italy to keep their world-record unbeaten record going until after next year's World Cup as he prepares his team for their Nations League semi-final with Spain. Wednesday's match at the San Siro will be the sternest test of Italy's 37-match run without defeat since they […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said on Tuesday he wished Kylian Mbappe's transfer to the Spanish club would be finalised by January before back-pedalling on his comments later in the day. On Monday, World Cup winner Mbappe said he had told Paris Saint-Germain he wanted to leave the French capital last July, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany forward Thomas Mueller admits finding it hard to know how to interact with fans during the Covid-19 pandemic. "I can only say for myself that I am still very cautious about direct contact. I don't know exactly how I should behave," Mueller admitted during a press conference Tuesday, three days before Germany's […]

London (AFP) – Raheem Sterling says England want to make history by winning the 2022 World Cup after an agonising defeat in the final of Euro 2020. The Three Lions were a penalty shoot-out away from winning a first trophy since the 1966 World Cup before being edged out by Italy at Wembley in July. […]

London (AFP) – Alex Ferguson has added to the growing pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by criticising the Manchester United manager's decision to use Cristiano Ronaldo as a substitute against Everton. Solskjaer surprisingly left Ronaldo on the bench for the first 57 minutes of Saturday's damaging 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. United were leading 1-0 […]

Milan (AFP) – Serbia's Dusan Vlahovic will not renew his contract with Fiorentina, the owner of the Serie A club Rocco Commisso said on Tuesday, opening the door to an early exit for one of European football's rising stars. In an open letter to supporters posted on the club's website, billionaire businessman Commisso said the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mohamed Salah, fresh from scoring a brilliant goal for Liverpool against Manchester City, switches his attention to 2022 World Cup qualifying this week as Egypt hope to get their campaign back on track. The record seven-time African champions face surprise Group F leaders Libya at home and away and need at […]