Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Germany's football stars went back to school Tuesday as part of another charm offensive aimed at repairing the damage from their World Cup debacle last summer. Ahead of Thursday's friendly against Russia in Leipzig, captain Manuel Neuer, forward Leroy Sane, winger Julian Brandt and forward Timo Werner fielded questions from schoolchildren […]

London (AFP) – Former England midfielder Joe Cole announced his retirement on Tuesday after making more than 700 appearances for seven clubs including West Ham and Chelsea. Cole, who turned 37 last week, said his career had been "a dream come true" and he now hopes to move into coaching. His final club was Tampa […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been sidelined with a foot injury that could leave him in a race for full fitness ahead of a crucial league clash with Barcelona. Costa hobbled off during a 3-2 league win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, which saw the capital side close to within a […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus was forced to sit out with a foot injury as Germany were put through their paces in training Tuesday ahead of an upcoming friendly against Russia. The 29-year-old playmaker bruised his foot on his way to scoring a brace for Dortmund in a 3-2 Bundesliga win […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former Olympic Games football gold medalists Cameroon find themselves among minnows this week when African qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo tournament kicks off. The central African country host Chad in Yaounde Friday with the second leg of the first round tie set for N'Djamena next Tuesday. Cameroon and Chad are far apart […]

Paris (AFP) – Qatar is considering offers from other countries to host teams during the 2022 World Cup, but no decision has been taken yet, the head of the organising committee told AFP on Monday. Iran has recently offered to host teams who will play in tiny Qatar in the World Cup which starts in […]

New York (AFP) – Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the Los Angeles Galaxy was named Monday as Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year, defeating England's Wayne Rooney among others for the award. Ibrahimovic won in a balloting of MLS coaches and players plus a media panel with an average of 36.36 percent support to […]

Washington (AFP) – Wayne Rooney says he is honoured to make a final appearance for England and happy for manager Gareth Southgate to decide his playing time Thursday against the United States. Former Manchester United star Rooney, in video comments released Monday by his Major League Soccer club DC United, detailed his excitement at earning […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite was forced into some late changes to the squad that will face Uruguay and Cameroon in friendlies in England after Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho and Real Madrid pair Marcelo and Casemiro pulled out through injury. Tite called up Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara on Monday to replace Casemiro, who is […]

Paris (AFP) – Qatar is considering an offer from Iran to host teams during the 2022 World Cup, but no decision has been taken yet, the head of the organising committee told AFP on Monday. Iran recently offered to host teams who will play in tiny Qatar in the World Cup which starts in just […]

London (AFP) – The Football Association is seeking an explanation from Pep Guardiola regarding his comments about referee Anthony Taylor prior to last weekend's Manchester derby, British media reported Monday Manchester City boss Guardiola did not appear to say anything controversial or critical about the official but the FA, English football's governing body has made […]

Rome (AFP) – Far-right Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday that urgent action was needed after a young referee was attacked following a weekend match in the region of Lazio surrounding Rome. Riccardo Bernardini, 24, suffered head injuries after being set upon following a match between Virtus Olympia and Atletico Terranova in the Promozione […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the Football Association's betting rules, the English governing body announced Monday. The FA said the allegations related to events that took place in January of this year. Sturridge is alleged to have broken rules that prohibit the […]

Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps has attacked Paris Saint-Germain's alleged racial profiling of players as "unacceptable and intolerable". Last week French investigative website Mediapart claimed that the Ligue 1 club's talent scouts operated a system of racial profiling for years. The revelations prompted the French champions to launch an immediate investigation. PSG's […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has said the club cannot afford to worry about the form of champions Manchester City while they continue their own bid to win the Premier League title. City head into the international break two points clear of second-placed Liverpool after a 3-1 derby win at home to […]