Paris (AFP) – A defiant Joachim Loew praised Germany's display in Tuesday's 2-1 UEFA Nations League defeat by world champions France as he lamented "a totally unjust penalty" awarded to the hosts. Antoine Griezmann hit a pair of second-half goals, including the winner from the spot, as France recovered from falling behind to a Toni […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Brazil snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over Argentina with an injury-time header from Miranda in their friendly match in front of a sell-out crowd in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The Inter Milan centre-back was left all alone to thump in a 93rd-minute effort from Neymar's corner when the match […]

Paris (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann hit a pair of second-half goals as world champions France came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday and cast further doubt on Joachim Loew's future. Toni Kroos struck a 14th-minute penalty for Germany, but Griezmann engineered a rousing fightback in the first game […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Madagascar, for the first time, Senegal and former champions Tunisia and Egypt sealed places at the Africa Cup of Nations finals Tuesday with two matchdays to spare. Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored four minutes before half-time to earn Madagascar a 1-0 Group A victory over Equatorial Guinea on the vast Indian Ocean island. In […]

Brussels (AFP) – The Netherlands continued their resurgence under Ronald Koeman as youngster Arnaut Groeneveld's first international goal secured a 1-1 friendly draw with Belgium in Brussels on Tuesday. Dries Mertens fired the World Cup semi-finalists into a sixth-minute lead, but Groeneveld marked his full debut for the Dutch by equalising before the half-hour mark. […]

Dublin (AFP) – Wales midfielder Harry Wilson produced another brilliant free-kick following his heroics against Manchester United to seal a 1-0 Nations League victory against toothless Ireland on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Derby player, who shocked Old Trafford from a set-piece in the League Cup last month, curled in the winner with his left foot from […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Brazil snatched a dramatic injury-time winner over Argentina with a header from Miranda in their friendly match in front of a sell-out crowd in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Inter Milan player was left all alone to thump in the 93rd-minute header from Neymar's corner when the match between the fierce […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Madagascar, for the first time, and former champions Tunisia and Egypt sealed places at the Africa Cup of Nations finals Tuesday. Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored four minutes before half-time to earn Madagascar a 1-0 Group A victory over Equatorial Guinea on the huge Indian Ocean island. Tunisia and record seven-time title-holders Egypt secured […]

Kigali (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita had to be piggy-backed off the field by a Guinean team-mate Tuesday after hurting a hamstring because no stretcher was available in a Rwandan stadium. He was the third Anfield star to be injured on Africa Cup of Nations duty after attackers Mohamed Salah (strained thigh muscle) and […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Madagascar won a place at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament for the first time when they triumphed 1-0 at home over Equatorial Guinea in Group A Tuesday. Thailand-based midfielder Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored the only goal four minutes before half-time on the huge Indian Ocean island. Victory lifted the 'Barea' (prized cattle) […]

Doha (AFP) – Spanish football giants Barcelona are in talks to put a team in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from next year, a club official said on Tuesday. Javier Sobrino, Barcelona's strategy and knowledge director, said discussions were ongoing to complete the groundbreaking move. "We are planning to open a franchise in […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Passing, running and ball possession were not key in producing victories at the 2018 World Cup, but accurate shooting and clear tactics were, according to a FIFA report released on Tuesday. It showed that champions France were only 19th among the 32 teams in possession percentage, 16th in total number of passes […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona plan to visit China and Japan as part of a pre-season tour to Asia next summer, the club announced on Tuesday. After consecutive years travelling to the United States for the International Champions Cup, Barca will return to Asia for the first time since playing a friendly in Qatar in December […]

Metz (France) (AFP) – A French judge on Monday handed down a six-month jail term and a six-month suspended sentence to two fans found guilty of throwing fireworks that put Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes in hospital in 2016. The first firework thrown from behind the Lyon goal on their visit to Metz knocked Lopez off […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Luis Enrique had said he was ready for the criticism and it fired from all angles after Spain were beaten by England on Monday for their first competitive defeat at home in 15 years. Three wins out of three and 12 goals scored had launched Spain into a new era of […]