Istra (Russia) (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann said Friday winning the World Cup against Croatia on Sunday was more important than how his team do it. Belgium's players criticised the tactics France used in their 1-0 semi-final win as Didier Deschamps' team sat deep and Samuel Umtiti's headed goal came from a corner, but […]

Moscow (AFP) – Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic insisted fatigue will not be an issue for the biggest game of his career despite being pushed to three periods of extra-time to make Sunday's World Cup final. Barcelona's Rakitic will make his 71st appearance of the season against France in Moscow after winning a La Liga and […]

Moscow (AFP) – Novak Djokovic's controversial decision to back Croatia at the World Cup has earned the Serbian tennis star praise from the finalists' midfielder Ivan Rakitic. With Serbia eliminated earlier in the tournament, former Wimbledon champion Djokovic caused a stir when he said he would support Croatia in their semi-final against England. Croatia went […]

London (AFP) – England internationals Siobhan Chamberlain and Alex Greenwood were the standout names as Manchester United announced a squad on Friday for their inaugural entry into the FA Women's Championship. United were granted a place in the second tier of English female football after announcing earlier this year they would be launching a women's […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA said Friday it had asked TV producers to reduce the number of close-up shots of spectators at the World Cup final to avoid any "suggestions of sexual connotations". The feed supplied by FIFA and used by TV stations around the world shows spectators in the stands to complement the coverage of […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate hopes his team can ride the momentum generated by their run to the World Cup semi-finals and follow the path Germany took to the top of international football. Southgate and his players have been hailed back home after reaching the last four for the first time since […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Moenchengladbach announced on Friday that they had signed French striker Alassane Plea on a five-year deal. German media said the Bundesliga team had paid between 20 million and 25 million euros (between $23 million and $25 million) for the 25-year-old, who had reportedly attracted interest from a host of Premier League […]

Moscow (AFP) – In Croatia they call Miroslav Blazevic "the coach of all coaches" but on Sunday it is his former pupil, Zlatko Dalic, who will lead the small country into their first ever World Cup final. 'Ciro' Blazevic coached Croatia at the 1998 World Cup, their first as an independent nation, taking them to […]

Berlin (AFP) – After his "goal of the century" against Argentina clinched the 2014 World Cup for Germany, Mario Goetze looked poised to become "the German Messi" who would lead the national team for the next decade. But the midfielder, who was just 22 when he came on as a substitute and hooked the ball […]

London (AFP) – Danish central defender Jannik Vestergaard on Friday signed for Southampton where he will try and meet the huge challenge of filling the boots of Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence. The 25-year-old — who was in the Denmark World Cup squad but didn't figure in any of their four matches — […]

Moscow (AFP) – France fine-tuned their preparations for the World Cup final against Croatia on Friday, desperate to overcome the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final as FIFA declared Russia 2018 the best-ever tournament. Didier Deschamps' team are firm favourites to win Sunday's showpiece in Moscow and become world champions for the second […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino thanked the Russian people and government on Friday for what he described as the "best World Cup" ever. Sporting a FIFA volunteers' jacket, Infantino told reporters in Moscow that Russia's infrastructure and welcome allied to the quality of football and success of VAR (the video assistant referee system) […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte's two year reign as Chelsea manager came to an end on Friday a year after leading them to the title. AFP Sports picks out five of his quotes which reflect his sharply changing mood swings working for Roman Abramovich. "Now after this win I think we must be happy and […]

London (AFP) – Despite winning the FA Cup final against Manchester United in his last match in charge of Chelsea, Antonio Conte's sacking on Friday was the inevitable result of a stormy season at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea finished fifth in the league — 30 points behind champions Manchester City — just 12 months after winning […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte's two year tenure as Chelsea manager which began with a bang last year after winning the Premier League title ended sourly on Friday with the club announcing they had parted company with him. The 48-year-old Italian had been seen as vulnerable despite winning the FA Cup last term having fallen […]