Saint Petersburg (AFP) – World Cup favourites France are targeting the final in Russia two decades after their 1998 triumph with one of their greatest players, Thierry Henry, plotting their downfall from the dugout of opponents Belgium. The European neighbours meet in Tuesday's first semi-final in Saint Petersburg for the right to play England or […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate's wearing of a waistcoat throughout England's run to the World Cup semi-final for the first time in 28 years has inspired a call from The Sun newspaper for fans to wear one on Wednesday as well. #WAISTCOAT WEDNESDAY is the hashtag The Sun deploys in its headline and calls on […]

London (AFP) – Former Tottenham striker Alan Gilzean died aged 79 on Sunday after reportedly being diagnosed with a brain tumour. "Everyone at the club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our legendary former striker Alan Gilzean," Spurs tweeted. Gilzean — capped 22 times by Scotland, scoring 12 goals — formed fruitful […]

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate says winning the World Cup would make his players even bigger heroes than the 1966 generation because of the impact of social media and the globalisation of football. Southgate's men meet Croatia in the semi-finals on Wednesday after ending a 28-year wait just to reach the last […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Eden Hazard is one of the French academy system's finest exports in the past decade but he could be the man to end Didier Deschamps's bid for World Cup glory. Born to two footballing parents in the Belgian municipality of Braine-le-Comte, Hazard's reputation spread across the border and saw him snapped […]

Paris (AFP) – Barcelona have loaned midfielder Paulinho, a starter in the Brazil side knocked out by Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals, to former club Guangzhou Evergrande, the Chinese Super League champions announced on Sunday. "Guangzhou Evergrande confirm Paulinho has returned to the club after one season at Barcelona," the club tweeted. Paulinho, who […]

Moscow (AFP) – Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has identified Raheem Sterling as England's danger man in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Sterling was a key part of the Manchester City side that won the Premier League last season but he has been less effective in England's charge to the last four for the first […]

Jeumont (France) (AFP) – It has been a remarkable rise — two years after supporting France at Euro 2016 from a fan zone, Benjamin Pavard is preparing to represent his country in a World Cup semi-final. Pavard has already lit up the tournament with his wonder strike against Argentina. But the 22-year-old has never forgotten […]

Moscow (AFP) – Croatia defender Domagoj Vida escaped a FIFA ban on Sunday after posting a clip dedicating his country's victory over Russia in the World Cup quarter-final to Ukraine. Vida scored an extra-time goal and one of Croatia's penalties in a 4-3 shootout win over the World Cup hosts in Sochi on Saturday. Croatia […]

Moscow (AFP) – England were Sunday looking forward to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 as Russian fans thanked their disappointed players after their fairytale World Cup run was halted by Croatia. Gareth Southgate's young team swept Sweden aside 2-0 on Saturday, sparking mass celebrations in England, where at least 20 million people watched […]

Samara (Russia) (AFP) – Harry Maguire travelled to watch England as a fan at Euro 2016, but two years later he is a pillar of the defence as the country prepares for its first World Cup semi-final in 28 years. After celebrating Hull's 2015-16 promotion to the Premier League, Maguire and a group of friends […]

Berlin (AFP) – Mesut Ozil's father said Sunday his son should quit Germany's national squad after he was made a "scapegoat" for their shock first-round defeat at the World Cup. Ozil, 29, has come in for sharp criticism in Germany after the holders crashed out in Russia, finishing bottom of their group. Pressure had already […]

Moscow (AFP) – Thousands of cheering and flag-waving Russian fans thanked their disappointed players on Sunday after the host nation's fairytale World Cup run came to a crushing end with a shootout loss to Croatia. Coach Stanislav Cherchesov led his team onto a stage to a heroes' welcome in a Moscow fan zone on a […]

London (AFP) – England is basking in unexpected World Cup success as coach Gareth Southgate is elevated to national hero status, cathedral organs belt out football anthems and the country prepares to shut down for Wednesday's semi-final. Clean-cut, waistcoated manager Southgate was not even supposed to be in Russia. Now he's about to lead England […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck, the assistant coach of the Cameroon team that won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, has been named Zambia coach in succession to Wedson Nyirenda. Former Zambia striker Nyirenda quit two months ago to take up a more lucrative post as coach of South African top-flight club Baroka. […]