Tokyo (AFP) – Fernando Torres's move to Japan has run into trouble after the Spanish striker failed to agree terms with J-League club Sagan Tosu, a report said on Sunday. The two sides were seen as close to signing a multi-year deal with an annual 800 million-yen ($7.2-million) pay, but they couldn't agree over money, […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia are hoping for a World Cup miracle on Sunday as the host nation take on 2010 winners Spain for a place in the quarter-finals after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exited the tournament. The other last-16 match pits a talented Croatia team led by Luka Modric that had a perfect record […]

Moscow (AFP) – Step aside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo... there is a new group of kids on the block ready to seize the limelight and form the next generation of global megastars. French teenager Kylian Mbappe announced himself in dramatic fashion on Saturday, overshadowing Messi as France beat Argentina 4-3 in the World Cup […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo declined to comment on his international future on Saturday after bowing out of the World Cup following Portugal's 2-1 defeat by Uruguay. The Real Madrid star exited his fourth World Cup in disappointment after two goals from Edinson Cavani saw the Uruguayans advance to the last eight. However Ronaldo, […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Four France goals ended Lionel Messi's fourth World Cup on Saturday and may have brought down the curtain on an international career seemingly destined to end in disappointment. Tens of thousands of Argentines poured into Kazan hoping to see Messi carry an ageing side over one more hurdle after his solitary […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Edinson Cavani scored twice as Uruguay shattered Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream with a 2-1 victory over Portugal here Saturday. Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani curled home a superb 62nd-minute winner to settle a thrilling second round duel in Sochi which sends Uruguay into a quarter-final against France next Friday. Cavani had […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi saw their World Cup dreams snuffed out on Saturday as French teenager Kylian Mbappe flew the flag for a new generation in Russia. Ten goals were scored on a gripping first day of the knockout phase as France progressed to a quarter-final tie against Uruguay but […]

Rabat (AFP) – Morocco's 21-year-old World Cup midfielder Amine Harit was involved in a road accident in which a pedestrian was killed, the Moroccan football federation and local police said Saturday. Harit was driving a Mercedes car registered in France when the accident in which the 30-year-old man died occurred shortly after midnight in Marrakesh, […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Argentina's most-capped player Javier Mascherano called time on his international career Saturday after the painful World Cup defeat to France. "It's time to say goodbye," the 34-year-old ex-Barcelona, Liverpool and West Ham midfielder said after Argentina were dumped out in a 4-3 last-16 defeat by France. "I hope that all the […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Whoever wins Mexico's presidential election Sunday will have to vie for attention with a formidable rival, one that can either stoke the victory party or stamp it out: football in Russia. Just hours after the winner of the presidential race is expected to be known, Mexico will face Brazil in the […]

Kazan Arena (Russia) (AFP) – Teenage star Kylian Mbappe struck twice and earned another goal as France thrillingly found their attacking edge to beat Lionel Messi's Argentina 4-3 and move into the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday. Billed as Messi's chance to reignite stuttering Argentina's hopes, the pulsating last-16 clash in Kazan instead […]

Moscow (AFP) – France roared back against Argentina to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday as wonderkid Kylian Mbappe sent Lionel Messi home from Russia empty-handed following a seven-goal thriller. The 1998 champions won 4-3 and looked a totally different side from the one that struggled to find their cutting edge in the group […]

Moscow (AFP) – Spain midfielder David Silva said Sunday's last-16 clash against World Cup hosts Russia would be as tough as facing five-time winners Brazil. The Manchester City star was part of Spain's title-winning squad in 2010 in South Africa, and his side will be clear favourites in Moscow. However, they have yet to hit […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi suffered more World Cup heartbreak with Argentina as he was no match for France's firepower in a thrilling 4-3 World Cup last-16 defeat on Saturday. Messi only scored once in Russia and is still yet to net in the knockout stages of a […]

Moscow (AFP) – France roared back against Argentina to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday as wonderkid Kylian Mbappe sent Lionel Messi home empty-handed following a seven-goal thriller. The 1998 champions won 4-3 and looked a different side from the one that struggled to find their cutting edge in the group stage, pouring forward […]