London (AFP) – Southampton have signed Stuart Armstrong from Scottish champions Celtic on a four-year deal, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday. No fee was disclosed by the Saints but British media reported that Scotland midfielder Armstrong had joined the south coast side for a figure in the region of £7 million ($9.25 […]

Kazan Arena (Russia) (AFP) – Joachim Loew has called on holders Germany to be "masters of our own destiny" when they face South Korea seeking to avoid an embarrassing early World Cup exit on Wednesday. Despite a last-gasp 2-1 win over Sweden, Loew's team are in danger of becoming the first German side to fail […]

Moscow (AFP) – When the final whistle sounded after Mexico's historic World Cup victory over Germany in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, star striker Javier Hernandez, roared on by 30,000 compatriots, dropped to his knees and burst into tears. It was El Tri's first win over the four-time champions at a major tournament and Hernandez, having played […]

Moscow (AFP) – Football fans across the globe reacted with humour and anger at the "worst World Cup game ever" as Denmark and France played out the first 0-0 of the tournament on Tuesday. France got the point they needed to clinch top spot in Group C and Denmark also qualified for the last 16 […]

Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Switzerland vice-captain Valon Behrami promised Tuesday there would be no further controversial goal celebrations nor politically contentious incidents from his team at the World Cup. It was the first time the Swiss had commented since FIFA fined three players for their "double eagle" hand gestures to represent the Albanian flag […]

Moscow (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite says their off-form superstar Neymar shouldn't be expected to shoulder their World Cup hopes and called on the Selecao to keep emotions in check against Serbia on Wednesday. Brazil need only a point in Moscow from their final group game to be sure of reaching the knock-out stages, while […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Australia's departing coach Bert van Marwijk admitted his side's lack of a top-class striker once again cost them dear after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Peru on Tuesday saw them exit the World Cup. "You could see that for this team it is difficult to make the difference in […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Argentina face their World Cup day of destiny, needing a win to have any chance of progressing after France topped their group despite a stalemate against Denmark. The French and the Danes produced the first goalless match of the tournament in front of 78,000 spectators at the Luzhniki Stadium […]

Kazan Arena (Russia) (AFP) – South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong says his team have just a "one percent chance" of beating Germany and sending the holders tumbling out of the World Cup. A 1-0 defeat to Mexico and a last-gasp 2-1 win over Sweden have left Joachim Loew's team in danger of becoming the German […]

Moscow (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps insisted his side had "achieved their goal" on Tuesday, after a drab 0-0 draw with Denmark in Moscow secured top spot in World Cup Group C. Deschamps made six changes to the starting XI that beat Peru 1-0 and his side happily played out a mutually beneficial stalemate […]

Moscow (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite leapt to Neymar's defence Tuesday after former England and Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello labelled the star forward a "diver" over his World Cup theatrics. Tite was in a buoyant mood ahead of Brazil's final Group E match against Serbia on Wednesday until asked about Capello's remarks to Italian […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Australia's World Cup ended with a whimper as goals from Andre Carrillo and Paolo Guerrero gave Peru a 2-0 victory in the teams' group finale on Tuesday. The Socceroos needed a win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 2006, but they were undone […]

Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Switzerland's vice-captain Valon Behrami promised Tuesday there would be no further controversial goal celebrations nor politically contentious incidents from his team at the World Cup. It was the first time the Swiss had commented since FIFA fined three players for their "double eagle" hand gestures to represent the Albanian flag […]

Moscow (AFP) – France secured first place ahead of Denmark in Group C on Tuesday following a 0-0 draw in Moscow that could set up a heavyweight World Cup clash with Lionel Messi's Argentina in the last 16. Didier Deschamps' side dominated possession but struggled to create any clear-cut chances against a determined Denmark, who […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says maintaining momentum at the World Cup is more important than navigating the draw ahead of Thursday's match against Belgium. Both sides have already qualified for the last 16 but, by finishing top of Group G, the winners in Kaliningrad could earn themselves a trickier route in […]