London (AFP) – Antonio Conte is to be sacked as Chelsea manager within days and former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri installed as his replacement according to British media reports on Thursday. Conte is presently on holiday but is to be told he is no longer needed despite winning the FA Cup last season — to […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Fernando Hierro says Spain face a tough challenge to reach the World Cup knockout stage following a "lucky" 1-0 win against Iran that lifted the 2010 champions to the top of their group. A second-half strike from Diego Costa secured all three points for Spain in Kazan on Wednesday, where the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Burger King has apologised for an online ad offering burgers to Russian women who get impregnated by football players during the World Cup the country is hosting until July 15. The promotion on the global fast food chain's account on VK — a local rival of Facebook — suggested Russia could benefit […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England coach Gareth Southgate is considering starting both Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek against Panama on Sunday instead of Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli. AFP Sport understands England want to look at Rashford up front alongside Harry Kane, and Loftus-Cheek in midfield with Jesse Lingard and Jordan Henderson. Alli's omission would […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Yekaterinburg has escaped its dark past of contract killings and organised crime to become a World Cup host city with a more hopeful future. The industrial city of 1.5 million people is the most eastern of all the 11 involved in the tournament, staging four group games including France v Peru on […]

Moscow (AFP) – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday he believes the World Cup should return to England when Europe next gets its turn to host the tournament. Blatter has arrived in Moscow to attend matches at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin despite being banned from the game for alleged corruption during […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England midfielder Dele Alli missed training on Thursday as doubts grow about whether he will be fit to face Panama in England's second match of the World Cup. Alli picked up a thigh strain during the opening win against Tunisia and is likely to be rested on Sunday. Panama lost their […]

London (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane displays the same level of passion as Diego Maradona, the man who singlehandedly destroyed English hopes in the 1986 World Cup, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says. Kane's double on Monday secured England a 2-1 win over Tunisia in their World Cup opener to put Gareth Southgate's side […]

Moscow (AFP) – Some players believe World Cup success is earned through exercise, diet and endless practice drills — others are convinced it's a matter of wearing lucky underwear. Players and coaches can be a superstitious bunch and often have a ritual or item of clothing they believe is a charm that has contributed to […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England coach Steve Holland believes Gareth Southgate is showing the same key qualities he saw in the likes of Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez and Antonio Conte at Chelsea. Holland worked with the London club's first team from 2011 before joining Southgate, and England, in 2016. "I think with Gareth, he […]

Beijing (AFP) – Former captain David Beckham has tipped England to play Lionel Messi's Argentina in the World Cup final, reflecting rising optimism about the Three Lions' chances after a positive start in Russia. Beckham was speaking at a promotional event in China after England beat Tunisia 2-1 in their opening game, boosting their chances […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Lionel Messi is under increased pressure to redeem himself when Argentina face Croatia in Thursday's pivotal match after eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fourth goal of the World Cup to send Morocco packing. France will be looking for a second World Cup Group C win against Peru Thursday while Australia […]

Kaliningrad (Russia) (AFP) – Serbia will attempt to wrap up qualification to the World Cup knockout rounds on Friday as they take on a Switzerland team brimming with confidence after grabbing a draw with Brazil. The Serbs control their own destiny in Group E after an opening 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Sunday, which […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – A battered and bruised Neymar will aim to get Brazil's World Cup campaign back on track here Friday as the pre-tournament favourites seek to re-assert their title credentials with victory over Costa Rica. Neymar was given a rough ride in Brazil's disappointing 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday, fouled 10 times […]

Gelendzhik (Russia) (AFP) – Nigeria take on Iceland on Friday, seeking to salvage their faltering World Cup campaign but wary of the Nordic team's capacity to go toe to toe with their supposed superiors. Coach Gernot Rohr's Super Eagles — who brought the youngest squad to Russia, with an average age of around 25 years […]