Shanghai (AFP) – Former Wales and Sunderland boss Chris Coleman was named coach of Chinese side Hebei China Fortune on Sunday — making it a 48th birthday to remember. Coleman is the surprise successor to Manuel Pellegrini, who left Hebei last month to take over at Premier League West Ham United. Coleman, who turned 48 […]

Vienna (AFP) – Neymar marked his return to the starting line-up with another brilliant goal as Brazil eased to a 3-0 win over Austria in Vienna on Sunday in their final friendly ahead of the World Cup. Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho netted either side of Neymar's strike at the Ernst Happel Stadion, as the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Neymar made his first start since February in Brazil's final World Cup warm-up match on Sunday as Cristiano Ronaldo trained with European champions Portugal. As the clock ticks down to Thursday's World Cup opener in Moscow between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, Egypt's Mohamed Salah touched down, facing his own fitness battle. […]

Grozny (Russia) (AFP) – Egypt's Mohamed Salah arrived in Russia Sunday, with the Pharaohs hopeful the star striker can complete a dramatic injury comeback in time for their opening World Cup match against Uruguay. Salah and his teammates touched down in Grozny ahead of Egypt's third appearance at the World Cup, ending a drought stretching […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Australia on Sunday finally arrived at their base in chilly Kazan, where the 'Socceroos' will begin preparations for what many pundits believe will be yet another early departure from the World Cup. Scheduled to meet highly-fancied France in their World Cup opener on June 16, Bert Van Marwijk's men touched down […]

London (AFP) – Karpatalja won the alternative CONIFA World Football Cup 2018 on Saturday in a remarkable triumph for a side drafted in as a last-minute replacement shortly before the tournament kicked off. The team, representing ethnic Hungarians living in modern-day Ukraine, beat Northern Cyprus 3-2 on penalties after a goalless draw to win the […]

Moscow (AFP) – As football's top stars arrive in Russia chasing World Cup glory, young African players lured to the country with promises of lucrative contracts say that for them it is a place of scams and shattered dreams. "We are the team of false promises," said Ismael Soumahoro, who was 16 and playing in […]

Bronnitsy (Russia) (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Argentina must quickly refocus after finding themselves at the centre of an Israel-Palestinian spat over the cancellation of a World Cup warm-up match following an unconvincing qualifying campaign. The game against Israel, planned for Saturday in Jerusalem, was called off on Tuesday after a campaign by the Palestinians following […]

Paris (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron said in a television interview broadcast on Sunday that he would go to Russia "when France reached the quarterfinals". "I will go to support them," Macron told the Telefoot weekly programme, without allowing for the possibility that France might be knocked out before then. Macron also envisioned himself […]

Kratovo (Russia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal held their first World Cup training session on Sunday at the team's base in Kratovo, southeast of Moscow, five days ahead of their heavyweight opening clash against Spain. All 23 players in Fernando Santos's squad took part in a 90-minute open training session held in light drizzle and […]

Moscow (AFP) – Neymar is set to make his first start since February in Brazil's final World Cup warm-up on Sunday as he battles for full fitness after Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in Russia with European champions Portugal. And as the clock ticks down to Thursday's World Cup opener in Moscow between hosts Russia and […]

Cairo (AFP) – Encircled by expectant cheers of Egyptian fans, Mohamed Salah appeared at the Pharaohs' final pre-World Cup training session and kindled hopes he can overcome injury to aid Egypt's first shot at the tournament in nearly three decades. Liverpool's star striker, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that saw him crash out […]

Cairo (AFP) – Liverpool star Mohamed Salah turned up for Egypt training in Cairo on Saturday ahead of the Pharaohs' departure for the World Cup in Russia but didn't take part, AFP witnessed. Thousands of supporters turned up to watch Egypt's final, late night training session before taking flight for Russia, cheering wildly. The training […]

Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP) – Paul Pogba put in an improved performance but France looked flat in a 1-1 World Cup warm-up draw against the United States in Lyon on Saturday. Julian Green gave the US, who failed to make it to Russia, the lead on the stroke of half-time but teenage starlet Kylian Mbappe equalised […]

Bogota (AFP) – Colombia defender Frank Fabra has been ruled out of a maiden World Cup with a serious knee injury hours before the South Americans were scheduled to travel to their team base in Kazan, the Colombian football federation said on Saturday. The Boca Juniors left-back uffered a "ruptured anterior cruciate ligament" in his […]