Moscow (AFP) – Russia extended their winless streak to seven matches with a 1-1 home draw against Turkey on Tuesday in their last warm-up game just nine days before the World Cup kick-off. German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg midfielder Yunus Malli came off the bench at half-time to cancel out Spartak Moscow right winger Alexander Samedov's […]

Moscow (AFP) – Iran became the first team Tuesday to arrive in Russia for the World Cup, a month-long celebration of football that kicks off in Moscow's historic Luzhniki Stadium on June 14. Playing in their fifth finals and ranked 36 by FIFA, Iran begin their campaign against Group B rivals Morocco on June 15 […]

London (AFP) – Highly-rated full-back Ryan Fredericks became Manuel Pellegrini's first signing since becoming manager of West Ham after agreeing a move from newly-promoted Premier League rivals Fulham on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Englishman — who impressed in Fulham's campaign to regain their elite status and was named by his peers in the Championship team of […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Harry Kane has urged his England team-mates to put the negativity that has blighted previous campaigns behind them as a new-look squad look to make an impact at the World Cup in Russia. Kane will captain a youthful group with only Chelsea defender Gary Cahill having won more than 50 […]

Tunis (AFP) – Players for World Cup-bound Tunisia broke their Ramadan fast during two warm-up matches after the goalkeeper feigned injury, coach Nabil Maaloul told AFP Tuesday. Maaloul told stopshotter Mouez Hassen to go down "injured" as the sun went down, FIFA rules specifying that any injury to a goalkeeper necesitates a stop to the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is leaving England to try to resurrect his career at his first club Villarreal after a serious Achilles tendon injury nearly ended his playing days. "Santi Cazorla is coming home," the La Liga club said in a statement. The 33-year-old, who played 77 times for Spain, has not […]

Varsovie (AFP) – Poland's Monaco defender Kamil Glik has "no chance" of competing in the World Cup after seriously injuring his shoulder, according to Polish Football Federation (PZPN) officials ahead of a final decision due on Thursday. "There's no chance. Kamil Glik hurt himself. He won't be going to the World Cup," PZPN president Zbigniew […]

London (AFP) – Marcos Rojo wants to feel like what it is to win a World Cup rather than the agony he experienced for Argentina when they lost to Germany 1-0 after extra-time in 2014, he said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Manchester United defender, who has over 50 caps to his name, told Inside United […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA on Tuesday said it had filed a criminal complaint against the controversial secondary ticketing firm Viagogo, warning fans that World Cup tickets bought through the site could be rejected at the gate. World football's governing body accused Viagogo of "opaque and deceptive business conduct", opening a new front in the intensifying […]

Paris (AFP) – From the goalkeeping heroics of Gordon Banks to Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' and 'O Rei' Pele, AFP Sport selects a team of 11 of the greatest players in World Cup history: Gordon Banks (England) Banks was the goalkeeper when England won the World Cup on home soil in 1966, although he […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United announced on Tuesday they have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian international midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk as Jose Mourinho seeks to topple reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City. The 25-year-old will cost the English giants a reported fee of about £52 million ($69 million) and give Mourinho a powerful-looking […]

Milan (AFP) – The Chinese-owned Mediapro group have lost their Serie A television rights, with the Italian league confirming on Tuesday they will proceed with a resale through private negotiations. The assembly of the Serie A League considered "guarantees presented at the last minute by the Spanish intermediary Mediapro" and "unanimously approved a new phase […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian defender Alessio Romagnoli has extended his contract with AC Milan until 2022 amid interest from Italian champions Juventus, the Serie A club confirmed on Tuesday. The 23-year-old arrived from Roma in 2015 for 25 million euros after a loan spell with Sampdoria and last season reached 100 appearances for the club. […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Outgoing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was on Tuesday banned for three European matches for his red card and comments about referee Michael Oliver after the Italian side's dramatic Champions League quarter-final loss to Real Madrid last month. The 40-year-old had been charged both with breaching UEFA's "general principles of conduct" over his […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal announced the capture of Swiss international defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on Tuesday — new manager Unai Emery's first signing for the Premier League club. The 34-year-old was out of contract at the Serie A champions and joins the Gunners on a free transfer before captaining Switzerland at the World Cup […]