Buenos Aires (AFP) – Carlos Bilardo, the coach of Argentina's World Cup-winning side in 1986, has been in a Buenos Aires hospital since Thursday, local media reported. The news was confirmed by family sources and the Telam news agency, with reports indicating the 80-year-old complained of significant discomfort and is suffering from severe depression. Bilardo […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Neymar proved his fitness for the World Cup with an explosive return to action that left Brazil manager Tite stunned as the superstar's superb strike inspired Sunday's 2-0 win over Croatia. Sidelined for 98 days after breaking a metatarsal and spraining his ankle while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in late February, Neymar […]

Barcelona (AFP) – France defender Samuel Umtiti has agreed to extend his contract with Barcelona for five more seasons, the club said on Sunday. Umtiti, who is part of the French World Cup squad training at Clairefontaine, near Paris, will on Monday make a trip to the Camp Nou in Barcelona, where he will sign the […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Brazil star Neymar made a stunning return from injury with a superb goal in their 2-0 friendly victory over Croatia on Sunday. Just 98 days after suffering an injury he feared would keep him out of the upcoming World Cup in Russia, Neymar was back with a bang at Anfield. The Paris […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinian football boss Jibril Rajoub called Sunday on Barcelona star Lionel Messi not to play in an Argentina-Israel game in Jerusalem and urged fans to burn their shirts if he does. Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, has long demanded sanctions against Israel, which has six league teams based […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Neymar celebrated his eagerly anticipated return from injury with a superb goal for Brazil in their World Cup warm-up against Croatia on Sunday. Neymar had been sidelined for over three months after fracturing his foot while playing for Paris Saint-Germain against Marseille in Ligue 1 on February 25. But the 26-year-old striker […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Neymar made his eagerly anticipated return from injury as a half-time substitute for Brazil in their World Cup warm-up against Croatia on Sunday. Neymar had been sidelined for over three months after fracturing his foot while playing for Paris Saint-Germain against Marseille in Ligue 1 on February 25. But the 26-year-old striker […]

Moscow (AFP) – Injury-hit Russia named their World Cup 23 on Sunday with their hopes of performing respectably as hosts riding on attacking duo Fyodor Smolov and Artem Dzyuba. Coach Stanislav Cherchesov has lost Spartak full-back Georgi Dzhikiya, CSKA defender Viktor Vasin and Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin to knee ligament injuries, while Spartak […]

London (AFP) – Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel admits his side have to improve quickly if they are to make an impact at the World Cup. The Super Eagles lost 2-1 to England in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday. Nigeria were punished for a dismal first half display as goals from Gary Cahill and […]

London (AFP) – Fiery England star Dele Alli has promised to keep his cool at the World Cup. Alli has been targeted by opponents keen to provoke the volatile Tottenham midfielder. Alli has been involved in a series of incidents when his temper has got the better of him. Some pundits fear Alli could suffer […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea left Sunday for their pre-World Cup camp with youngster Lee Seung-woo in their final 23-man squad and Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yeung named as captain. Tottenham's talismanic forward Son Heung-min leads the Taeguk Warriors front line, though Crystal Palace midfielder Lee Chung-yong failed to make it to a third World Cup […]

Sydney (AFP) – Tim Cahill will play in his fourth World Cup and teenager Daniel Arzani made the final cut as Australia's coach Bert van Marwijk finalised his 23-man squad Sunday. The 38-year-old Cahill is his country's most prolific international scorer with 50 goals and has scored at his three previous World Cups. Cahill got […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate claims Raheem Sterling justified his decision to protect the troubled England star despite his booking for diving against Nigeria. Southgate kept faith with Sterling after a troubled week for the Manchester City winger and he responded with a mixed performance in Saturday's 2-1 win in the World Cup warm-up at […]

Klagenfurt (Austria) (AFP) – Joachim Loew slammed "sloppy" Germany as the world champions crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Austria on Manuel Neuer's comeback to leave them winless in their last five games. "If we play like that in Russia, then we have no chance," fumed Germany head coach Loew in Klagenfurt on Saturday. Less […]

Klagenfurt (Austria) (AFP) – Manuel Neuer looks set to go to the World Cup, but Germany's goalkeeper was unable to prevent his team crashing 2-1 to Austria on his comeback on Saturday. Neuer has proven his fitness after eight months sidelined by a fractured foot in timely fashion, with four names to be cut ahead […]