London (AFP) – Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling has been forced to defend his new tattoo of an M16 assault rifle. Sterling posted a picture of himself training with his England team-mates at St George's Park, with a tattoo of an assault rifle on the winger's right calf clearly visible. Lucy Cope, who […]

Paris (AFP) – Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill believes France are quite capable of winning the World Cup after seeing them get the better of his team in a friendly on Monday evening. France won 2-0 on a wet night, with Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir scoring the goals in the first half, and […]

Braga (Portugal) (AFP) – AC Milan striker Andre Silva hit a landmark 1000th goal for the hosts but there was little to celebrate as Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal were held 2-2 by Tunisia in a pre-World Cup friendly on Monday. Still smarting from a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Geneva last March, Portugal fans were […]

St. Gallen (Switzerland) (AFP) – Mario Balotelli got new Italy coach Roberto Mancini off to a winning start by scoring the opener in a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in a pre-World Cup friendly in Saint Gallen on Monday. Saudi Arabia face hosts Russia in the opening match of the tournament on June 14 while […]

Paris (AFP) – Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir were on target as France stepped up their World Cup preparations by beating the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Paris on Monday evening. Chelsea striker Giroud bundled in the opener at the Stade de France, and Lyon captain Fekir — who has been linked with a move […]

Paris (AFP) – Monaco midfielder Fabinho will join Liverpool following the World Cup finals in Russia, the French Ligue 1 club and the Premier League giants announced Monday. Brazilian international Fabinho, 24, had agreed at the end of last year's title-winning campaign to remain one more season in the Principality. But agreement has now been […]

Cairo (AFP) – Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah will travel to Spain on Tuesday for treatment on the injured shoulder that wrecked his Champions League final bid and threatens his World Cup participation. Egypt's football federation (EFA) said Salah's entourage had chosen Spain for a rehabilitation programme that Egyptians will hope helps Salah return […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla have appointed Pablo Machin as coach after the Spaniard led newly-promoted Girona to a 10th-place finish in La Liga. Girona achieved promotion from the Segunda Division for the first time under Machin's leadership and then ended the campaign in the top half last term. They must now replace Machin and have […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – Tickets for an Israel-Argentina friendly in Jerusalem next month with Barcelona star Lionel Messi expected in the line-up sold out within 20 minutes, the Israeli company handling sales said. The Le'an agency said on its website that nearly 100,000 fans applied for 20,000 tickets when they went on general sale Sunday evening. […]

Tehran (AFP) – Sardar Azmoun has been piling up the international goals and has the potential to be the stand-out World Cup player for an Iranian squad that has regularly outperformed expectations. The 23-year-old striker has already racked up 23 goals for Iran since making his debut against Montenegro in May 2014. That has put […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain's recent dominance in club competitions has masked a period of underachievement at international level, but coach Julen Lopetegui believes failure leaves his side more determined than ever to win the World Cup. Spanish teams have claimed the last five Champions League titles — the latest came when Real Madrid beat Liverpool […]

London (AFP) – Gary Cahill admits he is relieved to be back in favour with England and Chelsea after a "frustrating" campaign. Cahill found himself dropped by both England manager Gareth Southgate and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte at various times this term. But the former Bolton defender worked his way back into Conte's plans in […]

Lyon (AFP) – Rumours might be swirling about club captain Nabil Fekir leaving for Liverpool, but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said Monday "there is no urgency at all" in completing any deal. "I do not have a rendezvous with the Liverpool directors," Aulas said. "We are prefectly serene. "We try always to go in the […]

Paris (AFP) – Reigning European champions Portugal will take on Iberian neighbours and well-fancied Spain in a mouthwatering Group B clash on just the second day of the World Cup. The only real heavyweight clash of the group stage will see Cristiano Ronaldo take on several of his La Liga friends and foes on June […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Twelve years ago, a desperate Uruguay tasked Oscar Tabarez to return to coaching the national team and put it back among football's elite. After failing to survive the group phase in 2002 once-proud Uruguay hit rock bottom when they failed even to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Tabarez, 71, now heads […]