London (AFP) – Eden Hazard dropped a hint he is willing to stay at Chelsea next season as the FA Cup winner set his sights on more silverware. Hazard scored the first-half penalty that fired Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley. The 27-year-old has two years […]

Madrid (AFP) – Xabi Alonso believes Liverpool can beat Real Madrid and be European champions but only if they cope with the pressure of playing in a Champions League final. Alonso won Europe´s premier tournament with Liverpool in 2005 and Real in 2014, having spent five years playing for both of this season´s finalists. Real […]

London (AFP) – Premiership club Harlequins confirmed the appointment of England defence coach Paul Gustard as their new head of rugby on Monday. Gustard, 42, will take up his new post with the club after England's tour to South Africa next month, replacing John Kingston. "Harlequins is delighted to announce that England defence coach Paul […]

Milan (AFP) – The shakeup in Italian football promised by Roberto Mancini following the Azzurri's World Cup flop has offered hope to Juventus's rivals that it could impact the Serie A next season. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri met with club bosses on Monday to discuss his future contract and potential summer signings after claiming a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata was left out of Spain's World Cup squad, announced on Monday. Morata paid the price for a disappointing debut season in the Premier League as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui picked Iago Aspas and Rodrigo Moreno up front, along with Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa. "The decision is always difficult […]

Paris (AFP) – Paul Pogba has refused to rule out a move away from Manchester United, hinting at strains in his relationship with Jose Mourinho after a difficult season at Old Trafford. The £89 million ($119 million) France international has had a tricky second season back at United, being left out of the side or […]

Brussels (AFP) – Belgium have left midfield creator Radja Nainggolan out of their World Cup squad, coach Roberto Martinez said on Monday. The absence of Nainggolan, who scored twice for Roma in the second league of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool this month, was the biggest surprise in the 28-player list that will be […]

Baghdad (AFP) – Iraq is to host a West Asia Football Federation championship in the southern city of Basra in November, the first international tournament to be staged in the country since the 1990s. Iraqi authorities late Sunday hailed WAFF's invitation to host the tournament, following the decision in March of world football's governing body […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has called for "the uncertainty to be put to bed" over the future of Antonio Conte, with the Italian widely expected to be on his way out of the club. The Blues beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday as Conte won his second […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran announced its 24-man squad for the 2018 World Cup late Sunday, surprisingly omitting striker Kaveh Rezaei, but with plenty of expectation after an unbeaten run through qualifying. The biggest shock was the decision not to take Rezaei, the 26-year-old coming off a blistering season for Belgium's Charleroi, scoring 16 goals in […]

London (AFP) – Nemanja Matic says Manchester United "can fight for the title and the Champions League" if they make the right signings in the transfer window after defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup final left the Old Trafford trophy cabinet bare. Jose Mourinho's team lost Saturday's showpiece at Wembley 1-0 to Matic's former […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande are set for swingeing changes and are likely to raid Europe for new signings as a sense of crisis envelops Fabio Cannavaro's dejected side. Guangzhou have dominated the Chinese Super League (CSL) for nearly a decade, lifting seven consecutive titles and twice winning the AFC Champions League. But […]

Milan (AFP) – The 2017/18 Italian Serie A season finished on Sunday with Juventus crowned champions for the seventh straight year and 34th time in their history. AFP Sport looks at the tops and flops of the league campaign in Italy: – Tops – Massimiliano Allegri The 50-year-old Juventus coach once again proved to be […]

Lima (AFP) – Hundreds of Peruvian fans joined full-back Luis Advincula in prayer on Sunday, hoping divine intervention will deliver skipper Paolo Guerrero to the World Cup despite a doping ban. The 34-year old Peru captain already has the backing of Peru's President Martin Vizcarra and now Advincula wants God on his side too. The […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic and Rangers have exerted a vice-like grip on Scottish football for a century but their bitter rivalry is underpinned by sectarian tensions that predate the existence of either Glasgow club. The ferocious passion generated when the teams clash in the Old Firm derby makes global headlines but behind it is a […]