Berlin (AFP) – Sidelined by injury for most of the season, Manuel Neuer has given Germany boss Joachim Loew a selection headache ahead of Tuesday's World Cup squad announcement. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper has not played since suffering a recurrence of a fractured foot in September, restricting him to just four appearances since the initial […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane has challenged Mohamed Salah to beat him to the Golden Boot for the Premier League's top scorer again next season. The Egyptian's record 32 goals for a 38-game campaign denied Kane a third consecutive Golden Boot despite the English international's best ever campaign as his double in a thrilling 5-4 […]

Moscow (AFP) – The perils of Russia's rush to revamp its cities in time for the World Cup have been laid bare by the case of a woman trapped inside her own house. The story with the plotline worthy of Edgar Allan Poe began last week when road repair workers were paving a central street […]

London (AFP) – Mark Hughes wants to stay on as Southampton manager after masterminding Premier League survival and expects a swift decision from the club. Hughes arrived at St Mary's in March on a short-term contract and took eight points from as many games to help Saints avoid relegation on the final day of the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Canadian international midfielder Scott Arfield joined Rangers on a four-year deal on Monday to become Steven Gerrard's first signing as manager of the Glasgow giants. Arfield, 29, was out of contract after five years at Burnley, where he helped the Clarets get promoted and establish themselves in the Premier League. "I am […]

London (AFP) – South Korean international midfielder Ki Sung-yueng announced on Monday he will leave Swansea City under freedom of contract in the wake of the Welsh side's relegation to the Championship. Ki, 29, made 162 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals, and helped Swansea win the club's only major honour by lifting the […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino called on the club's chairman Daniel Levy to match his ambitions by being "brave" in the transfer market ahead of moving to a new 62,000 capacity stadium. Spurs sealed Champions League football for a third straight season by finishing third in the Premier League despite having reportedly […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Guangzhou Evergrande's seven-year domination of Chinese football could be under threat in what is shaping up to be the most fiercely contested title race in recent memory. Shanghai SIPG stand top of the Chinese Super League (CSL) on goal difference from Shandong Luneng after a third of the campaign with Beijing Guoan, […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Rookies Kampala Capital City Authority of Uganda and record eight-time winners Al Ahly of Egypt will be equally desperate for CAF Champions League matchday 2 points when they clash Tuesday. Both clubs began their Group A campaigns disappointingly with Ahly held 0-0 at home by Esperance of Tunisia and Kampala losing 1-0 […]

Seoul (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min headlined South Korea's preliminary 28-man World Cup squad unveiled Monday, as coach Shin Tae-yong included 12 defenders in an attempt to plug leaks at the back. Spurs star Son was named along with Ki Sung-yueng of Swansea City, just relegated from the English Premier League, and FC […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Sebastian Blanco scored the late winner Sunday as the Portland Timbers defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the 100th match of a rivalry that predates the clubs' arrival in Major League Soccer. In a match that saw both teams playing it cagey, Blanco found an opening in Seattle's defense and seized upon […]

Paris (AFP) – Twenty-five years have passed since Marseille's crowning moment, but the only French club ever to have been European champions are finally dreaming of more glory on the continental stage. After a Europa League campaign that began in late July, Rudi Garcia's side now find themselves up against Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's final […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann's first major trophy with Atletico Madrid may well prove to be his last if they can overcome Marseille in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Griezmann's future has dominated the build-up to this week's showpiece match in Lyon, with the striker widely expected to join Barcelona in the summer. A […]

Rome (AFP) – Massimiliano Allegri on Sunday brushed aside speculation he is set for a move to English Premier league giants Arsenal after leading Juventus to a seventh straight Serie A title. "If they don't fire me, then I think I'm staying at Juventus next year too," Allegri said after a goalless draw against Roma […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus won their 34th Serie A title and seventh in succession on Sunday with one game left this season. Here, AFP Sport looks at five key players behind their latest league triumph: GIANLUIGI BUFFON Evergreen goalkeeper Buffon once again proved to be the lynchpin in Juventus's title defence claiming his ninth Serie […]