Oslo (AFP) – Brought in to oversee Australia's 2018 World Cup finals campaign, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk watched his new charges lose 4-1 to Norway on a freezing night in Oslo on Friday. The man who coached the Netherlands to the 2010 finals was overseeing his first match in charge of Australia and would […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Fans in Manchester were left disappointed as Lionel Messi was only named among the substitutes for Argentina's glamour friendly against Italy at Manchester City's Etihad stadium on Friday. According to reports in the Argentine and Spanish press, Barcelona forward Messi suffered an adductor strain in training on Thursday. Ahead of […]

Oslo (AFP) – Brought in to oversee Australia's 2018 World Cup finals campaign, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk watched his new charges lose 4-1 to Norway on a freezing night in Oslo on Friday. The man who coached the Netherlands to the 2010 finals was overseeing his first match in charge of Australia and would […]

Moscow (AFP) – Five-time world champions Brazil showed no signs of missing Neymar as they fine-tuned preparations for this year's World Cup with a confident 3-0 victory over tournament hosts Russia on Friday. Inter Milan full-back Miranda scored the opener while Barcelona midfielder pair Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scored one apiece at Moscow's renovated Luzhniki […]

Stockholm (AFP) – He has an ego to match his towering physique but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pride must be smarting: he's taking a massive paycut to play for LA Galaxy, and Sweden is showing no interest in his return to its 2018 World Cup squad. Ibrahimovic, who on Friday became the latest in a long line […]

Paris (AFP) – French referee Tony Chapron's ban for tackling a player in a Ligue 1 game was doubled on Friday as he lost his appeal, according to sources close to the disciplinary process. Chapron was banned for three months for kicking Diego Carlos, a Nantes player, during a game against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-January. […]

Tunis (AFP) – As Tunisia prepared this week for a pair of World Cup warm-up games, coach Nabil Maaloul had to juggle languages as he issued instructions on the training field, reflecting how wide the north Africa nation have cast their net. After qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2006 and […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Los Angeles Galaxy confirmed the Swedish star's move to Major League Soccer on Friday, announcing the deal in a Los Angeles Times advert. "Dear Los Angeles, you're welcome," the enigmatically worded full-page advert read, above Ibrahimovic's signature and a Los Angeles Galaxy logo. A photo of Ibrahimovic […]

Nanning (China) (AFP) – Luis Suarez scored his 50th international goal as Uruguay cruised past the Czech Republic 2-0 on Friday to reach the final of the China Cup. The Barcelona forward also created the second goal for the South Americans, who will face hosts Russia in the group stages of the World Cup this […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy will pay homage to the late defender Davide Astori with an inscription on the national team's shirt during Friday's friendly against Argentina, the Italian football federation (FIGC) announced. "Davide, you're still with us. 13," reads the inscription to appear on Azzurri shirts for the match in Manchester against World Cup-bound Argentina. […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes Mohamed Salah can pass his club-record of 47 goals in a season, and hopes the Egyptian's incredible stats will be backed up by silverware. The Egyptian scored four against Watford last weekend to take his tally to 36 goals in 41 appearances in an incredible debut season […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Athletics legend Usian Bolt insists he is serious about realising his dream of becoming a top-class footballer after training with Borussia Dortmund. "I really want to try and make it professionally, to play at a high level," the sprint superstar told reporters on Friday at the German league club. "My goal […]

London (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez has admitted to being mentally exhausted after a rough start to his career at Manchester United. "I know you are tired. I know you are psychologically and emotionally exhausted. But you have to smile and continue," Sanchez posted in Spanish on Instagram below a photo that showed him with a […]

London (AFP) – Paul Clement has been appointed as manager of Chinese-owned Reading to replace Jaap Stam, the struggling Championship club announced on Friday. Reading parted company with former Manchester United and Dutch defender Stam earlier this week and moved quickly to appoint the former Swansea boss, with only three points separating the club from […]

London (AFP) – Dutch football great Ruud Gullit has urged Chelsea and other Premier League clubs to embrace the "new era" by establishing eSports teams to boost their profile and widen their global fanbases. The former AC Milan star has set up Team Gullit, the first independent FIFA eSports academy, with three players and is […]