Milan (AFP) – Spain forward Alvaro Morata has extended his loan with Juventus from Atletico Madrid until the end of next season, the Italian club confirmed on Tuesday. "Morata has officially extended his loan agreement (and) will wear the black and white jersey until 30 June 2022," Juventus said in a statement. Morata returned to […]

Rome (AFP) – Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri on Tuesday praised his former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini for turning Italy into possible Euro 2020 title challengers despite a lack of obvious star players. Switzerland were held 1-1 by Wales in their Group A opener in Baku and on Wednesday take on Italy who beat Turkey 3-0 […]

Suita (Japan) (AFP) – Iran and the UAE topped their respective groups on Tuesday to ease into the third phase of Asian qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Iraq also made it through as one of the five best second-placed teams on a frantic day of action. Iran pipped Iraq 1-0 in Bahrain […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top European Championship goal-scorer with a brace as reigning champions Portugal got their Euro 2020 campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday, beating Hungary 3-0 in Budapest before world champions France faced Germany in a heavyweight clash. Ronaldo netted his 10th and 11th goals at European […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma would be making "a good choice" if his touted move to Paris Saint-Germain were to go ahead, national team coach Roberto Mancini said Tuesday. "I don't know what will happen, I don't know anything. Donnarumma is a great goalkeeper, if he were to go to Paris he would […]

Budapest (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo netted a double to become the European Championship's all-time leading scorer as Portugal struck three times late on to beat a stubborn Hungary 3-0 in their Euro 2020 opener at a packed Puskas Arena on Tuesday. The holders, who appear to have a much stronger squad than when they won […]

Nongo (Guinea) (AFP) – Kei Kamara converted a penalty to take Sierra Leone to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996 with a 1-0 win over Benin on Tuesday in a qualifier twice postponed due to a coronavirus tests drama. Unattached Kamara, a 36-year-old forward who left Major League Soccer […]

Budapest (AFP) – Hungarian and Portuguese fans were thrilled Tuesday to return to a packed football stadium, the Puskas Arena in Budapest the only Euro 2020 tournament venue not to limit fan capacity as a Covid-19 health precaution. "I can't wait to get back inside a full stadium, we're thrilled to be back after more than […]

Baku (AFP) – Wales captain Gareth Bale said on Tuesday a "hostile" Baku crowd supporting Turkey in their Euro 2020 Group A match will motivate his side. Bale's team face the Crescent Stars on Wednesday and the locals will be backing Turkey due to the historical and cultural links between Ankara and Baku. According to […]

Baku (AFP) – Turkey captain Burak Yilmaz urged his team-mates to shake off a heavy defeat by Italy in the Euro 2020 opener and use the strong local support in Baku to their favour against Wales on Wednesday. The Crescent Stars take on Wales in their second Group A game after a poor display in […]

London (AFP) – England defender Tyrone Mings insists his team will not give up kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter movement at Euro 2020 after Britain's Home Secretary criticised their "gesture politics". Gareth Southgate's side have been booed by England fans for taking the knee in their last three matches, including Sunday's 1-0 […]

London (AFP) – Scotland's hopes of having Kieran Tierney fit in time to face England in their crunch Euro 2020 clash on Friday have been boosted after the Arsenal defender returned to training. Tierney was badly missed as Scotland lost 2-0 to the Czech Republic on Monday in their first match at a major tournament […]

Baku (AFP) – Turkey's leading players such as Hakan Calhanolgu and Burak Yilmaz will be more than 1,400km from their capital city as they face Wales in Wednesday's Euro 2020 match in Baku. Despite the distance, the fixture will feel like a home game for the Crescent Stars due to the historical, cultural and linguistic […]

Rome (AFP) – Simon Kjaer has become much more than a captain for Denmark, the defender hailed as a rock for his calm which saved the life of team-mate and close friend Christian Eriksen. When Eriksen collapsed, just before half-time in Saturday's game against Finland at Euro 2020, time stood still in Copenhagen. Not for […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Denmark's Christian Eriksen on Tuesday published a photo of his tired but smiling face from his hospital bed after his collapse during his country's opening Euro 2020 game, as UEFA defended the decision to resume the match. In a scene that shocked the sporting world and beyond, the 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder […]