Suita (Japan) (AFP) – Striker Ado Onaiwu bagged a six-minute first-half hat-trick as Japan confirmed their dominance in Group F of Asian 2022 World Cup qualifying with a crushing 5-1 win over the Kyrgyz Republic in Suita on Tuesday. Manager Hajime Moriyasu made five changes to the side that beat Tajikistan 4-1 a week ago […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain midfielder Pedri has agreed with his coach Luis Enrique by criticising the pitch in Seville after Monday's goalless draw with Sweden in Group E. Luis Enrique said after the match his players had struggled to control the ball at La Cartuja stadium, where Spain will play all three of their group […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA on Tuesday opened a disciplinary inquiry into Austria's Marko Arnautovic for insulting North Macedonian players in Sunday's Euro 2020 game. Arnautovic netted Austria's third goal in a 3-1 win in Bucharest and then launched into an ill-tempered celebration, his teammate David Alaba having to intervene to calm him down. Media reports […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson has been forced to withdraw from England's Euro 2020 squad due to a hip injury, the Football Association announced on Tuesday. Aaron Ramsdale of Sheffield United will take his place in Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad. "The Manchester United goalkeeper will now return to his club for further […]

Paris (AFP) – Reigning champions Portugal begin their defence of the trophy against Hungary at Euro 2020 in Budapest on Tuesday as World Cup holders France take on Germany in a hotly-anticipated clash between two of the continent's heavyweights. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal are set to have the honour of a full house in the Hungarian […]

Glasgow (AFP) – After 23 years waiting to join in the party at a major tournament, it took just 90 minutes for the hype and hope that has swept Scotland in recent months to make way to a familiar feeling of disappointment. The Czech Republic silenced a 12,000 crowd at Hampden on Monday with a […]

Rome (AFP) – Long overlooked in the national team set-up, Lorenzo Insigne served notice of his intentions at Euro 2020 with a sublime goal in Italy's impressive opening win against Turkey. Under Roberto Mancini, the 30-year-old Napoli captain has finally been given his chance to shine on the international scene as a starter, a position […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Argentina superstar Lionel Messi scored a stunning freekick but Chile hit back to earn a 1-1 draw in the Copa America on Monday. Messi's magical left foot gave dominant Argentina a deserved first half lead but Eduardo Vargas equalized in the second half after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved veteran […]

London (AFP) – Premier League clubs reported a cumulative pre-tax loss of almost £1 billion ($1.4 billion) for the coronavirus-hit 2019-20 season, according to figures from finance company Deloitte. Fans were locked out of English top-flight stadiums in the latter stages of the 2019-20 campaign because of the pandemic and only returned on a limited […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – A nurse accused of neglect in Diego Maradona's death told Argentine prosecutors on Monday that he was following orders "not to disturb" the football icon while he slept. Ricardo Almiron, 37, was Maradona's nighttime carer and was one of the last people to see the World Cup winning captain alive. He […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – A nurse accused of neglect in Diego Maradona's death told Argentine prosecutors on Monday that he was following orders "not to disturb" the football icon while he slept. Ricardo Almiron, 37, was Maradona's nighttime carer and was one of the last people to see the World Cup winning captain alive. He […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Argentina superstar Lionel Messi scored a stunning freekick but Chile hit back to earn a 1-1 draw in the Copa America on Monday. Messi's magical left foot gave dominant Argentina a deserved first half lead but Eduardo Vargas equalized in the second half after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved veteran […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Spain's new team struggled with the familiar problems on Monday as a string of missed chances allowed Sweden to hang on for a goalless draw in their Euro 2020 opener in Seville. Alvaro Morata wasted the best opportunity of a dominant first half, in which Spain churned out 419 passes, the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Spain opened their Euro 2020 campaign with a goalless draw against Sweden in Seville on Monday after their preparations were badly affected by Covid-19, while Patrik Schick scored one of the championship's great goals in the Czech Republic's 2-0 win over Scotland. Elsewhere on day four of the tournament, Slovakia edged out […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Spain's new team struggled with the familiar problems on Monday as a string of missed chances allowed Sweden to hang on for a goalless draw in their Euro 2020 opener in Seville. Alvaro Morata wasted the best opportunity of a dominant first half, in which Spain churned out 419 passes, the […]