Tokyo (AFP) – Former Japan coach Philippe Troussier has cast doubt on the country's hopes of surviving their group at next year's World Cup, describing their draw as "bad news". The Frenchman, who led the Blue Samurai to the last 16 as 2002 co-hosts, fears that Colombia and Senegal could have too much firepower for […]

London (AFP) – With Zlatan Ibrahimovic fit again and closely scrutinising his performances from the substitutes' bench, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is under pressure to rediscover his goal-scoring touch. Having scored 11 goals in his first 10 games following his £75 million ($100.8 million, 85 million euros) switch from Everton, Lukaku has found the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says he wishes Manchester City could face Paul Pogba when the Premier League leaders bid to re-write the history books in their huge derby with Manchester United. Guardiola watched his side equal a Premier League record by winning their 13th straight match on Sunday when David Silva's late […]

Sydney (AFP) – Former United States boss Jurgen Klinsmann is keen on leading Australia at the World Cup, replacing Ange Postecoglou who quit last month, reports said. The German legend, who was sacked in 2016 after a poor start to the Americans' World Cup qualifying campaign, commissioned one of his closest friends to scout out […]

Paris (AFP) – Lyon moved second in Ligue 1 as Marseille failed to take advantage of Paris Saint-Germain's slip at Strasbourg after stumbling to a 1-1 draw at Montpellier on Sunday. Rudi Garcia's Marseille were fortunate to escape Montpellier with a point as Florian Thauvin's disputed penalty negated Giovanni Sio's opener for the home side […]

Milan (AFP) – Ivan Perisic fired unbeaten Inter Milan top of Serie A on Sunday with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Chievo, after Gennaro Gattuso's AC Milan reign began with goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli's header giving Benevento their maiden Serie A point. Croatian Perisic opened the San Siro goal blitz after 23 minutes and […]

Milan (AFP) – New AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said Benevento goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli's last-gasp equaliser against his team felt worse than being stabbed after the newly-promoted side gained their first ever Serie A point on Sunday. Brignoli scored an improbable diving header in the fifth minute of injury time to draw 2-2 with Milan […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as David Silva's superb late strike capped a dramatic 2-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's side maintained their recent habit of finding dramatic, late winning goals, with Silva netting seven minutes from full-time at […]

Madrid (AFP) – Valencia blew a huge chance to move to within two points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga as they slumped to a first defeat of the season, losing 1-0 at Getafe. The visitors' disappointment was also compounded by the fact Getafe played for 65 minutes a man down after Mauro […]

Kuwait City (AFP) – Kuwait's parliament on Sunday endorsed a new law on sport which it hopes will end bans from international competitions over alleged government interference. World sports bodies led by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee suspended Kuwait in October 2015 for the second time since 2010 over alleged government meddling in sports. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng hit a superb winning goal 10 minutes from time to seal Eintracht Frankfurt's 2-1 comeback victory at his ex-club Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Sunday. In falling snow at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the 30-year-old Boateng unleashed a superb shot from the edge of the area to leave […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – In-form Charlie Austin rescued Southampton with a second half equaliser in a 1-1 draw at south-coast rivals Bournemouth on Sunday. Mauricio Pellegrino's side trailed to Ryan Fraser's goal late in the first half, but Austin nabbed an important point with his third goal in as many games. The result means […]

Milan (AFP) – Goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli sealed the first ever Serie A point for newcomers Benevento to spoil Gennaro Gattuso's debut as AC Milan coach in a 2-2 draw that was greeted like a victory by the hosts. In a desperate scramble in front of goal Brignoli headed in five minutes into injury time to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Peter Stoeger was finally sacked as Cologne coach on Sunday, ending his 1,634-days reign with the club bottom of the Bundesliga and winless after a disastrous run of results. Although Cologne earned a 2-2 draw at Schalke on Saturday, denying the hosts the chance to go second in the Bundesliga, it emerged […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will miss Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Sporting Lisbon, the Catalan giants confirmed on Sunday. Iniesta asked to be replaced early in the second-half of Barca's 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday, but he could return as early as next weekend for a testing La […]