New Delhi (AFP) – Indian football star Sunil Chhetri has surpassed Lionel Messi in international goals, after scoring both goals in his country's 2-0 win over Bangladesh in Doha. Chhetri moved past Argentine Messi's 72 goals when he opened the scoring in the 79th minute on Monday, in a qualifying match for the 2022 FIFA World […]

Düsseldorf (Germany) (AFP) – Thomas Mueller scored his first international goal in two years on Monday as Germany crushed minnows Latvia 7-1 in their final warm-up friendly before the Euro 2020 finals. Latvia, ranked 138th in the world, rarely got out of their half as Germany tuned up for their opening game of the European […]

Doha (AFP) – Syria joined Japan in the third round of World Cup qualifying from Asia after a first-half double by Mardak Mardikian helped them beat Guam 3-0 and confirm their top position in Group A on Monday. Syria's seventh win in as many matches ensured they would be among the 12 teams competing in […]

Tubize (Belgium) (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne joined up with the Belgium squad on Monday but remains a major doubt for their Euro 2020 opener against Russia after undergoing minor surgery on a facial injury, his coach Roberto Martinez said. "Kevin De Bruyne has joined the group and that's fantastic news. He looks ready, he […]

London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on England fans to get behind the team at Euro 2020, but stopped short of criticising supporters who have booed the taking of the knee ahead of two pre-tournament friendlies. Audible boos were drowned out by applause ahead of 1-0 wins over Austria and Romania in […]

Kiev (AFP) – Ukraine said Monday it would not allow anyone to insult its football kit that features Moscow-annexed Crimea while its Western allies gave the uniforms emblazoned with popular nationalist chants a thumbs up. Kiev has provoked Moscow's ire after its football association unveiled Euro 2020 kits that show the outline of Ukraine including […]

Seoul (AFP) – Former South Korean footballer Yoo Sang-chul, who starred in the country's run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, the Korea Football Association said Monday. He was 49. The midfielder was a mainstay of the South Korean team when they took the world by […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations draw, scheduled for Yaounde on June 25, has been postponed due to Covid-19, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed on Monday. A CAF official said the delay of the ceremony to an undecided date was due to "logistical reasons related to Covid-19". The seeded draw […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane believes England will start their bid to win Euro 2020 in a "better place" than they were before reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Gareth Southgate's side made a surprise run to the last four in Russia three years ago. But there are greater expectations around his vibrant young team […]

Berlin (AFP) – Emre Can and Mats Hummels only both rate Germany as outsiders for the Euro 2020 title, but have urged the 'Mannschaft' to prove their 2018 World Cup debacle is behind them. Germany won the last of their three European Championship titles back in 1996 and are struggling for form heading into the […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Norwich to sign Argentine international forward Emiliano Buendia for what will reportedly be a club record fee. Buendia, 24, won Championship player of the year this season, scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists, as Norwich romped straight back to the Premier League. His form […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has chosen Ben White to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in England's Euro 2020 squad after an impressive performance in the 1-0 win over Romania. The 23-year-old Brighton central defender made his international debut in the 1-0 friendly win over Austria last week and backed that up in Sunday's match […]

Paris (AFP) – The Covid-19 pandemic was responsible for its postponement but, with the health situation on the continent gradually improving, the delayed Euro 2020 finally kicks off on Friday in Rome when Italy host Turkey while Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal prepare to defend the title they won in France five years ago. When the […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkey's hopes of conquering Europe and winning their first international title rest at the feet of free-kick maestro Hakan Calhanoglu whose repertoire features the kind of silky skills the football-mad nation craves. Calhanoglu is just one of the stars of a squad that many view as Turkey's new golden generation. The Turks' […]

Paris (AFP) – Ahead of the start of Euro 2020 on Friday, AFP Sport selects six of the continent's brightest young stars to watch at the month-long tournament: – Phil Foden – The player of the tournament when England won the Under-17 World Cup in India in 2017, Foden is now set to be unleashed […]