Berlin (AFP) – Germany head coach Joachim Loew launched a charm offensive ahead of Friday's international friendly at Wembley by insisting this is the strongest England side in recent years. The Germans have won all of their last six matches against old rivals England at the iconic Wembley, a run stretching back to 1982. However, […]

New York (AFP) – It was the raid that changed the face of the world's most popular sport. Swiss police swooped in on a five-star Zurich hotel at dawn, arresting seven soccer officials at US request. Two and a half years later, the only defendants detained in the United States who continue to profess their […]

London (AFP) – West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits his side's "naive" 4-1 thrashing by Liverpool could be fatal to his hopes of avoiding the sack. Bilic's side are just one point above the Premier League relegation zone after slumping to a dismal defeat at the London Stadium on Saturday. With West Ham winless in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona continued their record-breaking start to a La Liga season by beating Sevilla 2-1 thanks to Paco Alcacer's double on Saturday in an atmosphere at the Camp Nou marked by the political upheaval in Catalonia. A huge Catalan flag and banners reading "justice" in Catalan and English were displayed before kick-off after […]

Sydney (AFP) – Key attacker Tim Cahill will join the Australian squad in Honduras as he recovers from an ankle injury for this week's FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-off, the FFA said on Sunday. The squad leaves on Sunday but Football Federation Australia said the country's all-time leading goalscorer will delay his departure and join […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Wydad Casablanca of Morocco became African champions for a second time when they defeated Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 Saturday in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final. Walid El Karty nodded the lone goal on 69 minutes to give the home team a 2-1 aggregate triumph after they forced […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona continued their record-breaking start to a La Liga season by beating Sevilla 2-1 thanks to Paco Alcacer's double on Saturday in an atmosphere at the Camp Nou marked by the political upheaval in Catalonia. A huge Catalan flag and banners reading "justice" in Catalan and English were displayed before kick-off after […]

London (AFP) – West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admitted he was in a "difficult situation" after a damaging 4-1 defeat to Liverpool left his side in deep trouble just above the Premier League relegation zone. Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead and Joel Matip doubled the visitors' lead before half-time at the London Stadium. Manuel Lanzini […]

Twickenham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – New Zealand coach Steve Hansen suggested referee Nigel Owens had not been as "focused" as he would have been for a Test match after the world champions launched their tour of Europe with a 31-22 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday. Hansen deliberately fielded an unfamiliar-looking All Blacks […]

London (AFP) – Mohamed Salah's brace left West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic in grave danger of the sack as Liverpool thrashed the Premier League strugglers 4-1 on Saturday. Salah put Liverpool ahead at the London Stadium and Joel Matip doubled the visitors' lead before half-time to leave Bilic facing a toxic atmosphere. Manuel Lanzini […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich stamped their authority on the Bundesliga on Saturday by opening a four-point lead as Robert Lewandowski netted an audacious goal in their commanding 3-1 win at Borussia Dortmund. Defending champions Bayern stay on course to win the German League for a sixth straight season after dominating the high-tempo showdown at […]

London (AFP) – Rampant Liverpool turned up the heat on beleaguered West Ham boss Slaven Bilic with a 4-1 win on Saturday as former champions Leicester City extended their unbeaten run with a draw at Stoke. Elsewhere, struggling West Brom's winless run stretched to nine league matches in a 1-0 loss against 10-man Huddersfield, cranking […]

Paris (AFP) – The injured Neymar was left at home as Edinson Cavani reached a century of goals in Ligue 1 with a brace in Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 romp away to Angers on Saturday. The world's most expensive player sat out the game at the Stade Raymond Kopa with a minor thigh problem picked up […]

Berlin (AFP) – Timo Werner proved his form ahead of Germany's forthcoming internationals as his late goal sealed RB Leipzig's 2-1 comeback win against Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The 21-year-old, who has just recovered from a neck injury, is set to feature for the world champions in high-profile friendly matches against England […]

Madrid (AFP) – Valencia swept aside Leganes 3-0 on Saturday as they continued their stunning form with an eighth straight win to close to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona. Marcelino Garcia Toral's side also moved ahead of Barca as the league's top scorers with 30 goals in their first 11 games as […]