London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed his side will take the knee before kick-off in all of their matches at Euro 2020 despite the gesture being booed by supporters since fans returned to stadiums in recent weeks. Sections of the crowd voiced their displeasure at the gesture ahead of England's 1-0 friendly win […]

Brussels (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne underwent "a small operation" on his face on Saturday morning and "will rejoin the team on Monday", Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. "We decided that Kevin De Bruyne finally needed a small intervention, which took place today. He will rejoin the team on Monday," the Spanish coach told a […]

Vantaa (Finland) (AFP) – Finland's football association has begun offering a free "sports hijab" to any player who wants one, in a move designed to attract a greater diversity of players into the sport. So far, the FA has distributed "dozens" of the headscarves, which are made out of technical, stretchy fabric, Heidi Pihlaja, head of […]

Porto Alegre (Brazil) (AFP) – Star forward Neymar scored a retaken penalty as Brazil maintained their perfect start to South American World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Friday. Richarlison had given Brazil the lead on 64 minutes and Neymar sealed the win deep into injury time, but only after another VAR […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Veteran Argentina great Carlos Tevez announced on Friday he was quitting Boca Juniors and would no longer play football in his homeland, but stopped short of officially retiring. The 37-year-old said he was leaving Boca, his beloved home club — he said "my blood isn't red, it's blue and yellow" — […]

Bratislava (AFP) – Whenever Slovakia qualifies for a major football tournament, Marek Hamsik is there with his distinctive Mohawk hairstyle, and Euro 2020 will be no exception. The 33-year-old, who spent most of his career at Serie A side Napoli, played at World Cup 2010 and Euro 2016, and he is now set to feature […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Spain are no longer the most feared side in Europe that swept all before them between 2008 and 2012. A new generation is now tasked with restoring their former glories at Euro 2020. AFP Sport looks at what to expect from Group E with Sweden, Poland and Slovakia also hoping for […]

Warsaw (AFP) – From training on a basic dirt pitch to earning his first top-scorer titles, Robert Lewandowski experienced highs and lows during his early years in Warsaw that made him the star he is today. The Bayern Munich striker dubbed 'LewanGOALski' by fans is fresh from of breaking Gerd Mueller's decades-long German league record by […]

Stockholm (AFP) – Sweden will have to do without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Euro 2020, but young talents like Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski are bidding to make sure the veteran's absence isn't too keenly felt. Kulusevski, who has had a meteoric rise in Serie A with Juventus, and Isak, another 21-year-old prodigy from […]

Bologna (Italy) (AFP) – A week before they kick off Euro 2020 in Rome, Italy crushed the Czech Republic 4-0 in Bologna on Friday, keeping an eighth straight clean sheet. Ciro Immobile Nicolo Barella Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Berardi all scored for the hosts who will open the Euro against Turkey next Friday. In the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – The mayor of Rio de Janeiro said on Friday that he would not hesitate to cancel Copa America matches scheduled in his city if the Covid-19 pandemic worsened. The competition was switched to Brazil from Argentina on Tuesday. It starts on June 13. "I don't see any advantage in hosting […]

Budapest (AFP) – Euro 2020 Group F outsiders Hungary beat Cyprus 1-0 in Budapest on Friday in their first friendly match before the delayed tournament starting on June 11. A 36th minute strike by midfielder Andras Schafer, his first international goal, settled the tie which was played in front of a near capacity attendance at […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain and Portugal drew 0-0 in a friendly warm up for the European Championships in a friendly at the Metropolitano in Madrid on Friday. The match was both an occasion to officially launch the two nations launching a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup and the hosts to test out […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain and Portugal made their bid to host the 2030 World Cup official on Friday in a small symbolic ceremony at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, ahead of a Euro 2020 warm-up between the two nations. "The governments of Spain and Portugal wish to express their desire and commitment to host the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Fresh from scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final, Chelsea star Kai Havertz is hoping his club form can earn him a starting berth for Germany at Euro 2020. Havertz, who turns 22 when the European Championship starts next week, showcased his talent by calmly rounding Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson […]