Paris (AFP) – France clinched qualification for the World Cup thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Belarus on Tuesday. Didier Deschamps's side successfully completed their tricky challenge of beating Bulgaria and Belarus in their final two qualifiers. The victory at the Stade de France meant they […]

Quito (AFP) – Lionel Messi and Argentina will be fighting for their World Cup lives here Tuesday as the South American heavyweights take on Ecuador aiming to avoid a humiliating failure to qualify for next year's finals in Russia. The eyes of the football world will turn to Quito's Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa to see if […]

Moscow (AFP) – World Cup hosts Russia drew 1-1 with Iran on Tuesday in a friendly that did little to dispel doubts about their ability to challenge the elite next year. Zenit St Petersburg striker Dmitry Poloz came off the bench to cancel out Sardar Azmoun's 57th-minute opener for the visitors. It was Russia coach […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland manager Gordon Strachan will have his future discussed at a Scottish Football Association board meeting on Thursday after the country's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Strachan is out of contract next month and his five-year reign could be over as calls increase for his dismissal. A 2-2 draw in […]

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a welcome boost on Tuesday as the Argentina striker returned to training following his recent car crash. Aguero sustained a broken rib when a taxi he was passenger in crashed on its way to Amsterdam airport last month. The accident sparked fears Aguero could be out of […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli police dismissed on Tuesday local media reports that a pitch invader who ran towards Spanish attacker Isco at a World Cup qualifier in Jerusalem was carrying a knife. Israeli news website Ynet cited security officials in the stadium as saying six fans entered the field as the game was ending late […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A powerless spectator as Wales's World Cup dreams were crushed by the Republic of Ireland, Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has arrived at a crucial tipping point in his career. Sidelined by the latest in a succession of calf injuries, Bale could only watch forlornly from the stands at Cardiff […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scottish football chiefs said on Tuesday they will not rush into a decision over manager Gordon Strachan's future despite yet another failure to qualify for a major international tournament. The Scotland boss is out of contract next month but is facing mounting pressure from fans to call time on his five-year reign […]

London (AFP) – English Football League clubs are risking bankruptcy by chasing promotion to the Premier League where they face "economic exhaustion" trying to compete with established sides, financial experts said on Tuesday. Between the 2008-09 and 2015-16 seasons, 19 clubs gained promotion from the Championship to the top flight, with Hull, Norwich and QPR […]

Quito (AFP) – Lionel Messi and Argentina will be fighting for their World Cup lives on Tuesday as the South American heavyweights take on Ecuador aiming to avoid a humiliating failure to qualify for next year's finals in Russia. The eyes of the football world will turn to Quito's Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa to see if […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui has shrugged off suggestions his team would be affected by political turmoil in the build up to next year’s World Cup, ahead of a potential Catalan decision on independence. Spain won their final qualifying game against Israel 1-0 in Jerusalem on Monday to finish top of their group, […]

Couva (Trinidad and Tobago) (AFP) – United States coach Bruce Arena shrugged off fears concerning a waterlogged playing surface as his team prepare to seal their World Cup qualification against Trinidad & Tobago here Tuesday. The US will clinch their ticket to next year's finals in Russia with victory over already-eliminated Trinidad & Tobago at […]

Reykjavik (AFP) – Less than 18 months after sensationally knocking England out of Euro 2016, Iceland qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Monday following a 2-0 win over Kosovo. Needing victory to guarantee top spot in European qualifying Group I, goals from Everton star Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann Gudmundsson ensured Iceland […]

Shkodër (Albania) (AFP) – Antonio Candreva lifted Italy to a 1-0 win over Albania in their final World Cup qualifying game on Monday that assures the Azzurri are top seeds for November's play-offs. Gian Piero Ventura's side were already through to next month's play-offs, but desperately needed a win in Shkoder to be guaranteed the […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Aleksandar Prijovic scored after coming on as a second-half substitute to steer Serbia to a 1-0 win over Georgia and secure a place at next year's World Cup finals. Prijovic struck the winner on 74 minutes in Belgrade as Serbia finished top of European qualifying Group D, with the Republic of Ireland heading […]