London (AFP) – Roy Hodgson has been appointed the new manager of Crystal Palace, the English Premier League club announced Tuesday. The 70-year-old former England manager has replaced Frank de Boer after the Dutchman was sacked following just four league games in charge of the south London club. "Former England manager Roy Hodgson has been […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Just eight years after starting life in the local leagues, RB Leipzig will enhance their rags to riches tale on Wednesday by hosting Monaco on the German club's Champions League debut. Backed by energy drinks giant Red Bull, who bought the licence of a fifth-division club, Leipzig began climbing Germany's football […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA announced Tuesday that ticket sales for the 2018 World Cup will begin on Thursday, nine months to the day that the tournament kicks off in Russia. "Fans all over the world will also be able to book their place as ticket sales for the tournament start exclusively on FIFA.com/tickets," world football's […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino has warned his Tottenham Hotspur stars that they must make a fast start to their Champions League campaign or risk another early exit. Pochettino's side failed to make it past the group stage of Europe's elite club competition last season. Tottenham's downfall was triggered by poor results in their home […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool's Sadio Mane had his three-match suspension for a red card received for a high challenge on Manchester City's Ederson upheld on Tuesday, after the Football Association rejected his claim of excessive punishment. Senegal winger Mane was sent off after catching goalkeeper Ederson in the face during City's 5-0 win in the […]

Guangzhou (AFP) – Shanghai SIPG survived an almighty scare to sneak into the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 5-4 on penalties and break Guangzhou Evergrande hearts on Tuesday. Midfielder Yu Hai was the hero for Andre Villas-Boas's battered side, holding his nerve to bury the decisive spot-kick and SIPG will face either of the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has underlined the importance of welcoming back World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo for the holders Champions League opener against APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday. Ronaldo has been suspended for Real's last four games after pushing a referee in the Spanish Super Cup and has been badly […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund set out for Wednesday's Champions League tie against Tottenham Hotspur in London hoping their stars will become "heroes" in a group containing titleholders Real Madrid. "This is the hardest group, but also challenging, and in such groups, heroes are made," said managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke on Tuesday. Dortmund, Spurs, and […]

Abuja (AFP) – Chelsea star Victor Moses has dismissed suggestions he picks and chooses the games he plays for Nigeria, insisting he always wants to be fit before appearing for his country. Moses, 26, made his Nigeria debut in 2012 when he changed his international allegiance after representing England at various age-grade levels. He has […]

Kabul (AFP) – At a makeshift beach in landlocked Afghanistan, children as young as eight, wearing baggy Real Madrid and Barcelona shirts with "Ronaldo" and "Messi" printed on the back, joyfully kick and chase the ball. Kabul's Ghazi stadium was the scene of gruesome executions under Taliban rule but today it is where Afghan youths, the […]

The Hague (AFP) – Pep Guardiola's rampant Manchester City will be keen to keep the momentum going as they open the hunt for Champions League glory against a diminished Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Wednesday. After mauling Liverpool 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, City now travel to face the Dutch champions — who face […]

Madrid (AFP) – Such is Real Madrid's confidence in creating more Champions League history that while others have spent hundreds of millions trying to catch up, the back-to-back European champions were happy to cash in. Real made a profit of over 75 million euros ($90 million) in the transfer market thanks to the departures of […]

London (AFP) – Frustrated by a series of miserable experiences at Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur host Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday desperate to finally vanquish the ghosts that haunt them at the national stadium. When Mauricio Pochettino's side kick off their Champions League campaign against the Germans, it won't be just priceless Group H points that are […]

Liverpool (AFP) – When Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, he made a promise: "If we sit here in four years, I think we (will) win one title," he said. Next month will mark the second anniversary of Klopp's appointment, the halfway point of that four-year cycle. There has undoubtedly been progress in […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in an opening game of the Champions League group stages which Italian coach Eusebio Di Francesco believes will be crucial to their ambitions. In a Group C that also includes Premier League champions Chelsea, both sides desperately need to win in the Stadio Olimpico. Di Francesco […]