Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 75th international goal as Portugal trounced New Zealand 4-0 in Saint Petersburg on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. The Real Madrid star struck from the penalty spot on 33 minutes to fire the European champions in front before Bernardo Silva turned in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Death threats and insults: Homophobia remains omnipresent in Spain's sacred football world, where players don't dare "come out" in an otherwise gay friendly country whose capital hosts the WorldPride until July 2. "First, they refused to take their showers with me," says Jose Manuel Garoz, who was sidelined from his amateur local […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish international defender Alvaro Arbeloa revealed Saturday he was quitting football despite the possibility of playing in China or the United States. The 34-year-old former Real Madrid, Liverpool and West Ham player told Spanish sports daily Marca he has lost his motivation. "The time has come to say goodbye. I've decided to […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his delight at firing Portugal into the Confederations Cup semi-finals after netting his 75th international goal in Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand. "I'm very happy to be in the semi-finals. We're confident and want to win," said Ronaldo, who picked up his third straight man-of-the-match award in […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 75th international goal as Portugal trounced New Zealand 4-0 in Saint Petersburg on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. The Real Madrid star struck from the penalty spot on 33 minutes to fire the European champions in front before Bernardo Silva turned in […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Hirving Lozano's courageous second-half header sealed Mexico's 2-1 comeback win over 10-man Russia on Saturday and fired them into the Confederations Cup semi-finals. Hosts Russia took a deserved 25th-minute lead in Kazan through Aleksandr Samedov, but Nestor Araujo equalised for Mexico with a looping header on the half hour. New PSV […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Joachim Loew remains wary of the threat posed by Cameroon as the Germany coach bids to maintain his decade-long record of reaching the semi-finals at major tournaments in the Confederations Cup on Sunday. The world champions take on Cameroon's Indomitable Lions at Sochi's Fisht Stadium while Chile play Australia in Moscow […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Germany's rising star Leon Goretzka on Saturday brushed off reports that Arsenal are set to swoop for the midfielder who has impressed at the Confederations Cup. With Germany's World Cup-winning stars all rested for the Confed Cup, the 22-year-old is one of those who has seized his chance to shine in […]

Moscow (AFP) – Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo could play for the first time since April in Sunday's Confed Cup clash against Australia, says Chile's coach Juan Antonio Pizzi. Bravo, 34, has not played since injuring his calf in April during a derby against Manchester United. In his absence, Johnny Herrera was in goal for […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is Germany's only injury concern for Sunday's Confederations Cup match against Cameroon after a training knock. The 23-year-old, who impressed in Thursday's 1-1 draw against Chile, went down ahead of the German's final Group B match in Sochi. The German camp is hoping Can will be able […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Joachim Loew can maintain his proud decade-long record of steering Germany to the semi-finals at major tournaments with a draw against Cameroon on Sunday enough to reach the last four of the Confederations Cup. Since Loew took charge as head coach after Germany finished third at the 2006 World Cup on […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Fears of sectarian clashes have prompted Scottish champions Celtic to refuse to make tickets available to their own fans for a potentially explosive European match in Belfast as it clashes with a key Protestant celebration, the club said Friday. Celtic, traditionally a Catholic supported club, will face overwhelmingly Protestant-backed Linfield if the […]

London (AFP) – English Premier League side Southampton named Argentinian coach Mauricio Pellegrino as their new manager on Friday to replace Claude Puel, who was sacked after just one season. The 45-year-old Pellegrino, who had been in charge of Alaves in Spain, has agreed a three-year contract at St Mary’s and will officially join up […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Lars Stindl is undoubtedly the winner in regards to Joachim Loew's decision to leave Germany's World Cup winning stars at home and blood fringe players at the Confederations Cup. After the first two rounds of matches, Borussia Moenchengladbach's captain is the tournament's unlikely top-scorer in Russia. Stindl netted in both Monday's […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Portugal are set to rest Cristiano Ronaldo for Saturday's clash against New Zealand as the Euro 2016 winners look to confirm their passage into next week's Confederations Cup semi-finals. Ronaldo brushed off allegations of tax evasion in Spain with man-of-the-match performances in the 2-2 draw with Mexico and 1-0 win over […]