Moscow (AFP) – Despite fears over security and construction delays at several stadiums, Russia looks largely on course one year from the kick-off of the World Cup in June 2018. There was already a whiff of scandal around the first World Cup to be held in Eastern Europe after Swiss authorities opened a probe into […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former England, Real Madrid and Russia manager Fabio Capello was named on Sunday to lead China's Jiangsu Suning, one of the biggest coaching signings yet in a spending binge by the Chinese domestic league. Jiangsu Suning said the disciplinarian Italian would "bring some of the world's most advanced ideas and methods to […]

Paris (AFP) – England come full circle on Tuesday as Gareth Southgate's side finish their season with a trip to France, scene of their disastrous showing a year ago at Euro 2016. Twelve months ago England were ousted from the European Championship in humiliating fashion by Iceland, depriving them the chance to face the hosts […]

Glasgow (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate has defended Joe Hart after the goalkeeper was beaten by two Leigh Griffiths free-kicks during his side's 2-2 draw against Scotland. Griffiths caught Hart out from 25 yards twice in the space of three minutes in the latter stages of Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Glasgow, before Harry […]

Skopje (AFP) – Spain kept their noses in front of Italy in the fight for automatic qualification for next year's World Cup as David Silva and Diego Costa were on target in a 2-1 win in Macedonia on Sunday. The two European giants remain locked on 16 points at the top of Group G of […]

Paris (AFP) – Aaron Ramsey's penalty helped Wales to a precious 1-1 draw in Serbia in World Cup qualifying on Sunday as they kept their hopes of a place at the finals in Russia alive. Chris Coleman's side were missing star man Gareth Bale due to suspension in Belgrade but Arsenal midfielder Ramsey inspired the […]

Skopje (AFP) – Spain kept their noses in front of Italy in the fight for automatic qualification for next year's World Cup as David Silva and Diego Costa were on target in a 2-1 win in Macedonia on Sunday. The two European giants remain locked on 16 points at the top of Group G of […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Knowledge Musona celebrated his first match as Zimbabwe captain with a sensational hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Liberia in Harare on Sunday. And it was all smiles for Ghana who crushed Ethiopia 5-0 as qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon got underway this weekend. Musona's heroics sent […]

Brussels (AFP) – Former Portuguese international Ricardo Sa Pinto, 44, has been named as the new coach of Standard Liege, the Belgian giants announced on Sunday. Sa Pinto played for Standard towards the end of his playing career. Last season, he coached Greek outfit Atromitos, while he previously coached Sporting Lisbon amongst others. Standard are […]

Paris (AFP) – Jon Walters smashed in a late equaliser as the Republic of Ireland fought back to draw 1-1 with Austria in their World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Sunday. Stoke City forward Walters chased a long ball downfield by Robbie Brady and held off Aleksandar Dragovic before volleying into the far corner with […]

Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP) – France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has called on home fans to join in the singing of the English national anthem when the nations meet in a friendly on Tuesday out of solidarity following recent terror attacks. "I encourage those who will be at the stadium — if the English anthem is sung, […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Tens of thousands of demonstrators including Pep Guardiola, the revered former manager of Barcelona's football club, rallied in the city on Sunday to support the Catalonia independence referendum called for October 1. Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalonia's regional government, defied Madrid on Friday by setting a date for a binding vote even […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former England, Real Madrid and Russia manager Fabio Capello was named on Sunday to lead China's Jiangsu Suning, one of the biggest coaching signings yet in a spending binge by the Chinese domestic league. Jiangsu Suning said the disciplinarian Italian would "bring some of the world's most advanced ideas and methods to […]

Suwon (South Korea) (AFP) – Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored and Freddie Woodman saved a penalty as England beat Venezuela 1-0 to win their first Under-20 World Cup title and end the nation's 51-year wait for a global trophy on Sunday. Everton striker Calvert-Lewin became the third England player to score in a World Cup final after […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA is confident the diplomatic crisis sweeping Qatar will normalise and not threaten the 2022 World Cup, the organisation's president, Gianni Infantino, said in an interview published Sunday. "We are facing a diplomatic crisis," Infantino told Switzerland's Le Matin Dimanche newspaper. "I am confident the region will return to a normal situation." […]