Brøndby (Denmark) (AFP) – Bayern Munich right-back Joshua Kimmich earned Germany a 1-1 draw against Denmark on Tuesday with an acrobatic bicycle kick in a warm-up for a World Cup qualifier and Confed Cup campaign. Germany coach Joachim Loew opted to rest a clutch of stars including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boeteng […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Mario Balotelli has "a choice to make" if he wants to resurrect his international career, Italy coach Giampiero Ventura said on Tuesday. Ventura has never picked the controversial Nice forward since taking over the Italy reins following Euro 2016. And even though the Azzurri are playing Uruguay in Nice on Wednesday, […]

Miami (AFP) – David Beckham's hopes of launching a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami took a giant step towards becoming reality Tuesday after city officials approved the sale of land crucial to a proposed stadium project. Miami-Dade County commissioners voted by 9-4 to approve the transfer of a three-acre parcel of land worth $9 […]

Madrid (AFP) – No charges were brought against French wonder kid Theo Hernandez on Tuesday after a complaint of sexual assault had been made against the 19-year-old whilst on holiday in Marbella, a judicial source confirmed. The court in the southern Spanish city "decided to provisionally dismiss the case," indicating there "had been no signs […]

Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP) – France forward Olivier Giroud said on Tuesday he will not accept a bit-part role with Arsenal next season. The 30-year-old was often a substitute over the last campaign as Gunners manager Arsene Wenger preferred to line up Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott in attack. Giroud, who also had an injury-disrupted campaign, […]

New York (AFP) – Manchester United have overtaken Real Madrid as the world's most valuable football team, US magazine Forbes announced on Tuesday in its annual global list ranking the sport's wealthiest clubs. United's enduring brand appeal and aggressive sponsorship strategies had helped the Premier League side reclaim top spot for the first time in […]

London (AFP) – Veteran England striker Jermain Defoe is set to join Premier League side Bournemouth after undergoing a medical, he told BBC Radio on Tuesday. The 34-year-old — who scored 15 goals in the Premier League for Sunderland last season but is able to leave for free as he had an escape clause in […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Goalkeeper Jack Butland says a surprise trip to a military boot camp with the England squad had been "one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had". England manager Gareth Southgate surprised his players when they reported for international duty last Friday by whisking them away for a weekend at […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkey captain Arda Turan announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday, hours after being kicked out of a training camp by coach Fatih Terim for allegedly verbally and physically abusing a journalist. "I think the time has come...I am ending my career with the national team," said the 30-year-old Barcelona midfielder, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Dutchman Peter Bosz has been named as the new coach of Borussia Dortmund, the German giants announced on Tuesday. "Peter Bosz is the new BVB Head Coach. Contract will last until 2019," Dortmund said on their Twitter account, announcing the appointment. Bosz, 53, arrives from Ajax after leading the Dutch side to […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte walked free from court on Tuesday after a jury delivered a not guilty majority verdict on two charges of fraud in the takeover of the Scottish club. It took the jury just two hours to clear the 46-year-old Scottish businessman — who was charged following an investigation […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Inter Milan and Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has agreed terms to take over at Fiorentina on a two-year deal, the Serie A club announced Tuesday. Pioli was sacked three games before the end of a rollercoaster Serie A campaign with Inter that saw a quality-packed Nerazzurri side go from Champions League […]

Madrid (AFP) – Portugese defender Pepe confirmed he has had offers from Premier League clubs after announcing he will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer. Pepe, 34, has spent 10 years with the European champions, but has fallen down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane this season as Madrid won a La […]

Beijing (AFP) – High expectations in the big-spending Chinese Super League have triggered a spate of departures, with six coaches shown the door in the space of just one month. More than a third of teams in the 16-strong Super League have been affected, in a season which has also been rocked by claims of […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande were drawn against Shanghai SIPG in a blockbuster, all-Chinese AFC Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. Evergrande, who won the Asian title in 2013 and 2015, will play SIPG — their closest rivals in the Chinese Super League — over two legs in August and September. Japan's Kawasaki […]