Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale is "desperate" to return from injury in time for a Champions League final homecoming against Juventus in Cardiff on Saturday, his Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane said on Tuesday. Bale hasn't played since suffering the latest in a series of calf injuries that have plagued his time in Madrid, against […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The England football team have a "responsibility" to help people move on with their lives following last week's deadly terror attack in Manchester, manager Gareth Southgate said on Tuesday. Tributes were paid to the 22 victims of the suicide attack at Manchester Arena at several sporting events in the United […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Atletico Madrid's France striker Antoine Griezmann played 63 games this season racking up 5,454 minutes on the pitch, making him the most used player in Europe, the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) said on Tuesday. Griezmann, thought to be close to a transfer to Manchester United, played all but two league games […]

Brussels (AFP) – Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany was on Tuesday included in Belgium's squad for a World Cup qualifier against Estonia and friendly against the Czech Republic after a 500-day absence from the national team. Coach Roberto Martinez named the oft-injured Kompany among a 27-strong squad for the June 5 friendly in Brussels and […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury, national team manager Gareth Southgate revealed on Tuesday. "We'll be without Nathaniel Clyne," Southgate told reporters at the St George's Park national football centre in Burton-on-Trent, central England. "He's been carrying an injury and that's why we […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal legend Ian Wright fears Arsene Wenger would leave the Gunners "totally in the lurch" if he decides to quit the Premier League club this week. Wenger met Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Monday to discuss his future before his contract expires next month. The 67-year-old […]

Rome (AFP) – AS Roma said Tuesday that it had parted ways with Luciano Spalletti, just two days after the coach had guided the team to Champions League football next season. Spalletti joined Roma for a second time as coach in January 2016 after a first stint between 2005-2009 during which time the club won […]

Sydney (AFP) – Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos is keen to coach Australian side South Melbourne, who are pushing to join an expanded domestic A-League. The 44-year-old, famous for his stunning free kicks, held talks in the city on Monday with club officials. "What I’ve seen here has moved me, the complex and the people," […]

Dubai (AFP) – Asian player of the year Omar Abdulrahman scored a brilliant double as Al Ain thrashed Esteghlal 6-1 to storm into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. The brace by "Amoory" — matched by two sublime strikes from Brazil's Caio — overturned last week's 1-0 defeat and powered last year's runners-up to a 6-2 […]

London (AFP) – David Wagner's arrival at Huddersfield Town was greeted with scorn, but just 18 months later the German has silenced the critics by masterminding his club's fairytale promotion to the Premier League. When Wagner was plucked from his role as Borussia Dortmund's reserve team coach by Huddersfield owner Dean Hoyle in November 2015, […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger looks set, according to the British media, to be offered and agree to a new contract at an Arsenal board meeting on Tuesday, ending months of uncertainty which the Frenchman admitted affected performances. Here AFP Sports looks at five problem areas which will need addressing in order to make next […]

Milan (AFP) – As Juventus look to end a 21-year-wait for the Champions League title, there are those who believe goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon can end a 54-year wait and be officially crowned the top shot-stopper in Europe. The rock of a team that recently embellished its growing pedigree with a record sixth consecutive title and […]

Berlin (AFP) – VfL Wolfsburg guaranteed their Bundesliga survival on Monday as Euro 2016-winner Vieirinha scored to secure a 1-0 win away at Eintracht Braunschweig that sealed a 2-0 aggregate victory in their relegation play-off. Having won last Tuesday's home leg 1-0 thanks to a Mario Gomez penalty, Wolfsburg were safe as Vieirinha smashed home […]

Madrid (AFP) – In the worst kept secret in European football, Ernesto Valverde was officially named Barcelona coach on Monday. Valverde follows in a long and famous line of former Barcelona players to manage the club. However, unlike two of his more recent predecessors, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, Valverde is little known outside of […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde is the man charged with reviving Barcelona's fortunes after being confirmed as the Catalan giants' new boss on a two-year deal on Monday. "Valverde has the ability, the judgement, the knowledge and the experience. He promotes the youth players and he has a Barça way," club president Josep […]