Johannesburg (AFP) – South Africa stretched an unbeaten run to a record 16 matches Saturday with a 3-1 friendly international victory over Guinea-Bissau in Durban. Kermit Erasmus and Andile Jali converted penalties and Percy Tau scored on debut for Bafana Bafana ("The Boys") at a wet and windy Moses Mabhida Stadium. Djalo "Aldair" Balde scored […]

Paris (AFP) – Sweden crushed Belarus 4-0 to keep the pressure on their rivals in qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup as Switzerland remain unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Latvia. Sweden now have ten points from five games to go provisionally top of Group A ahead of France who travel to Luxembourg later Saturday […]

Dublin (AFP) – Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman had surgery on his broken leg Saturday following a horror tackle by Wales's Neil Taylor in Friday's goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Dublin. Taylor was sent off in the 71st minute at Lansdowne Road, with Everton full-back Coleman taken off on a stretcher after his […]

Enfield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has named Torino goalkeeper Joe Hart as England captain for their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. Hart, on loan at Torino from Manchester City, will lead England out at Wembley on Sunday instead of Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, who skippered the team in their midweek defeat against Germany. […]

The Hague (AFP) – Former Dutch star Patrick Kluivert, currently director of football at French club Paris Saint-German, owed up to one million euros to a criminal gang after racking up debts betting on football, a Dutch newspaper said Sunday. De Volkskrant said the gang applied threats to pressure Kluivert in order to recoup the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain remained well on course to book their place at the World Cup in Russia as David Silva conducted another clinical win over Israel, cementing the 2010 world champions' upturn in fortunes under Julien Lopetegui. After the routine 4-1 win in Gijon on Friday the former goalkeeper is unbeaten in his seven […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed on Saturday that a new stadium for the Barca B team will be named after Johan Cruyff and a statue of the Dutch great constructed at the club's Camp Nou stadium. Speaking a day after the first anniversary of Cruyff's death, his son Jordi said the […]

San Francisco (AFP) – Clint Dempsey made a fairytale return to international duty with a hat-trick as the United States reignited their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Honduras. Dempsey, playing his first international since recovering from a heart problem that forced a six-month layoff, scored goals in each half as […]

London (AFP) – England's Euro 2016 humiliation by Iceland means they will never again underestimate teams like Sunday's opponents Lithuania, according to Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier. Dier was a member of the team stunned 2-1 by Iceland in Nice last year as England crashed to their most embarrassing defeat since a 1-0 loss to […]

Baku (AFP) – Record-breaking Germany face Azerbaijan on Sunday with head coach Joachim Loew insisting their simple goal is to "ruthlessly" secure World Cup qualification as quickly as possible. The defending champions are currently five points clear in Group C and a fifth straight win would take them a step closer to Russia 2018. After […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio striker Ciro Immobile headed a superb second goal for Italy as the Azzurri maintained their 2018 World Cup qualifying bid with a controversial, interrupted 2-0 win over Albania on Friday. Italy's fourth win in five games leaves Gian Piero Ventura's men second in Group G, on the same points as leaders […]

Dublin (AFP) – Wales were held to a 0-0 draw by the Republic of Ireland on Friday in a World Cup qualifier overshadowed by a sickening injury to Irish captain Seamus Coleman. The Everton right-back was given oxygen and stretchered off in the 71st minute after his right leg was broken by a crude lunge […]

Paris (AFP) – Italy kept pace with Spain in European World Cup qualifying as goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played his 1,000th professional match in a 2-0 victory over Albania on Friday. A first-half Daniele De Rossi penalty and late second from Ciro Immobile was enough to earn the Azzurri three points but they remain behind Spain […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Cameroon began their reign as African champions with a 1-0 friendly victory over Tunisia in Monastir Friday thanks to a Vincent Aboubakar goal. The Turkey-based striker took advantage of his first scoring opportunity to beat Aymen Mathlouthi after 14 minutes in the Mediterranean resort. Aboubakar had several other chances, including a […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City have been fined 18,000 euros by UEFA for three offences during their Champions League tie with Monaco at the Etihad Stadium last month, European football's governing body said on Friday. City were found guilty of three charges concerning a pitch invasion, the throwing of objects from the crowd and a […]