Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick admitted Wednesday that uncertainty over whether Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba will stay is "not ideal" as the newly-crowned European champions prepare for the new season. Spain playmaker Alcantara and Austria defender Alaba — key members of the team which won the Champions League last month […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – African football chiefs will decide Thursday whether to go ahead with CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup matches in Morocco during September amid a coronavirus spike there. The kingdom is scheduled to host the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals and the Confederation Cup 'final four' mini-tournament this month. Confederation […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester City remain the teams to beat after three seasons of total dominance but a rejuvenated Manchester United and free-spending Chelsea could force themselves into a four-way race for the title. AFP Sport looks at how last season's top four are shaping up ahead of the new season. Liverpool After […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate said Nations League matches should not have gone ahead during pre-season for most major European leagues after his side laboured to a 0-0 draw away to Denmark on Tuesday. Southgate's squad was hit by a raft of injuries and off-field problems after Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood were […]

Paris (AFP) – Eduardo Camavinga said he was "proud for his family" after becaming France's youngest international in 96 years as les Bleus won a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final in a 4-2 Nations League victory over Croatia on Tuesday. Midfielder Camavinga, aged 17 years and nine months, replaced Ngolo Kante at the […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning brace to take him to 101 international goals for Portugal in a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sweden in the Nations League on Tuesday, while France won a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final 4-2 over Croatia. Ronaldo broke the mythical 100-goal mark on the stroke of […]

Paris (AFP) – Eduardo Camavinga became France's youngest international in 96 years as les Bleus won a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final in a 4-2 Nations League victory over Croatia on Tuesday. Midfielder Camavinga, aged 17 years and nine months, replaced Ngolo Kante at the Stade de France in the second half and […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – England were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw away to Denmark on Tuesday after the hosts wasted the best chances in Copenhagen. Gareth Southgate's preparation for the game was thrown into turmoil when Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood were sent home on Monday after breaching coronavirus protocols following Saturday's 1-0 victory […]

Solna (Sweden) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice against 10-man Sweden on Tuesday to take him to 101 international goals for Portugal on Tuesday. The mythical 100-mark was broken on the stroke of half-time of a UEFA Nations League match against Sweden. The 35-year-old Juventus attacker curled in a free-kick from 25 yards over the […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga became France's youngest international in 96 years as he replaced Ngolo Kante in the Nations League fixture against Croatia on Tuesday. Angolan-born Camavinga, aged 17 years and nine months, is only surpassed by Julien Verbrugghe, aged 16 years and 10 months in 1906, and Maurice Gastiger, at 17 […]

Solna (Sweden) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Portugal on Tuesday, on the stroke of half-time of a UEFA Nations League match against Sweden. The 35-year-old Juventus attacker curled in a free-kick from 25 yards over the wall and into the far left corner beyond Sweden's stranded goalkeeper Robin Olsen for a […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle secured the signing of left-back Jamal Lewis from Norwich on Tuesday for a reported fee of £15million ($20 million). Lewis, who had attracted interest from Liverpool earlier in the transfer window, has agreed a five-year contract at St James' Park. Newcastle said in a statement: "Highly-rated full-back Jamal Lewis has become […]

London (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne credited the influence of Pep Guardiola after becoming the first Manchester City player to be named the Professional Footballers' Association's (PFA) player of the year. The rest of the PFA team of the year is dominated by Premier League champions Liverpool with five players, while Manchester United's Marcus Rashford […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday spent some of the money from Kai Havertz's transfer to Chelsea by signing Czech centre-forward Patrik Schick from AS Roma on a five-year contract. After also selling striker Kevin Volland to Monaco last week, Leverkusen, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, have reportedly paid 26.5 million […]

London (AFP) – Everton completed their midfield rebuild with the signing of Abdoulaye Doucoure from Watford for a reported £20 million ($26 million) on Tuesday. The 27-year-old has agreed a three-year deal, with the Toffees having the option of a fourth season. Doucoure becomes the third midfielder to sign for Carlo Ancleotti's men in the […]