Berlin (AFP) – German FA director Oliver Bierhoff on Monday defended Germany pair Ilkay Gundogan and Emre Can, but admitted they "made a mistake" by liking a post of Turkish footballers performing a military salute. Gundogan and Can, who both have Turkish roots, became embroiled in a social media storm Sunday after clicking 'Like' on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid could be without defender Stefan Savic for around a month after the club confirmed on Monday he has injured his left thigh. Savic returned to Madrid after sustaining the injury playing for Montenegro in their goalless draw at home to Bulgaria on Friday. "Stefan Savic has undergone several tests at […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Police reinforcements were drafted in Monday amid fears of violence at France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Turkey, a match overshadowed by diplomatic and security tensions after Paris condemned Ankara for its military offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria. The game at the Stade de France comes as the operation in northern […]

Paris (AFP) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has scrapped plans to attend a football match between France and Turkey Monday in what is expected to be a tense game as Ankara presses its military operation in Syria. Coaches on both sides have urged the focus to be on football and not politics in […]

Beijing (AFP) – South Korean footballers departed for Pyongyang on Monday to play a World Cup qualifier against North Korea amid deadlocked talks over the North's nuclear arsenal. The teams — with Tottenham's star forward Son Heung-min included in the South Korean squad — are expected to face each other at the Kim Il Sung […]

Riyadh (AFP) – Saudi football fans are delighted about their national team's historic match Tuesday against their Palestinian "brothers" in the occupied West Bank, but dismiss suggestions it marks a gradual normalisation of ties between the kingdom and Israel. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the Palestinian territories — occupied by […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South Africa and Uganda won international friendlies Sunday to give new coaches Molefi Ntseki and Northern Ireland-born Johnny McKinstry successful debuts. Goals from Dean Furman and Themba Zwane earned South Africa a 2-1 home victory in Port Elizabeth over Mali, who were missing many stars, including Southampton forward Moussa Djenepo. It was […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale claimed a point for Wales as they drew 1-1 with World Cup runners-up Croatia on Sunday which left their Euro 2020 qualifying hopes on a knife-edge. Bale, who has had a difficult start to the season at Real Madrid, scored during first-half injury time after Nikola Vlasic's opener […]

Paris (AFP) – Poland and Russia secured their places at Euro 2020 on Sunday with victories over North Macedonia and Cyprus respectively, while Germany and the Netherlands boosted their hopes of reaching the finals. Russia eased to a 5-0 thrashing of 10-man Cyprus, with Poland joining them, Belgium and Italy in qualifying this week by […]

Tallinn (AFP) – Ilkay Gundogan scored second-half goals to help 10-man Germany claim a 3-0 win away to lowly Estonia in Sunday's Euro 2020 qualifier despite the early dismissal of Emre Can. Germany won 8-0 when the sides met in Mainz last June, but the visitors got into trouble when Can was sent off after […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Gambia and Chad took dramatic routes Sunday to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group phase, squeezing past Djibouti and Liberia respectively after penalty shootouts. In Bakau, Gambia and Djibouti drew 1-1 for the second time in five days, leaving the countries deadlocked at 2-2 on aggregate. Gambia goalkeeper […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Turkey coach Senol Gunes urged travelling supporters to attend Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier against France in Paris "in a spirit of brotherhood" following international condemnation of the Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria. Thousands of people took to the streets of the French capital and other European cities on Saturday to […]

Glasgow (AFP) – John McGinn hit a hat-trick as Scotland thrashed minnows San Marino 6-0 in Sunday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Glasgow. Aston Villa midfielder McGinn scored three times in the first half in torrential rain at Hampden Park. Lawrence Shankland and Stuart Findlay both grabbed their first international goals during the second half. Stuart […]

Paris (AFP) – Russia eased to a 5-0 thrashing of ten-man Cyprus on Sunday to become the third team to secure a place at Euro 2020, while Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice as the Netherlands beat Belarus. Stanislav Cherchesov's Russia, who reached the World Cup quarter-finals on home soil last year, only had to avoid defeat […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps hopes to keep the simmering diplomatic tension with Turkey out of Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier after Ankara launched a widely-condemned military offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria. World champions France host Turkey in a clash between the top two teams in Group H and will qualify for […]