Prague (AFP) – Halfway through qualifying for Euro 2020, England's place at next year's finals already appears assured thanks to a prolific forward line that has plundered 19 goals in just four qualifiers. The Three Lions will be confident of maintaining their 100 percent record in qualifying when they visit the Czech Republic on Friday […]

Canberra (AFP) – Australia striker Jamie Maclaren made a hat-trick in a 5-0 thrashing of a struggling Nepal during Thursday's World Cup qualifier in Canberra. The 161st-ranked visitors struggled to break through a disciplined Socceroos defence and were visibly flagging by half-time, with a dogged showing by keeper Kiran Chemjong avoiding a bigger blowout. "We […]

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold says England must improve their defensive record if they are to stand any chance of winning Euro 2020. Gareth Southgate's side can assure themselves of a place in next year's finals if they beat the Czech Republic in their Group A qualifier in Prague on Friday. England are firm favourites […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Lionel Scaloni praised his battling Argentina side, missing Lionel Messi, as they scored second-half goals to earn a 2-2 draw in a friendly against an experimental Germany team Wednesday. The Germans flew into a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz in Dortmund before Lucas Alario turned […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Argentina-based Luis Leal scored twice as Sao Tome e Principe ended a 21-year wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations away victory by defeating Mauritius 3-1 Wednesday. The match was among four preliminary round first legs that began the process of qualifying 23 teams for the 2021 tournament, which Cameroon will […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – An experimental Germany team leaked two second-half goals Wednesday as a weakened Argentina side, minus superstar Lionel Messi, earned a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Dortmund. Germany flew into a 2-0 lead thanks to first-half goals by Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz, but Lucas Alario turned the game in the […]

London (AFP) – Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech on Wednesday said he was swapping football for ice hockey after signing to play for a British league team as a goaltender. The 37-year-old Czech, who retired from playing in the summer, said he was reigniting his passion for a sport he first played as […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Thomas Mueller confirmed Wednesday that he is unhappy being left on the bench at Bayern Munich amid reports he wants to leave in the January transfer window. Mueller, who turned 30 last month, hasn't started Bayern's last five games, "a trend that doesn't make me happy," he told magazine Kicker. "I've […]

London (AFP) – Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales' Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia this week as he recovers from a muscle injury, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said on Wednesday. Ramsey suffered the groin problem while warming up at half-time during Juventus' 2-1 win at Inter Milan on Sunday. Juventus manager Maurizio […]

Singapore (AFP) – On the eve of his 100th international Brazilian appearance, striker Neymar spoke Wednesday about his committment to both his country and his club, Paris-Saint Germain. Brazil face Senegal on Thursday in a friendly in Singapore and the Brazilian federation presented Neymar with a special shirt on Wednesday with the number 100 on […]

London (AFP) – Jose Gomes was sacked by Championship strugglers Reading on Wednesday after a dismal run of two wins from 11 games left them languishing in the relegation zone of England's second tier. The 49-year-old coach was dismissed after just 10 months in charge following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Bristol City — Reading's fifth […]

London (AFP) – Coleen Rooney says someone using Rebekah Vardy's Instagram account has leaked stories about her as a Twitter spat between the two footballers' wives gripped Britain on Wednesday. Rooney, married to former England international Wayne Rooney, told her 1.3 Twitter followers that she had spent five months attempting to work out who was […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ousmane Dembele will miss this season's first Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid after he was banned for two matches by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Wednesday. Dembele was sent off near the end of Barca's 4-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday for saying to referee Mateu Lahoz: "very bad, very […]

Milan (AFP) – Fallen Italian giants AC Milan on Wednesday appointed Stefano Pioli as their new coach a day after his predecessor Marco Giampaolo was sacked after just seven games in charge. The 53-year-old former Inter Milan boss arrives on a two-year deal, reported to be worth in the region of two million euros ($2.2 […]

Madrid (AFP) – Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso appeared in a Madrid court on Wednesday, facing charges of tax fraud to the tune of two million euros, a court spokesman said. At the two-day hearing, the 37-year-old was quizzed over allegations he used a company based on the Portuguese island of Madeira to avoid paying […]