Paris (AFP) – Belgium and the Netherlands both cruised to 4-0 wins over Scotland and Estonia respectively in Euro 2020 qualifying on Monday, while Germany claimed a crucial victory over Northern Ireland in their bid to qualify for next year's finals. Roberto Martinez's Belgium, the world-number-one ranked side, were not at their best but still […]

Belfast (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew said his team are still in a "learning phase" after they steered their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign back on course with a nervy 2-0 win over Northern Ireland on Monday. Germany came to Belfast in need of a win after a bitter 4-2 home defeat by the Netherlands […]

Tallinn (AFP) – Ryan Babel's first international brace helped the Netherlands ease to a 4-0 victory over Estonia in Tallinn on Monday which boosted their Euro 2020 qualifying hopes. Ronald Koeman's men sit third in Group C, albeit with a game in hand, three points adrift of leaders Germany and second-placed Northern Ireland after the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Belgium moved to the brink of sealing their place in next year's European championships with a 4-0 demolition of Scotland at Hampden on Monday. The hosts could not cope with Kevin de Bruyne as the Manchester City midfielder set up Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen and Toby Alderweireld to score inside the first […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Southgate will start with in-form striker Harry Kane against Kosovo on Tuesday, but the England manager plans to make several changes for the Euro 2020 qualifier. England captain Kane hit a hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Bulgaria on Saturday as Southgate's men made it three successive Group A […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Kosovo manager Bernard Challandes has challenged his upstart side to maintain their remarkable run by shocking England in Tuesday's Euro 2020 qualifier. Challandes' team are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions going into their clash with group leaders England at Southampton. England have reeled off three successive victories with […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti has suffered a bruised foot while on international duty with France and could miss this weekend's clash with Valencia, the injury-plagued Spanish champions said on Monday. Ernesto Valverde's men, who host Valencia on Saturday, are already without star forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez due to foot and […]

London (AFP) – England midfielder Declan Rice has revealed threats have been made against him and his family since he switched allegiance from the Republic of Ireland in February. Rice won three senior caps in friendly matches for Ireland before the West Ham star announced at the start of this year he would switch to […]

Pristina (AFP) – Kosovo will take the field in Southampton on Tuesday for their first ever international against England as surprise contenders at the top of Group A in Euro 2020 qualification. Recent results have given the team ranked 120th in the world hope of an upset. "To beat England, we'll have to fight like […]

London (AFP) – Mark Sampson has been appointed caretaker manager of Stevenage, the struggling English League Two club announced on Monday, giving the Welshman a chance to resurrect his career after being sacked as England's women's coach following a controversial spell in charge. "Mark Sampson will assume control of the team in a caretaker role, […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The battle over the future of the Champions League will resume on Monday and Tuesday when the European Club Association (ECA) meets in Geneva and the leadership faces rebellion from members. ECA, led by Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, is closely involved in proposals to reshape Europe's main club competition from 2024. The […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Injured Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has been having treatment at Chinese club Shanghai SIPG under a Brazilian physio known as the "Miracle Doctor". The 20-year-old Portuguese right-back is yet to feature this season and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said last month that he was out until after the current international break. What […]

Hamburg (AFP) – Fresh from a stinging defeat by the Dutch, Joachim Loew's fragile young Germany team will look to their new defensive general Niklas Suele when they test their mettle in a must-win Euro 2020 qualifier at Northern Ireland on Monday. Germany are now just three points above the Netherlands following Friday's loss in […]

Paris (AFP) – Spain and Italy moved to within touching distance of Euro 2020 on Sunday after respective wins over the Faroe Islands and Finland saw them maintain their perfect qualifying records for next year's tournament. Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer both scored twice in an easy 4-0 victory over the Faroes in Gijon, on a […]

Gijon (Spain) (AFP) – Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer both scored twice as Spain eased to a 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in Gijon on Sunday to make it six wins from as many Euro 2020 qualifiers and inch closer to next year's tournament. Captain Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' national appearances record with his […]