Tampere (Finland) (AFP) – Jorginho fired Italy to within touching distance of Euro 2020 with a spot-kick winner that beat nearest rivals Finland 2-1 on Sunday and maintained his side's perfect qualifying record. Chelsea midfielder Jorginho's 79th-minute penalty in Tampere made it six wins from six for Roberto Mancini's side and sent them six points […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former English top-flight footballer Peter Butler made a successful start to a one-year contract as Liberia coach on Sunday by guiding them to the second round of 2022 World Cup qualifying. They lost 1-0 away to Sierra Leone in a first round second leg, but advanced 3-2 on aggregate having built 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. Captain Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' national appearances record with his 167th cap, but otherwise it was a […]

Gijon (Spain) (AFP) – Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' record of 167 international appearances for Spain on Sunday as he started their Euro 2020 qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Gijon. The Real Madrid centre-back made his international debut 14 years ago in a friendly against China. The 33-year-old was part of the Spain sides […]

Berlin (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will miss Germany's key Euro 2020 qualifier against Northern Ireland on Monday with flu, the German FA confirmed. The 28-year-old left the team German hotel in Belfast on Sunday to return to Manchester and misses the top-of-the-table clash at Windsor Park. Second-placed Germany need to beat Northern […]

Tirana (AFP) – Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that France President Emmanuel Macron has apologised for the wrong national anthem being played before 'Les Bleus' beat the Albanians 4-1 in their Euro 2020 qualifier. The match kicked off late at the Stade de France on Saturday because the hosts mistakenly played the […]

Paris (AFP) – At its best, sport can promote international harmony, but that was not the case at the Stade de France where the hosts played the Andorran anthem for the Albanian team. The visitors refused to kick off their Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday night. When their demand was met, they beamed, sung, celebrated […]

London (AFP) – Michael O'Neill has warned his Northern Ireland team to be braced for a bruised Germany after Joachim Loew's side surrendered a lead to lose 4-2 at home to the Netherlands. Northern Ireland top Group C of Euro 2020 qualifying with four wins out of four but their next two matches are against […]

Hamburg (AFP) – Joachim Loew has demanded a reaction from his young Germany team against Group C leaders Northern Ireland on Monday after their recent resurgence was cut short by their Euro 2020 qualifying 4-2 defeat to the Netherlands. Having come into the international break on a wave of optimism, Loew's side now travel to […]

Paris (AFP) – France and Portugal got their Euro 2020 qualification campaigns back on track with impressive wins over Balkan pair Albania and Serbia that boosted the world and European champions chances of making next summer's tournament. France moved back top of Group H with a 4-1 thumping of Albania thanks to a Kingsley Coman's […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Reigning European champions Portugal kick-started their bid to qualify for Euro 2020 after beating Serbia 4-2 in Belgrade on Saturday to secure their first victory of the qualifying campaign. Fernando Santos' side had started the defence of their title with two draws but goals from William Carvalho, Goncalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo and […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Kingsley Coman scored twice as world champions France cruised past Albania 4-1 on Saturday to move back to the top of their group in qualifying for Euro 2020. Iceland briefly led the standings after beating Moldova 3-1 earlier in the day, and are joined by Turkey, who scored in the last minute […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Botswana were held 0-0 by Malawi Saturday as home sides continued to struggle in 2022 World Cup first round first leg qualifiers across Africa. Only three of the 14 matches from Wednesday produced home victories while five hosts drew and six lost. The return matches are scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday. It […]

Tampere (Finland) (AFP) – Jorginho said on Saturday that Finland's in-form striker Teemu Pukki will he the danger man for the hosts as Italy seek to defend their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying in Tampere. Norwich City striker Pukki has scored five goals in the first four Premier League games, and the 29-year-old has also […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane put his second England hat-trick down to hours of practising penalties on the training ground as the Three Lions took another step towards Euro 2020 qualification with a 4-0 thrashing of Bulgaria at Wembley. Kane opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range before the break and then […]