Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia) (AFP) – The North Macedonia players have "90 minutes to fulfil" the "dream of a whole country" said key midfielder Elif Elmas ahead of Tuesday's 2022 World Cup play-off against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. North Macedonia travel to Portugal in the hope of claiming a second notable scalp, having eliminated European […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz says his team "will defend with 16 players" when they protect a 1-0 lead over Senegal on Tuesday in the second leg of an African World Cup play-off. "What I mean by 16 players is that each one must make the effort of two players, not just one […]

Orlando (AFP) – Christian Pulisic scored a hat trick as the United States thrashed Panama 5-1 on Sunday to all-but guarantee their qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Pulisic scored a pair of first-half penalties –- both given against Panama captain Anibal Godoy -– before completing his treble with a virtuoso goal in the second […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal have been well and truly warned not to take the threat of North Macedonia lightly as they face Italy's conquerors in a decisive World Cup qualifying play-off on Tuesday. The Balkan nation stunned Italy in their play-off semi-final in Palermo on Thursday, winning 1-0 thanks to an Aleksandar Trajkovski goal in […]

North America – In a busy night of Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, the United States defeated Panama 5-1 in Orlando to move one giant step closer to automatic World Cup qualification. All the United States needs is to win, tie or avoid losing by a margin of six goals against Costa Rica on Wednesday night. […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Forwards based in Finland and Bolivia scored in Mauritius on Sunday to take minnows Sao Tome e Principe to the group stage of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Ricardo Cardoso from Helsinki outfit Klubi 04 netted twice and recent Guabira signing Luis Leal once in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Mauritius […]

Berlin (AFP) – Canadian winger Alphonso Davies insists there is no problem with his heart as he hopes to make his Bayern Munich return next month after recovering from Covid. The 21-year-old has been sidelined since December having been diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, after he tested positive for coronavirus in January. […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Christian Eriksen said his goal on his return to the Denmark national side was "just a warmup" for the game at the same Copenhagen stadium where he suffered a cardiac arrest last year. Eriksen's appearance as a second-half substitute in the 4-2 defeat to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday was roundly […]

Throughout the history of the US Men's National Team (USMNT) attempting to qualify for various World Cups, one venue has stood out above all other as a venue where it is immensely difficult to get a result. Azteca Stadium in Mexico City has held that place in the American soccer psyche for many years but […]

Paris (AFP) – Denmark's Christian Eriksen made an emotional goal-scoring return to international football on Saturday as England, Germany and Spain carved out friendly victories. Eriksen found the net two minutes after coming on with a powerful drive in a 4-2 defeat against fellow World Cup qualifiers Netherlands in Amsterdam. It was his first national […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Denmark's Christian Eriksen scored on his return to international football after suffering a cardiac arrest last year in a 4-2 friendly defeat against the Netherlands on Saturday. A little more than nine months – 287 days – after his collapse at Euro 2020, Eriksen pulled off a remarkable comeback at the Johan […]

Berlin (AFP) – Chelsea pair Kai Havertz and Timo Werner both hit the net Saturday as Germany eased past Israel with a 2-0 friendly win in Sinsheim. After the Premier League pair scored first-half goals, Germany's stand-in captain Thomas Mueller and Israel sub Yonatan Cohen both failed to convert late penalty attempts. Germany head coach Hansi […]

Miami (AFP) – United States coach Gregg Berhalter says his team have banished memories of their 2018 World Cup qualifying flop as they aim to take a giant stride towards Qatar 2022 with victory over Panama on Sunday. The latest round of CONCACAF qualifying takes place on Sunday with five teams still in the hunt […]

Paris (AFP) – Harry Kane converted a late penalty to close in on the all-time England goal-scoring record and secure a 2-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Switzerland on Saturday while Spain marked their return to Catalonia for the first time in almost two decades with a narrow victory against Albania. Kane netted from […]

Paris (AFP) – Harry Kane converted a late penalty to close in on the all-time England goal-scoring record and secure a 2-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Switzerland on Saturday while Belgium and Croatia were both held to draws. Kane netted from the spot to reach 49 England goals, moving him ahead of Gary […]