Berlin (AFP) – Hansi Flick became the first coach to win his first six games in charge of Germany on Thursday as his side crushed ten-man Liechtenstein 9-0 in a low-stakes World Cup qualifier. Having already secured qualification for next year's tournament in Qatar, Germany smashed nine past Group J's bottom side to hand Flick […]

London (AFP) – Spain took a huge step towards next year's World Cup in Qatar as a 1-0 win in Greece coupled with Sweden's shock 2-0 defeat to Georgia on Thursday put Luis Enrique's men in pole position to qualify. Pablo Sarabia's penalty proved enough for La Roja to take all three points in Athens […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years. Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming rain. Saudi Arabia could […]

London (AFP) – Sweden slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat in Georgia on Thursday handing Spain a lifeline in their bid to secure qualification for next year's World Cup in Qatar. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck twice in the second half for the hosts in Tblisi as a Sweden side boasting Zlatan Ibrahimovic and rising star Alexander […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is set to make his return from injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, his coach Lionel Scaloni said on Thursday. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner missed the last two matches with his club Paris Saint-Germain due to knee and hamstring issues. He had been expected […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley says the struggling Premier League club will back new boss Eddie Howe in the January transfer window as they battle to avoid relegation. Howe was hired earlier this week as Newcastle's wealthly new Saudi owners seek to transform their club after years in the wilderness. Staveley, the public […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane admits he has struggled to cope with the mental and physical strain of returning to Tottenham duty in the aftermath of England's agonising Euro 2020 final defeat. England were denied their first major trophy in 55 years when they lost to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate says Mason Mount and Luke Shaw could miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino, but Jack Grealish is fit for the crucial fixtures on the road to Qatar. Southgate's side host Albania at Wembley on Friday and travel to San Marino on Monday as they look to […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain women's footballer Aminata Diallo faced further questioning from police on Thursday during a second day of detention over the assault of a teammate. Diallo was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a vicious attack on fellow midfielder and rival Kheira Hamraoui last week who was pulled from a car […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years. Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming evening rain. Saudi Arabia […]

Rome (AFP) – Leonardo Bonucci said Thursday that he wants Italy to forget the pain of failing to qualify for the last World Cup as the European champions prepare for a key match in the charge for next year's tournament in Qatar. Italy face Switzerland in Rome on Friday hoping for a return to international […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Steven Gerrard is back in the Premier League as Aston Villa boss, having proved his managerial credentials by leading Rangers to the domestic title he was unable to land in his glittering playing career with Liverpool. Gerrard ended Rangers' decade of pain last season as the Glasgow club — liquidated in 2012 […]

London (AFP) – Steven Gerrard will get his first taste of management in the Premier League after the Liverpool midfield great was appointed Aston Villa manager on Thursday. Gerrard has left his role as Rangers boss to take the reins at the Midlands club, who sacked Dean Smith on Sunday after five straight league defeats. […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa on Thursday announced Steven Gerrard as their new manager to replace the sacked Dean Smith. The former Liverpool captain has left his role as Rangers boss to take the reins at the club, who have lost five straight Premier League matches. Gerrard guided Rangers to a first Scottish Premiership title […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy head into Friday's crunch visit of Switzerland with their World Cup hopes still in the balance, as the newly-crowned European champions aim to definitively banish the ghosts of their disastrous 2018 qualifying campaign. Still on a high from triumph at Euro 2020, Italy lead Group C on goal difference from the Swiss, […]