Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England's interim manager Gareth Southgate will check on the fitness of Harry Kane before deciding if the striker can start Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland, he said on Monday. Kane, 23, made a goal-scoring return from a seven-week lay-off with ankle ligament damage in Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 Premier League […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England's interim manager Gareth Southgate believes it will be fitting for his and Scotland's players to wear commemorative poppies during Friday's World Cup qualifier at Wembley, he said on Monday. The football associations of England and Scotland have vowed to defy world governing body FIFA, which bans players from wearing […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Montreal and Toronto put paid to New York's MLS Cup hopes with Eastern Conference semi-final wins, as the Los Angeles Galaxy bowed out in the West in what was likely Steven Gerrard's MLS swansong. Until Sunday, a Canadian team had never booked a spot in the MLS Cup conference finals. Now […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard made two saves in a penalty shootout to advance the Rapids over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer playoffs. The Rapids on Sunday won 3-1 on penalties after a 1-0 victory in the second leg of a two-match MLS Cup Western Conference semi-final series […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not believe the teams free of Champions League commitment have an advantage in the Premier League despite both Liverpool and Chelsea outstripping his side. Liverpool are top after crushing Watford 6-1, with Chelsea a point back in second following a scintillating 5-0 win over Everton, and neither […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri admits that Japanese international striker Shinji Okazaki is his preferred option for Premier League outings rather than England star Jamie Vardy. Vardy was left on the bench for the second successive Premier League fixture on Sunday as the champions were beaten 2-1 by West Brom. Okazaki […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his players to “be cool” after his side went top of the Premier League for the first time since he arrived at Anfield. Klopp watched Liverpool produce one of their most emphatic displays of the season as they thrashed Watford 6-1. Sadio Mane scored twice while […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at the Manchester United players he fears might not have the right attitude to guide his side back into the Premier League title race. Mourinho saw first half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba help United to only a second league victory in […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Mark Warburton says Rangers must be more clinical in front of goal as they slipped up in the Scottish Premiership for the seventh time this season. Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw away to bottom of the table Ross County, who remain the only team in Scotland's four divisions never to […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard made two saves in a penalty shootout Sunday to advance the Rapids over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer playoffs. The Rapids won 3-1 on penalties after a 1-0 victory in the second leg of a two-match Western Conference semi-final series left the teams […]

Chicago (AFP) – US coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a veteran lineup featuring Jozy Altidore and Bayern Munich's Julian Green on Sunday for a showdown with Mexico to open the final phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The Americans will entertain Mexico on Friday at Columbus, Ohio, in the opening match in the "hexagonal," the […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Manchester United and Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie suffered an eye injury playing for Fenerbahce against Akhisar Belediyespor in the Turkish league on Sunday. After colliding with a defender, the 33-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with a plaster covering his bloodied left eye. However, the club insisted that Van […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi, with his 500th Barcelona goal, and Luis Suarez saved the Spanish champions from a second defeat in six days as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla on Sunday. Victory keeps Barca just two points adrift of Real Madrid, who were 3-0 victors over Leganes thanks to a […]

Milan (AFP) – Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic silenced his critics with a superb free-kick winner as injury-depleted Juventus laboured to a 2-1 win at Chievo to stretch their Serie A lead Sunday. In a hard-fought encounter that saw defender Andrea Barzagli stretchered off after just four minutes, Juventus were given another reminder their bid for […]

Paris (AFP) – Table-toppers Nice suffered their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season on Sunday when they went down 1-0 after a hotly disputed penalty at Caen. The southern side still top Ligue 1 with 29 points ahead of Monaco on 26 while champions Paris Saint Germain are third, also on 26 points after […]