Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid haunted Bayern Munich once more as Yannick Carrasco inflicted Carlo Ancelotti's first defeat as coach of the German giants with a 1-0 win at the Vicente Calderon in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Spaniards eliminated Bayern on away goals in the semi-finals of last season's Champions League and there […]

Monchengladbach (Germany) (AFP) – Barcelona proved they can win away in Europe even without Lionel Messi as they posted a 2-1 comeback victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday. Thorgan Hazard — the younger brother of Chelsea midfielder Eden — gave Gladbach a shock, yet deserved first-half lead. But goals in the […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – On their home Champions League group phase debut Russia's Rostov were twice pegged back in an action-packed first-half as PSV Eindhoven grabbed a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Dmitri Poloz put the Russian rookies ahead twice in the eighth and 37th minutes as they took the game to PSV, who on their […]

Razgrad (Bulgaria) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a slow start to canter to a 3-1 win at Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday night and keep pace with Arsenal at the top of Group A. Edinson Cavani scored a brace after Blaise Matuidi had cancelled out Natanael Pimienta's surprise opener for the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal showed why the Football Association can only dream of hiring Arsene Wenger to take charge of England as Theo Walcott's double inspired a swaggering 2-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday. The FA's decision to part ways with disgraced England manager Sam Allardyce on Tuesday triggered reports that […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Manchester City failed to win for the first time under Pep Guardiola as Mousa Dembele-inspired Celtic claimed a 3-3 draw in a pulsating Champions League encounter on Wednesday. City had won their first 10 games of the season and were bidding to equal Tottenham Hotspur's English record of 11 successive victories at […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce admitted an "error of judgement" on Wednesday after his one-game career as England manager came to a humiliating end following controversial comments made to undercover reporters. "Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that," Allardyce told reporters outside his home in Bolton, northwest England. "I think that […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jurgen Klinsmann has ruled out a move for the vacant England manager's job, saying Wednesday he remained firmly focused on the United States' upcoming World Cup qualification campaign. The US coach has been named in several reports as a potential candidate to succeed Sam Allardyce, who was ousted as England boss […]

Doha (AFP) – Former Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez has become an "ambassador" for a key initiative run by Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers, officials in Doha said on Wednesday. Xavi, 36, who now plays for Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League, will become the public face of the "Generation Amazing" programme and will visit […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho may leave Wayne Rooney out of Manchester United’s starting side for the second match in a row when they face Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League on Thursday. Rooney was on the bench for United's weekend game with Premier League champions Leicester City and didn't get […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Wednesday he "feels sorry" for Sam Allardyce and still respects him, a day after his reign as England boss came to a sudden and premature end. After a mere 67 days in charge of the national side, Allardyce paid the price on Tuesday for […]

Panaji (India) (AFP) – A top Chinese football official has urged FIFA to realise the "dream" of China's fans by bringing the World Cup to the giant Asian nation in 2030 — or even sooner. Chinese Football Association vice-president Zhang Jian said FIFA's rotation policy probably ruled out a return to Asia in 2026, after […]

Bolton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sam Allardyce admitted an "error of judgment" on Wednesday after his career as England manager came to a humiliating end following controversial comments made to undercover reporters. "Unfortunately it was an error of judgment... Entrapment has won on this occasion," he told journalists outside his home in Bolton, the morning […]

Lhasa (AFP) – Green jersey soaked with sweat, midfielder Luosang Sanzhu practises his passing on the manicured pitch of Lhasa FC, Tibet's first football club — the latest gambit to soothe lingering tensions between Tibetans and Han Chinese. Officials hope the highest club in China, which was established last year, can break down barriers in the […]

London (AFP) – As Sam Allardyce beat a shame-faced retreat from Wembley after being forced out as England manager, his place as a punchline in the national team's ever-expanding hall of shame was already etched in stone. Allardyce had coveted the England post for decades and proudly hailed his appointment in July as an overdue […]