Berlin (AFP) – German striker Lukas Podolski announced on Monday his retirement from international duty for the Mannschaft after appearing 129 times for the World champions and scoring 48 goals. The Galatasaray forward is the second German veteran to announce his retirement in the last two weeks after Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger also announced […]

Here are the ten things we learned from Week 23 of the 2016 MLS season. History for Bradley Wright-Phillips The New York Red Bulls were back in the winner’s circle on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena, pasting the Montreal Impact by three goals to one. The Red Bulls were led, once again, by the […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Malaysia has relinquished the rights to host the 2017 FIFA Congress, a sports official said Monday after the predominantly Muslim country refused to issue visas to Israeli delegates. "We were advised by the government to withdraw from hosting the congress due to security issues," Affandi Hamzah, deputy president of the Football […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Istanbul football giants Fenerbahce are set to name the well travelled Dutch coach Dick Advocaat as their new manager following the sacking of Vitor Pereira, reports said Monday. Advocaat was to travel to Turkey following secret talks in the Netherlands and could be taking charge of the team's training as soon as […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team were not physically ready for the Premier League season after opening the campaign with a chaotic 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool. With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel injured and Laurent Koscielny short of match fitness, Wenger deployed Calum Chambers, 21, and 20-year-old debutant Rob Holding […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Already buoyed by the pursuit of landing a first gold medal in the sport for football-mad Brazil, the hosts' women will be inspired by the rare chance to play at the iconic Maracana in their Olympics semi-final with Sweden on Tuesday. Having lived for so long in the shadow of […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic's influence on his Manchester United team-mates will be just as crucial as his inspirational contribution on the pitch. Ibrahimovic marked his Premier League debut for United in memorable fashion as the flamboyant Swedish striker hammered a 25-yard strike past Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc to cap […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi shot down Sevilla to give Barcelona a comfortable victory in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. The Uruguayan opened the scoring early in the second half, making amends for two misses earlier in the game, before Munir sealed the win when […]

Paris (AFP) – Nice started the new Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday as emotional tributes were paid to the 85 people killed in last month's terror attack, while Alexandre Lacazette's hat-trick powered Lyon past Nancy. Teenage debutant Malang Sarr's second-half header ensured a winning start for new Nice coach […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti claimed his first title as Bayern Munich coach on Sunday as a 2-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund gave last season's double winners the German Super Cup. The 57-year-old has succeeded Pep Guardiola, who won seven titles in three years as Bayern coach, and Ancelotti made a flying start on […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech's day went from bad to worse as he conceded four goals in a 4-3 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday before crashing his car into a pillar. The former Czech Republic international, 34, was beaten four times at the Emirates Stadium as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool came from behind to […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his over-exuberant celebrations were to blame for his team almost throwing away victory in their pulsating 4-3 Premier League win at Arsenal on Sunday. After Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead at the Emirates Stadium, Philippe Coutinho scored twice and Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also found the […]

Paris (AFP) – Nice started the new Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday as emotional tributes were paid to the 85 people killed in last month's terror attack. Teenage debutant Malang Sarr's second-half header ensured a winning start for new coach Lucien Favre, but the atmosphere was sombre at the […]

London (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho's double inspired Liverpool to come from behind and beat Arsenal 4-3 in an action-packed clash of Premier League heavyweights at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. After seeing a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead, only for Coutinho to reply with a picture-perfect free-kick in first-half injury […]

Paris (AFP) – Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend of the French season as last year's Ligue 1 runners-up won 3-0 away to promoted Nancy on Sunday. Lacazette, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League as well as Paris Saint-Germain this summer, fired Lyon ahead on […]