Brussels (AFP) – Roberto Martinez expressed his delight on Thursday after being named as the new head coach of the Belgium national team. The Spaniard was chosen as the successor to Marc Wilmots on Wednesday, after the former Belgium midfielder was sacked following the side's 3-1 defeat to Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. […]

In one of the most highly billed matches of the fourth annual International Champions Cup, Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich in the final ten minutes of an exciting affair Wednesday night. Despite several second half substitutions by both sides, the game was engaging and well appreciated by the 82,012 fans who packed MetLife Stadium in East […]

Berlin (AFP) – Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted his six-year ban from all football-related activity has taken a toll on his mental health. In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF to be screened Thursday night, the 80-year-old Swiss says the ban has left 'a mark' on him as he continues the fight […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Bayern Munich finished their tour of the USA with a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid after a stunning Danilo strike sealed the European champions' friendly victory in New Jersey. In front of 82,012 fans at the MetLife-Stadium, the home of NFL sides the New York Jets and New York […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Diego Maradona has hailed the new Argentina coach Edgardo "Paton" Bauza as a man with a record of sacrificing everything for national glory. Bauza, 58, was appointed Argentina coach on Monday after the departure of Gerardo Martino, who left after disappointing defeats in the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Copa America […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has urged supporters to be patient after they needed a stoppage time penalty to edge past FC Astana in their Champions League third round qualifier. The Hoops earned a 2-1 win thanks to a penalty from Moussa Dembele with the game on the verge of extra time after […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Oscar scored a second half brace as Chelsea cruised past AC Milan 3-1 in the final game of their globetrotting exhibition tour, which took them to Australia, China, England, Scotland and the USA. The Brazilian star scored in the 70th and 87th minutes on Wednesday for Chelsea, who rebounded from a […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – They share similar heavy burdens of expectation, but Brazil women's coach Vadao insists there is no battle between star footballers Marta and Neymar to be the country's darling of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Five-time World Player of the Year Marta was in sensational form as Brazil's women got off to […]

London (AFP) – Rafael Benitez and Roberto Di Matteo have no regrets about swapping the gilded life of the European elite for the Championship's war of attrition as they prepare to slug it out in the race for promotion from England's second tier. Just 12 months ago, Benitez was preparing Real Madrid for another assault […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Hosts Brazil and world champions the United States got off to winning starts in the Olympics women's football tournament although the competition met with a lukewarm response from fans. Brazil comfortably saw off the challenge of China 3-0 at the Olympic stadium in Rio thanks to goals from Monica, Andressa […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wayne Rooney has described Jose Mourinho's low-key approach to life as Manchester United manager but insists the new Old Trafford chief has a fierce will to win. The United and England captain was talking after he marked his testimonial with a goalless draw against Everton, his team’s final preparation before […]

Despite featuring a matchup between two of the MLS’s strongest fanbases (Sporting KC and Portland Timbers), the viewership for this season’s final MLS broadcast on the over-the-air FOX network was largely disappointing. The 348,000 viewers is the worst we have seen on the FOX broadcast network, and as one of only four MLS matches available free-to-air […]

Paris (AFP) – Radamel Falcao scored before coming off injured as Monaco beat Fenerbahce in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday, while Celtic also advanced to the play-offs in dramatic fashion against Astana. Monaco played host to the Turkish giants at the Stade Louis II looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The two clubs of Wayne Rooney's professional career played out a 0-0 draw in his testimonial game at Old Trafford Wednesday as Jose Mourinho managed Manchester United for the first time at their home stadium. The low-key meeting with Everton was a predictable pre-season affair, with Mourinho using 22 players […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil's women footballers ensured the opening day of action at Rio 2016 was a happy one for the hosts with a 3-0 win over China on Wednesday. The sight of vast swathes of empty seats at the 60,000-seater Olympic stadium for Sweden's 1-0 win over South Africa in the first […]