Quito (AFP) – Ecuadoran minnows Independiente del Valle upset Argentinian giants Boca Juniors 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final clash. Independiente, playing in the semi-finals of South America's most prestigious club competition for the first time, on Thursday came from a goal down to give themselves a fighting chance of reaching the […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo reigns over the football pitch but Fernando Santos calls the shots behind the scenes. The dynamic goalscorer and coach duo have taken Portugal to the Euro 2016 final and given it a chance to become the latest little nation to upset the continent's giants. After Denmark beat Germany in 1992 […]

Paris (AFP) – France has rediscovered its love for the national football team after years of scandal and disappointment. Antoine Griezmann's two goals that saw France to a landmark 2-0 win over Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-final set off football fever that has not been seen since the country won the World Cup in […]

Marseille (AFP) – He rejected comparisons with Michel Platini but Antoine Griezmann is fast becoming a France legend after a two-goal haul against Germany fired the hosts into Sunday's Euro 2016 final against Portugal. Amid the controversial absence of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, France have found a new hero in the diminutive striker. With six […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann took up the mantle as challenger-in-chief to Cristiano Ronaldo with two goals that crushed world champions Germany and saw France into Sunday's Euro 2016 final against Portugal. A penalty awarded seconds before half-time caused turmoil in the German camp. Griezmann took his chance and added a second strike to extend […]

Marseille (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew refused to commit himself to stay beyond the next World Cup campaign as he picked through the wreckage of the country's Euro 2016 exit. Antoine Griezmann scored twice in Marseille on Thursday to guide France to a 2-0 win and a place in Sunday's European Championship final against […]

Paris (AFP) – Riot police fired tear gas in clashes with youths on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris early Friday after France's qualification for the Euro 2016 final, an AFP reporter said. Police staged several charges at youths who hurled fireworks, bottles, stones and other objects at them. Dustbins were also set on fire. […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann's double for France in Thursday's 2-0 semi-final win over Germany at Euro 2016 broke die Mannschaft's 50-year winning streak against host nations at major tournaments. The French victory in Marseille was the first time Germany had lost to the hosts at a major finals since their famous 4-2 defeat to […]

Paris (AFP) – From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Vieux Port in Marseille, French supporters erupted in joy after the national side beat Germany to reach the Euro 2016 final. Horns blared out of car windows on the Champs Elysees avenue in the capital in scenes reminiscent of when France won the World […]

Marseille (AFP) – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said the 2-0 semi-final defeat to France at Euro 2016 was a bitter pill for the world champions to swallow following a controversial penalty decision. Man-of-the-match Antoine Griezmann scored twice on Thursday as France's win sealed a place in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal. "We have played […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann brushed off comparisons with French football legend Michel Platini after his two goals sent the host nation into the final of Euro 2016. His two goals in the 2-0 win made him by far the tournament's top scorer with six goals, three behind Platini's record of nine in one Euro […]

Marseille (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps said the Euro 2016 hosts had beaten world champions Germany to reach the final by never giving up despite suffering relentless pressure. "We found it tough but we didn't give up," Deschamps said as he celebrated the 2-0 win in Marseille. Deschamps hailed Germany as "a great team." […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored twice Thursday as France beat world champions Germany 2-0 to seal a place in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal. Having converted a controversial first-half penalty for Bastian Schweinsteiger's handball, Griezmann put the result beyond doubt with a sweetly struck second half shot. "We suffered but we knocked them […]

Both Wales and Portugal are relatively small coastal nations that have spent much of their history tangled up with their larger and more powerful neighbors to the east. But whereas rugby-mad Wales has accomplished little as a team in football despite producing world-class footballers like John Charles, Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs, and now Gareth Bale, […]

Marseille (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann gave the hosts a first-half lead from the penalty spot in the Euro 2016 semi-final against Germany on Thursday. France had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping a clean sheet as Germany threatened to break the deadlock on several occasions. But in the final minute of the […]