Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney has rubbished reports that senior players called into question Roy Hodgson's management before their Euro 2016 humbling at the hands of Iceland on Monday. "In response to recent media reports, I'd like to say that (the reports are) completely untrue," Rooney said in a statement released to […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England's now ex-coach Roy Hodgson said he was unsure why he had to appear at an awkward press conference on Tuesday after his team's humiliating Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland. "I don't really know what I'm doing here. I thought my statement last night was sufficient," Hodgson told the media in […]

It was at the end of the first half between Italy and Spain when aging midfield hard-man Daniele De Rossi, just 50-minutes fit, nutmegged Andres Iniesta and made it clear that this wasn't going to be any ordinary day at the European Championships. Several hours later, we’d have the full picture: In Italy’s thundering triumph […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday named Spaniard Unai Emery as their new coach on a two-year contract. Emery, 44, takes over from Laurent Blanc, who left his role with the Qatari-backed French giants on Monday, and his contract includes an option for an additional season. Emery had terminated his contract with Sevilla earlier […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – A "great" Italian feat toppled Spain at Euro 2016, but Antonio Conte's touchline theatrics were just as dramatic for Italy and Chelsea fans during an emphatic 2-0 win over the defending champions. Former Juventus coach Conte was widely applauded on Tuesday for transforming a "mediocre" squad of players into contenders for […]

Le Haillan (France) (AFP) – Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has called for an end to criticism of striker Romelu Lukaku ahead of his side's Euro 2016 quarter-final against Wales. Lukaku scored twice in Belgium's 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland but has otherwise failed to find the net at the tournament. In Sunday's 4-0 […]

For soccer fans in the United States, the vast majority are familiar with NBC Sports Live Extra, the app that allows soccer fans to watch every single Premier League game across computers, smart phones, tablets, Roku and other devices. But beginning immediately, NBC Sports has rebranded the app from NBC Sports Live Extra to NBC […]

Paris (AFP) – England were at one of their lowest points on Tuesday after Iceland's battlers dumped them out of Euro 2016, coach Roy Hodgson quit, and the abject failure added to the national sense of post-Brexit turmoil. Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson claimed their place in sporting history with the goals on Monday that […]

Marcoussis (France) (AFP) – In-form Portugal winger Nani refuted suggestions a side spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo are basing their quest for Euro 2016 success on defensive tactics similar to those which saw Greece beat the Portuguese to win Euro 2004. It took 117 minutes for Portugal to even manage a shot on target as they […]

London (AFP) – England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate is the early favourite on a list of candidates to replace Roy Hodgson as coach of the national team following their embarrassing exit at Euro 2016. Having employed foreign coaches such as Sven-Goran Eriksson and then autocratic Italian Fabio Capello before bringing in the hugely experienced Hodgson, […]

London (AFP) – Senegal striker Sadio Mane has joined Liverpool from Premier League rivals Southampton on a "long-term contract" for an undisclosed fee, the Anfield club announced Tuesday. British media reports suggested Mane had signed a five-year contract in a deal worth some £30 million ($40 million, 36 million euros). That would make Mane, who […]

Rome (AFP) – Brazil international Dani Alves said Tuesday that his ultimate goal was to win the Champions League with his new Serie A club Juventus. "Juventus have a dream which is to win the Champions League, and I want to help them achieve this," Alves told a press conference after signing a two-year deal […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew insists the world champions have no Italian complex as die Mannschaft attempt to break their Azzurri curse in Saturday's Euro 2016 quarter-final. In eight previous attempts, Germany has never beaten Italy in the finals of a major tournament and will need to make history Bordeaux to reach […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Manuel Neuer could set a German safe hands record in Saturday's Euro 2016 quarter-final against Italy as the world champions' bid to add the European crown. Neuer kept a fifth straight cleansheet for Germany in Sunday's 3-0 last 16 win over Slovakia, which leaves Germany as the only team yet to […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne wants Belgium's Euro 2016 quarter-final clash with Wales to be like a home game — the Lille stadium is just 100 kilometres from the Belgian border. A huge wave of Belgians is expected to cross the frontier to invade the French city to watch their country take on […]