Paris (AFP) – Two-time defending champions Spain meet Italy in a heavyweight last 16 clash at Euro 2016 on Monday, while Wayne Rooney's England take on outsiders Iceland for a place in the quarter-finals. Vicente del Bosque's Spain face a monumental challenge as they target a record third consecutive European Championship title, starting with a […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Angel Di Maria was named in Argentina's starting line-up for the Copa America Centenario final against Chile here Sunday. Paris Saint Germain star Di Maria, who has not played since the 5-0 victory over Panama in the group stage, returns to join Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi in a […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Chelsea star Eden Hazard said Belgium are hoping to keep the Euro 2016 party going with a win over Wales in Lille on Friday but said their 4-0 rout of Hungary will be hard to beat. In an impressive man-of-the-match performance Hazard hit his maiden goal of the tournament as the […]

Paris (AFP) – Euro 2016's joint top scorer Alvaro Morata expects Spain to be taken to the limit by old foes Italy if they are to remain on course to win a third consecutive European Championship. Spain thrashed Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final four years ago and also ousted the Azzurri on penalties […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Eden Hazard scored his first goal of Euro 2016 as Belgium cruised into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win to end Hungary's fairytale campaign. Belgium go into the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time since losing the 1980 final. They were dominant throughout at Stadium de Toulouse after Toby Alderweireld […]

Paris (AFP) – Spain striker Alvaro Morata believes his clash with old friends when the European champions take on Italy at Euro 2016 on Monday is one of the biggest game of his young career. Morata is joint top scorer in the tournament with three goals from three games, but will face the unique challenge […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Iceland will have about 3,000 fans in the Nice stadium for their Euro 2016 clash against England on Monday but thousands more chanting their Viking songs will be in the Mediterranean resort. Like Irish Republic supporters who had to lay out for black market tickets to see their country against France […]

Paris (AFP) – Italy boss Antonio Conte has charged his players with the belief they can end Spain's eight-year reign as European champions in a blockbuster Euro 2016 last 16 clash on Monday. Spain beat Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final and on penalties in the quarter-finals on way to winning their first major […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Slovakia coach Jan Kozak lamented the performance of his side as they were outclassed by Germany at Euro 2016 on Sunday, losing 3-0 to exit at the last-16 stage. Kozak had made four changes to his team following the goalless draw with England last Monday that saw them qualify for the […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi will bid to end Argentina's 23-year wait for a major title later Sunday as his team faces holders Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario. A sell-out capacity crowd of more than 81,000 will flock to the MetLife Stadium to see if Messi can finally […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Germany still have plenty of room for improvement after easing into the Euro 2016 quarter-finals by beating Slovakia 3-0 on Sunday, coach Joachim Loew warned. The reigning world champions were comfortable winners in their last-16 clash in Lille as Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and the excellent Julian Draxler all scored while […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Germany's Jerome Boateng arrived at Euro 2016 surrounded by controversy but his first international goal and another rock solid performance against Slovakia cemented his position as a new team leader. Boateng's sweetly struck eighth-minute volley set Germany on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win and a lip-smacking quarter-final against either […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson said Iceland owe a "great debt" to coach Lars Lagerback who he said he had formed a special bond with during his years spent in Sweden. "They owe a great debt to Lars Lagerback and (long-time associate) Roland Andersson," Hodgson said ahead of England's last-16 showdown with […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney has pledged that his side will take Iceland as seriously as any opponent when their paths converge in Monday's Euro 2016 last 16 tie in Nice. For Iceland, whose population of 330,000 makes them the smallest country to qualify for a major tournament, the game provides a […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson declared on Sunday that there are "no problems" between captain Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy following a press report about the strikers' relationship. British newspaper The Times has reported that Rooney urged Vardy to ask his wife, Rebekah, to adopt a lower profile, apparently in reference to […]