Paris (AFP) – With an expert swish of his left foot, Gareth Bale demonstrated against Northern Ireland that even when he does not shine, he can decide matches for Wales at Euro 2016. The Real Madrid star, the tournament's joint-top scorer with three goals, was shackled for much of Saturday's last 16 game in Paris, […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – England coach Roy Hodgson is keeping a wary eye on the powerful throw-ins of Iceland's bearded captain Aron Gunnarsson ahead of their Euro 2016 clash. "You'd have to be a bit blind not to realise that Gunnarsson is a weapon for them," said Hodgson ahead of the David v Goliath match […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – Opportunity knocks for Iceland and potential disaster looms for Roy Hodgson's England in their David-and-Goliath last 16 clash at Euro 2016 on Monday. For Iceland, whose population of 330,000 makes them the smallest country to have qualified for a major tournament, the game in the Mediterranean city of Nice brings the […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – A controversial goal by Frank Lampard and a key mistake by Seattle lifted New York City FC to a 2-0 Major League Soccer victory over the Sounders in Seattle. Former England and Chelsea midfielder Lampard on Saturday scored in the 38th minute. A corner kick by New York's Andrea Pirlo was […]

Paris (AFP) – Seeking to win an unprecedented third consecutive European Championship, Vicente del Bosque's Spain will once again have to see off old foes Italy to retain their crown. Before winning back-to-back Euros and a maiden World Cup in 2010, Spain suffered an inferiority complex with Italy having never beaten them in five tries […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said Saturday he has a plan in place to shackle Lionel Messi as the champions prepare to face Argentina in the Copa America Centenario. Twelve months ago, Chile unleashed midfield enforcer on Messi during the final in Santiago, effectively neutralising the threat of the […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – Croatia coach Ante Cacic claimed football was "unfair" after his side lost their Euro 2016 last 16 clash with Portugal 1-0 due to Ricardo Quaresma's winner three minutes from the end of extra-time. Cacic's side dominated for long periods in Lens with Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo subdued until Croatian goalkeeper Danijel […]

Hoboken (United States) (AFP) – The president of the Argentina Football Association (AFA) angrily lashed out at FIFA on Saturday after the sport's world governing body removed him from office and appointed a committee to take charge of the organization's affairs. FIFA on Friday said it had appointed a normalization committee that would see AFA […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – Ricardo Quaresma headed Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal into the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 three minutes before the end of extra-time to break Croatian hearts with the only goal in Lens. Ronaldo was denied matching Michel Platini's record of nine goals in European championship finals by a fine save from Danijel Subasic, but […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said failure was not an option as his team aims to erase the bitter memory of back-to-back major final defeats when it faces Chile in the Copa America Centenario final here Sunday. The Argentinians take on Chile at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford bidding […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson believes that the achievements of his four-year tenure speak for themselves ahead of his side's slippery Euro 2016 last 16 tie against underdogs Iceland. Hodgson, 68, goes into the game under extreme pressure, with England having finished second behind Wales in Group B and failed to secure […]

Paris (AFP) – Gareth McAuley said that he was "gutted" to have ended the Northern Ireland campaign at Euro 2016 after his own goal sent Wales into the quarter-finals. The West Bromwich Albion defender, 36, turned a Gareth Bale cross into his own net in the 75th minute at Parc des Princes to give Chris […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo failed to even muster a shot on goal as Portugual and Croatia's last 16 Euro 2016 tie headed to extra-time after a dull 90 minutes finished 0-0 in Lens. Ronaldo was looking to match Michel Platini's record of nine goals in European championship finals, but the Real Madrid star […]

Paris (AFP) – Wales star Gareth Bale and coach Chris Coleman expressed their delight after Saturday's "ugly" 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in the last 16 at Euro 2016. Wales progressed to the quarter-finals in their maiden European Championship appearance courtesy of Gareth McAuley's own goal at the Parc des Princes. Bale and his team-mates […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew has called on his side to finally start taking their chances as they enter the Euro 2016 knockout phase against Slovakia in Lille on Sunday. The world champions eased through to the last 16 as winners of Group C by beating Ukraine and Northern Ireland and drawing […]