Toulouse (France) (AFP) – French police on Monday arrested Russian far-right football fan leader Alexander Shprygin watching his country at Euro 2016 just two days after being expelled from France over fan violence, the interior ministry said. "Alexander Shprygin was arrested in the stadium this evening and placed in custody," ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Boasting the quality and experience of Real Madrid and Barcelona stars, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, Croatia's array of midfield talent provides a mirror image to Europan champions Spain's army of midfield maestros. The two face off on Tuesday in a battle to top Euro 2016 Group D and avoid a murderers' […]

Paris (AFP) – French police on Monday arrested Russian far-right football fan leader Alexander Shprygin at his country's Euro 2016 match against Wales just two days after he was expelled from France over fan violence, the interior ministry said. Shortly before his detention, Shprygin told AFP by telephone from the stadium: "I am at the […]

Marseille (AFP) – Ukraine's two-year-old war stopped the country getting past the European Championship finals group stage, coach Mykhailo Fomolenko said Monday. "Football in Ukraine is not an exceptional thing, in our lives we have a very hard situation, a conlict situation, football is influenced by that," Fomolenko told reporters in Marseille ahead of their final […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Croatia can secure their place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 with just a point against two-time defending European champions Spain in Bordeaux on Tuesday. However, fears over further disturbances from Croatian fans threatens the future participation of a richly talented squad including Real Madrid's Luka Modric. UEFA have brought charges […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Wales coach Chris Coleman sprung a surprise as Sam Vokes was handed a starting place alongside Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale for the crunch Euro 2016 Group B match with Russia on Monday. Hal Robson-Kanu, who scored the winner in Wales' opening game against Slovakia after coming off the bench, started […]

London (AFP) – Former Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick became Aston Villa manager Roberto di Matteo's first signing, the relegated Premier League side announced on Monday. The 28-year-old defender — who skippered 'The Cherries' to promotion to the Championship and then their historic elevation to the Premier League in the 2014/15 campaign — cut short his […]

Budapest (AFP) – A Budapest orchestra did not let their opera performance get in the way of watching Hungary's Euro 2016 game, dashing backstage mid-show to watch a crucial game on TV. With Hungary losing 1-0 against Iceland in a Group F tie, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra musicians downed instruments between Acts of Richard Wagner's "Siegfried" opera […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Roy Hodgson made six changes to England's starting line-up for Monday's crunch Euro 2016 clash against Slovakia, including strikers Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge while resting captain Wayne Rooney. With Rooney amongst the replacements, centre-back Gary Cahill will captain the Three Lions at Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffroy Guichard. England need a win to be […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Two Hungarian members of France's legendary Foreign Legion force spat on police who were trying to stop fighting in a Euro 2016 stadium, a French court was told Monday. The two were among five Hungarians and a Slovak who received jail terms of up to six months for the latest violence […]

For soccer fans in the United States, we've been extremely fortunate to be having so much soccer on our TV sets from June 3 to July 10. But what happens after Euro 2016 ends? Will we be going from a summer of soccer into a drought? Thankfully not. In addition to a ton of MLS, […]

Paris (AFP) – Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has challenged his players to make memories that last a lifetime ahead of Tuesday's final Euro 2016 group game against world champions Germany. After beating Ukraine 2-0 last week, Northern Ireland need another victory to guarantee a last 16 place, but could also go through from Group […]

Paris (AFP) – Laurent Blanc will quit Paris Saint Germain this week, French radio station Europe 1 said on Monday, quoting the coach's agent. "Between now and the end of the week PSG and Laurent Blanc will part company," Jean-Pierre Bernes said via Europe 1's Twitter account. Spaniard Unai Emery, who led Sevilla to three […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA's disciplinary committee on Monday fined Croatia 100,000 euros ($113,000) for flares thrown on the pitch by its fans that halted the Euro 2016 match against Czech Republic. UEFA also ordered the Croatian federation, the HNS, not to sell tickets to fans "identified by the HNS and the Croatian authorities as hooligans." […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Spain winger Pedro Rodriguez has hinted he could retire from international football after being frustrated at his lack of playing time in the European champions' opening two Euro 2016 matches. After a disappointing first season with Chelsea following a 30 million euro ($34 million) move from Barcelona, Pedro has played just eight […]