Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Gareth Bale said Wales' Euro 2016 fate is in their own hands as they look to qualify for the last 16 in a potentially high-risk match against Russia in Toulouse. Real Madrid forward Bale has been inspirational in Wales' European Championship debut, hitting the net in a 2-1 win over Slovakia […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – England take on Slovakia on Monday in the key battle for first place in Group B at Euro 2016 with Roy Hodgson mulling over which of his strikers to deploy. Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge proved their form by coming off the bench to dig England out of trouble in their […]

Paris (AFP) – Already assured of a place in the last 16 of Euro 2016, hosts France are looking to round off Group A with a third straight win when they face Switzerland in Lille on Sunday. Despite a 100 percent record, Didier Deschamps's men have so far failed to deliver on their status of […]

Foxborough (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a record-equalling 54th international goal as Argentina outclassed Venezuela 4-1 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario. The Barcelona superstar on Saturday scored his fourth goal of the tournament in the 60th minute at the Gillette Stadium to equal Gabriel Batistuta's long-time Argentina […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo promised to bounce back from missing a penalty and the chance to break another goalscoring record at Euro 2016. Ronaldo hit the post from the spot with 11 minutes remaining in a 0-0 draw with Austria on Saturday when looking to become the first player to score in four […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal boss Fernando Santos demanded his players keep their spirits high going into their final Group F game at Euro 2016 despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against Austria on Saturday. Portugal fired 23 shots at the Austria goal in Paris, six of which were on target, but again failed to take three […]

Paris (AFP) – There was relief for Austria and joy for those who like to see superstars cut down to size after Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty and a chance to go into the European Championship record books on Saturday. Portugal won a spot kick in the 79th minute of their Group F match against […]

Moscow (AFP) – The Russian far-right football fan leader expelled from France over unrest at Euro 2016 on Saturday swaggered through a Moscow airport, his outstretched arms holding a Russian flag with a snarling bear — and vowed to return to France before the end of the tournament. Alexander Shprygin, who heads Russia's national supporters […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal coach Fernando Santos refused to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo's performance after the Real Madrid superstar missed a penalty in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Austria at Euro 2016. Asked how the Portugal captain was feeling in the dressing room having struck the post with a 79th-minute penalty, Santos responded: "I prefer not […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – Encouraged from afar by his club manager Claudio Ranieri, Jamie Vardy is carrying Leicester City's limitless ambition into England's assault on Euro 2016. Having sat out England's opening draw with Russia, Vardy made an instant impact as a half-time substitute against Wales, netting an equaliser 11 minutes after coming on as […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second-half penalty as Portugal stumbled to a second straight draw at Euro 2016 on Saturday after a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against Group F rivals Austria in Paris. Ronaldo set a new Portuguese record with his 128th international cap, surpassing the mark previously shared with Luis Figo, but the […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is set to win a Portugese record 128th cap against Austria in Euro 2016's Group F on Saturday. Ronaldo will surpass the record shared with former Portugal great Luis Figo and is also looking to become the first player to score in four European Championships at the Parc des Princes. […]

Marseille (AFP) – An own-goal by Iceland's Birkir Savarsson in the dying seconds rescued a draw for Hungary in a frenetic Euro 2016 clash that keeps both team's hopes alive of a second round berth. A first-half penalty by Gylfi Sigurdsson put little Iceland on course for a fairytale win. But the European Championship newcomers […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps hopes to put a controversy concerning midfielder Paul Pogba behind him when the Euro 2016 hosts close Group A against Switzerland in Lille on Sunday. Dropped for Wednesday's 2-0 win over Albania in Marseille, Juventus star Pogba came on at half-time and helped set up the second […]

Maybe the story of this wonderful summer of soccer can be how even though teams can defend marvelously for nearly an entire game, fate isn’t often as kind to them. Though teams like Northern Ireland and Italy have proven you can win on the strength of solid shape and heroic defending, sometimes fate doesn’t smile […]