Lyon (AFP) – Italy manager Antonio Conte opted to start with Eder and Graziano Pelle to spearhead the Azzurri's attack for their opening Euro 2016 clash against Belgium on Monday. Southampton's Pelle was Italy's top-scorer in qualifying with three goals, while Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza, who started Italy's last friendly against Finland, were left […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Spain coach Vicente del Bosque hailed his defending champions, including benched captain Iker Casillas, after a Euro 2016 masterclass that left the Czech Republic on the wrong end of a 1-0 Group D defeat Monday. Spain, crowned European champions in 2008 and 2012, are looking to become the first team to […]

Berlin (AFP) – A German company has challenged UEFA's decision to award the goal-line technology contract for the Euro 2016 football championships to a Sony subsidiary, a lawyer said on Monday. Wolfgang Kau told AFP he had filed a complaint with the German anti-cartel office on behalf of the company Goal Control, confirming a report […]

Marseille (AFP) – England supporters were jailed Monday over the Marseille fan battles before the England-Russia Euro 2016 match as a top British police officer accused Russian hooligans of staging an "orchestrated" campaign of violence. A French prosecutor said 150 "extremely well-prepared" Russians evaded arrest in the mass brawls on Saturday, the worst violence at […]

Paris (AFP) – Wes Hoolahan's brilliant finish was not enough to give the Republic of Ireland a winning start to Euro 2016 as Ciaran Clark's own goal ensured a 1-1 draw with Sweden on Monday. Hoolahan met Seamus Coleman's flighted ball with a controlled first-time strike three minutes into the second half at the Stade […]

Budapest (AFP) – As Hungary counts down to its first participation in a major tournament for three decades, long-forgotten football fever is back. The "Magical Magyars" were the best side in the world in the 1950s when Ferenc Puskas and his fabled teammates were in their prime, famously thrashing England 7-1 in 1954. But when […]

Rome (AFP) – Bosnia international midfielder Miralem Pjanic has joined Juventus from Roma for 32 million euros ($36 million), the two clubs said on Monday. The 26-year-old passed a medical on Monday before signing a five-year deal. Juve's sports director Beppe Marotta said the club had activated a release clause in Pjanic's Roma contract. Pjanic […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney and manager Roy Hodgson on Monday pleaded with the country's fans to avoid further violence to head off a UEFA threat to disqualify the team from Euro 2016. "I'm appealing to you to stay out of trouble," Hodgson said in a video message. "We really desperately want […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Barcelona defender Gerard Pique headed a late winner as defending champions Spain overcame a resolute and determined Czech Republic 1-0 in their Group D opener in Toulouse on Monday. Spain's build-up to the tournament was rocked last week when reports claimed goalkeeper De Gea had been involved in a sex scandal. […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – European champions Spain were frustrated by goalkeeping heroics from Czech Republic captain Petr Cech to go in 0-0 at half-time of their Euro 2016 Group D opener in Toulouse on Monday. David de Gea's selection ahead of captain Iker Casillas in the Spain goal dominated headlines before kick-off. But it was […]

Moscow (AFP) – A senior Russian Football Union official and ultra-nationalist politician said Monday that the country's fans were right to fight England supporters at Euro 2016. Igor Lebedev, who sits on the RFU executive committee and is also a deputy speaker in parliament, said on Twitter: "I don't see anything wrong with fans fighting." […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, embroiled in sex scandal allegations, will start for Spain in their Euro 2016 opener against the Czech Republic on Monday. De Gea was in contention with legendary fellow shot-stopper Iker Casillas to start for the defending champions in Toulouse in their Group D match. However coach […]

ESPN kicked off its coverage of the Euro 2016 tournament this weekend. In all, the sports network televised all seven games from the opening 3 days. While the opening weekend coverage featured some blemishes, the fact that ESPN is covering a major soccer competition again — its first since World Cup 2014 — was a welcome return. Going […]

Marseille (AFP) – Ten men will be tried in France Monday over the violence between English and Russian football fans in Marseille, but prosecutors said 150 "extremely well-trained" Russian hooligans had evaded arrest. England captain Wayne Rooney and manager Roy Hodgson made a public appeal to England fans to behave after UEFA threatened the team […]

London (AFP) – English fans involved in bloody clashes before and during England's match with Russia at the weekend insisted Russian hooligans and French police were to blame, as fears mounted of fresh violence to come. As images of the unrest which marred Saturday's 1-1 draw between England and Russia continued to feature prominently in […]