Philadelphia (AFP) – Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz resigned Sunday following his team's first-round exit at the Copa America Centenario, the Paraguay Football Federation said. "Following Paraguay's elimination from the Copa America Centenario, Ramon Diaz has confirmed his resignation as national team coach with immediate effect," the federation said in a statement. Paraguay were dumped out […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Bastian Schweinsteiger said that running to celebrate his injury-time goal had left him out of breath as he hailed Germany's 2-0 win over Ukraine that opened their Euro 2016 campaign on Sunday. The German skipper came on in the 90th minute in Lille and scored the deciding goal moments later, perfectly […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia are just 29th in the world football rankings but fighting for top spot in the hooligan stakes thanks to the efforts of characters like Vladimir, a Moscow public relations manager who considers violence a sport. Vladimir, who is married with two children, returned Sunday from the latest battleground at the European […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA on Sunday threatened to kick Russia and England out of the European Championship finals over fan violence but admitted there were stadium security flaws. German hooligans became the latest to join street battles that have marred Euro 2016. The French government gave police chiefs new powers to ban alcohol sales and […]

Against Paraguay, when Jürgen Klinsmann announced the same lineup for the third consecutive match, many people were bewildered. It was the first time in his history as US manager that he'd done so, and the starting XI from the previous two games had produced mixed results. Sure, they'd blown out Costa Rica, but there were […]

Lyon (AFP) – Veteran Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon says the Azzurri must be prepared to be daring in their opening Euro 2016 match against Belgium on Monday. Both Buffon, 38, and Italy coach Antonio Conte went to great pains to make Belgium the favourites for the Group E clash at Stade de Lyon. This will […]

From now through June 26, the FOX networks will be televising the remaining games of the 2016 Copa America Centenario featuring Argentina (starring Lionel Messi), USA, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and other great teams from this hemisphere. That’s all well and good if you subscribe to FOX Sports 1. But if you're a cord cutter or […]

Paris (AFP) – Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill will hope comments he once made about Sweden skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic don't come back to haunt him when their sides meet in Euro 2016 on Monday. O'Neill has been reminded numerous times in recent days that, while working as a pundit a decade ago, he described […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Czech Republic coach Pavel Vrba is hoping the ghosts of glories past can inspire his side Monday when they will look to start their Euro 2016 campaign by upsetting defending champions Spain. Vrba, known for twice leading Czech side Viktoria Plzen into the Champions League group stages, admits the "genius" of […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – German football fans clashed with Ukrainian supporters in the French city of Lille on Sunday in the latest outbreak of violence at Euro 2016, an AFP photographer said. The Germans lobbed bottles and punched Ukrainian rivals for several minutes in the trouble near the northern city's train station. More than 50 […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Spain have rallied round goalkeeper David De Gea over sex scandal claims and are focused on defending their European title, key defender Sergio Ramos said Sunday. Vincente Del Bosque's men begin their bid for a record third successive European Championship title against Group D opponents the Czech Republic in Toulouse on […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla announced the departure of coach Unai Emery on Sunday and added they are in contact with Argentine Jorge Sampaoli. The news came as French media speculated that Spaniard Emery could be in line to replace Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain. "The club received a statement from Unai Emery's lawyers in […]

Saturday's Euro 2016 competition was a fantastic day of tournament soccer. But it wasn’t a fantastic day at a major tournament. A dark cloud of hooliganism and thuggery, building for several days between English and Russian fans, exploded over the canvas of the championship in Marseille. Clashes before the game between England and Russia left the Old […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik broke Northern Ireland hearts on Sunday after rifling home the only goal in their Euro 2016 Group C opener in Nice. Poland had never won a game before at the European Championship, with three draws and three losses over two appearances in 2008 and 2012 –- the […]

Paris (AFP) – Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has urged his team to have no fear as they prepare to start their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday. The Irish find themselves in a tough section also containing Italy and Belgium so their opening fixture against Zlatan Ibrahimovic […]