Oakland (United States) (AFP) – NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry swapped jerseys with Brazilian football star Neymar after Curry helped the Golden State Warriors rout Cleveland 110-77 in the NBA Finals. NBA scoring champion Curry made the exchange shortly after the defending NBA champions seized a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series, which […]

Glendale (United States) (AFP) – Mexico defeated Uruguay 3-1 in a stormy Copa America Centenario that saw both teams finish with 10 men after a pre-match furore over a bungled national anthem. A pulsating clash at the University of Phoenix stadium in Arizona saw Mexico take all three points in the crucial Group C battle […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale is the key to Wales' Euro 2016 hopes, says Welsh legend Ian Rush, as Chris Coleman's dragons prepare for a first appearance at a major tournament for 58 years. Wales have many talented footballers. But legends such as John Charles, John Toshack, Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – There is one figure Wales manager Chris Coleman wishes could accompany his squad to France — former boss Gary Speed whose absence is still sorely felt. November 27, 2011 will go down in Welsh football history for all the wrong reasons. That was the day it was announced that Speed, […]

Glendale (United States) (AFP) – Copa America Centenario organizers were left red-faced after an embarrassing blunder which saw Chile's national anthem played instead of Uruguay's ahead of their Group C clash with Mexico in Arizona. The incident happened as the teams lined up for kick-off at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. After […]

Malmö (Sweden) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes no secret of his lofty opinion of himself and according to his childhood club it is a longstanding trait of the Swedish superstar. Ibrahimovic pulled on his boots for the first time at the age of six at Fotbollsklubb (FBK) Balkan, a club created by Yugoslav immigrants in […]

Herzogenaurach (Germany) (AFP) – Helmut Fischer will not be cheering for Germany during the European Championship finals. He comes from the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach where sport is a family affair that gets bitter and personal. Fischer, 67, said he has always hated the jerseys worn by Die Mannschaft, which are made by Adidas. "I […]

Washington (AFP) – Goals from Julie Johnston and Alex Morgan had the US women's team up 2-0 on Japan Sunday when lightning brought their international friendly match in Cleveland, Ohio, to a halt in the 76th minute. After a tense 3-3 draw last Thursday in the teams’ first meeting since the US victory in the […]

Chicago (AFP) – Venezuela defeated Jamaica 1-0 in a physical Copa America Centenario clash here Sunday that saw the Reggae Boyz reduced to 10 men while coach Winfried Schaefer was expelled from the dugout. Jamaica, riding high after a shock friendly victory over Copa America champions Chile in a warm-up last week, were left ruing […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho enjoyed a raucous reception as he watched a charity match from the stands on Sunday in his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager. Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho's appointment, the 53-year-old was in Manchester to give his support to […]

Santa Clara (United States) (AFP) – Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said Sunday no decision has been taken on Lionel Messi's fitness for his team's Copa America Centenario opener against Chile. Messi, who arrived in California on Friday after giving evidence at his tax fraud trial last week, is struggling with a back injury sustained during […]

Paris (AFP) – President Francois Hollande on Sunday sought to dispel the threat of strikes and dread of terrorism hanging over France as the country readies to host the Euro 2016 football championship. Five days before Paris showcases one of the world's top sporting events, Hollande tried to lift a grim national mood that has been […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo teamed up with the Portugal squad on Sunday ahead of Euro 2016 after a week off following Real Madrid's Champions League victory. Four days before Portugal's scheduled arrival in France, Ronaldo and his Madrid colleague Pepe were due to train with Fernando Santos' squad at their base just outside […]

Brussels (AFP) – Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman came off the bench to score the winner as Belgium came from behind to beat Norway 3-2 in their final pre-Euro 2016 friendly on Sunday. Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard had earlier netted for the home side in Brussels either side of goals for Norway from Joshua […]

Paris (AFP) – French President Francois Hollande acknowledged on Sunday there was a threat of an attack during the Euro 2016 football championship but said the country must not be intimidated. "This threat will last for a long time," he told public radio France Inter. "But we must do everything to ensure that the Euro […]