Munich (Germany) (AFP) – In the rolling foothills of the Bavarian alps, where cows lazily chew grass on sun-drenched meadows, Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Mueller is the pride of his ex-club TSV Paehl. "Did you know that the nicest, most popular and probably Germany's best current footballer — Thomas Mueller — learnt to […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Brazil's Copa America injury crisis deepened after veteran striker Kaka withdrew from the squad with a hamstring injury three days before the team's tournament opener against Ecuador. The 34-year-old Orlando City attacking midfielder had been looking forward to competing in his first Copa America but saw his dream dashed after suffering […]

Paris (AFP) – Karim Benzema unleashed a new storm of controversy on Wednesday by saying French coach Didier Deschamps had "bowed to pressure from a racist part of France" by keeping him out of the Euro 2016 squad. However, politicians and France's football establishment leaped to Deschamps defence over the interview that the Real Madrid […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney called Euro 2016 his "biggest test" as an international player on Wednesday and revealed that he has spoken to newly appointed Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Rooney's immediate focus is on leading England out against Portugal at Wembley on Thursday in their final warm-up game before […]

Paris (AFP) – Alvaro Morata and Nolito both hit a brace as Spain warmed up for the defence of their European Championships crown by thrashing South Korea 6-1 in a friendly on Wednesday. The Spaniards were slightly under-strength as coach Vicente Del Bosque rested players from Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico following their […]

For the past 8 years, we've been graced by ESPN's superb coverage of world-class soccer competitions on US television. At Euro 2008, it was the birth of a new soccer vision that was focused on providing intelligent discussion and coverage of the Beautiful Game, and importantly not talking down to the viewers. At World Cup […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Nuno Espirito Santo was on Wednesday named as the new coach of Porto, two days after the sacking of Jose Peseiro. The 42-year-old former goalkeeper has signed a two-year deal, Porto said in a statement. Nuno, who played for Porto, ended his playing career in 2010 before taking up his first coaching […]

Neustift (Austria) (AFP) – France midfielder Blaise Matuidi pleaded with fans on Wednesday to stop jeering his international team-mate Olivier Giroud. Some fans whistled and booed when Giroud's name was read out before Monday's 3-2 pre-Euro 2016 friendly victory over Cameroon in Nantes. "I spoke with him after the victory over Cameroon. It's disappointing because […]

London (AFP) – Portugal's friendly game with England on Thursday is an opportunity for the team to demonstrate that they can prosper without absent talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, coach Fernando Santos said on Wednesday. Ronaldo, Portugal's captain and all-time leading scorer with 56 goals, will miss the Wembley encounter as he is resting following his involvement […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Mexican football star Alan Pulido emerged as a hero after beating a kidnapper and taking his phone to escape a nightmare of captivity in barely 24 hours. But in a nation where the population has grown to deeply distrust the words and actions of the authorities, many are now asking if […]

Cork (Ireland) (AFP) – Roy Keane said on Wednesday he felt like killing some of the Republic of Ireland players who played in Tuesday's Euro 2016 warm-up defeat by Belarus. However, the plain-speaking 44-year-old assistant coach — who infamously was sent home before the 2002 World Cup finals after a blazing row with then-coach Mick […]

London (AFP) – Brazilian football legend Pele showcased over 2,000 items of career memorabilia Wednesday, from trophies to balls and boots, before an auction next week that has been touted as one of biggest in sporting history. The sale, expected to fetch some £3 million (3.9 million euros, $4.3 million), includes a replica of the […]

London (AFP) – A combination of the Zika virus and political turmoil is making Brazilians "sad", football legend Pele told AFP on Wednesday. The football superstar, 75, was speaking at a preview in London of a huge auction of memorabilia spanning his career. His comments came two months before the start of the Rio Olympics […]

Every season, I indulge in the same thought experiment... What can I make out of the wreckage of the three relegated teams? Inevitably teams that get relegated tend to shed players and rebuild (Burnley and Norwich being two recent teams to go against that trend). This year’s relegated Premier League sides are an odd mix. […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford will only deliver for England if left to his own devices on the pitch, his club and international captain Wayne Rooney warned on Wednesday. Rashford, 18, was the headline inclusion in the 23-man squad for Euro 2016 announced by manager Roy Hodgson on Tuesday. Rooney […]