London (AFP) – England coach Gareth Southgate said he was "surprised" that 35,000 fans will be in attendance for Saturday's Nations League game against Hungary due to take place behind closed doors in Budapest. Hungary were ordered by both UEFA and FIFA to play matches without crowds after racist behaviour by their fans last year. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Valencia have sacked Jose Bordalas as coach, the club confirmed on Friday, with Gennaro Gattuso being lined up to replace him. Valencia finished a disappointing ninth in La Liga last season, although they did reach the final of the Copa del Rey, which they lost on penalties to Real Betis. The club […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany boss Hansi Flick expects Italy's under-pressure head coach Roberto Mancini to come out firing and inspire the European champions in Saturday's Nations League clash. Italy host Germany in Bologna with the hosts licking their wounds from a 3-0 thrashing by Argentina in Wednesday's Finalissima at Wembley and still reeling after again […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid on Friday demanded an explanation for the way fans were treated at the Champions League final last weekend and said authorities must take responsibility for the ugly scenes in Paris which the club said were "far removed from the values" of the sport. In the statement published "in defence of […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Naim Sliti scored and created two other goals as Qatar World Cup qualifiers Tunisia began a four-match build-up this month by hammering 10-man Equatorial Guinea 4-0 in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday. Sliti broke the stubborn resistance of the Equatoguineans on 56 minutes when, after two failed […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain were denied a winning start by Portugal in the Nations League on Thursday as Alvaro Morata’s first-half finish was cancelled out by a late equaliser from Ricardo Horta. Morata sidefooted home at the end of a scintillating counter-attack and while Cristiano Ronaldo came on in the second half for Portugal, it […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has reacted with "disbelief" at French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin's insistence that the chaotic scenes at Saturday's Champions League final in Paris were caused by supporters of the English club. Darmanin has faced growing criticism and accusations of lying for his claims issues outside the stadium, that […]

Rome (Italy) (AFP) – Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri has extended his contract with the Roman outfit until 2025, the Serie A club confirmed on Thursday. The 63-year-old former Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli boss agreed a two-year extension to the deal he signed in June last year after Simone Inzaghi left for Inter Milan. "Coach Maurizio […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday confirmed the signing of Czech Republic teen forward Adam Hlozek from Sparta Prague. The 19-year-old chalked up 12 goals and 15 assists for Sparta last season. His transfer reportedly cost more than 10 million euros ($11 million) as Leverkusen look to strengthen their squad for next season after […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland captain Andy Robertson said missing out on the World Cup rounded off the toughest 10 days of his career after the Liverpool left-back also failed to get his hands on the Premier League and Champions League. Robertson was far from his best as Scotland were well beaten 3-1 by Ukraine at […]

Tokyo (AFP) – World Cup-bound Japan say they are primed to test themselves against the mighty Brazil next week after a comprehensive 4-1 win over Paraguay in Sapporo on Thursday. The four-time Asian champions will take on Brazil and Neymar at Tokyo's Olympic stadium on Monday with the aim of beating the South Americans for […]

Paris (AFP) – Less than a week after the chaotic scenes that marred the Champions League final, the Stade de France in Paris will be the centre of attention again as the French national team play Denmark on Friday before an expected capacity crowd. The pictures of Liverpool fans massed outside the stadium gates and […]

Seoul (AFP) – Neymar scored two calmly taken penalties as Brazil fired a World Cup warning with a 5-1 thrashing of South Korea in Seoul on Thursday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored his 72nd and 73rd goals for his country to close on Pele's record of 77 for Brazil. Neymar also upstaged South Korean captain […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry said Thursday he hopes the Bundesliga champions quickly settle the matter of want-away striker Robert Lewandowski which rumbles on amid reports Barcelona are eager to sign the Poland star. "It's a bit of a shame how it's always going back and forth," Gnabry said with the Germany […]

Paris (AFP) – France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin put himself in the front line of defending the actions of Paris police at the Champions League final, remaining impervious to criticism not just from the UK but also reportedly President Emmanuel Macron. Darmanin, a 39-year-old ambitious right-winger has blamed the chaos that marred Saturday's final in […]