The Hague (AFP) – The Dutch campaign to qualify for next year's World Cup suffered another blow after coach Louis van Gaal fell and injured his hip, Dutch media reported on Monday. Van Gaal, 70, cycled to his hotel after a training session ahead of the team's crucial qualifier against Norway on Tuesday when the […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League's bottom side Norwich City on Monday named former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith as their new head coach, tasked with saving them from relegation. The 50-year-old Smith, who was axed by Villa on November 7 after five successive defeats, takes over at Carrow Road on a two-and-a-half-year contract, the […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of playing in a record-equalling fifth World Cup hang in the balance after Serbia stunned Portugal 2-1 in Lisbon to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Spain and Croatia did secure their places in Qatar on Sunday thanks to 1-0 wins over Sweden and Russia respectively. Ronaldo already holds […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Captain Andre Ayew converted a controversial penalty in his 100th international appearance on Sunday to take Ghana into the African World Cup qualifying play-offs with a bruising 1-0 victory over South Africa. The former West Ham United midfielder sent rival skipper Ronwen Williams the wrong way from the spot kick in Cape […]

Yerevan (AFP) – Thomas Mueller said that Germany have begun a new era under Hansi Flick after his side finished their World Cup qualification campaign on a high with a 4-1 win over Armenia on Sunday. "It's a new era for us since the change of coach, and we've been doing a lot of good […]

Yerevan (AFP) – Ilkay Gundogan scored twice on Sunday as Germany ended their World Cup qualification campaign with a 4-1 win over Armenia. The Manchester City midfielder struck either side of half time as his side cruised to a comfortable seventh successive win under new coach Hansi Flick. Having already secured qualification back in October, […]

Split (Croatia) (AFP) – Croatia secured their place at the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Russia on Sunday, a late own goal from Fedor Kudryashov swinging the game in their favour after a hard-fought battle in boggy conditions in Split. Finalists at the last World Cup in 2018, Croatia looked bound for […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace midfielder Conor Gallagher has been drafted into the England squad for Monday's World Cup qualifier in San Marino after Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw withdrew on Sunday. The Three Lions only need to avoid defeat against the minnows in Serravalle to secure their place […]

The Hague (AFP) – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk blasted his team's second-half performance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Montenegro as "awful" and "outrageous" as their World Cup hopes were left in the balance. The Dutch would have qualified for the finals in Qatar next year with a win in Podgorica and they were well […]

Paris (AFP) – World champions France booked their place at next year's World Cup in Qatar in style as Kylian Mbappe fired in four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Karim Benzema scored twice and there were further goals for Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann whose penalty […]

Paris (AFP) – World champions France booked their place at next year's World Cup in Qatar in style as Kylian Mbappe fired in four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Karim Benzema scored twice and there were further goals for Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann whose penalty […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders France qualified for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar by crushing Kazakhstan 8-0 on Saturday thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe, while Belgium also booked their ticket. Didier Deschamps' side outclassed the Kazakhs at the Parc des Princes in Paris to top Group D with Karim Benzema also scoring […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Napoli forward Victor Osimhen scored to set up Nigeria for a 2-0 win over Liberia on Saturday that moved them closer to a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. The Super Eagles host Cape Verde in a top-of-the-table Group C clash on Tuesday and will win the section provided they avoid defeat in […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Norwich are set to hire former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith as their new manager, according to reports on Saturday. Norwich have reportedly offered Smith thee chance to succeed Daniel Farke, who was sacked on November 6 with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. Smith […]

London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate plans to rotate his team against San Marino as the Three Lions look to seal their place at the World Cup on Monday. Southgate's side will be guaranteed to feature at next year's tournament in Qatar if they avoid defeat in San Marino. The Group I leaders crushed […]