Berlin (AFP) – Veteran striker Max Kruse was a surprise inclusion Monday in Germany's men's squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games, five years after he was booted out of the national side. The 33-year-old joins Nadiem Amiri, 24, and Maximilian Arnold, 27, all full Germany internationals, as the three players in the squad born before […]

London (AFP) – Euro 2020 has delivered more drama than even then-UEFA president Michel Platini could have envisaged when he announced the event would be held around Europe nine years ago, but it has still been slammed as a "joke" and "not really fair". The tournament has been played across 11 cities in 11 countries […]

Milan (AFP) – A discreet but 'irreplaceable' midfield presence Jorginho has been the cornerstone of Italy's revival from World Cup flops to Euro 2020 contenders with a semi-final against Spain awaiting in the London of his club side Chelsea on Tuesday. One of the Azzurri's Brazilian contingent along with domestic teammate Emerson Palmieri and Atalanta […]

London (AFP) – Luis Enrique's belligerent self-belief has led Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, but the former Barcelona boss has another personal score to settle in Tuesday's last four against Italy. His playing career at major tournaments is best remembered for the vicious elbow from Mauro Tassotti that left blood flowing from his […]

London (AFP) – Italy and Spain will face off at a fourth consecutive European Championship when they meet in Tuesday's semi-final at Wembley. Ahead of that game AFP Sports looks at five of the best past encounters between the nations: – Tassotti's elbow on Luis Enrique – 1994 World Cup quarter-final: Italy 2 Spain 1 […]

Three years ago, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958. The nation had a squad that needed to be refreshed and an identify that required an overhaul. Roberto Mancini was hired to return his homeland to glory, and he is off to a great start. The last time […]

Milan (AFP) – Roma have loaned Turkey winger Cengiz Under to French club Marseille for a year with an option to buy, both clubs confirmed on Sunday. "Under joins the Ligue 1 side on an initial temporary basis until 30 June 2022," the Serie A club said, announcing a loan fee of 500,000 euros ($593,000) […]

Milan (AFP) – New Roma coach Jose Mourinho on Sunday lamented the "terrible loss" of Italy left-back Leonardo Spinazzola with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. The 28-year-old picked up the injury during Friday's 2-1 Euro 2020 quarter-final win over Belgium in Munich, the day Mourinho arrived in Rome. "It's a terrible loss for Italy, but […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace announced former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira as the club's new manager on Sunday, following a prolonged search for a successor to Roy Hodgson. Vieira, who won three Premier League titles as a player with the Gunners, has had mixed results in charge of New York City and Nice in his […]

Baku (AFP) – Denmark may have achieved one goal by reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2020 at Wembley but, inspired by a "proud" Christian Eriksen, they have no intention of stopping there. A 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Saturday propelled the Danes into the last four of a major tournament for the first […]

London (AFP) – At Jose Mourinho's new home, the Stadio Olimpico, Luke Shaw chose the perfect setting for his latest riposte to his former boss with two assists in England's 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals. Shaw suffered at the hands of Mourinho for three seasons at Manchester United, a string […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Parma boss Roberto D'Aversa has been appointed coach of Sampdoria, where he briefly played 20 years ago, the Serie A side announced on Sunday. The 45-year-old Italian left Parma after they were relegated at the end of last season and takes over from Claudio Ranieri at the Genoa club. "Roberto D'Aversa […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have sent young Portuguese striker Trincao to English Premier League team Wolves on a season loan with an option to buy, the Catalan club said Sunday. Barca paid 31 million euros ($36.7 million) to Braga a year ago but his campaign was marred by niggling injury and he appeared only intermittently, […]

Goiania (Brazil) (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored one goal and created two others as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 in Goiania on Saturday to reach the Copa America semi-finals. In Tuesday's last four match, the 14-time winners will play Colombia, who beat Uruguay on penalties earlier in the day. Messi teed up goals for Rodrigo De […]

Brasília (AFP) – Goalkeeper David Ospina was the hero as Colombia beat Uruguay on penalties in Brasilia on Saturday to reach the Copa America semi-finals. Ospina saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out on the day he earned his 112th Colombian cap, moving clear of the previous national record he shared with the iconic Carlos Valderrama. […]