Beijing (AFP) – Marcello Lippi said China need to shed their "underdog" mentality as he faces a tough first game in charge — a World Cup qualifier against Qatar which neither team dare lose. While Lippi, who coached Italy to win the 2006 World Cup, admits rock-bottom China need a "miracle" if they are to […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called for his team to harness a sense of anger as they attempt to bounce back from a shattering World Cup defeat to Mexico against Costa Rica on Tuesday. Klinsmann's men suffered an agonizing last-gasp loss to Mexico in Columbus on Friday, when Rafa Marquez's […]

Milan (AFP) – Andrea Belotti could further underline his status as Italy's current go-to striker when the Azzurri host Germany in a San Siro clash that should produce the usual fireworks between the European giants. Having marked his full debut with the opener in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Macedonia last month, the […]

London (AFP) – England's caretaker manager Gareth Southgate faces a man he aspires to emulate in terms of style and status in Tuesday's friendly against Julen Lopetegui's Spain. The match at Wembley will be the fourth and final assignment of Southgate's interim stint and following Friday's 3-0 win over Scotland in World Cup qualifying he […]

Paris (AFP) – Belgium hammered Estonia 8-1 to go clear in Group H, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal survived a scare before overcoming Latvia 4-1 in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. There were braces from Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens as Belgium ran rampant with further goals from Thomas Meunier, Eden Hazard, Yannick […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Goalkeeper Tim Howard has been officially ruled out of the United States' 2018 World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in San Jose on Tuesday with a right adductor muscle injury. "He has returned to Colorado for further evaluation and to determine treatment plans," US Soccer said in a statement confirming the […]

Paris (AFP) – Out-of-favour Manchester United winger Memphis Depay came off the bench to score twice and save the Netherlands' blushes in Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. On an evening when Europe's minnows came close — but ultimately fell short — of springing some major upsets, Depay gave United manager Jose Mourinho a […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Egypt avenged a humiliating World Cup defeat by Ghana three years ago with a 2-0 victory Sunday in a 2018 African Group E qualifier before an 85,000 crowd in Alexandria. Ghana triumphed 6-1 in the first leg of a 2014 World Cup play-off to set up an aggregate victory that prolonged the […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane has returned to Tottenham Hotspur to build up his fitness after injury and will play no part in England's home friendly against Spain on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was an unused substitute in England's 3-0 defeat of Scotland on Friday in World Cup qualifying, having only just returned from a seven-week […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has declared he would not be afraid to take on the England manager's job on a permanent basis when his four-game stint as interim head coach ends. Southgate was installed following Sam Allardyce's abrupt departure in September and Friday's 3-0 win over Scotland in World Cup qualifying left him with […]

Paris (AFP) – Wales conceded an agonising late equaliser as Serbia battled to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday as forner champions Italy and Spain both won 4-0. Earlier Saturday, the Republic of Ireland had stunned Austria 1-0 in Vienna and are top of Group D on 10 points, with Serbia […]

Paris (AFP) – Republic of Ireland stunned Austria 1-0 in Vienna to climb top of their World Cup qualifying group but Iceland failed to replicate their Euro 2016 heroics in a 2-0 defeat in Croatia on Saturday. The Irish provisionally leapfrogged Serbia in Group D thanks to a James McClean strike three minutes after half-time, […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South Africa converted a penalty that should not have been awarded as they beat Senegal 2-1 Saturday to boost their chances of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was a must-win matchday 2 qualifier for the hosts in northern city Polokwane and they survived a late onslaught from the visitors […]

Dos A Cero is a thing of the past. For the first time in fifteen years, the United States lost a World Cup qualifier on home soil – falling on Friday night against Mexico by a score of two goals to one. In this most meaningful Hexagonal opener, the mystique of Columbus fell apart for […]

Columbus (AFP) – Mexico skipper Rafael Marquez scored an 89th-minute winner as the United States crashed to their first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil in 15 years with a 2-1 loss. Marquez, 37, headed home a Miguel Layun corner in the dying minutes of a pulsating battle to end the USA's long record […]