Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann took up the mantle as challenger-in-chief to Cristiano Ronaldo with two goals that crushed world champions Germany and saw France into Sunday's Euro 2016 final against Portugal. A penalty awarded seconds before half-time caused turmoil in the German camp. Griezmann took his chance and added a second strike to extend […]

Marseille (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew refused to commit himself to stay beyond the next World Cup campaign as he picked through the wreckage of the country's Euro 2016 exit. Antoine Griezmann scored twice in Marseille on Thursday to guide France to a 2-0 win and a place in Sunday's European Championship final against […]

Paris (AFP) – Riot police fired tear gas in clashes with youths on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris early Friday after France's qualification for the Euro 2016 final, an AFP reporter said. Police staged several charges at youths who hurled fireworks, bottles, stones and other objects at them. Dustbins were also set on fire. […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann's double for France in Thursday's 2-0 semi-final win over Germany at Euro 2016 broke die Mannschaft's 50-year winning streak against host nations at major tournaments. The French victory in Marseille was the first time Germany had lost to the hosts at a major finals since their famous 4-2 defeat to […]

Paris (AFP) – From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Vieux Port in Marseille, French supporters erupted in joy after the national side beat Germany to reach the Euro 2016 final. Horns blared out of car windows on the Champs Elysees avenue in the capital in scenes reminiscent of when France won the World […]

Marseille (AFP) – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said the 2-0 semi-final defeat to France at Euro 2016 was a bitter pill for the world champions to swallow following a controversial penalty decision. Man-of-the-match Antoine Griezmann scored twice on Thursday as France's win sealed a place in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal. "We have played […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann brushed off comparisons with French football legend Michel Platini after his two goals sent the host nation into the final of Euro 2016. His two goals in the 2-0 win made him by far the tournament's top scorer with six goals, three behind Platini's record of nine in one Euro […]

Marseille (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps said the Euro 2016 hosts had beaten world champions Germany to reach the final by never giving up despite suffering relentless pressure. "We found it tough but we didn't give up," Deschamps said as he celebrated the 2-0 win in Marseille. Deschamps hailed Germany as "a great team." […]

Marseille (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored twice Thursday as France beat world champions Germany 2-0 to seal a place in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal. Having converted a controversial first-half penalty for Bastian Schweinsteiger's handball, Griezmann put the result beyond doubt with a sweetly struck second half shot. "We suffered but we knocked them […]

Both Wales and Portugal are relatively small coastal nations that have spent much of their history tangled up with their larger and more powerful neighbors to the east. But whereas rugby-mad Wales has accomplished little as a team in football despite producing world-class footballers like John Charles, Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs, and now Gareth Bale, […]

Marseille (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann gave the hosts a first-half lead from the penalty spot in the Euro 2016 semi-final against Germany on Thursday. France had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping a clean sheet as Germany threatened to break the deadlock on several occasions. But in the final minute of the […]

London (AFP) – Faithful lieutenant Rui Faria will be Jose Mourinho's assistant manager at Manchester United a role that club icon Ryan Giggs had hoped in vain to retain for the upcoming season. Faria, who has followed Mourinho from Barcelona when the 'special one' was the late Bobby Robson's interpreter in 1996 to all his […]

Marseille (AFP) – Liverpool's defensive midfielder Emre Can made his first start at Euro 2016 for injury-hit Germany in Thursday's semi-final against hosts France. France coach Didier Deschamps meanwhile kept faith with the same starting side which beat Iceland 5-2 in the quarter-finals, retaining Samuel Umtiti and Moussa Sissoko. Can wins only his seventh cap […]

London (AFP) – Three-time Champions League winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes will get another chance in the English Premier League after signing a two-year contract with new boys Middlesbrough on Thursday. The 34-year-old — who won European club football's most prestigious trophy with Barcelona — had a miserable time at Manchester United under then-manager Louis van […]

Marseille (AFP) – Samuel Umtiti and Moussa Sissoko retained their places in France's starting line-up as coach Didier Deschamps named an unchanged side for Thursday's Euro 2016 semi-final against Germany in Marseille. Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and Emre Can were handed their first starts of the tournament in a midfield three alongside Toni Kroos.