Paris (AFP) – Gylfi Sigurdsson highlighted Iceland's pride at confounding expectations at Euro 2016 despite the disappointment of a 5-2 quarter-final defeat by France on Sunday. Sigurdsson was one of Iceland's stars as they shocked England in the last 16 to reach the last eight on their first ever appearance in a major finals. "I'm […]

Paris (AFP) – France did their homework to make sure they did not follow England's example and fall to giantkillers Iceland, said goalscorer Dimitri Payet. "We worked on their weaknesses and their strengths," Payet said after the 5-2 quarter-final win at Stade de France. "That is what allowed us to win tonight." Payet also praised […]

Paris (AFP) – Five key points from France's 5-2 hammering of Iceland in the European Championship quarter-final on Sunday: + Fast and furious After a series of wins that needed last-minute goals, France took control of the game from the start. Olivier Giroud fired the tournament hosts ahead in the 12th minute — the first […]

Paris (AFP) – An extended 24-team format was always going to make Euro 2016 a marathon not a sprint and, inspired by pre-tournament golden boy Paul Pogba, hosts France may be timing their run for the line perfectly. Pogba was to the fore, scoring his side's second goal as France dismantled England's conquerors Iceland 5-2 […]

Paris (AFP) – Olivier Giroud scored two goals and set up another as the Euro 2016 hosts France thrashed Iceland 5-2 on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash against world champions Germany. Giroud fired France ahead after just 12 minutes at a rain-drenched Stade de France with Paul Pogba then heading in his first […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps handed Samuel Umtiti his international debut as the Euro 2016 hosts made two enforced changes for Sunday's quarter-final against Iceland in Paris. Umtiti, 22, who is set to join Barcelona from Lyon later this month replaces the suspended Adil Rami in central defence alongside Laurent Koscielny. Moussa Sissoko comes […]

Paris (AFP) – French champions Paris Saint Germain have fought off rivals across Europe to snap up giant Belgian international defender Thomas Meunier from FC Bruges, the Qatar-backed club said on Sunday. The 6ft 3in (1.9m) right-back, 24, who featured twice for Belgium at Euro 2016, has signed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal have agreed a deal to bring 21-year-old Japanese international striker Takuma Asano to North London from J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the Premier League club said on Sunday. Capped five times by Japan, Asano is in line for the Japanese squad at the Rio Games, was rookie of the year in Japan […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – An emotional Antonio Conte admitted Italy's exit to Germany at the quarter-final stages of Euro 2016 had left him facing his "most difficult" day, opening the door to a return as coach of the Azzurri one day. Italy exited the tournament after an epic 18-kick penalty shootout that saw players from […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany's Mario Gomez has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2016 through injury while Sami Khedira and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger are doubts for Thursday's semi-final, the German Football Federation (DFB) said Sunday. Gomez underwent a scan on Sunday that showed the striker suffered a torn thigh muscle in the […]

Paris (AFP) – Iceland fans staged a Viking invasion of Paris on Sunday, hoping that their team can pull off another giant-killing feat against host nation France in the Euro 2016 quarter-final. Several thousand fans turned bars near the Paris landmark Moulin Rouge into a sea of blue and red Iceland shirts as the surprise […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – In reaching the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Joachim Loew has maintained his impressive record of consistently steering Germany to the final stages of major tournaments — yet is still facing criticism at home. Germany face France or Iceland in next Thursday's Marseille semi-final as die Mannschaft look to add a fourth European […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany striker Mario Gomez has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2016 through injury while Sami Khedira and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger are doubts for the semi-final, the German Football Federation (DFB) said Sunday. Gomez underwent a scan on Sunday that showed a torn thigh muscle, the DFB said, while […]

Geneva (AFP) – The governance of new FIFA president Gianni and his lifestyle have drawn criticism in an internal memo of world football's governing body, published online by the Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung. The 11-page memo, dated May 23 last, concerns the first two months of Infantino's presidency and its unnamed author sent the document to […]

London (AFP) – A former chairman of England's governing Football Association has said the organisation has "failed" over the last 10 years because of its "amateur structure". England's humiliating exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of rank outsiders Iceland sparked the resignation of manager Roy Hodgson and led to a fresh bout of soul-searching […]