Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Juventus striker Simone Zaza has pleaded for leniency from angry social media users after a crucial but comical penalty miss in a Euro 2016 quarter-final shootout with Germany. "What happened will stick with me for the rest of my life," Zaza said in a post on his Instagram account. "It was […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany are waiting on the fitness of captain Bastian Schweinsteiger for their Euro 2016 semi-final against France in two days' time, as the Manchester United star sat out Tuesday's training. Schweinsteiger strained his right knee in Saturday's quarter-final win over Italy, firing his spot-kick over the bar, as Germany won 6-5 […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona must pay 47 million euros ($52.2 million) to a real-estate firm for a cancelled land sale after a court ruling, the club said Tuesday, in the latest financial blow to the Spanish football giants. Barca received 35.4 million euros in 2005 after agreeing to sell 10,000 square metres (25 acres) of […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho ridiculed predecessor Louis van Gaal's reliance on having a philosophy and said on Tuesday his only aim as Manchester United manager will be to win. The 53-year-old self-anointed "Special One" — who replaced the sacked Van Gaal as United boss at the end of last season — was […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's billionaire former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said Tuesday he was ready to sell AC Milan to a Chinese investor as long as 400 million euros are invested in the struggling Serie A giants over two years. "I gave up all claims to the price, I accepted what was offered to me, […]

Marcoussis (France) (AFP) – Portugal's veteran defender Pepe trained alone Tuesday as he battles to be fully fit for his country's Euro 2016 semi-final against Wales. While coach Fernando Santos took control of the main group of players, Pepe worked with Portugal's physiotherapist Antonio Gaspar. Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes, who is reported to be wanted […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho said the Manchester United job had come at just the right time in his life and he would be targeting legend Alex Ferguson's two Champions League trophies. The 53-year-old self anointed 'special one' — who replaced the sacked Louis van Gaal as united boss at the end of […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales talisman Gareth Bale played a full part as Chris Coleman's squad trained on Tuesday on the eve of their Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday. Bale, 26, had trained separately on Monday, explaining that he felt "a bit stiff" following Friday's 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium in […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany face hosts France in the Euro 2016 semi-finals on Thursday in the midst of an injury crisis, but buoyed by memories of their flooring of Brazil at the same stage of the 2014 World Cup. The Marseille clash will be another test of Germany's mettle after their historic quarter-final defeat […]

Lyon (AFP) – Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale go head-to-head hoping to carry Portugal and Wales respectively to the Euro 2016 final on Wednesday. Here are five key factors in the often tricky relationship between the two most expensive players in football history: – Bale's first day – After prolonged transfer talks […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – He boasts a Germanic name, Portuguese roots and learned his football in Spain, but France are counting on Antoine Griezmann's loyalty to take them to a Euro 2016 triumph. Going into Thursday's semi-final with Germany, the 25-year-old Atletico Madrid striker is the tournament's leading scorer with four goals. With his strike […]

Lyon (AFP) – Gareth Bale leads Wales into battle against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-finals on Wednesday hoping to become the first British side to reach a major tournament final in 50 years. Wales are have already surpassed all expectations on their first ever appearance at the European Championship finals by […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Gareth Bale will have the taunts of team-mates past and present echoing in his memory when he takes to the field for Wales in Wednesday's Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal. Bale saw five major tournaments come and go over the first 10 years of his career, but with Wales having ended […]

London (AFP) – Ryan Giggs did the right thing leaving Manchester United, the club he served so loyally for nearly 30 years, his mentor Alex Ferguson said on Monday. Ferguson, 74, and who guided Giggs and United to 13 Premier League title successes, two Champions League wins, four FA Cup triumphs and four League Cup […]

Brussels (AFP) – The EU on Monday ordered seven Spanish football clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid to pay back millions of euros (dollars) in illegal state aid. The European Commission said Spanish government support, including tax breaks and overpriced land transfers, gave the clubs an "unfair advantage" over others. The other clubs were Valencia, Athletic […]