Sydney (AFP) – Australia erupted in celebration Tuesday after the Socceroos made a fifth straight World Cup, with football superstar Sam Kerr leading the charge, telling the doubters to "eat your hats". Graham Arnold's men stunned Peru in a penalty shootout in Doha to clinch the penultimate spot at the global showpiece this year, with […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Napoli forward Victor Osimhen scored four goals as Nigeria crushed Sao Tome e Principe 10-0 in Morocco on Monday to record the biggest victory in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying history. Qualifying for the biennial competition has been staged since 1961 and Ghana, Kenya and Libya shared the record with eight-goal […]

Doha (AFP) – Australia beat Peru in a sudden death penalty shootout on Monday to secure the penultimate free place at the 2022 World Cup finals. The playoff between the Asian and South American qualifiers had been goalless after 120 minutes and was only decided when Peru's Alex Valera missed his side's sixth penalty, giving […]

Paris (AFP) – Luka Modric's early penalty gave Croatia a 1-0 win over off-form France in Paris on Monday as the World Cup holders finished their June run of UEFA Nations League matches without a victory in four outings. Veteran Croatia captain Modric stroked in his spot-kick after just five minutes at the Stade de […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich on Monday confirmed the signing of Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch on a five-year deal – the second Ajax player they have recruited this summer. "When the offer came from FC Bayern, I didn't have to think about it for long," the 20-year-old central midfielder said in a statement. "FC Bayern […]

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham striker Harry Kane is welcoming the challenge he faces to win the Golden Boot next season from the arrival of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez to the Premier League. Norwegian superstar Haaland completed his move to Manchester City on Monday, while Uruguayan international Nunez is expected to finalise a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Marcelo said an emotional goodbye to Real Madrid on Monday as the most decorated player in the club’s history but insisted he has no plans to retire. The 34-year-old has spent 15 years at the Santiago Bernabeu and will be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany coach Hansi Flick is expected to recall Serge Gnabry and Antonio Ruediger for Tuesday's Nations League match at home to European champions Italy. The pair both sat out Saturday's draw against Hungary in Budapest with Gnabry resting a calf injury and Ruediger rested. Ruediger, who transferred to Real Madrid from Chelsea […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Erling Haaland believes he will only improve working under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after completing his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to the English champions on Monday. City announced last month they had beaten off competition from Europe's top clubs to agree a deal with the German giants after triggering […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Liverpool have reached a deal with Benfica to buy the Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez for an initial 75 million euros (£64 million), the Portuguese club said on Monday. The transfer could eventually rise to 100 million euros, Benfica said in a statement, eclipsing Liverpool's club-record £75 million paid to Southampton for Dutch […]

Paris (AFP) – Spain won a second successive UEFA Nations League match on Sunday with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic while rivals Portugal conceded a goal after just 57 seconds to lose to Switzerland. Spain went in front in Malaga after 24 minutes when a perfectly-weighted pass by Marco Asensio released Carlos Soler […]

Oslo (AFP) – Erling Haaland scored twice and set up the third as Norway beat neighbours Sweden 3-2 in the Nations League at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Sunday. "I'm speechless!" the 21-year-old striker told Norwegian television, before adding: "It's the first time I've played for a sold-out Ullevaal. And to win against Sweden […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool are reportedly close to signing Benfica's Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez in a deal which could be worth up to £85 million ($104 million). The Premier League club have been in talks with Benfica for several weeks and Liverpool's new sporting director Julian Ward is believed to have finally negotiated a swoop […]

Budapest (AFP) – Germany had to settle for their third Nations League 1-1 draw in a row after battling Hungary held their illustrious visitors in a Group A3 tie in Budapest on Saturday. League A debutants Hungary stunned the Germans after just six minutes with a blistering strike by Zsolt Nagy before Jonas Hofmann levelled […]

Paris (AFP) – England are bottom of their UEFA Nations League group without a win after drawing 0-0 with Italy in a repeat of the Euro 2020 final on Saturday, while Germany settled for a point in a 1-1 stalemate in Hungary. The meeting in Wolverhampton between Gareth Southgate's side and the European champions was […]