Berlin (AFP) – Thomas Mueller says Germany must be more consistent and score wins over the top nations if they are to be considered among the favourites for the looming World Cup finals. A Harry Kane penalty two minutes from time at Munich's Allianz Arena saw England snatch a 1-1 draw with Germany on Tuesday […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, went on trial in Switzerland on Wednesday over a suspected fraudulent payment. Former FIFA president Blatter, 86, and Platini, 66, appeared in the Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona, following an investigation that began in […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Australia coach Graham Arnold warned his team they must improve to beat Peru and make it to a fifth straight World Cup after Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner in a nerve-wracking 2-1 play-off victory over United Arab Emirates in Doha. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder's deflected volley in the 84th minute […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane scored a penalty eight minutes into added time to give Senegal a dramatic 1-0 win over heart-broken Rwanda on Tuesday in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Forced to play a home match in Senegal because they do not have an international-standard stadium, Rwanda were on the verge […]

Cesena (Italy) (AFP) – Italy moved top of their UEFA Nations League group on Tuesday after a new-look team continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 2-1 win over Hungary. Roberto Mancini's side lead the way in League A, Group 3 thanks to first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini in Cesena […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane scored his 50th international goal on Tuesday by converting a late penalty in Munich in a 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany. Germany broke the deadlock when Jonas Hofmann fired the hosts ahead at the Allianz Arena, but Kane levelled from the spot with two minutes left. […]

Cesena (Italy) (AFP) – Italy continued an unbeaten start to their UEFA Nations League campaign on Tuesday after beating Hungary 2-1 with an inexperienced line-up. First-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini in Cesena were enough for the Azzurri to see off Hungary in a largely impressive display blighted by Gianluca Mancini's own goal. […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided the feverish Asian zone clash […]

Doha (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided a feverish clash in the Ahmad […]

Paris (AFP) – Ex-France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena said on Tuesday he has "turned the page" after the sex tape scandal involving former team-mate Karim Benzema. On Saturday, Real Madrid's Benzema, 34, dropped an appeal against a one-year suspended sentence, handed to him last November, for complicity in a bid to blackmail Valbuena with the video […]

London (AFP) – Wales manager Robert Page believes Gareth Bale must be handled with care at his next club after the forward inspired his country to reach the World Cup for the first time in 64 years. Bale is looking for a new team after ending his turbulent nine-year stay at Real Madrid. The Wales […]

London (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke insists he will not listen to the critics who blasted his team after their painful World Cup play-off defeat against Ukraine. Clarke's side blew their chance to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998 as Ukraine won 3-1 at Hampden Park in the play-off semi-final […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski revealed Tuesday he wants to call time on his career with the Bundesliga giants because of his desire for "more emotions in life". The Polish forward announced last week that his time with Bayern "had come to an end" without specifying his future plans. Asked Monday during […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 on Tuesday announced the appointment of Frank Kramer as their new head coach on a two-year deal following the club's return to the Bundesliga. Kramer, 50, was sacked by Arminia Bielefeld in April as the club made an unsuccessful last-ditch bid to avoid relegation from the German top flight. He […]

Wellington (AFP) – New Zealand's men's football team will play in front of their home fans for the first time in nearly five years when they host Australia in a milestone friendly in September. The All Whites face the Socceroos at Auckland's Eden Park on September 25, marking the 100-year anniversary of the first international […]