Chicago (AFP) – US coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a veteran lineup featuring Jozy Altidore and Bayern Munich's Julian Green on Sunday for a showdown with Mexico to open the final phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The Americans will entertain Mexico on Friday at Columbus, Ohio, in the opening match in the "hexagonal," the […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Manchester United and Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie suffered an eye injury playing for Fenerbahce against Akhisar Belediyespor in the Turkish league on Sunday. After colliding with a defender, the 33-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with a plaster covering his bloodied left eye. However, the club insisted that Van […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi, with his 500th Barcelona goal, and Luis Suarez saved the Spanish champions from a second defeat in six days as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla on Sunday. Victory keeps Barca just two points adrift of Real Madrid, who were 3-0 victors over Leganes thanks to a […]

Milan (AFP) – Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic silenced his critics with a superb free-kick winner as injury-depleted Juventus laboured to a 2-1 win at Chievo to stretch their Serie A lead Sunday. In a hard-fought encounter that saw defender Andrea Barzagli stretchered off after just four minutes, Juventus were given another reminder their bid for […]

Paris (AFP) – Table-toppers Nice suffered their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season on Sunday when they went down 1-0 after a hotly disputed penalty at Caen. The southern side still top Ligue 1 with 29 points ahead of Monaco on 26 while champions Paris Saint Germain are third, also on 26 points after […]

Milan (AFP) – Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah claimed his maiden league hat-trick, stealing the limelight from teammate Edin Dzeko as Roma reclaimed the second spot in Serie A with a 3-0 defeat of Bologna on Sunday. With 10 goals this season, Dzeko lined up at the Stadio Olimpico hoping to go one ahead of Inter […]

London (AFP) – Jack Wilshere and Harry Kane have been recalled by England interim manager Gareth Southgate for the forthcoming matches against Scotland and Spain. Wilshere has been missing from the England set-up since Euro 2016 as both former boss Sam Allardyce and then Southgate chose to leave him out. But a loan move from […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt said Sunday that if he ever realised his long-held ambition of becoming a professional footballer, he'd like to have the skills of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Asked by Argentine magazine Viva: "Would you prefer to be like Lionel Messi or like Cristiano Ronaldo?", the […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at the Manchester United players he fears might not have the right attitude to guide his side back into the Premier League title race. Mourinho saw first half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba help United to only a second league victory in […]

Milan (AFP) – Mauro Icardi struck a late brace including one from the spot as crisis-hit Inter Milan handed their coach-in-waiting a boost with a 3-0 win over basement side Crotone on Sunday. Inter have been rudderless since Frank De Boer's sacking as coach last week after a fifth reverse of the season, away to […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City's 20-game unbeaten home record in the Premier League came to an end as Matt Phillips scored West Brom's winner in a 2-1 victory on Sunday. The Scotland international winger provided the cross for James Morrison's opener on 52 minutes and then seized on a Danny Drinkwater howler to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to retire at Real Madrid after agreeing a bumper new five-year contract to be signed on Monday that ties him to the Spanish giants until 2021. "The official event for the renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo's contract will take place tomorrow, Monday 7 November at 1:30pm in the presidential […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic was unfazed as the Manchester United striker enjoyed a landmark double in Sunday's 3-1 win against Swansea. Ibrahimovic scored the 400th club goal of his career and the 25,000th goal in the history of the Premier League in the first half at the Liberty Stadium. The 35-year-old, who […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic eased the pressure on Jose Mourinho as the Manchester United striker's double sealed a 3-1 win at struggling Swansea on Sunday. With only one victory in their previous seven Premier League games, United manager Mourinho had come under mounting pressure at Old Trafford. However, for one day at […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga debutants RB Leipzig drew level on 24 points with Bayern Munich at the top of the table on Sunday with a record-equalling 3-1 win over Mainz. Leipzig have now matched Bayern's run of seven wins and three draws from their first ten German league games. They equal the record for a […]