Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo suffered new heartbreak in a European Championship final on Sunday, stretchered off in tears as Portugal battled France in the Euro 2016 final. French star Dimitri Payet floored Ronaldo with a heavy challenge in the eighth minute. The Portuguese superstar rolled on the turf in agony, was led off for […]

Paris (AFP) – French police fired tear gas during clashes Sunday evening with a group of football supporters denied entry to a packed Eiffel Tower fan zone showing the Euro 2016 final between France and Portugal. The clashes took place outside the fan zone, which was closed before kick-off after reaching a maximum capacity of […]

Berlin (AFP) – Former Germany international Matthias Sammer has left his position as Bayern Munich's sporting director following a health scare earlier this year, the club announced on Sunday. Sammer, 48, suffered a blood circulation problem in his brain in April and has since regained full health, but said he no longer had the desire […]

After consecutive domestic doubles, Juventus has plenty to look forward to this upcoming season. For the second time in two years, Juventus have dominated Italy, clinching the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles. After their poor start to the 2015-2016 Serie A campaign, a number of supporters feared that the Bianconeri would not lack the […]

Paris (AFP) – President Francois Hollande said Sunday that France's success at Euro 2016 was helping the country to heal from the Paris attacks and that even the national team had been scarred by the events in November. Authorities are bracing for mass celebrations if France — a country still on high terrorist alert — […]

On June 23, Tottenham Hotspur announced their first major signing of the season: Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama. Victor signed under a 5 year contract and, without add-ons, his move to North London could cost as much as $13.4 million. Wanyama’s appointment to the Spurs should excite fans. His strong leadership qualities as well as his ability […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia's footballers failed to leave a mark on Euro 2016 but brutal violence by hardcore hooligans in France sparked fears about the World Cup that Russia will host in two years. Images of Russians in organised groups in Marseille and Russian far right football fan chief Alexander Shprygin taunting French authorities with […]

Paris (AFP) – The Euro 2016 final on Sunday sees a match between hosts France and Portugal that will unleash a clash between one of the world's greatest players ever Cristiano Ronaldo and would be pretender Antoine Griezmann. After 50 matches over a month of football that has seen stunning shocks by Iceland and Wales, […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Robbie Keane scored his second goal in as many games as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 to maintain their Major League Soccer playoff push on Saturday. Irish international Keane, who scored a stunning goal in Monday's victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, rounded off a fine passing move […]

Chicago (AFP) – US goalkeeper Hope Solo earned her 100th clean sheet in international play Saturday as the Americans defeated South Africa 1-0 in a Rio Olympics warm-up match. The crowd of 19,272 fans at Soldier Field also saw Solo earn her 150th career win, with Crystal Dunn producing the game-winner in the 35th minute. […]

Paris (AFP) – The daughter of Manuel Dias, who was killed by a suicide bomb blast outside the Stade de France on November 13, is hoping her father's memory will be honoured at Sunday's Euro 2016 final. The encounter between hosts France and Portugal is particularly poignant for the Dias family, with Manuel Dias born […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal may have experience of a European Championship final, but Sunday's Euro 2016 showpiece against France will be a role reversal for them. Cristiano Ronaldo was a teenager when Portugual, with Luis Figo as their talisman, suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Greece before a disbelieving crowd in Lisbon in the Euro […]

Paris (AFP) – France want to write football "history" by winning the Euro 2016 final against Portugal on Sunday to bury team scandals and help the country recover from the Paris attacks, captain Hugo Lloris said. Portugal's coach Fernando Santos insisted however that his side were also determined "to write a new chapter in our […]

Paris (AFP) – Key factors that could decide the Portugal-France Euro 2016 final on Sunday: How do France contain Cristiano Ronaldo? Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championship finals and despite failing to fire on all four cylinders the Real Madrid star is an omnipresent danger. France acknowledge they will have […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Portugal coach Fernando Santos laughed off a suggestion that Sunday's Euro 2016 final against hosts France could be Cristiano Ronaldo's last for his country. Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football after Argentina lost on penalties to Chile in the Copa America final in June. Ronaldo, 31, […]