Barcelona (AFP) – Six years from delivering the most important strike of a football in Spanish history, Andres Iniesta remains the cornerstone of a La Roja side hoping to rekindle former glories at Euro 2016. Iniesta's extra-time goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands will be his lasting legacy. But Iniesta's technique, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund signed France's young player of the year Ousmane Dembele from Rennes on Thursday, the German club fighting off strong English Premier League interest in the teenage forward. Dortmund called the 18-year-old "one of Europe's most sought after talents" in a statement announcing the transfer on a five-year contract. The Bundesliga […]

Brussels (AFP) – Belgium coach Marc Wilmots named a 24-man pre-Euro 2016 squad on Thursday, without injured captain Vincent Kompany. The 47-year-old coach must reduce the list to 23 players by May 31 ahead of the June 10-July 10 finals in France. And with Manchester City centre-back Kompany set to miss the tournament due to […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has extended his contract until 2021, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The highly regarded Argentine, 44, arrived from Southampton in 2014 and came close to leading Spurs to their first league title since 1961 this season, only for them to lose out to Leicester City. […]

The Hague (AFP) – Ajax coach and former Dutch international Frank de Boer announced on Thursday he was quitting the Amsterdam club after failing to win the Dutch title. "Frank de Boer is quitting as Ajax trainer. He told the club's board in a meeting," Ajax said in a statement issued in Amsterdam. De Boer's […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United's managing director issued an apology to fans after relegation from the Premier League, saying the club were "devastated" and "truly sorry". Bitter north-east neighbours Sunderland's 3-0 win at home to Everton on Wednesday was enough to put Newcastle in the Championship as they were consigned to the dreaded drop alongside […]

Norwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Norwich City manager Alex Neil declared that he felt humbled by the reception of the club's supporters after their relegation from the Premier League. The Canaries beat Watford 4-2 on Wednesday thanks to two goals from Dieumerci Mbokani, one from Nathan Redmond and an own goal by Hornets defender Craig […]

Madrid (AFP) – As a pot-bellied, softly-spoken, 65-year-old, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque can rarely be described as a man on a mission. Yet he is determined to put right a disastrous World Cup two years ago when La Roja defend their European Championship title. "The origin of everything is Brazil and the disappointment of […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic assistant manager John Collins heaped praise on striker Leigh Griffiths after he bagged his 40th goal of the season in his side's 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone. The Hoops frontman became only the eighth player in the club's history to reach the 40-goal barrier in a season when he scored a […]

Mexico City (AFP) – The head of Russia's 2018 World Cup organizing committee admitted on Wednesday that a lot of construction work remains, but said the country is not running behind in its preparations. Alexey Sorokin, chief of the local organizing committing, said ahead of a FIFA congress in Mexico City later this week that […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was thrilled with his side's late equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Anfield, but bemoaned his players' lack of patience. Eden Hazard's fine finish for Chelsea in Wednesday's Premier League game left Liverpool staring at a first home reverse since the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce steeled the club for a crucial close season as they bid to end their reputation as Premier League relegation escape specialists. Allardyce hailed the club's "miraculous" effort to secure their top-flight future with a game to spare after a 3-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday condemned neighbours Newcastle United and Norwich City to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – An injury-time Christian Benteke goal earned Liverpool a point against unlucky Chelsea in a hard-working 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday. Eden Hazard’s first-half opener was a thrilling finish worthy of winning any contest and it looked like it would be enough until Benteke nodded in Sheyi Ojo’s cross late on as […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United and Norwich City were relegated from the Premier League on Wednesday as Sunderland secured their survival with a one-sided 3-0 victory over Everton. Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone's first two goals for the club and a Patrick van Aanholt free-kick took Sam Allardyce's side four points clear of danger with one […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Newly-crowned Scottish champions Celtic suffered only their fourth league loss of the season as a much-changed Hoops side slipped to a 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday. Celtic, who made seven changes from Sunday's win over Aberdeen that clinched their fifth Scottish Premiership title in a row, took […]