Milan (AFP) – Roberto Mancini dropped a big hint on Monday he will stay on as Italy coach despite the Azzurri failing to qualify for the World Cup for a second successive time. The European champions were stunned by North Macedonia in Thursday's qualification play-off semi-final for this year's tournament in Qatar, sparking talk he […]

Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia) (AFP) – The North Macedonia players have "90 minutes to fulfil" the "dream of a whole country" said key midfielder Elif Elmas ahead of Tuesday's 2022 World Cup play-off against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. North Macedonia travel to Portugal in the hope of claiming a second notable scalp, having eliminated European […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz says his team "will defend with 16 players" when they protect a 1-0 lead over Senegal on Tuesday in the second leg of an African World Cup play-off. "What I mean by 16 players is that each one must make the effort of two players, not just one […]

Orlando (AFP) – Christian Pulisic scored a hat trick as the United States thrashed Panama 5-1 on Sunday to all-but guarantee their qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Pulisic scored a pair of first-half penalties –- both given against Panama captain Anibal Godoy -– before completing his treble with a virtuoso goal in the second […]

Paris (AFP) – Portugal have been well and truly warned not to take the threat of North Macedonia lightly as they face Italy's conquerors in a decisive World Cup qualifying play-off on Tuesday. The Balkan nation stunned Italy in their play-off semi-final in Palermo on Thursday, winning 1-0 thanks to an Aleksandar Trajkovski goal in […]

North America – In a busy night of Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, the United States defeated Panama 5-1 in Orlando to move one giant step closer to automatic World Cup qualification. All the United States needs is to win, tie or avoid losing by a margin of six goals against Costa Rica on Wednesday night. […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Forwards based in Finland and Bolivia scored in Mauritius on Sunday to take minnows Sao Tome e Principe to the group stage of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Ricardo Cardoso from Helsinki outfit Klubi 04 netted twice and recent Guabira signing Luis Leal once in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Mauritius […]

Berlin (AFP) – Canadian winger Alphonso Davies insists there is no problem with his heart as he hopes to make his Bayern Munich return next month after recovering from Covid. The 21-year-old has been sidelined since December having been diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, after he tested positive for coronavirus in January. […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Christian Eriksen said his goal on his return to the Denmark national side was "just a warmup" for the game at the same Copenhagen stadium where he suffered a cardiac arrest last year. Eriksen's appearance as a second-half substitute in the 4-2 defeat to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday was roundly […]

Throughout the history of the US Men's National Team (USMNT) attempting to qualify for various World Cups, one venue has stood out above all other as a venue where it is immensely difficult to get a result. Azteca Stadium in Mexico City has held that place in the American soccer psyche for many years but […]

Paris (AFP) – Denmark's Christian Eriksen made an emotional goal-scoring return to international football on Saturday as England, Germany and Spain carved out friendly victories. Eriksen found the net two minutes after coming on with a powerful drive in a 4-2 defeat against fellow World Cup qualifiers Netherlands in Amsterdam. It was his first national […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Denmark's Christian Eriksen scored on his return to international football after suffering a cardiac arrest last year in a 4-2 friendly defeat against the Netherlands on Saturday. A little more than nine months – 287 days – after his collapse at Euro 2020, Eriksen pulled off a remarkable comeback at the Johan […]

Berlin (AFP) – Chelsea pair Kai Havertz and Timo Werner both hit the net Saturday as Germany eased past Israel with a 2-0 friendly win in Sinsheim. After the Premier League pair scored first-half goals, Germany's stand-in captain Thomas Mueller and Israel sub Yonatan Cohen both failed to convert late penalty attempts. Germany head coach Hansi […]

Miami (AFP) – United States coach Gregg Berhalter says his team have banished memories of their 2018 World Cup qualifying flop as they aim to take a giant stride towards Qatar 2022 with victory over Panama on Sunday. The latest round of CONCACAF qualifying takes place on Sunday with five teams still in the hunt […]

Paris (AFP) – Harry Kane converted a late penalty to close in on the all-time England goal-scoring record and secure a 2-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Switzerland on Saturday while Spain marked their return to Catalonia for the first time in almost two decades with a narrow victory against Albania. Kane netted from […]