Madrid (AFP) – Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists La Roja must aim for a historic third straighte European Championship win despite their embarrassing exit as holders at the World Cup two years ago. Del Bosque's men became the first side to retain the Euro title in Poland and Ukraine four years ago, but spectacularly […]

Here are player ratings for the United States’ much-needed 4-0 win over Costa Rica on Tuesday night in Chicago. U. S. Men's National Team Brad Guzan, 6: It was a quiet night for the American goalkeeper, who wasn’t forced into a single difficult save. DeAndre Yedlin, 6: The on-loan Sunderland fullback got caught a few […]

Chicago (AFP) – Clint Dempsey scored his 50th international goal as the United States reignited their Copa America campaign to ease the pressure on coach Jurgen Klinsmann with a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. The host nation, beaten by Group A rivals Colombia in the tournament opener on Friday, produced a devastating first half goal […]

Melbourne (AFP) – Football Federation Australia on Wednesday promised five-year bans for fans who lit flares before and during the Socceroos' clash with Greece, which was marred by pre-match scuffles. Melbourne has a large Greek community and hundreds of fans marched from the city's "Little Athens" precinct on Tuesday evening towards Etihad Stadium, with mounted […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Emre Mor is just 18, has lived all his life in Denmark and only received Turkish citizenship this year after receiving authorisation from his jailed father. Yet the fleet-footed winger, unknown to most Turkish football fans at the start of 2016, has in just weeks become one of the great hopes for […]

Paris (AFP) – Marc Wilmots' Belgium are aiming to topple the established favourites at Euro 2016 and with stars like Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne have the weapons to so. Belgium have qualified for the European Championship finals for the first time since co-hosting the 2000 tournament. They are in a tough Group […]

Chicago (AFP) – A Donald Trump victory in the US Presidential elections could scupper America's chances of mounting a successful bid for the 2026 World Cup, the country's top soccer official told US media outlets on Tuesday. US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said Trump's election could adversely affect international opinion of the United States, potentially […]

Orlando (AFP) – Brazil's national team has a special place in the hearts of many football fans around the world but few places treasure the 'Selecao' as much as Haiti and on Wednesday the pair will meet for the first time in a competitive game. The Copa America Centenario match at the Citrus Bowl will […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany centre-back Antonio Rudiger is out of Euro 2016 after tearing ligaments in his right knee, the German football federation announced on Tuesday. The AS Roma defender was expected to start for the world champions in their opening Group C game against Ukraine on Sunday. "Antonio Rüdiger suffered a torn anterior […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England striker Daniel Sturridge dismissed suggestions on Tuesday that he had been sulking when his rival Marcus Rashford scored his first international goal against Australia last month. Manchester United teenager Rashford scored within 138 seconds of his debut in the 2-1 win over Australia and Sturridge, unable to play due to […]

Madrid (AFP) – European champions Spain suffered a shock first defeat since March 2015 losing 1-0 at home to Georgia in their final warm-up friendly before Euro 2016 in Madrid on Tuesday. Georgia, ranked 137 in the world, hadn't won a game since defeating minnows Gibraltar in Euro qualifying in October. However, they defended resolutely […]

Dublin (AFP) – Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane have extended their contracts by two years in a move that will see them lead the team into a qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup. The duo, together with backroom staff Steve Guppy, Seamus McDonagh and Steve Walford, will remain in […]

Orlando (AFP) – Brazil coach Dunga gave his backing to goalkeeper Alisson despite his blunder which could have led to defeat against Ecuador in their opening Copa America Centenario game. Alisson made a hash of a low Miller Bolanos cross, fumbling it into his own net, but the ball was controversially judged to have gone […]

The Euro 2016 match commentators on ESPN for the Group Stage have been announced. They feature several well-known names, as well as a couple of reunions that many soccer fans will welcome with open arms. The ever-popular combination of Ian Darke and Steve McManaman returns to American airwaves where they'll be in the commentary booth […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Arda Turan, who rose from a tough upbringing in a working class Istanbul district to join Barcelona in the highest-profile move ever by a Turkish footballer, has to prove his international class at Euro 2016. No other Turkish player comes close to the profile of Turan, who moved to Atletico Madrid in […]