Buenos Aires (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored on his return to the national team as Argentina stretched their world-leading unbeaten run to 30 matches with a routine 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela on Friday. Goals from Nicolas Gonzalez and Angel Di Maria, both created by Rodrigo De Paul, also kept a packed Bombonera […]

Marseille (France) (AFP) – Aurelien Tchouameni struck two minutes into added time on Friday as France came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in a friendly in Marseille. The Monaco midfielder headed the winner from a corner as an experimental French team beat an Ivory Coast side filled with familiar names. "We are a […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah was the architect of the only goal as Egypt edged Senegal 1-0 in Cairo on Friday in a high-profile World Cup play-off first leg. Salah turned inside the box and slammed the ball against the crossbar with the rebound hitting Senegal defender Saliou Ciss and rolling […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Veteran forward Islam Slimani scored five minutes before half-time to give Algeria a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Douala on Friday in the first leg of a World Cup play-off. Slimani, 33, soared in a crowded goalmouth to head a Youcef Belaili free-kick powerfully past goalkeeper Andre Onana into the roof of the […]

London (AFP) – Wales captain Gareth Bale has slammed the "malicious" Spanish media critics who labelled him a "parasite" before his World Cup play-off heroics. Bale was accused of a lack of commitment and professionalism after missing Real Madrid's loss to Barcelona last weekend, only to declare himself fit for Wales duty days later. Spanish […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Tarik Tissoudali scored a brilliant equaliser as Morocco moved closer to a sixth World Cup appearance by drawing 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Friday. A move that began with a superb slide tackle by Moroccan defender Romain Saiss ended with Tissoudali rifling the ball into the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's injury-plagued Belgian winger Eden Hazard is set to undergo surgery on his right leg, the Spanish club confirmed on Friday. "In the coming days, our player, Eden Hazard, will undergo surgery to remove the plate in his right fibula," the Spanish club said in a brief statement. The 31-year-old, who […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate insists there would be no benefit from England boycotting the World Cup amid concerns about Qatar's human rights record. Southgate's side head to Qatar for the World Cup in November, but the tournament is already a political minefield after criticism of the host nation. Qatar has been under scrutiny over […]

London (AFP) – West Ham have donated to nine animal welfare charities after their French defender Kurt Zouma was caught kicking his pet cat. Zouma was charged by the RSPCA after social media footage emerged last month showing the centre-back kicking and slapping the cat. A shoe was also thrown at the animal, while laughter […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Until Gareth Bale pulled up with cramp late in Wales' 2-1 win over Austria in their World Cup play-off semi-final, there was little to suggest this was a man desperately short of action for his club. Once again the Real Madrid forward was back to his brilliant best for his […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Roberto Mancini's future as Italy boss is uncertain after an unimaginable play-off defeat to North Macedonia denied the team he guided to Euro 2020 glory a place at the World Cup. Mancini was immediately backed by both captain Giorgio Chiellini and the president of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina in […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Italy is once again reeling after failing to reach a second straight World Cup, throwing away automatic qualification before falling to a devastating defeat in the play-offs to North Macedonia. AFP looks at what has happened to the Azzurri since their triumph at Euro 2020, which seemed to announce their return […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar's top World Cup organiser has hit back at Louis van Gaal for criticising the decision to hold the event in the Gulf state, saying the Netherlands coach has failed to understand the Arab world's passion for football. Van Gaal said this week that it was "ridiculous" for the World Cup to […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Two-goal hero Kaoru Mitoma could be Japan's secret weapon at the World Cup and will also hope to eventually make his mark in the Premier League with a Brighton side crying out for firepower. The tricky 24-year-old winger sent Japan to the Qatar showpiece with a late brace in a 2-0 win […]

Sydney (AFP) – Coach Graham Arnold has urged a demoralised Australia to be positive as he came under mounting pressure Friday after their failure to automatically qualify for a fifth successive World Cup. The Socceroos needed to beat Japan in Sydney on Thursday and then win against Saudi Arabia next week to seal their place […]