Sydney (AFP) – Under-strength Australia need courage and fight to beat Japan and keep their hopes of automatically qualifying for the Qatar World Cup alive, assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said Wednesday. The Socceroos face a must-win clash in Sydney on Thursday but the odds are stacked against them after a disastrous build-up. Coach Graham Arnold tested […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Ecuador will try to break a historic hoodoo Thursday when they travel to Paraguay seeking the point that would book their ticket to the World Cup in Qatar later this year. In eight previous World Cup qualifiers away to Paraguay, going back to 1981, Ecuador have lost every single one. If they […]

Paris (AFP) – The World Cup hopes of the last two European champions are on a knife edge with Portugal and Italy on a collision course in decisive qualifying play-offs over the next week. A potential clash in Porto between the Euro 2016 winners, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, and an Italy team who succeeded them […]

London (AFP) – The chaos engulfing Chelsea following sanctions imposed on Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has sparked fresh debate over the sources of money that fuel Europe's richest league. The Premier League club had their assets frozen after Abramovich was targeted by the British government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leaving them to cope […]

Paris (AFP) – Alexia Putellas' second-half double sank Real Madrid on Tuesday as reigning champions Barcelona came from behind to win 3-1 in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Madrid took a surprise lead against their all-conquering rivals when Olga Carmona fired in early at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium and the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta defended fellow Brazilian Neymar Tuesday after the star striker came in for boos and jeers over Paris Saint-Germain's humiliating exit from the Champions League. "Neymar is above all a great person, a great professional, with incredible talent. He's without a doubt the best player on the […]

Paris (AFP) – Prolific striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 away to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, before holders Barcelona faced Real Madrid. Katoto, who is PSG's all-time top scorer at the age of just 23, netted a 20th-minute opener and then […]

Stockholm (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Tuesday that Sweden fans should not expect too much of him in the World cup playoffs and that he was "panicking" at the prospect of retiring. The 40-year-old striker is suspended for the World Cup playoff semi-final against the Czech Republic on Thursday but, if Sweden win, could make […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach who transformed Gambia from minnows to Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalists this year, desperately wants to avoid the fate that befell Madagascar. Debutants Madagascar took the 2019 Cup of Nations in Egypt by storm, stunning Nigeria in a group match, then eliminating the Democratic Republic of Congo […]

Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia) (AFP) – North Macedonia forward Aleksandar Trajkovski is hoping to enjoy something close to home advantage when his team face Italy in Palermo on Thursday in the World Cup play-offs. Trajkovski played for Palermo for four years until 2019. He also scored in a surprise 1-1 draw against Italy in […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Kevin Muscat was branded "the most hated man in football" by an opponent during his playing days but the Australian hopes perceptions are changing after making his mark as a coach. England-born Muscat had a successful playing career as a tough-tackling defender with the likes of Wolves, Millwall and Crystal Palace, and […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy are aiming for World Cup glory despite having to navigate a treacherous play-off path in order to get the 2022 tournament, with North Macedonia the first barrier standing in their way. The European champions begin a potential two-match mini campaign in Palermo on Thursday with missing a second straight World Cup a […]

Washington (AFP) – US men's national team forward Brenden Aaronson was ruled out of the team's three final qualifying matches for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, USA Soccer announced Monday. The 21-year-old striker was ruled out for the team's training camp after suffering a knee injury last weekend. "After reviewing the updated medical information and […]

Milan (AFP) – Paulo Dybala will leave Juventus at the end of the season after the Serie A club confirmed on Monday that it would not renew the Argentine's contract which expires in the summer. Juve CEO Maurizio Arrivabene brought to an end months of speculation when he said that the club had made no […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell and Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters have been called up to the England senior squad for the first time after Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Tammy Abraham pulled out through injury. West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins have also been added to Gareth […]