Chicago (AFP) – US coach Bruce Arena called upon forward Clint Dempsey and goalkeeper Tim Howard, both veterans coming off serious injuries, for World Cup qualifying duty Wednesday ahead of crucial matches. Seattle Sounders' Dempsey had been sidelined due to an irregular heartbeat and rejoins the US squad for the first time since Copa America […]

Madrid (AFP) – Fernando Torres was made to wait for his return to action by Diego Simeone as the former Spanish international was named among Atletico Madrid's substitutes for Wednesday's Champions League last 16, second leg against Bayer Leverkusen. Torres returns to the Atletico squad for the first time since being knocked unconscious in a […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco striker Radamel Falcao failed to recover from a hip injury in time to face Manchester City in the second leg of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 tie. The Colombian scored twice in Monaco's 5-3 first-leg defeat but was hurt at the weekend and left out of the squad by Monaco coach Leonardo […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale is determined that Wales's success in getting to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 won't be a one off as they try to qualify for a first World Cup finals in 60 years. The Real Madrid star has had a tough time at club level in recent months, with injuries and […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has spoken of the "relief" the team felt after they reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Goals from club captain Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton saw Leicester to a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, with Schmeichel making a key penalty […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has spoken of the "relief" the team felt after they reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Goals from club captain Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton saw Leicester to a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, with Schmeichel making a key penalty […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund admitted on Wednesday the season is over for Germany's fallen star Mario Goetze as the World Cup winner continues his battle against an unspecified metabolism disorder. The world appeared to be at the gifted Goetze's feet in 2014 when his extra-time goal won the World Cup final at Rio de […]

Cold weather ruined attendances at most venues for gameweek 2 of the 2017 MLS season. So much so, in fact, that reported attendances are down 6.5% for the first 21 games of the 2017 MLS season compared to last season. It was cold enough last weekend that New England rescheduled its match with Orlando to […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai SIPG's prolific marksman Elkeson scored with an outrageous 45-yard effort as China's Brazilian imports justified their expensive price tags in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday. Hulk, a 55 million euro signing from Zenit St Petersburg, was another Brazilian on the scoresheet as Andre Villas-Boas's SIPG kept their 100 percent record […]

Monaco (AFP) – Leonardo Jardim has implored his Monaco players to iron out the mistakes that cost them dearly in the first leg as they attempt to overturn a 5-3 defeat in Wednesday's Champions League last 16. The Portuguese coach is drawing inspiration from Didier Deschamps' Monaco side that made an unlikely run to the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Coach Jorge Sampaoli admitted Sevilla had only themselves to blame after being left to reflect on missed opportunities as Leicester City's Champions League fairytale continued into the quarter-finals. Sevilla dominated possession in both legs against the English champions but after missing a penalty in both matches, hitting the woodwork three times and […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at the mounting criticism being heaped upon Paul Pogba, saying the France midfielder is the victim of jealousy from former professional players now working in the media. Pogba has been under an understandably intense spotlight since his world record £89.3 million ($108.9 […]

Manchester City’s form has varied this season. They claimed ten consecutive victories across all competitions in their excellent start to the campaign before a draw at Celtic began a six game winless streak, which saw them humiliated by Barcelona, outplayed by both Spurs and Manchester United, and took only a point each from their fixtures with Everton and […]

Stockholm (AFP) – Five-time World Player of the Year Marta said on Wednesday she would continue to play for Brazil internationally after taking Swedish nationality. The Brazil born 31-year-old has spent 10 years living in Sweden, is a fluent Swedish speaker and plans to settle in the Scandinavian nation after her playing days end. "I […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – In progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, Leicester City preserved a golden thread stretching back all the way to last season's miraculous Premier League title success. The thread has worn close to breaking in recent weeks, with Leicester's perilous slide towards the relegation zone costing popular […]