Paris (AFP) – Daniele De Rossi's late penalty rescued a point for Italy against Spain in a heavyweight World Cup qualifier on Thursday, as Wales played out an entertaining draw in Austria. Spain dominated possession against the Italians in Turin and looked set to come away with a precious victory when Vitolo pounced on an […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi levelled from the spot eight minutes from time as Italy grabbed a lucky point in a 1-1 World Cup 2018 qualifying draw with dominant Spain on Thursday. Italy's 2-0 defeat of La Roja in the last 16 of the European Championships this year ended Spanish hopes […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Saudi Arabia's Nassir Al Shamrani scored late to deny Australia a crucial victory in Thursday's World Cup 2018 qualifier between the top two sides in Asian zone Group A. The entertaining 2-2 draw ensured both sides maintained their unbeaten start after three matches in the final round of qualifying for […]

Paris (AFP) – Mario Balotelli will be able to play in Nice's next game after a red card he picked up last weekend was overturned on Thursday. The Italian striker was sent off in stoppage time in Nice's 2-1 win over Lorient on Sunday that kept his new club on top of Ligue 1 and […]

Paris (AFP) – France make their first appearance at the Stade de France since the Euro 2016 final on Friday as Didier Deschamps' side play host to a Bulgaria side with whom they have a bit of history. Almost three months on from their draining extra-time defeat to Portugal on a sticky night in the […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has saluted Barcelona and Dutch legend Johan Cruyff as the inspiration behind his incredible success. Guardiola has established himself as one of the finest managers of his generation after winning a host of trophies with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The 45-year-old played under Cruyff when the Dutchman […]

Suwon (South Korea) (AFP) – South Korean star Son Heung-Min kept Qatar's World Cup ambitions on hold and Japan also survived a scare as China suffered a potentially calamitous defeat to Syria on Thursday. Iran, meanwhile stayed on course for a Russia 2018 spot after shifting Uzbekistan from the top of Asian qualifying Group A […]

Xian (China) (AFP) – Syria dented China's bid to reach a second World Cup when they pulled off a stunning 1-0 qualifying upset on Thursday. Mahmoud Al-Mawas's breakaway goal in the 54th minute settled a gritty game in Xian which left China stranded on one point from their first three games in Group A. Seventy-eighth […]

Suwon (South Korea) (AFP) – In-form Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-Min grabbed the winner as South Korea came from behind to beat Qatar 3-2 and take a step towards the 2018 Russia World Cup on Thursday. After South Korea trailed 2-1 at half-time, the hosts levelled through Ji Dong-Won before Son extended his electric scoring run […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Substitute Hotaru Yamaguchi's 95th-minute winner rescued Japan and their stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign as they escaped with a 2-1 victory over Iraq on Thursday. The Blue Samurai were headed for an ignominious draw in Saitama when Yamaguchi smashed a loose ball from a corner through a forest of legs and […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino will make finding a solution to the bitter dispute over Israeli football clubs playing inside the occupied West Bank a "priority", he told AFP in an exclusive interview. Six clubs in the Israeli league currently play in West Bank Jewish settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed in an exclusive interview with AFP on Thursday that he backs expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, giving "more of a chance to more teams". Infantino believes "a fundamental point" for an expanded finals would be to have it co-hosted "by several countries". He also declared […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – When the United States take to the field to face Cuba at Havana's Estadio Pedro Marrero on Friday, it will mark another step on the road towards normalization of relations between the former foes. In July last year, Cuba and the United States brought more than half a century of enmity […]

Milan (AFP) – Barcelona's Gerard Pique does not expect to see another Alessandro Florenzi wonder-goal, but Spain will be wary of Italy's attacking qualities when they meet on Thursday. Pique will come face to face with Florenzi a year after the versatile Roma midfielder scored an incredible goal from 50 yards against the Catalans in […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Gianluigi Buffon admits the prospect of losing his status as Italy's undisputed number one goalkeeper has been brought closer by the arrival of Spain ahead of the sides' 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday. At 38 years old, Buffon remains pivotal to an Azzurri side that upset Euro 2016 predictions by […]