Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Russia coach Leonid Slutsky says his side will not focus on Real Madrid "superstar" Gareth Bale and insists they are favourites against Wales as they look to save their Euro 2016 campaign with a win in Toulouse Monday. Bale has struck twice for Wales, in a 2-1 win over Slovakia and […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – With a purposeful display against Switzerland, France's Moussa Sissoko served notice that he can bring drive and dynamism to the Euro 2016 hosts' problematic midfield. Aligned alongside Yohan Cabaye and Paul Pogba in a three-man midfield, Sissoko impressed as France recorded a 0-0 draw against the Swiss in Lille on Sunday […]

Paris (AFP) – Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg will hear thousands of supporters sing his name in the Euro 2016 match against Germany on Tuesday — and he probably won't even be on the pitch. A re-working of the 1996 dance track "Freed from Desire" by Gala featuring a tribute to Grigg in place of […]

Paris (AFP) – Thomas Mueller has defended Germany's misfiring forwards ahead of their pivotal final Euro 2016 Group C game against Northern Ireland on Tuesday. The world champions opened their campaign with a scratchy 2-0 win over Ukraine and then drew 0-0 with Poland, leaving them needing at least a point from their last pool […]

Houston (AFP) – Jurgen Klinsmann is daring to dream that the United States can pull off mission improbable in the Copa America Centenario semi-finals here Tuesday as the hosts face a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina closing in on a long-awaited tournament triumph. Klinsmann has already met his pre-tournament goal of reaching the last four after helping […]

Marseille (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski's Poland take on already eliminated Ukraine on Tuesday in the final Euro 2016 Group C match for both sides with a draw enough to take the Poles through to the knockout stages. Even a defeat would suffice for coach Adam Nawalka's side if Northern Ireland lose to Germany, who Poland […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps hailed Paul Pogba's "great, great potential" after the midfielder put a difficult week behind him to shine in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Switzerland. The Juventus star was one of few bright spots in a drab final Euro 2016 Group A game at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, twice clipping […]

The supposedly conservative England manager Roy Hodgson surprised many when he picked five strikers – alongside offensive midfielders Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Ross Barkley – in his final 23-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2016. With just three specialist center backs, the plan was clearly to outscore the opponent. In the final […]

Even before the droves of Argentina and Venezuela fans descended upon Foxborough, Massachusetts Saturday night for the Copa America Centenario quarter-final, many people were expecting a comfortable victory for Argentina. So, when Gonzalo Higuain scored the game's opening goal after just eight minutes, things seemed to be going according to plan. The Napoli frontman doubled Argentina's […]

Tirana (AFP) – Thousands of Albanians celebrated wildly in the streets of the capital Tirana on Sunday after the national football team secured its first ever victory in a major international finals. Car horns blared and red flags stamped with the black eagle of Albania flew while flares lit up the night sky. At Euro 2016, […]

Paris (AFP) – Five things about Albania who scored their first goal and won their first game in a major tournament against Romania at Euro 2016 on Sunday: Sadiku demands game time Albania's goalscoring hero Armando Sadiku was FC Zurich's leading scorer last season when he demanded to go out on loan to get more […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps said his team had fulfilled their initial objectives after qualifying as winners of Euro 2016 Group A following a 0-0 draw with Switzerland on Sunday. The host nation largely controlled the game at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with Paul Pogba twice hitting the bar and substitute Dimitri Payet […]

Lyon (AFP) – Armando Sadiku scored Albania's first goal at a major tournament in a historic 1-0 win over Romania on Sunday to keep alive their slender hopes of progressing to the Euro 2016 knockout phase. Sadiku headed home the game's only goal after 43 minutes in Lyon to leave debutants Albania facing an anxious […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Paul Pogba shone through the mediocrity as hosts France secured top spot in Euro 2016 Group A following a subdued 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Lille on Sunday. A game that featured a substandard pitch, ripped Switzerland shirts and a burst ball concluded in a mutually convenient result that allowed the […]

Lome (AFP) – Togo skipper Emmanuel Adebayor on Sunday mourned the "great loss to African football" of Stephen Keshi, the former Nigerian international and coach who died from a heart attack at the age of 54 earlier this month. Crystal Palace striker Adebayor was playing in an exhibition game in Lome organised to pay homage […]