Even before John Brooks became a US Men’s National Team star, he was always regarded as one of the brightest prospects for the future. His brief and few appearances for US youth teams offered guarded optimism about the future of a position that had become quite unsettled after Carlos Bocanegra’s retirement and Oguchi Onyewu’s injury […]

Paris (AFP) – Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric scored a brilliant volley as Croatia defeated Turkey 1-0 in their Euro 2016 Group D on Sunday. Ante Cacic's Croatia dominated throughout, twice hitting the bar in the second half. But it only Modric's 41st-minute strike — his 11th international goal — that separated the teams at […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA said Sunday that Russia and England could be thrown out of the European Championship finals if their fans are involved in more violence. The UEFA executive committee said in a statement it has warned both countries that on top of any sanctions over trouble in Marseille this weekend, "it will not […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA on Sunday charged Russia over "totally unacceptable" fan clashes at a European Champion match with England but it also said there had been faults in security. With the tournament facing new high risk games, French authorities said three people remained in serious condition in hospital in Marseille after the clashes before […]

When American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster Jim Valvano coined the term “survive and advance,” he certainly wasn't referring to a must-not-lose final game in the group stage of a major tournament. After the US survived going down to 10 men for the majority of the second half against Paraguay, the term feels apt. […]

Belfast (AFP) – Kyle Lafferty is not normally mentioned in the same breath as Northern Irish football legend George Best but on Sunday he replaced him for one day in the title of Belfast airport. The 28-year-old striker — who scored seven goals in Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign — will lead the attack […]

Paris (AFP) – French police said a stepped-up force of more than 1,500 officers will patrol at Sunday's Turkey-Croatia Euro 2016 match in Paris which is considered at high risk of hooliganism. "Alert instructions have been reinforced," said Paris police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert, as authorities seek to avoid any repetition of the pitched battles between […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The United States battled to a 1-0 victory over Paraguay to seal their place in the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals as group rivals Colombia crashed to a potentially costly 3-2 defeat to Costa Rica. A first-half strike by Clint Dempsey secured a precious win for the hosts which ultimately ensured Jurgen […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Argentina played down fears over Angel Di Maria's fitness after the Paris Saint-Germain star was hit by a new tournament injury scare. Di Maria, who limped out of Argentina's campaign at both the 2014 World Cup and last year's Copa America, was substituted during Friday's 5-0 win over Panama. Argentina's medical […]

Paris (AFP) – Accusations linking Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to a sex scandal have thrown Spain's preparations into turmoil on the eve their Euro 2016 opener. De Gea is vying with 167-cap veteran and captain Iker Casillas, a hero of Spain's three consecutive major championship triumphs between 2008 and 2012, for a starting […]

Philadelphia (AFP) – The United States battled into the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals here Saturday after a Clint Dempsey goal clinched a 1-0 win over Paraguay. Dempsey shot the hosts into the lead on 27 minutes at Lincoln Financial Field to guarantee them a place in the last eight from Group A along with Colombia, […]

Marseille (AFP) – Russia captain Vasili Berezutski inflicted Euro 2016 heartache on England after a day in which fan violence brought new shame on football. Gareth Bale's cannon free kick helped Wales to a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their first match at a European Championship finals. Switzerland overcame 10-man Albania 1-0. But battles involving […]

Paris (AFP) – World champions Germany launch their Euro 2016 campaign on Sunday against Ukraine with Joachim Loew's side out to prove their status as a favourite for the European title. Northern Ireland will make their debut at a European championships finals with Michael O'Neill's minnows looking to shock Robert Lewandowski-led Poland in Nice. Croatia […]

Marseille (AFP) – Eric Dier repaid England coach Roy Hodgson's faith as the midfielder shone the brightest among five Tottenham Hotspur team-mates in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Group B rivals Russia in Marseille. Dier's thunderous 73rd-minute free-kick looked destined to fire England to victory in their Euro 2016 opener, but Hodgson's youthful side failed to […]

From June 10 to July 10, ESPN will be televising all 51 matches of Euro 2016 live across television to sports fans across the United States. That’s all well and good if you subscribe to ESPN. But if you don’t or your TV provider doesn’t offer access to WatchESPN, you can watch every single game […]