Bordeaux (AFP) – Slovakia coach Jan Kozak and star player Marek Hamsik lauded Gareth Bale as "one of the best players in the world" on Friday, but warned against focusing only on him. Real Madrid forward Bale, the world's most expensive player, will be the centre of attention at Stadium Bordeaux on Saturday when Wales […]

Pérols (France) (AFP) – Italy winger Lorenzo Insigne called on his teammates to exploit a Belgium defence riddled by injuries when the sides meet in their opening match at Euro 2016 on Monday. "If I was the coach I would play on the attack because their defence isn't very solid," Insigne said at Friday's Italian […]

Marcoussis (France) (AFP) – Portugal defender Cedric Soares hailed team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the "best in the world" on Friday as the Real Madrid superstar aims to become the leading scorer in European Championship history. "Cristiano is the best in the world, he's shown that many times," said Southampton defender Cedric, with Portugal kicking off […]

You can pardon Antonio Conte for not focusing all of his attention on Italy's Euro 2016 campaign. With his Chelsea position made even more challenging by having Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho joining the Premier League, his new job would require full time attention in any situation. Yet the manager who theoretically should have nothing […]

Mumbai (AFP) – France legend Zinedine Zidane on Friday tipped Belgium to impress at Euro 2016 but dismissed any suggestion that his countrymen were under added pressure as hosts. Belgium, ranked second in the FIFA world rankings, open their Group E campaign on Monday against Italy in Lyon, before also facing Sweden and the Republic […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany are hoping centre-back Mats Hummels could be fit to face Ukraine when the world champions open their Euro 2016 campaign on Sunday. Hummels has been out since tearing his calf in the German Cup final on May 21, playing for former club Borussia Dortmund against new employers Bayern Munich, but […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – For the thousands of long-suffering Wales supporters excitedly travelling to France this week, the road to Euro 2016 has been perilous and, at times, seemingly never-ending. Gareth Bale and his team-mates face off against Slovakia in their Group B opener in Bordeaux on Saturday, after the minnows secured a place at a […]

Saint-Martin-de-Ré (France) (AFP) – Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke believes Spain have the perfect blend of youth and experience to win an unprecedented third consecutive European Championship in France. La Roja's run of three consecutive major tournament triumphs came to an end in spectacular fashion as they crashed out of the World Cup after just two […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Gareth Bale and Wales will play their inaugural European Championship finals game on Saturday mixing the joy of a special day with nerves over whether they can get back to winning ways. The Group B game against Slovakia will be the first time that a Wales team has appeared at a major […]

Paris (AFP) – France vowed drastic measures to ensure the smooth running of Euro 2016, as strikes and terror fears threaten to overshadow Europe's showcase football event, which kicks off Friday. The action on the pitch starts when hosts France face Romania in the Stade de France in Paris at 1900 GMT, but industrial unrest […]

Pasadena (United States) (AFP) – Mexico survived a first half barrage and a clear-cut penalty shout to beat Jamaica 2-0 in the Copa America Thursday, booking a quarter-final place with a game to spare. The win leaves the Reggae Boyz still searching for their first goal and unable to go through, with Uruguay also knocked […]

Marseille (AFP) – Anything less than a win over Russia on Saturday could scupper England's Euro 2016 hopes, goalkeeper Joe Hart has warned as Roy Hodgson's new-look Three Lions bid to end 50 years of heartache. England take on an injury-depleted Russia at Marseille's Stade Velodrome desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2014 World […]

Philadelphia (AFP) – Uruguay were sent spinning to the brink of elimination from the Copa America Centenario after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Venezuela. Uruguay, the record 15-time Copa America champions, were on Thursday left staring down the barrel of their first group phase exit since 1997 after Salomon Rondon's first half goal at […]

Paris (AFP) – Didier Deschamps' France start the European Championship finals against Romania on Friday with the country plunged into strike chaos but among favourites to win the trophy. Under a state of emergency since the November 13 Paris attacks and with strikes threatening rail travel and garbage collection, the nation is counting on the […]

Despite Arsenal's game against the MLS All-Stars being officially sold out, tickets can still be purchased on the secondary market. With the capacity of San Jose's Avaya Stadium at only 18,000, it's no wonder that Arsenal vs. MLS All-Stars is the hottest ticket in town. In fact, tickets for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game have […]