Kiev (AFP) – Ukraine's great hope Yevhen Konoplyanka chose La Liga, dismissing England's more physical Premier League, and has since become a bench warmer at Sevilla. Ukraine's fans still hope that he can fire the country to success at Euro 2016. The 26-year-old winger attracted interest from big clubs from across the continent with dashing […]

Berlin (AFP) – Famously mistaken as a ball-boy by Diego Maradona after his Germany debut in 2010, Thomas Mueller will need no introduction at Euro 2016. Despite having earned 70 caps and scored 31 goals for Germany, Mueller is still only 26 and is a shoe-in for club or country whether as a winger, attacking […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Poland head to Euro 2016 with one of the world's best strikers, Robert Lewandowski, on top form as he prepares to lead the White and Reds' charge. The 27-year-old helped secure Poland's Euro berth with 13 goals in the qualifying campaign to equal David Healy’s record, set in the qualifiers for Euro […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's dual signings of Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels on Tuesday managed to simultaneously strengthen their Champions League challenge while potentially weakening Borussia Dortmund for next season's Bundesliga campaign. Eleven days before Bayern face Dortmund in the German Cup final in Berlin, the Bavarian giants announced they have signed Germany centre-back […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United endured a pre-match bus attack and post-match demoralisation as their Champions League hopes were harpooned by a 3-2 defeat at West Ham United on Tuesday. After United's bus was pelted with missiles en route to the ground, they came from behind to lead 2-1 as Anthony Martial's brace negated Diafra […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Former Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff will take over at Ligue 1 outfit Rennes next season, the Brittany club's president Rene Ruello said on Tuesday. "Christian Gourcuff will be the Rennes coach," Ruello told French regional newspaper Ouest-France on Tuesday. "We have not talked about the conditions, they are not of interest, […]

Paris (AFP) – Michel Platini is considering contesting his four-year ban from all football-related activity at the European Court of Human Rights, his entourage confirmed to AFP on Tuesday. The former France captain "is seriously studying, amongst his options, that of referring his case to the ECHR to protest against the fact he is prevented […]

ESPN has announced its lineup of talent that will be bringing Euro 2016 to US television this summer. The biggest surprise is that ESPN will feature Kate Markgraf as the first female co-commentator in the US to ever call a top-tier global men's tournament. The 1999 Women’s World Cup champion made her debut during ESPN’s 2011 […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Sunderland defender Sebastian Coates has had his loan spell at Sporting Lisbon extended until the end of next season, the Portuguese club announced on Tuesday. The Uruguayuan international initially moved to Sporting in January on a deal until the end of this term, but he has impressed as Jorge Jesus' side have […]

Mexico City (AFP) – FIFA revived on Tuesday the process to choose the 2026 World Cup host, frozen since last year amid corruption allegations hanging over the upcoming tournaments in Russia and Qatar. The FIFA Council's resumption of the process is one of the biggest decisions by football's governing body since it elected a new […]

London (AFP) – Kick-off in the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United on Tuesday was delayed by 45 minutes after the visitors' bus arrived late. The game, which had been due to begin at 1945 local time (1845 GMT), was pushed back to 2030. Images circulating on social media showed the […]

Mexico City (AFP) – FIFA said on Tuesday that the country that will host the 2026 World Cup will be chosen in May 2020, as it resumed the selection process following a corruption scandal. Countries will have to present their candidacies before the end of December 2018, the world football body said in a statement […]

London (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson has announced he will delay naming his England squad for the European Championship until Monday. Hodgson was due to reveal his 23-man list for Euro 2016 at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, but he has decided to switch the announcement until May 16 following a meeting with the English […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan moved a step closer to a takeover after the struggling Serie A giants announced the start of "exclusive negotiating rights" with Chinese investors on Tuesday. Club owner Silvio Berlusconi said last week he was open to selling a majority stake in the fallen seven-time European champions, with a preference to […]

Milan (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri admits he would love to coach Italy one day but has committed his immediate future to a Leicester City side that, he believes, could spring a few surprises in next season's Champions League. "I would never rule it out. I would love it. And Leicester's blue shirts are already quite […]