Brussels (AFP) – Spain earned a World Cup qualifying boost by beating Belgium 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday thanks to a David Silva double. Both sides were on the rebound from disappointing Euro 2016 campaigns with new coaches Roberto Martinez for Belgium and Basque Jolen Lopotegui for Spain. Chelsea's Diego Costa teed up […]

fuboTV today launched their online streaming network in Canada to bring soccer fans north of the border the best action from the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue Un, Europa League and the English Championship. With fuboTV, Canadian soccer fans can now access beIN SPORTS Canada, beIN SPORTS en Español, Benfica TV, fuboTV […]

Some will call Moussa Sissoko’s last second deadline day transfer to Spurs a Daniel Levy special. Some will question whether it makes sense to spend that kind of money on a temperamental midfielder who always seemed to have his best games against Tottenham. Some will question whether Sissoko fits into Mauricio Pochettino’s younger and very […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City will contest a charge of violent conduct against Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, according to British media reports on Thursday. Aguero was charged retrospectively by the Football Association after appearing to elbow West Ham defender Winston Reid in the second half of City's Premier League win at Eastlands on Sunday. […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland forward Fabio Borini has been ruled out for up to three months after suffering a groin injury. Borini, 25, tore an adductor muscle while taking a free-kick during Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Southampton. The former Liverpool player's injury is the latest blow to new Sunderland manager David Moyes, who […]

Cairo (AFP) – The African Cup of Nations continental football finals will go ahead as scheduled in Gabon despite the wave of riots following president Ali Bongo's re-election, African football authorities confirmed on Thursday. "There will be no change, we are following proceedings closely," African football confederation media spokesman Junior Binyam told AFP. The 16 […]

London (AFP) – Jack Wilshere insists his shock loan move to Bournemouth will pay off after the injury-plagued England midfielder left Arsenal on transfer deadline day. Wilshere trained with Bournemouth for the first time on Thursday as he begins his season-long spell with the Premier League club. The 24-year-old has endured a substantial fall from […]

Geneva (AFP) – Swiss federal prosecutors on Thursday announced that they had opened criminal proceedings against German legend Franz Beckenbauer amid corruption allegations in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Beckenbauer, 70, is under investigation with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organising committee — Hans-Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and […]

Berlin (AFP) – In football-obsessed Germany, Franz Beckenbauer is referred to as "the Kaiser" — the regal defender who steered his country to World Cup triumphs as both a player and a manager. Beckenbauer, who turns 71 on September 11, still enjoys legendary status, but his reputation has been badly tarnished by his role in […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Japan were left fuming over a refereeing howler after a shock defeat to UAE rocked their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday, while South Korea held off China to win 3-2. Asian champions Australia overcame a nervy start to beat Iraq 2-0 as Asia's third round of 2018 World Cup qualifying […]

Madrid (AFP) – French midfielder Samir Nasri said Thursday he was ready to turn the page and put last season's woes behind him to rediscover his best form at new club Sevilla. Nasri has joined the La Liga side from Manchester City on a season-long loan deal. The 29-year-old scored 27 goals and won two […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was on Thursday named as the new captain of world champions Germany following Bastian Schweinsteiger's international retirement. "For me it is a great honour," said Neuer after the German Football Association (DFB) announced his appointment on their website. "It makes me proud to be captain of the […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Japan slammed an "unacceptable" refereeing howler as they crashed 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates in a woeful start to their World Cup qualifying final round on Thursday. AC Milan's Keisuke Honda nodded the hosts in front in Saitama but UAE grabbed all the points after Ahmed Khalil's sumptuous free kick […]

Perth (Australia) (AFP) – Hotshots Massimo Luongo and Tomi Juric were both on target as Australia overcame a dogged Iraq outfit to win 2-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday. The home side were strong favourites but they didn’t have it all their own way until QPR's Luongo and FC Luzern striker Juric […]

Geneva (AFP) – Swiss federal prosecutors said Thursday they have opened criminal proceedings against German football legend Franz Beckenbauer over allegations of corruption in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Beckenbauer, 70, is under investigation with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organising committee — Hans-Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and […]