London (AFP) – Bookmakers' favourite Gareth Southgate was on Thursday reportedly ruled out of taking over as Roy Hodgson's successor as England manager. Various reports in the British media suggested the England Under-21s boss had no interest in taking over from Hodgson after the team's dismal Euro 2016 display. Nor has he been contacted by […]

Prague (AFP) – Coach Pavel Vrba is leaving the Czech Republic national team after signing up with Russian top-flight side Anzhi Makhachkala, the Czech Football Association said Thursday. "We can only respect the wish of the coach who wants to try a job abroad," Czech FA chief Miroslav Pelta said in a statement. Vrba has […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – History awaits the victors as Wales talisman Gareth Bale and rejuvenated Belgium star Eden Hazard lead their respective golden generations into battle in Friday's Euro 2016 quarter-final in Lille. Belgium, second in the FIFA ranking, are desperate to make good on their squad's vast potential and reach a first major semi-final […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australian Aaron Mooy has signed a three-year deal with Manchester City, moving from sister club Melbourne City, it was announced Thursday. The 25-year-old Socceroo has established himself as one of Australia's top attacking midfielders in recent years, twice winning Melbourne City's player-of-the year. During the last A-League season, he scored 11 times […]

For most people, just knowing the top players in a tournament is fine. However, what about the players who are going to hit it big at the next World Cup? With the growing popularity of Football Manager-type computer games, the public is more informed on footballers than they've ever been before. Fans of the sport are always […]

Here are previews and projections for the four quarterfinals at Euro 2016 in France. Poland v. Portugal Poland didn’t exactly set the world alight in their Round of 16 shootout win over Switzerland, but Portugal and Croatia combined to put it to sleep. Four games into their Euro 2016 campaign, Fernando Santos’ side still doesn’t […]

Marseille (AFP) – Beating world champions Germany to a semi-final place at Euro 2016 will be like scaling Everest, but a united Italy are ready to strap on the crampons, says Alessandro Florenzi. "We've already climbed some mountains here and now we're facing Everest," the Roma midfielder said Wednesday. "But we're a team, and we […]

Marseille (AFP) – Portugal coach Fernando Santos shrugged off suggestions Cristiano Ronaldo will be weighed down by the burden of his country's hopes in their Euro 2016 quarter-final with Poland on Thursday. At 31 Ronaldo is unlikely to have a better chance to finally land a major tournament with Portugal. The winners in Marseille would […]

Marseille (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski will be aiming to smash Cristiano Ronaldo's dreams of landing an international trophy when Poland meet Portugal in a Euro 2016 quarter-final clash on Thursday. Ronaldo is just one goal away from more European championship history by matching French legend Michel Platini's record mark of nine goals in the finals. […]

Marseille (AFP) – Misfiring Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik has turned to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp for assistance ahead of Thursday's Euro 2016 quarter-final against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Milik scored Poland's opening goal when the White Eagles beat Northern Ireland in their Group C curtain-raiser on their way to an unlikely place in the quarter-finals against […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Strikers Neymar and Douglas Costa head a young Brazil Olympic football squad looking to bounce back from humiliation in the Copa America Centenario, stand-in coach Rogerio Micale announced Wednesday. On home soil in next month's Games in Rio two years after their devastating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany, Brazil are bidding […]

Marseille (AFP) – A "top class" Portugal pose a bigger threat than just Cristiano Ronaldo, Poland coach Adam Nawalka insisted Wednesday ahead of their battle for a place in the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Ronaldo has been racking up the records in France as Portugal, who stunned Croatia to reach the last 16, go in search […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps is keeping his players out of the spotlight amid mounting expectations ahead of the Euro 2016 hosts' quarter-final against Iceland on Sunday. France have enjoyed a favourable path to the last eight and are widely expected to brush aside surprise packages Iceland, and Deschamps is trying to ensure […]

Le Haillan (France) (AFP) – Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi was prevented from speaking to reporters on Wednesday by his club Marseille amid speculation he is about to sign for Chelsea, the Belgian Football Association said. "At Marseille's request, we have decided that Michy Batshuayi will not speak to the media today," they said at Belgium's […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Gareth Bale has branded Wales's Euro 2016 quarter-final clash with Belgium on Friday as the nation's biggest game in decades. Having ended a 58-year wait to reach a major tournament, Chris Coleman's men have already matched the achievement of the 1958 team who reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Sweden before […]