Paris (AFP) – Heavy snowfall in central France has caused the postponement of the Ligue 1 match between Saint Etienne and Marseille, which had been scheduled for Saturday at 2100 local time. Weather reports said up to 25cm of snow had fallen overnight and the French League agreed with a request from Saint Etienne to […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says his team have nothing to fear and are aiming for at least the quarter-finals after being drawn in a tough World Cup group containing former champions Spain and Germany. Friday's draw for the World Cup in Qatar later this year threw Japan into Group E along with […]

Doha (AFP) – Who said what at the draw for the 2022 World Cup on Friday: "We have negative memories, but something like that doesn't happen to us twice." — Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer on being drawn with fellow former champions Spain. The Spanish thrashed Germany 6-0 in a Nations League match in […]

Doha (AFP) – AFP Sport examines each group following Friday's draw in Doha for the 2022 Qatar World Cup: Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands Qatar, ranked 51st in the world, are appearing at their first World Cup but were among the top seeds thanks to their privileged status as hosts. With a squad of […]

Doha (AFP) – The United States and Iran go into the World Cup with political and football grudges that their coaches, Gregg Berhalter and Dragan Skocic, are keen to defuse before the teams meet in November. They will meet in Group B at the World Cup in Qatar, and also play England and potentially Ukraine […]

Doha (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite said he was happy to have been placed in Group G following Friday's World Cup draw in Doha as it will give his team more time to prepare. The World Cup kicks off on November 21 with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador. Brazil's first match will be three days […]

Doha (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps said the defending champions have "a lot of respect" for Denmark after the teams were drawn in the same World Cup group on Friday. "You have to have a lot of respect," said Deschamps. "They are the 11th-ranked FIFA team, semi-finalists at the Euros and if they are […]

Doha (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate is wary of the little time he will have to prepare his squad for the 2022 World Cup despite a kind draw for the group stages on Friday. The Three Lions will face Iran on the opening day of the tournament in Qatar on November 21, just eight […]

Doha (AFP) – Four-time champions Germany and 2010 winners Spain were drawn to meet in the same group at the World Cup finals on Friday. The European giants will also face Japan as well as the winners of an intercontinental play-off between Costa Rica and New Zealand in Group E. Spain thrashed Germany 6-0 in […]

Doha (AFP) – Germany and Spain will clash at this year's World Cup after Friday's draw in Doha placed the two former winners in the same group, while geopolitical rivals the United States and Iran were also drawn together. Four-time World Cup winners Germany were in Pot Two, making them the obvious team to avoid […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has revealed Portugal defender Ruben Dias will miss Manchester City's vital matches against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool next week. Dias has already been sidelined for a month with a thigh injury and City boss Guardiola fears his centre-back might not return for another two weeks. Premier League leaders […]

Rome (AFP) – Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri said Friday that striker Ciro Immobile has become the "scapegoat" for Italy's failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup finals and claimed Serie A is "30 or 40 years behind" continental rivals. "He is becoming the scapegoat for this situation. If I were him, I know […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers top scorer Alfredo Morelos has been ruled out for Sunday's clash against Celtic with fears the Colombian could miss the rest of the season. Morelos, who has scored 19 times for the Scottish champions this season, was sent home early from international duty due to a muscle problem. He is now […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick said he finds it hard to understand why Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was booed by England fans before this week's friendly against Ivory Coast. Maguire was jeered when the teams were read out before England's 3-0 win on Tuesday and the centre-back suffered further abuse during the […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Antonio Conte believes it will be a "miracle" if his side qualify for next season's Champions League. Spurs are three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal after battling back into the race to finish in the top four. Manchester United sit one point adrift of Conte's men in fifth, with both teams […]