London (AFP) – West Ham have donated to nine animal welfare charities after their French defender Kurt Zouma was caught kicking his pet cat. Zouma was charged by the RSPCA after social media footage emerged last month showing the centre-back kicking and slapping the cat. A shoe was also thrown at the animal, while laughter […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Until Gareth Bale pulled up with cramp late in Wales' 2-1 win over Austria in their World Cup play-off semi-final, there was little to suggest this was a man desperately short of action for his club. Once again the Real Madrid forward was back to his brilliant best for his […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Roberto Mancini's future as Italy boss is uncertain after an unimaginable play-off defeat to North Macedonia denied the team he guided to Euro 2020 glory a place at the World Cup. Mancini was immediately backed by both captain Giorgio Chiellini and the president of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina in […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Italy is once again reeling after failing to reach a second straight World Cup, throwing away automatic qualification before falling to a devastating defeat in the play-offs to North Macedonia. AFP looks at what has happened to the Azzurri since their triumph at Euro 2020, which seemed to announce their return […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar's top World Cup organiser has hit back at Louis van Gaal for criticising the decision to hold the event in the Gulf state, saying the Netherlands coach has failed to understand the Arab world's passion for football. Van Gaal said this week that it was "ridiculous" for the World Cup to […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Two-goal hero Kaoru Mitoma could be Japan's secret weapon at the World Cup and will also hope to eventually make his mark in the Premier League with a Brighton side crying out for firepower. The tricky 24-year-old winger sent Japan to the Qatar showpiece with a late brace in a 2-0 win […]

Sydney (AFP) – Coach Graham Arnold has urged a demoralised Australia to be positive as he came under mounting pressure Friday after their failure to automatically qualify for a fifth successive World Cup. The Socceroos needed to beat Japan in Sydney on Thursday and then win against Saudi Arabia next week to seal their place […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Giorgian de Arrascaeta sent Uruguay to the World Cup with the only goal of the game against Peru on Thursday, a result that also booked Ecuador's ticket to Qatar, with a helping hand from Brazil. Ecuador slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Paraguay but still qualified for a World Cup for the […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Roberto Mancini was reeling from the most painful defeat of his managerial career after Thursday's stunning, last-gasp 1-0 loss to North Macedonia meant they missed out on their second World Cup in a row. Mancini had become a national hero after leading the Azzurri back from the horrors of failing to […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wales boss Robert Page hailed Gareth Bale's first goal as the best free-kick he has ever seen as a double from the Real Madrid man beat Austria 2-1 to carry his country into a World Cup playoff final. Page's men will face Scotland or Ukraine in June for the chance […]

Paris (AFP) – Reigning European champions Italy will miss a second straight World Cup after losing to a dramatic stoppage-time goal against North Macedonia on Thursday, but Portugal, Wales and Sweden all made it through to qualifying play-off deciders. Four-time World Cup winners Italy were stunned in Palermo as Aleksandar Trajkovski — who used to […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale said he will run into the ground for Wales as he dismissed criticism from Spain of his club form as a "waste of my time." Bale was at his brilliant best by scoring twice to take Wales into a World Cup playoff final with a 2-1 win over […]

Palermo (Italy) (AFP) – Italy will miss their second World Cup in a row after slumping to a shock 1-0 play-off semi-final defeat to North Macedonia on Thursday. Aleksandar Trajkovski's low drive in the second minute of stoppage time stunned the European champions in Palermo and set-up a qualifying final with Portugal in Porto on Tuesday […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Portugal are through to a decisive World Cup qualifying play-off final next week after beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto on Thursday, but only after Burak Yilmaz missed a crucial late penalty for the visitors. The home side were cruising at the Estadio do Dragao thanks to first-half goals by Brazilian-born midfielder […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A brilliant double from Gareth Bale took Wales to the brink of a first World Cup since 1958 thanks to a 2-1 win over Austria in Cardiff on Thursday. Robert Page's men will face Scotland or Ukraine for a place in Qatar later this year after Bale rolled back the […]