The Hague (AFP) – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk blasted his team's second-half performance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Montenegro as "awful" and "outrageous" as their World Cup hopes were left in the balance. The Dutch would have qualified for the finals in Qatar next year with a win in Podgorica and they were well […]

Paris (AFP) – World champions France booked their place at next year's World Cup in Qatar in style as Kylian Mbappe fired in four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Karim Benzema scored twice and there were further goals for Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann whose penalty […]

Paris (AFP) – World champions France booked their place at next year's World Cup in Qatar in style as Kylian Mbappe fired in four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Karim Benzema scored twice and there were further goals for Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann whose penalty […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders France qualified for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar by crushing Kazakhstan 8-0 on Saturday thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe, while Belgium also booked their ticket. Didier Deschamps' side outclassed the Kazakhs at the Parc des Princes in Paris to top Group D with Karim Benzema also scoring […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Napoli forward Victor Osimhen scored to set up Nigeria for a 2-0 win over Liberia on Saturday that moved them closer to a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. The Super Eagles host Cape Verde in a top-of-the-table Group C clash on Tuesday and will win the section provided they avoid defeat in […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Norwich are set to hire former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith as their new manager, according to reports on Saturday. Norwich have reportedly offered Smith thee chance to succeed Daniel Farke, who was sacked on November 6 with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. Smith […]

London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate plans to rotate his team against San Marino as the Three Lions look to seal their place at the World Cup on Monday. Southgate's side will be guaranteed to feature at next year's tournament in Qatar if they avoid defeat in San Marino. The Group I leaders crushed […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie scored the goals as the United States downed Mexico 2-0 to move to the top of CONCACAF's 2022 World Cup qualifying race on Friday. Chelsea star Pulisic nodded home a 74th-minute cross from Timothy Weah just five minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Angel Di Maria's goal on Friday put Argentina on the verge of qualifying for next year's World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Messi was on the bench for the 1-0 win away to Uruguay. Messi was only called upon by coach Lionel Scaloni to play the final quarter of an hour as […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – A brilliant assist by Egypt captain Mohamed Salah triggered a comeback that earned a 2-2 World Cup draw in Angola on Friday, and a place in the final African qualifying stage. The Liverpool star pushed the ball between two defenders and onrushing Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny slammed the ball into the net […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane fired England to the verge of World Cup qualification as he became his country's record goalscorer in competitive matches with a hat-trick in Friday's 5-0 demolition of Albania. Gareth Southgate's side need a draw in their last Group I qualifier at San Marino on Monday to seal their place at […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy's bid to return to the World Cup after eight years away is still in the balance after a late penalty miss from Jorginho led to the European champions drawing 1-1 with Switzerland on Friday. The Azzurri remain ahead of the Swiss at the top of Group C on goal difference thanks […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane scored a first half hat-trick as England romped towards the 2022 World Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of Albania, but Italy still have work to do to reach Qatar after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland. England still need a point to mathematically qualify when they visit San Marino on Monday, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona announced on Friday that veteran defender Dani Alves will be returning to the club as new coach Xavi Hernandez's first signing. Alves, 38, has been a free agent since leaving Sao Paulo in September but is ineligible until the transfer window opens early next window. He played for the Camp Nou […]

Chisinau (AFP) – Scotland ensured their place in a semi-final playoff for a place at next year's World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win in Moldova on Friday. Nathan Patterson and Che Adams struck either side of half-time in Chisinau to give Steve Clarke's men an unassailable lead in second place in Group F behind […]