Lille (France) (AFP) – French champions Lille announced on Monday the appointment of Jocelyn Gourvennec, former coach of Bordeaux and Guingamp, as their new head coach. The 49-year-old succeeds Chrisophe Galtier, who left the club for Nice just two days after securing the Ligue 1 title. "Lille is delighted with the arrival of Jocelyn Gourvennec," […]

London (AFP) – Harry Maguire says England have more confidence heading into Wednesday's Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark than when they faltered at the last four of the World Cup three years ago. Gareth Southgate's men lost 2-1 to Croatia in 2018 despite taking an early lead in Moscow. Now on home soil, with 60,000 […]

Paris (AFP) – France midfielder Ousmane Dembele on Monday apologised after a video emerged on social media of him appearing to denigrate Asian hotel employees on a tour of Japan by his club Barcelona. Dembele offered his "sincere apologies" after a 42-second clip, which he appeared to have made on Snapchat in 2019, was leaked […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund are reportedly planning to spend some of the 85 million euros ($100 million) they are set to receive for Jadon Sancho on Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from PSV Eindhoven. Sancho, 21, is set to leave Dortmund, who have agreed a transfer with Premier League giants Manchester United. According […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich said on Monday they expect the Covid-19 pandemic to cost them 150 million euros ($178 million) in lost match-day revenue. Just a few hundred fans were allowed in for their final game last season, the only Bayern match at the Allianz Arena where spectators have been admitted since […]

London (AFP) – Former France striker Nicolas Anelka believes Kylian Mbappe will need to follow his example in leaving Paris Saint-Germain to play abroad if he is to be regarded as the best player in the world. Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017, is about to enter the final season of his contract in the […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham's new managing director of football Fabio Paratici said on Monday keeping Harry Kane is "our goal as a club" even though the England captain has stated his desire to leave. Kane, 27, has told Spurs he wants a move after growing frustrated at the their 13-year trophy drought and a clutch […]

London (AFP) – Peter Schmeichel says son Kasper will be ready for penalties if needed when Denmark take on England in the Euro 2020 semi-finals on Wednesday, warning the Danes should not be underestimated. The former Manchester United goalkeeper was part of the Danish team that stunned the world in 1992 when they won the […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate says England are ready to end their semi-final hoodoo as they prepare to face Denmark in the last four of Euro 2020, bidding to reach their first final at a major tournament since 1966. England topped their group and beat old foes Germany in the round of 16 before ratcheting […]

Berlin (AFP) – Veteran striker Max Kruse was a surprise inclusion Monday in Germany's men's squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games, five years after he was booted out of the national side. The 33-year-old joins Nadiem Amiri, 24, and Maximilian Arnold, 27, all full Germany internationals, as the three players in the squad born before […]

London (AFP) – Euro 2020 has delivered more drama than even then-UEFA president Michel Platini could have envisaged when he announced the event would be held around Europe nine years ago, but it has still been slammed as a "joke" and "not really fair". The tournament has been played across 11 cities in 11 countries […]

Milan (AFP) – A discreet but 'irreplaceable' midfield presence Jorginho has been the cornerstone of Italy's revival from World Cup flops to Euro 2020 contenders with a semi-final against Spain awaiting in the London of his club side Chelsea on Tuesday. One of the Azzurri's Brazilian contingent along with domestic teammate Emerson Palmieri and Atalanta […]

London (AFP) – Luis Enrique's belligerent self-belief has led Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, but the former Barcelona boss has another personal score to settle in Tuesday's last four against Italy. His playing career at major tournaments is best remembered for the vicious elbow from Mauro Tassotti that left blood flowing from his […]

London (AFP) – Italy and Spain will face off at a fourth consecutive European Championship when they meet in Tuesday's semi-final at Wembley. Ahead of that game AFP Sports looks at five of the best past encounters between the nations: – Tassotti's elbow on Luis Enrique – 1994 World Cup quarter-final: Italy 2 Spain 1 […]

Three years ago, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958. The nation had a squad that needed to be refreshed and an identify that required an overhaul. Roberto Mancini was hired to return his homeland to glory, and he is off to a great start. The last time […]