London (AFP) – Newcastle signed Aston Villa defender Matt Targett on a permanent basis on Wednesday after his successful loan spell at St James' Park. Targett spent the second half of the season on loan with Newcastle as part of boss Eddie Howe's revamp of the Premier League side. The left-back made 16 appearances as […]

London (AFP) – Leeds signed Denmark defender Rasmus Kristensen from RB Salzburg for a reported £8.5 million ($10.6 million) on Wednesday. Kristensen agreed a five-year deal with the Premier League club and will officially move to Elland Road on July 1. The 24-year-old right-back has six caps for Denmark and helped Salzburg win the Austrian […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luka Modric said he still has the same motivation as when he arrived at Real Madrid after the 36-year-old signed a new one-year contract with the club on Wednesday. Modric joined Madrid from Tottenham in 2012 and has gone on to make 436 appearances for the Spanish giants, winning the Champions League […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich have doubled down by again telling Robert Lewandowski that he cannot leave before his contract expires next year. The 33-year-old Poland star has been linked with a transfer to Barcelona, but Bayern insist Lewandowski must fulfil his contract which runs out in June 2023. Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, appeared in a Swiss court on Wednesday to face trial over a suspected fraudulent payment. Former FIFA president Blatter, 86, and Platini, 66, appeared in Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona, following an investigation […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luka Modric has signed a new deal to keep him at Real Madrid until the end of next season, the European champions said on Wednesday. The Croatia midfielder, who turns 37 in September, played a key role in Carlo Ancelotti's side last term as they won the La Liga and Champions League […]

Berlin (AFP) – Thomas Mueller says Germany must be more consistent and score wins over the top nations if they are to be considered among the favourites for the looming World Cup finals. A Harry Kane penalty two minutes from time at Munich's Allianz Arena saw England snatch a 1-1 draw with Germany on Tuesday […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, went on trial in Switzerland on Wednesday over a suspected fraudulent payment. Former FIFA president Blatter, 86, and Platini, 66, appeared in the Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona, following an investigation that began in […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Australia coach Graham Arnold warned his team they must improve to beat Peru and make it to a fifth straight World Cup after Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner in a nerve-wracking 2-1 play-off victory over United Arab Emirates in Doha. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder's deflected volley in the 84th minute […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane scored a penalty eight minutes into added time to give Senegal a dramatic 1-0 win over heart-broken Rwanda on Tuesday in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Forced to play a home match in Senegal because they do not have an international-standard stadium, Rwanda were on the verge […]

Cesena (Italy) (AFP) – Italy moved top of their UEFA Nations League group on Tuesday after a new-look team continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 2-1 win over Hungary. Roberto Mancini's side lead the way in League A, Group 3 thanks to first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini in Cesena […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane scored his 50th international goal on Tuesday by converting a late penalty in Munich in a 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany. Germany broke the deadlock when Jonas Hofmann fired the hosts ahead at the Allianz Arena, but Kane levelled from the spot with two minutes left. […]

Cesena (Italy) (AFP) – Italy continued an unbeaten start to their UEFA Nations League campaign on Tuesday after beating Hungary 2-1 with an inexperienced line-up. First-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini in Cesena were enough for the Azzurri to see off Hungary in a largely impressive display blighted by Gianluca Mancini's own goal. […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided the feverish Asian zone clash […]

Doha (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided a feverish clash in the Ahmad […]