Paris (AFP) – Ex-France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena said on Tuesday he has "turned the page" after the sex tape scandal involving former team-mate Karim Benzema. On Saturday, Real Madrid's Benzema, 34, dropped an appeal against a one-year suspended sentence, handed to him last November, for complicity in a bid to blackmail Valbuena with the video […]

London (AFP) – Wales manager Robert Page believes Gareth Bale must be handled with care at his next club after the forward inspired his country to reach the World Cup for the first time in 64 years. Bale is looking for a new team after ending his turbulent nine-year stay at Real Madrid. The Wales […]

London (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke insists he will not listen to the critics who blasted his team after their painful World Cup play-off defeat against Ukraine. Clarke's side blew their chance to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998 as Ukraine won 3-1 at Hampden Park in the play-off semi-final […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski revealed Tuesday he wants to call time on his career with the Bundesliga giants because of his desire for "more emotions in life".  The Polish forward announced last week that his time with Bayern "had come to an end" without specifying his future plans. Asked Monday during […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 on Tuesday announced the appointment of Frank Kramer as their new head coach on a two-year deal following the club's return to the Bundesliga. Kramer, 50, was sacked by Arminia Bielefeld in April as the club made an unsuccessful last-ditch bid to avoid relegation from the German top flight. He […]

Wellington (AFP) – New Zealand's men's football team will play in front of their home fans for the first time in nearly five years when they host Australia in a milestone friendly in September. The All Whites face the Socceroos at Auckland's Eden Park on September 25, marking the 100-year anniversary of the first international […]

Doha (AFP) – Coach Graham Arnold is counting on "Aussie mental strength" to see his side to victory over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and through to another playoff battle for a place in the World Cup finals. Arnold said that Australia seem to like qualifying the "hard way" but insisted that they are […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, face trial on Wednesday over a suspected fraudulent payment that shook the sport and torpedoed their time at the top. Former FIFA president Blatter, 86, and Platini, 66, start a two-week trial at Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the […]

Split (Croatia) (AFP) – Andrej Kramaric scored a late penalty as Croatia salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to world champions France on Monday that left both teams still chasing a first win in the Nations League. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot fired France ahead on 52 minutes in Split as coach Didier Deschamps selected an inexperienced […]

Split (Croatia) (AFP) – Andrej Kramaric scored a late penalty as Croatia salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to world champions France on Monday that left both teams still chasing a first win in the Nations League. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot fired France ahead on 52 minutes in Split as coach Didier Deschamps selected an inexperienced […]

Milan (AFP) – Roberto Mancini said Monday that Wilfried Gnonto shouldn't have pressure put on him despite the teen attacker's Italy debut exciting fans still reeling from failing to qualify for the World Cup. FC Zurich forward Gnonto set up Lorenzo Pellegrini's goal after coming on as a substitute in Saturday's 1-1 Nations League draw with […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Injured Liverpool star Mohamed Salah defied his club and captained Egypt to a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Guinea in Cairo at the weekend, according to national coach Ehab Galal. "Salah was hit by an injury, but played through it," said Galal following his debut after Portuguese Carlos Queiroz […]

London (AFP) – UK ministers must press UEFA and the French government to "retract the attempts to smear" Liverpool fans over the chaotic scenes at the Champions League final, lawmakers heard on Monday. European football's governing body UEFA last week apologised to spectators over their "frightening" experience before the match in Paris and has also […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Gareth Southgate said Germany remain the benchmark for England as a result of their trophy-winning pedigree as he prepared his side for Tuesday's Nations League clash in Munich. England will look to bounce back from their surprise Nations League defeat to Hungary when they face the four-time World Cup winners in […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Brazil manager Tite said his team's "mentality" can make the difference at the World Cup, after they broke down a stubborn Japan in a 1-0 friendly win in Tokyo on Monday. Neymar broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 77th minute, but only after Japan had frustrated Brazil with a […]