Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wout Weghorst ended Wales' World Cup party and shattered their 19-match unbeaten home record in dramatic fashion as the Netherlands won 2-1 in Wednesday's Nations League clash in Cardiff. Wales will head to Qatar in November for their first World Cup appearance in 64 years after beating Ukraine 1-0 in […]

London (AFP) – Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has apologised to fans after the Premier League club only narrowly avoided relegation in the penultimate game of the season. A dramatic 3-2 victory against Crystal Palace extended Everton's top-flight stay to 69 years. But that uplifting end to the season for Frank Lampard's team could not obscure […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Senegal coach Aliou Cisse wants the September Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers postponed to allow the five countries representing the continent at the World Cup to play friendly matches. Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia have qualified for the November 21-December 18 Qatar tournament and the African sides have only […]

Vienna (AFP) – An independent inspection of the Ernst-Happel Stadium pitch on Wednesday concluded that Austria's game against France could go ahead even though a huge hole appeared during a Nations League match against Denmark earlier in the week. With a sold-out match against world champions France scheduled for Friday, the Austrian football federation (OFB), […]

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 […]