Lisbon (AFP) – Still recovering from the knee injury that forced him off in the final of Euro 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the Portugal squad for the start of their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. "I have been told that Cristiano Ronaldo is clinically unfit," Portugal coach Fernando Santos said at a press […]

Brussels (AFP) – New Belgium manager Roberto Martinez announced a squad featuring no surprises for his first games in charge against Spain and Cyprus in September. Belgium face Spain in a friendly in Brussels next Thursday and then take on Cyprus away in Nicosia in their opening qualifying Group H match for the 2018 World […]

Monaco (AFP) – Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being placed in the same group as the Dutchman's current club Fenerbahce in Friday's draw for the group stage of the Europa League. Jose Mourinho's side will also come up against Dutch giants Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine […]

Madrid (AFP) – New Spain coach Julen Lopetegui on Friday left out veteran captain Iker Casillas, the country's most-capped player, from his first squad as manager for upcoming internationals against Belgium and Liechtenstein. Goalkeeper Casillas, 35, has won two European Championships and the World Cup over the course of his 167 senior appearances for his […]

Brussels (AFP) – Former France star Thierry Henry has been named as the new assistant coach of Belgium, the national coach announced Roberto Martinez announced on Friday. "Thierry is an important figure. He will bring something different. He agreed right away to join us," said Martinez, who was appointed at the start of the month […]

London Colney (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the club were close to completing transfers on Friday, amid reports they are poised to sign Germany centre-back Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez. British press reports claim Mustafi, 24, will sign from Valencia for around 35 million pounds ($46.2 million, 40.9 million […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish criticised Tottenham Hotspur over their pursuit of Wilfried Zaha on Friday, branding their bid for the winger "ridiculous". Parish claims to have rejected an offer of 12 million pounds ($15.9 million, 14 million euros) for the 23-year-old, who returned to Palace from Manchester United in February 2015. […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone will be out of action for at least three months after tearing elbow ligaments, manager David Moyes revealed on Friday. Moyes said the club were waiting to see if the 28-year-old former Arsenal player would require surgery, but he is already planning to bring in a replacement. "Vito […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig make their Bundesliga debut on Sunday, but the East German outfit, sponsored by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull, are already far from popular in Germany's top-flight. For the 2016/17 season, the Bundesliga will finally have a club from former East Germany for the first time since Energie Cottbus were relegated […]

Paris (AFP) – With their Champions League qualification assured, Monaco switch their focus to hosting French title-holders and fellow European hopefuls Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 this weekend. Monaco secured an impressive 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal of Spain in midweek, no insignificant result as the principality club attempts to keep hold of its top […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian league leaders Spartak Moscow visit Anzhi Makhachkala on Sunday, their Italian coach Massimo Carrera urging his side not to take their opponents lightly. The nine-time former champions, who beat FC Krasnodar 2-0 in Carrera's first match as Spartak's official manager last week, are two points ahead of Amkar Perm and city […]

London (AFP) – Juan Mata has warned Manchester United not to underestimate Hull ahead of their trip to the surprise high-flyers, while Claudio Bravo's footwork will be in the spotlight if Manchester City's new goalkeeper makes his debut against West Ham. Going into the third round of Premier League fixtures, there is nothing unexpected about […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers may have guided Celtic into the Champions League group stages for the first time in three years but his side are still very much a work in progress. Glamour ties against five-time European champions Barcelona, English Premier League giants Manchester City and German side Borussia Monchengladbach await them in Group […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp returns to the scene of his first game as Liverpool manager at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, still searching for an effective winning formula. Liverpool won 4-3 at Arsenal in their opening league game, but lost 2-0 at promoted Burnley last weekend before bouncing back to beat […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – With Arsene Wenger once again under fire for a lack of success in the transfer market, the Arsenal manager will be relieved to welcome back Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil for their first starts of the season at Watford on Saturday. Giroud and Ozil made brief substitute appearances in last […]