Nice (France) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney was handed a record-equalling 115th cap as manager Roy Hodgson made six changes for Monday's Euro 2016 last 16 showdown with Iceland in Nice. Rooney, 30, joins David Beckham as England's most-capped outfield player, 10 appearances shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's overall record. The Manchester United midfielder […]

Doha (AFP) – Following concerns over poor quality pitches at Euro 2016, Qatar has employed a high-tech solution to avoid similar criticisms of its World Cup in 2022 — 3D printers and wind tunnels. Scientists at Qatar University, the country's largest higher education establishment, have created 3D-printed models of some of the potential eight stadiums […]

Bucharest (AFP) – Romania sacked manager Anghel Iordanescu on Monday after they were knocked out of Euro 2016 in the first round, with the country's best-known former player Gheorghe Hagi among the names tipped to replace him. Iordanescu became the first managerial casualty of these European championships after his team finished bottom of Group A […]

Rome (AFP) – Brazil international Dani Alves on Monday signed a two-year deal with Juventus, the Italian Serie A champions announced. The 33-year-old full-back left Barcelona in June at the end of his contract, after eight seasons with the Catalan giants that produced 23 trophies. "Dani Alves is bianconeri," Juve declared in a statement, hailing […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi's tearful decision to quit the international team left Argentinian football in turmoil Monday after a traumatic penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final. The heartbroken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the shootout in the United States on […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentines begged Lionel Messi on Monday not to abandon the national team before the 2018 World Cup after he tearfully announced his retirement in frustration at another last-gasp international defeat. As Chileans danced in the streets and honked their horns to hail their team's victory by penalties in the Copa American […]

American soccer voices are often criticized in some quarters while being defended as a “cause” in others. The idea of American commentators at a major international event is either seen as parochial to an American audience or simply out of place by many hardcore observers of the sport. At a time when FOX Sports appears to […]

Paris (AFP) – Laurent Blanc left his role as Paris Saint-Germain coach on Monday, the French Ligue 1 champions announced, with former Sevilla coach Unai Emery widely expected to replace him. "My collaboration with PSG ends today," said Blanc, 50. "I would like to thank all the people who've worked alongside me. "I spent three […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – England fans drank together with Iceland supporters in a good-natured atmosphere in Nice on Monday as they returned to France's south coast for the first time since the mayhem of the Euro 2016 match with Russia. Thirty-five people were injured in Marseille when well-prepared Russian hooligans clashed with English fans on […]

Paris (AFP) – Two-time defending champions Spain meet Italy in a mouthwatering last-16 clash at Euro 2016 on Monday, while Wayne Rooney's England must overcome outsiders Iceland to reach the quarter-finals. To keep alive their hopes of a third consecutive European title, Spain must negotiate a repeat of the Euro 2012 final that they won […]

London (AFP) – Senegalese international striker Sadio Mane is on the verge of signing for English Premier League giants Liverpool from Southampton, according to British media reports. The 24-year-old — who would become the fifth player from Southampton to sign for Liverpool in the past two seasons — will reportedly cost £34 million (41 million […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi sensationally announced his international retirement leaving Argentinian football in turmoil after a traumatic penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final. The heartbroken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears on Sunday after missing a spot-kick in the shootout — Messi's fourth straight defeat in […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America. The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick on Sunday as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out — Messi's fourth straight […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has warned more Argentina players could follow Lionel Messi into international retirement after the Barcelona superstar's shock exit. Messi called time on his Argentina career after missing a penalty in a shootout defeat to Chile in Sunday's Copa America final. "It's likely that Messi […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi's retirement from international football may have come as a shock to his many admirers but in hindsight there were plenty of clues that the Argentina superstar might call time on his career with the "Albiceleste" sooner rather than later. The 29-year-old five-time FIFA world footballer of the […]