New York (AFP) – Copa America Centenario organizers said Friday they are open to staging a joint tournament featuring teams from North and South America every four years but the possibility has not yet been discussed in detail. This year's special edition of the Copa America, which brought together teams from South America (CONMEBOL) and […]

Saint-Martin-de-Ré (France) (AFP) – Spain forward Nolito insists the two-time defending European champions have no reason to fear a blockbuster Euro 2016 last-16 clash with old foes Italy in Paris on Monday. A shock defeat to Croatia saw Spain lose out on top spot in Group D after starting the tournament in impressive fashion with […]

Paris (AFP) – Two small British nations clash for the momentous prize of a Euro 2016 quarter-final berth on Saturday when Gareth Bale's Wales meet Northern Ireland in a post-Brexit clash in Paris. Wales (population 3.1 million) and Northern Ireland (1.8 million) have never previously appeared at a European Championship finals, but they find themselves in […]

New York (AFP) – The head of United States Soccer Federation Sunil Gulati on Friday brushed off reports linking US coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the vacancy at English Premier League side Southampton. Klinsmann has emerged as the strong favorite to take over at St Mary's following the departure of Ronald Koeman to Everton, with his […]

Paris (AFP) – At the European football championships on Friday it was left to players from the rest of Europe to express shock that Britain had voted to break away from the European Union. As the news broke in France, where the 16 remaining teams are preparing for the first knockout round of the continent's […]

Paris (AFP) – Northern Ireland coach Michael O'Neill is counting on more defensive heroics to counter the threat posed by Gareth Bale in Saturday's British "cup tie" against Wales in the last 16 of Euro 2016 in Paris. Northern Ireland reached the knockout stages as one of four best third-place sides having come through a challenging […]

New York (AFP) – South American football's governing body has proposed a one-off match between the winners of the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016 later this year, officials confirmed Friday. Alejandro Dominguez, the president of CONMEBOL, told reporters at a press conference an invitation to UEFA had been made to stage the inter-continental showdown. […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Hungarian midfielder Laszlo Kleinheisler says Hungary could one day again be called the "Magical Magyars", the nickname given to the all-conquering team of the 1950s, but not yet. "I believe that one day we will be similar to the great teams of the past," the 22-year-old Werder Bremen player told reporters […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Poland coach Adam Nawalka has rejected comparisons between his misfiring striker Robert Lewandowski and Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 last 16 clash against Switzerland. Hot-shot Lewandowski was the top scorer in the Euro 2016 qualifiers with 13 goals. The Bayern Munich star scored 42 goals in all […]

Paris (AFP) – Chris Coleman said it would be dangerous for Wales to look beyond Saturday's last-16 clash with Northern Ireland despite the open nature of their half of the Euro 2016 draw. With title-holders Spain, world champions Germany and hosts France on a collision course with each other, the stage is set for an […]

Now that the Group Stage of the 2016 European Championship has concluded, it's time to take a look at the job that ESPN has been doing since the opening weekend of the tournament. Overall, despite several major obstacles, ESPN has raised the bar on its coverage of a major international soccer tournament. So much so, that […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Key defender Giorgio Chiellini insists Italy's confidence remains intact as the beaten 2012 finalists prepare to beat their "bogey team" Spain to a Euro 2016 quarter-final spot on Monday. "It's a shame we're meeting each other so early in the tournament," Chiellini told journalists on Friday. "But it will be a […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany have built a reputation as a tournament team under Joachim Loew and two below-par years since their World Cup triumph, he is relishing the business end of Euro 2016. After a flattering scoreline in the 2-0 win over Ukraine and an unimpressive goalless draw with Poland, Germany booked their last […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – While Robbie Brady stole the headlines with his dramatic winning goal against Italy at Euro 2016, his childhood friend Jeff Hendrick again displayed his importance to the Republic of Ireland in that game. The 24-year-old Derby County midfielder put in another superb shift from his position wide on the right, earning […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Italy's plans for a smooth build-up to their crunch Euro 2016 clash with Spain on Monday suffered a blow after World Cup-winning coach Marcelo Lippi walked away from a key post with the Italian football federation (FIGC). Lippi, who led the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup triumph in 2006, was […]