Chicago (AFP) – Lionel Messi will return to Argentina's starting line-up for Friday's Copa America Centenario clash with Panama, coach Gerardo Martino confirmed Thursday. Speaking to reporters at Soldier Field ahead of Friday's Group D game, Martino said Messi had been cleared to play after recovering from a back injury. "Leo trained with the group […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Veteran Brazil striker Fred has agreed a transfer deal from Fluminense to Atletico Mineiro, the two Brazilian clubs confirmed on Thursday. "Fred will be at Independencia (Stadium) on Sunday! He's a Galo (Rooster)," Atletico Mineiro president Daniel Nepomuceno said on Twitter referring to the club's nickname. Fred joined Fluminense in […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales should not be labelled a one-man team at Euro 2016, superstar Gareth Bale warned on Thursday as their opening game against Slovakia approaches. Real Madrid forward Bale, the world's most expensive player, carried Chris Coleman's side with seven goals in qualifying as Wales reached a major tournament finals for the […]

London (AFP) – Michael Carrick has ended speculation over his future by signing a new one-year contract with Manchester United, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. Carrick was due to be out of contract in the close-season and faced the possibility of having to leave Old Trafford when Jose Mourinho was appointed to replace […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal before becoming the last of the superstars to arrive in France for Friday's start of the European Championship finals. With the host nation under a state of emergency over feared terror attacks, strict security has greeted Ronaldo and other headline players as well as the hundreds […]

Berlin (AFP) – German football coach Sascha Lewandowski has been discovered dead at his home in Bochum, local police said on Thursday, two months after quitting his coaching job at second-tier club Union Berlin due to burn out. The 44-year-old who admitted to depression when he quit his job in March, was suffering exhaustion, had […]

Paris (AFP) – Diego Maradona hailed his old rival Pele as an "icon" as the pair were reunited for a "match of friendship" on Thursday. The 75-year-old Brazil great and 55-year-old Argentine legend even embraced during the five-a-side exhibition game in a sign that they have drawn a line under their long-running feud. "I want […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England must be decisive in both penalty areas to avoid a repeat of their humiliating World Cup exit at Euro 2016, goalkeeper Joe Hart said on Thursday. Roy Hodgson's side travelled to Brazil two years ago confident that they would make an impact, only for consecutive 2-1 defeats by Italy and Uruguay […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is ready to step up and captain the world champions in their opening Euro 2016 group game against Ukraine on Sunday. Regular skipper Bastian Schweinsteiger, 31, played the final 23 minutes of last weekend's 2-0 warm-up win over Hungary but is doubtful for Germany's opening Euro 2016 […]

A report from ESPN has suggested that Arsenal are interested in signing either Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Riyad Mahrez. The American sports news outlet has also claimed that the Gunners are prioritizing the Borussia Dortmund forward over Leicester City’s Mahrez. Before delving into opinions and statistics in deciding which player the north London club should go […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Italy coach Antonio Conte calmed Azzurri hopes of a triumphant summer of football by admitting the beaten 2012 finalists will be taking a "humble" approach to their Euro 2016 campaign in France. But Conte, speaking at the "Casa Azzurra" near their team base in Montpellier, said every one of his 23-man […]

Madrid (AFP) – Chinese-owned Espanyol have appointed former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores as their new coach, the La Liga outfit revealed on Thursday. Espanyol, who are majority-owned by Chinese entertainment company Rastar Group, said Sanchez Flores had signed "a three-year deal" to replace Romanian Constantin Galca. Sanchez Flores was surprisingly fired by Watford at […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – Teenage sensation Marcus Rashford has admitted that his whirlwind four-month rise to prominence firstly with Manchester United and now England "doesn't seem real". The 18-year-old was a relative unknown at the beginning of February, but after breaking into the United first team he finished the season with eight goals in 18 […]

Sydney (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will play in their first Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup final in 43 years against a backdrop of civil unrest when the hosts face regional power New Zealand in Port Moresby on Saturday. The impoverished Pacific nation recorded a 2-1 semi-final win over the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, the […]

Glendale (United States) (AFP) – Ecuador frustrated Peru's hopes of sealing their Copa America Centenario quarter-final berth, fighting back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw. A superb strike from West Ham's Enner Valencia and a second half effort from Brazil-based midfielder Miller Bolanos on Wednesday completed a gutsy fightback for Ecuador who […]