No matter what the Russian royal family tried to do to kill Rasputin, they failed almost every time. In many ways, Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenure as US National Team manager is similar: when he’s closest to being fired, his teams turn in their best performances. Under as much pressure as he’s ever faced as US Head Coach, […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England centre-back Chris Smalling allayed concerns about his fitness on Wednesday after being pictured with strapping on his left knee. The Manchester United centre-back, 26, had a large white bandage around his knee as he alighted from the team bus following England's open training session at their Chantilly base on Tuesday. […]

Paris (AFP) – Stars to watch for at Euro 2016: SUPERSTARS Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal A three time world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo again rose to the occasion to fire Portugal to Euro 2016. The Real Madrid striker scored five of his country's 11 goals in qualifying, but an international title remains […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Highly-rated Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Spanish outfit Villarrea became Jose Mourinho's first signing for Manchester United on Wednesday. The 22-year-old — a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winner — signed a four year contract subject to being granted a work permit and will cost a reported £30 million […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England assistant coach Ray Lewington unwittingly lifted the lid on team preparations for Euro 2016 by being photographed carrying a notepad showing tactical information. A photo published by British tabloid The Sun on Wednesday showed Lewington holding the notes as he returned to the team hotel following Tuesday's open training session […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – Kyle Walker could not bring himself to watch England's recent tournament appearances, but he is thrilled by the prospect of starting their Euro 2016 opener against Russia on Saturday. The 26-year-old Tottenham Hotspur player is sampling major international competition for the first time, having sat out Euro 2012 with a toe […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho's first signing for Manchester United looks set to be highly-rated young Ivory Coast international defender Eric Bailly and not veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic according to British media reports. The 22-year-old Villarreal defender — who scored one of the penalties in the penalty shootout which saw Ivory Coast win the […]

Pasadena (United States) (AFP) – Colombia became the first side to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa America Centenario, while the United States thumped Costa Rica 4-0 to get their campaign back on track. Goals from AC Milan's Carlos Bacca and Real Madrid star James Rodriguez on Tuesday secured a 2-1 win for Colombia over Paraguay […]

Chichihualco (Mexico) (AFP) – A shirtless man sits under a tree in a town in southern Mexico, stitching together a football. At the central square, several women congregate to make balls for the national pastime. Others toil in workshops or inside their ramshackle homes: A grandmother sewing on a chair in her dirt-floor home, or […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal tower above their rivals and should ease into the knockout stages at Euro 2016, but the illustrious team cannot underestimate a blossoming Austria side. Ranked eighth in the world, Portugal cruised towards a sixth straight appearance at the finals — in Group F against Austria, Hungary and Iceland — by reeling off seven straight […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists La Roja must aim for a historic third straighte European Championship win despite their embarrassing exit as holders at the World Cup two years ago. Del Bosque's men became the first side to retain the Euro title in Poland and Ukraine four years ago, but spectacularly […]

Here are player ratings for the United States’ much-needed 4-0 win over Costa Rica on Tuesday night in Chicago. U. S. Men's National Team Brad Guzan, 6: It was a quiet night for the American goalkeeper, who wasn’t forced into a single difficult save. DeAndre Yedlin, 6: The on-loan Sunderland fullback got caught a few […]

Chicago (AFP) – Clint Dempsey scored his 50th international goal as the United States reignited their Copa America campaign to ease the pressure on coach Jurgen Klinsmann with a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. The host nation, beaten by Group A rivals Colombia in the tournament opener on Friday, produced a devastating first half goal […]

Melbourne (AFP) – Football Federation Australia on Wednesday promised five-year bans for fans who lit flares before and during the Socceroos' clash with Greece, which was marred by pre-match scuffles. Melbourne has a large Greek community and hundreds of fans marched from the city's "Little Athens" precinct on Tuesday evening towards Etihad Stadium, with mounted […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Emre Mor is just 18, has lived all his life in Denmark and only received Turkish citizenship this year after receiving authorisation from his jailed father. Yet the fleet-footed winger, unknown to most Turkish football fans at the start of 2016, has in just weeks become one of the great hopes for […]