Paris (AFP) – Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill described his team's Euro 2016 elimination at Wales' hands on Saturday as "devastating" and said his side had deserved to go through. "It's devastating. We were the better team on the day," O'Neill said. "I couldn't ask anything more of the players throughout the tournament." Northern Ireland, playing […]

London (AFP) – Highly-rated England Under-21 international winger Nathan Redmond became Southampton's first signing of the close season on Saturday joining from relegated Norwich for a reported fee of £10 million ($13.6million, 12.3million euros). The 22-year-old, who was part of the England Under-21 side that won the prestigious Toulon tournament in May, signed a five-year […]

Paris (AFP) – Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley scored a heart-breaking own goal to hand British rivals Wales a 1-0 victory in Paris on Saturday that sent them into the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. In a cagey contest, Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland largely succeeded in muzzling Gareth Bale, but the Real Madrid star produced a wicked 75th-minute […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Goal scorer Jakob Blaszczykowski was delighted his midas touch helped make history as Poland booked their Euro 2016 quarter-final berth by beating Switzerland 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out on Saturday. Blaszczykowski proved again he produces when his team need him most as he gave his side a first-half lead in the […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Xherdan Shaqiri said Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka can cope with Euro 2016 heartache after his penalty miss sent Poland into the quarter-finals at Switzerland's expense on Saturday. Xhaka, who will join the Gunners after the European Championship finals, sent Switzerland's second penalty wide while Poland nailed all five kicks to seal a […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Poland claimed the first Euro 2016 quarter-final place Saturday by beating Switzerland 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka blasted his spot-kick wide. Jakob Blaszczykowski proved again he has the midas touch for Poland as the Borussia Dortmund winger gave his side a first-half lead in the last-16 clash. […]

Lyon (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps has called on star midfielder Paul Pogba to concentrate for his country ahead of their Euro 2016 second round clash with the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. The Juventus player was lambasted after France's first match against Romania, was kept on the bench for the second and made […]

As was the case last summer at the 2015 Gold Cup, the US finds itself in the third place game. Unlike last summer however, the US’ defeat in the semi-finals was not a shock result, but an expected drubbing at the hands (or in this case feet) of the best team in the world. Now […]

East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi will bid to gild his legacy as the greatest footballer of his generation here Sunday by ending Argentina's 23-year wait for a major title in a dream final against holders Chile in the Copa America Centenario. For Messi's many millions of admirers, the five-time world footballer of […]

Paris (AFP) – Gareth Bale's Wales meet Northern Ireland in the Battle of Britain at Euro 2016 on Saturday with mounting pressure on the last 16 teams to claim a quarter-final place. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal also face a tough encounter against Croatia. Switzerland play Poland in the day's third match. Tens of thousands of fans […]

Lyon (AFP) – Both the Republic of Ireland and France camps have played down Thierry Henry's infamous handball, but Irish fans will be hoping for revenge in Sunday's Euro 2016 last 16 clash. It was at the Stade de France in Paris on November 18, 2009 that Henry used his hand — twice — to […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes the world champions can put a slow start to Euro 2016 behind them and thrive under the pressure of knockout football when they face Slovakia on Sunday. Joachim Loew's side progressed to the last 16 as winners of Group C, beating Ukraine and Northern Ireland, drawing […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has warned against taking Hungary for granted when they face an ambitious modern-day version of the 'Magical Magyars' looking to book their quarter-final place at Euro 2016 on Sunday. While Belgium have failed to live up to their status as the world's second-best ranked team, Hungary's feats […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England striker Harry Kane laid bare his team's attacking problems on Friday when he said that he has not had one clear scoring opportunity at Euro 2016. The Tottenham Hotspur striker started England's first two games in the tournament, against Russia and Wales, but was substituted at half-time against Wales and […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo awoke from his Euro 2016 slumber in time to rescue Portugal from an early exit, but faces a greater challenge against a classy Croatia side that Portugal coach Fernando Santos called "sharks" in a wide open draw. Ronaldo made history as the first player to score in four European […]