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 […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Alvaro Morata is joint top scorer at Euro 2016 but doesn't care who hits the net if Spain beat a familiar Italy side to a coveted quarter-final place in their last 16 clash on Monday. "I couldn't care less about the top scorer's chart if we lose," Morata said after the […]

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 […]

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". Ronaldo made history as the first player to score in four European Championships with a double in […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Experience forged in the German league will help Switzerland's Bundesliga stars when they face Robert Lewandowski's Poland in the last 16 at Euro 2016 on Saturday. Switzerland and Poland have both qualified for the knockout phase of a European Championship finals for the first time. But Adam Nawalka's Poland have reason […]

Paris (AFP) – Two small, British nations clash for the momentous prize of a Euro 2016 quarter-final berth on Saturday when Real Madrid star Gareth Bale's Wales meet Northern Ireland 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 the […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney says that he is more relaxed than at any previous major tournament because he no longer feels like the only match-winner in the squad. The Manchester United skipper will equal David Beckham's record of 115 caps for an England outfield player when Roy Hodgson's side tackle minnows Iceland […]

It has been hard to determine how the U.S. Soccer Federation is using the Copa America Centenario to grade its men's team's progress leading up to the 2018 World Cup. Depending on who you ask and when, the measuring stick was reaching the semifinals, or simply playing the games, or the even more ambiguous total […]

Spanish club Recreativo de Huelva is in a race against time to avoid extinction. Recre requires 2 million euros by June 30 in order to survive. Here's our interview with a member of the Recreativo de Huelva's Supporters Trust: Can you let me know me your role/title in the efforts to save Recreativo de Huelva? […]

London (AFP) – Midfield enforcer Victor Wanyama became the first player from Southampton to join up with former manager Mauricio Pochettino when he signed for Spurs from their Premier League rivals on Thursday. The 24-year-old Kenyan international — who Southampton refused to sell to Spurs last year — will cost a reported £9 million ($13.4 […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina coach Gerardo Martino on Thursday named part of his squad for the Rio Olympics but superstar Lionel Messi was not included after being chosen for the Copa America instead. The full list of 22 will be revealed in the coming days but not before Sunday's final of the Copa, where […]

London (AFP) – England football hooligan Joe Pizarro was banned from attending any football matches for five years after being involved in violence prior to England's Euro 2016 game with Russia, a court ruled Thursday. The 34-year-old was caught by British police when they viewed footage from June 10 on the eve of the 1-1 […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Juan Carlos Osorio escaped the axe as Mexico coach on Thursday despite the humiliating 7-0 thrashing by Chile in the quarter-finals of the Copa America Centenario. The Colombian coach survived as a consequence of having guided the national team to nine wins and a draw before Saturday's historic loss in Santa […]