Chicago (AFP) – Lionel Messi trained alongside his Argentina team-mates at the Copa America Centenario Wednesday as he targets a return from injury in his team's second Group D game against Panama. Messi, who has been nursing a sore back after sustaining an injury in a friendly against Honduras last month, has trained separately under […]

Orlando (AFP) – "The United States could host the World Cup tomorrow," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said recently. But less than one week into the Copa America Centenario, being held across the US, it is clear that putting on a successful major international football tournament requires much more than just having lots of big stadiums, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany defender Jerome Boateng said his wife and five-year-old twins will not go to France to watch him play in the European Championship finals because of terror fears. Boateng was in the German team playing at the Stade de France in Paris on November 13 last year when a series of jihadist […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany have called up defender Jonathan Tah to replace the injured Antonio Ruediger in their Euro 2016 squad, coach Joachim Loew confirmed on Wednesday. Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Tah, 20, has been recalled from a holiday in Miami to join up with the world champions, who face Ukraine in Lille in their […]

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 […]