Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Germany laboured to a 2-0 friendly win over Hungary on Saturday in their final Euro 2016 warm-up match as captain Bastian Schweinsteiger returned after three months out with injury. A first-half own-goal by Hungary defender Adam Lang and a second from Thomas Mueller in Gelsenkirchen gave the Germans a confidence boost […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale believes Wales have it in them to cause an upset at the forthcoming European Championship in France by topping a group that also includes England. The main aim for Wales, appearing in their first major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup, will be to get out of a group […]

Usually when major soccer tournaments come to new regions, one of the barometers of success is in the form of ticket sales. One of the pillars of a future US World Cup would be that major ticket sales would fill up gigantic stadiums across the country. This Copa America Centenario tournament, with 16 teams including […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – The word "racist" was daubed on the wall of a house owned by Didier Deschamps days after the France manager was accused by Karim Benzema of bowing to "pressure from a racist part of France". The Real Madrid striker made the accusation after being left out of Deschamps' squad for the […]

Starting off with the most difficult game in a Group Stage is never an easy task especially when the margin for error in these tournaments is so small. When the US Men’s National Team dueled with Colombia, they knew that the toughest task of the group stage was in front of them, leaving them with […]

Here are the player ratings from Colombia’s 2-0 victory over the United States to open the Copa America Centenario. USA Men's National Team Brad Guzan, 4: The Aston Villa goalkeeper didn’t have much of a chance on the two goals, but looked slow coming off his line as Carlos Bacca raced clear and hit the […]

Santa Clara (United States) (AFP) – Colombia wrecked the United States' hopes of a winning start to the Copa America Centenario as goals from James Rodriguez and Cristian Zapata gave the South Americans a comfortable 2-0 victory. AC Milan's Zapata and Real Madrid star Rodriguez struck in the first half before a sell-out 67,439 crowd […]

Pasadena (United States) (AFP) – Brazil head coach Dunga vowed his team would show Ecuador the respect they had earned ahead of their Copa America opener, keeping the ball to survive the California heat. The teams meet at Pasadena's Rose Bowl on Saturday with Ecuador riding high in World Cup qualifying, while the Selecao languish […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is set to make his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager in Sunday's prestigious Soccer Aid charity match. Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho's appointment, the 53-year-old will be in Manchester to give his support to UNICEF, who use the friendly fixture […]

Orlando (AFP) – Paraguay's veteran goalkeeper Justo Villar says FIFA's rankings undervalue his team and believes they can defy expectations and once again make a real impact in the Copa America Centenario tournament. Paraguay have the lowest FIFA ranking of the four teams in Group A, sitting behind third-ranked Colombia, Costa Rica and the United […]

Orlando (AFP) – Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz says his team will be forced to slow down their game due to the sizzling temperature for Saturday’s Copa America Centenario Group A opener against Paraguay. Costa Rica, World Cup quarter-finalists in Brazil two years ago, took to the field at Orlando's Citrus Bowl for their final […]

San José (United States) (AFP) – Lionel Messi touched down in California on Friday as Argentina prepared for the possibility that the injured Barcelona superstar may not be fit for next week's Copa America Centenario showdown with Chile. Messi arrived in the early hours from Barcelona, where on Thursday he had appeared in court to […]

Zurich (AFP) – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and two of his deputies awarded themselves more than $80 million in often suspicious payments over the past five years, FIFA said Friday, after Swiss investigators raided the headquarters of football's governing body. On a day that FIFA also had to deny media reports that new president […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal are trying to lure England striker Jamie Vardy away from Premier League champions Leicester City in a move worth around £20 million ($29m, 25.5m euros) Britain's Guardian newspaper reported Friday. Vardy scored 24 league goals as Leicester, 5,000/1 rank outsiders, were crowned champions of England last season, finishing 10 points in front […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Spanish champions Barcelona said Friday they have been fined 150,000 euros ($170,000) by UEFA after separatist flags were flown in the Camp Nou during Champions League games last season. In a statement the Spanish champions said that they would do everything to overturn a punishment which they described as "totally unjust and...opposed […]