London (AFP) – Five facts on Italian international striker Graziano Pelle after he became the latest high profile player to move to China signing for Shandong Luneng on Monday from Southampton: Strictly Come Dancing..... Not necessarily the thing one would own up to in the macho world of football but Pelle was a national Under-12 […]

It was a night when history trumped beauty in a European Final that didn’t come to life until late. In time, few will remember the torpid tenor that preceded the late-stage drama. This was a night to join in Portugal’s jubilation at finally breaking through after so many close calls while marveling at France’s missed […]

London (AFP) – Highly-regarded Danish international midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg became manager Claude Puel's first signing for Premier League side Southampton on Monday as he joined from German champions Bayern Munich. The 20-year-old signed a five year deal with Saints reportedly paying £12.8million ($16.6m, 15m euros) for him — £800,000 more than they received for Italian […]

Paris (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will take charge of his first competitive game with the Scottish champions on Tuesday away to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the second round of Champions League qualifying. The former Liverpool boss replaced Ronny Deila at Parkhead in May and is aiming to lead the 1967 European […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona have defended their campaign on social media in support of Lionel Messi after the Argentine superstar's 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud. "We are involved in a controversy in which there is the feeling that FC Barcelona has committed a tax crime whereas that is not the case," said club spokesman […]

FC Dallas is the class of Major League Soccer in 2016, and the club has done it with few – if any – big named players. Excellent coaching, brilliant defending and timely scoring have all pushed Dallas to the top of MLS’s overall points table, three points more than nearest Western Conference rival Colorado Rapid, […]

It was almost fitting that Cristiano Ronaldo, the last vestige of Portugal’s great attacking tradition, only lasted twenty-five minutes before coming off – injured and in tears – at the Euro 2016 final on Sunday. If Portugal were going to win their first major tournament championship at the Stade de France – which they somehow […]

Lisbon (AFP) – After a night of rowdy celebrations Portugal's European champions led by Cristiano Ronaldo returned home to a heroes' welcome on Monday and a country overjoyed by their upset win over France. Tens of thousands of fans took over the streets of Lisbon waving red and green national flags to mark the historic […]

Dark memories of that brutal night in Lisbon 12 years ago have haunted Portuguese soccer ever since. The dying embers of their golden generation sparked one last charge in 2006, but since then Ronaldo’s Portugal hasn’t been able to find the guile and the drive outside of their run four years ago. In these Euros, it […]

London (AFP) – Italy striker Graziano Pelle has joined Chinese side Shandong Luneng from Southampton for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced on Monday. Pelle, 30, was part of the Italy team that reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Southampton following his arrival from Feyenoord in […]

Paris (AFP) – Didier Deschamps will remain as coach of France and lead them into the looming 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign despite their stunning upset by Portugal in the European Championship final. France turned to Deschamps when the pressure was on and he narrowly missed a triumph that would have made him one of […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's new coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday he would stick to his predecessor Pep Guardiola's offensive strategy for the Bundesliga giants, pledging to "try to win every competition". "I come after a fantastic manager ... and I will try to follow (him with) good football, and offensive football," Ancelotti said in […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA on Monday named French forward and tournament top scorer Antoine Griezmann as the best player of Euro 2016, a day after the hosts' 1-0 final defeat to Portugal. "Antoine Griezmann was a threat in every game he played. He works hard for his team and possesses technique, vision and quality finishing," […]

Lisbon (AFP) – The Portugal football team led by Cristiano Ronaldo returned home to a heroes' welcome Monday after their upset triumph over France in the Euro 2016 final. Tens of thousands of fans waited for the team at Lisbon airport when their special flight arrived. There have been joyous nationwide celebrations since the 1-0 […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's victorious Portugal team prepared to return home to a triumphant welcome Monday after their shock 1-0 win over France in the European Championship final, the country's first international title. The Real Madrid superstar was stretchered off the Stade de France pitch in tears in the first half late on Sunday, […]