Evian (France) (AFP) – In reaching the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Joachim Loew has maintained his impressive record of consistently steering Germany to the final stages of major tournaments — yet is still facing criticism at home. Germany face France or Iceland in next Thursday's Marseille semi-final as die Mannschaft look to add a fourth European […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany striker Mario Gomez has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2016 through injury while Sami Khedira and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger are doubts for the semi-final, the German Football Federation (DFB) said Sunday. Gomez underwent a scan on Sunday that showed a torn thigh muscle, the DFB said, while […]

Geneva (AFP) – The governance of new FIFA president Gianni and his lifestyle have drawn criticism in an internal memo of world football's governing body, published online by the Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung. The 11-page memo, dated May 23 last, concerns the first two months of Infantino's presidency and its unnamed author sent the document to […]

London (AFP) – A former chairman of England's governing Football Association has said the organisation has "failed" over the last 10 years because of its "amateur structure". England's humiliating exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of rank outsiders Iceland sparked the resignation of manager Roy Hodgson and led to a fresh bout of soul-searching […]

London (AFP) – Former England assistant coach Gary Neville has blasted reports he fell out with Roy Hodgson during Euro 2016. The Observer newspaper reported on Sunday that then England manager Hodgson and Neville had disagreed over tactics during the tournament which ended for England when they suffered a humiliating loss to Iceland in the […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – There will be no love lost between Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo when Wales face Portugal in Wednesday's Euro 2016 semi-final, Welsh manager Chris Coleman said on Sunday. The clash between 26-year-old Bale, the tournament's joint-top scorer with three goals, and Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, 31, will be the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they have to prove themselves all over again following his arrival at the club. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach was making his first public appearance as City handler on Sunday in front of thousands of fans at a festival […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany look set to be without key midfielder Sami Khedira for the rest of Euro 2016 due to a groin muscle tear, according to reports in the German media on Sunday. Khedira limped out of Saturday's quarter-final win over Italy on penalties after just 15 minutes to be replaced by captain Bastian […]

London (AFP) – Marseille's Belgian international striker Michy Batshuayi has signed a five-year contract with Chelsea, the Premier League club confirmed on Sunday. A 6.5-million-euro signing from Standard Liege in 2014, Batshuayi scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, and 23 times in all competitions. The 22-year-old was part of the Belgium squad at […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Kelechi Iheanacho will miss the Olympics because new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants him to stay at the English club for pre-season training instead of . The 19-year-old striker was selected in Nigeria’s 35-man provisional squad for the football tournament at next month's Games in Rio de Janeiro. That […]

London (AFP) – Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta confirmed on Sunday he has accepted a coaching role under new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. The 34-year-old Spaniard is retiring after a five-year stint with the Gunners, during which time he won two FA Cups. "Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm that […]

Paris (AFP) – Poland international midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak has signed for French champions Paris Saint-Germain from Sevilla on a five-year deal, both clubs confirmed on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who started his career at Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, links up again with former Sevilla coach Unai Emery, now at the helm of PSG. He becomes PSG's […]

London (AFP) – Former England manager Glenn Hoddle said Sunday he would be interested in talking to the Football Association (FA) about taking over from Roy Hodgson after the team's Euro 2016 exit to Iceland. Hoddle, 58, previously held the position from 1996 to 1999 when he was sacked following comments he made about disabled […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Italy coach Antonio Conte insisted his battling players left their mark on Euro 2016 but after a quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Germany he is already looking towards his "new adventure" with Chelsea. "I think the lads really left their mark on this tournament," an emotional Conte said on Saturday after seeing […]

Paris (AFP) – Hosts France have their sights set on a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 but must be wary of falling victim to another Icelandic giant-killing when the teams clash on Sunday. Didier Deschamps' side come into the last quarter-final at the Stade de France as the overwhelming favourites against a country […]