Bordeaux (AFP) – In a match which could have graced the final of Euro 2016, Joachim Loew's world champions Germany take on Antonio Conte's Italy in a quarter-final clash of giants on Saturday. The prize on offer in Bordeaux is a semi-final against host nation France or surprise package Iceland, who meet on Sunday. Germany […]

Tactics and systems matter. This really isn’t shocking or that groundbreaking in terms of soccer analysis, but if there’s any trend that has emerged from this summer in both the United States and France, it’s that talent can only take a team so far. While this hasn’t been elaborated on all that much with regards […]

The date June 23, 2016 will go down in history as the day the people of the United Kingdom voted to get out of the European Union. As the referendum made big headlines all over world, one would be forgiven to miss the announcement, done on the same day, from newly-relegated Aston Villa Football Club that […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is to leave after almost 30 years of service, the English Premier League club announced on Saturday in a widely expected move following Jose Mourinho's appointment as manager. The 42-year-old Welshman — an integral part of the great side built by Alex Ferguson and who […]

Berlin (AFP) – Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan became Jose Mourinho's third signing of the close season for Manchester United on Saturday, the midfielder's German club Borussia Dortmund announced. The 27-year-old, who joins Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as new faces at United, was given a curt farewell by Dortmund […]

Wales’ absolutely thrilling 3-1 victory over Belgium on Friday night at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille had everything. It had Hal Robson-Kanu, a winger recently released by lowly English championship club Reading, scoring a game-winning goal fit for the greats – imagined with astonishing chutzpah and executed with imperious skill. Before that, it had […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Joachim Loew's Germany face the acid test of their status as world champions against Italy on Saturday in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. The facts speak for themselves: Germany have never managed a win over the Azzurri in eight attempts on the big stage at either a World Cup or European Championship finals. […]

Paris (AFP) – Didier Deschamps' France will be wary of falling victim to the same trap that ensnared England as the Euro 2016 hosts take on rank outsiders Iceland for a place in the semi-finals on Sunday. France are vying for a record-equalling third European Championship title and go into their quarter-final as overwhelming favourites […]

London (AFP) – The fat lady may be clearing her throat at Euro 2016 but the three tenors of the coaching world Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are due for the first rehearsals with their new club sides. All three are renowned not only for their coaching ability — they have all won […]

Paris (AFP) – Renato Sanches is being hailed as Portugal's star of the future but the dreadlocked wonder kid is already causing controversy amid the rave reviews. "Portugal's prodigal son" and "the golden kid" were two of the headlines after the rags-to-riches teenager's stunning equaliser and calm from the penalty spot kept Portugal on course […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Wales and unsung hero Hal Robson-Kanu completed a stunning fightback to beat Belgium 3-1 in Euro 2016 on Friday and reach their first major tournament semi-final. The victory in Wales' first ever participation in a European Championship finals sets up a mouthwatering duel between their talisman Gareth Bale and his Real […]

London (AFP) – Ryan Giggs said it was the "greatest night in Welsh football history," after Wales beat Belgium to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Victory in Lille saw Wales into the last four of a major tournament for the first time in their history. It was a result made all the more impressive […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Hal Robson-Kanu scored a sensational goal as Wales came from behind to stun Belgium 3-1 in Friday's Euro 2016 quarter-final in Lille and reach their first major tournament semi-final. Radja Nainggolan gave Belgium a 13th-minute lead, but Ashley Williams equalised before a dazzling strike from Robson-Kanu, whose contract with English second-tier […]

Washington (AFP) – Retired US star striker Landon Donovan, the all-time Major League Soccer and American top scorer, revealed Friday his participation in the US consortium taking over Swansea of the English Premier League. After the Premier League announced final approval of the takeover, Donovan sang his Swans song — taking to Twitter to reveal […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – The only disappointment on a historic night for Wales at Euro 2016 on Friday were the bookings picked up by both Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies that will force them to miss next week's semi-final against Portugal. Midfielder Ramsey and defender Davies were two of the three Welsh players who were […]