Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England remain winless three games into their Nations League campaign after a 0-0 draw against Italy in front of a sparse crowd in Wolverhampton on Saturday. A rematch of last year's Euro 2020 final took place in front of just 3,000 school children as England served a one-match behind closed […]

Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Memphis Depay missed a last-minute penalty as the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Poland in the Nations League on Saturday in a game where the hosts trailed 2-0 at one stage. Poland defender Matty Cash was penalised for handball as the clock hit 90 minutes. However, Depay blasted his penalty high and […]

Dublin (AFP) – Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his side were deservedly booed off by a large travelling support in Dublin after being thrashed 3-0 by the Republic of Ireland. The Irish had not won in 12 previous Nations League matches and scored just two goals in the process, but were thoroughly deserving of their […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – A US district judge in Las Vegas has dismissed a rape lawsuit against football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, castigating the legal team behind the complaint. Judge Jennifer Dorsey threw out the case brought by Kathryn Mayorga of Nevada, who alleged she was assaulted by the Portuguese soccer star in a Las Vegas […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich are set to sign a second player from Ajax this summer with Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch reportedly poised to sign a five-year deal. He is expected to be Bayern's second recent signing from the Dutch champions after Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui, 24, joined last month on a free transfer. "Bayern […]

Madrid (AFP) – France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has joined Real Madrid from Monaco, both clubs announced on Saturday. According to sources the 22-year-old has cost the Champions League and La Liga holders more than 80 million euros ($84 million) as well as an additional 20 million euros in bonuses. The former Bordeaux playmaker has won […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score a late equaliser as France settled for a 1-1 draw with Austria in their Nations League encounter in Vienna on Friday. Mbappe appeared as a second-half replacement for Antoine Griezmann at the Ernst-Happel Stadium and burst through in characteristic fashion to smash in the […]

Santiago (AFP) – Ecuador kept their place in the Qatar World Cup after football governing body FIFA on Friday closed an inquiry sought by non-qualifying Chile into the eligibility of a key player. The FIFA disciplinary committee said in a statement it had decided to "close the proceedings" against the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) after […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale has warned "crazy" demands will have serious consequences for players as he dismissed talk that he will be joining Spanish club Getafe after leaving Real Madrid. Bale, a free agent after his nine-year stay at the European champions came to an end, again stressed that he would resolve his future […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona will play a pre-season Clasico against Real Madrid in the United States next month, the clubs announced on Friday. The friendly will be played on July 23 at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the two Spanish clubs go head-to-head before the start of La Liga in August. Real […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate said on Friday it is an "embarrassment" that his England side have to face Italy in front of a tiny crowd at Molineux this weekend as punishment for fan violence at the Euro 2020 final. England were given a two-match stadium ban, with one game suspended, after ticketless supporters fought […]

Suwon (South Korea) (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min scored in his second straight match, while SC Freiburg midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong netted a last-gasp equaliser for South Korea's hard-fought 2-2 draw with Paraguay in their latest pre-World Cup friendly on Friday. Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron netted a brace for Paraguay, as the visiting South Americans […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany coach Hansi Flick has told his side to keep their composure in Budapest during Saturday's Nations League match against Hungary, where the home crowd is expected to give the Germans a hostile reception. "Everyone of us has played so many games where the atmosphere was heated," Flick said Friday. "There may […]

London (AFP) – Former Northern Ireland and Everton manager Billy Bingham, who twice took his country to the World Cup, died on Friday at the age of 90. Bingham guided Northern Ireland to the World Cup in 1982, when the minnows enjoyed a shock win over hosts Spain thanks to Gerry Armstrong's goal in the […]

Kobe (Japan) (AFP) – Real Madrid starlet Takefusa Kubo scored his first international goal as Japan thrashed Ghana 4-1 on Friday to step up their World Cup preparations. The 21-year-old Kubo, who spent last season on loan at Mallorca, turned home Kaoru Mitoma's cross midway through the second half to open his account for Japan […]