Premier League soccer club Swansea City have announced a preseason tour to the United States that will feature friendly games against Richmond Kickers and Charlotte Independence in July, 2016. The Welsh club, who finished 12th in the 2015/16 Premier League, will be in the United States for 11 days this summer. The Swans, led by […]

Berlin (AFP) – Famously mistaken as a ball-boy by Diego Maradona after his Germany debut in 2010, Thomas Mueller will need no introduction at Euro 2016. Despite having earned 70 caps and scored 31 goals for Germany, Mueller is still only 26 and is a shoe-in for club or country whether as a winger, attacking […]

Rome (AFP) – Giampiero Ventura will take over as Italy coach after Euro 2016, Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio announced on Tuesday, Italian media reported. Former Torino coach Ventura, 68, replaces Antonio Conte, who heads for English Premier League giants Chelsea next season, after the European Championships in France from June 10-July 10.

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – For Wales manager Chris Coleman, who has led his country to a first major tournament since 1958, the greatest triumph of his managerial career sprang from his deepest tragedy. Coleman, 45, only took up the job following the death of his close friend and former Wales team-mate Gary Speed in […]

Bratislava (AFP) – When Slovakia beat Luxembourg last October to clinch qualification for their first-ever European Championship finals, captain Martin Skrtel made a very special TV appearance, gatecrashing the Slovak coach's interview with a local channel. "Slovakia, Slovakia," he yelled at the camera, jumping wildly, stripped to the waist, displaying his tattoo slogan "Veni, Vidi, […]

Copa America Centenario began on Friday with the United States facing Colombia, and boy was the result disappointing. There were very few bright spots for the US. Colombia took a 2-0 lead into halftime and never allowed the US to pose anything resembling a threat in the second half. But there is no time to lament […]

London (AFP) – Former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro on Tuesday agreed a deal to settle a case against Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho for alleged discrimination for an undisclosed sum. "The parties agreed to the settlement of this dispute on confidential terms," a Chelsea representative said at the start of a brief hearing.

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A glance at Wales' record in qualifying for Euro 2016 reveals a glaring truth: stop Gareth Bale, and you have a very good chance of stopping Chris Coleman's team. That Wales are gearing up for a first major tournament since 1958 owes much to the brilliance of Bale, who scored […]

Zurich (AFP) – Granit Xhaka's transfer to Arsenal for a fee reported to be about 40 million euros means there is pressure on the Swiss midfielder to prove his worth at the European Championship finals. Despite being just 23, the rising star has been capped 41 times, with former Swiss national coach Ottmar Hitzfeld branding […]

The European Championships are almost upon us, and England go to France on the back of three straight wins in their warm-up matches. Amidst the optimism that comes with this good form, and a theoretically simple group to negotiate, there is some concern due to the fact that the team has not looked fluid offensively. […]

London (AFP) – Studious and well-travelled, Roy Hodgson has the weighty responsibility of ending England's 50 years of major tournament heartache at the European Championship in France. After a run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2012, less than two months after succeeding Fabio Capello as manager, Hodgson presided over a galling group-phase exit at the […]

Melbourne (AFP) – Midfielder Giannis Maniatis scored a spectacular 60-metre goal as Greece beat Australia for the time in 38 years in Melbourne on Tuesday. The Greeks won 2-1, with Olympiacos midfielder Maniatis netting a stunning goal over the head of stranded Australian goalkeeper Adam Federici in the first half. Greece took the game to the […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is facing the biggest fight of his 13-year international career to hold onto his England place going into the European Championship. England's talisman ever since he burst onto the scene as a preternaturally gifted 18-year-old at Euro 2004, Rooney has gone to five major tournaments as one […]

Rome (AFP) – Former Italian international striker and AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi has taken charge of Venezia in the third division, the club said on Tuesday. The 42-year-old Inzaghi, who also played for Juventus in a sparkling career, coached Milan in the 2014-2015 season, but was replaced by Sinisa Mihajlovic after guiding them to […]

Paris (AFP) – Having scaled the international football heights as a player, Didier Deschamps now has his sights set on leading France to European Championship glory on home soil as coach. Deschamps was captain of the French team that won the World Cup at home in 1998 and also led Les Bleus to glory at […]