Spain will bid for an unprecedented third straight continental title after securing their place at Euro 2016 with a game to spare thanks to a 4-0 qualifying victory at home to Group C minnows Luxembourg on Friday.Champions in 2008 and…
Category: Football
Ecuador stunned Argentina in Buenos Aires
Two goals in two minutes gave Ecuador a shock 2-0 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Thursday as the Andean side got off to a flying start in their bid to reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.Frickson…
Blatter faces suspension
FIFA President Sepp Blatter is facing a 90-day suspension from football if the governing body’s ethics judge backs a prosecutor’s recommendation, a close friend and former advisor to Blatter has said.Blatter’s long-term confidant Klaus Stoehlker told Reuters on Wednesday that…
Uzbekistan thrashed Bangladesh to qualify
Uzbekistan colts have sealed a spot in the finals of AFC Under-19 Championship, shrugging off the Bangladesh Under-19 team in their last qualifiers match with a 4-0 rout.The Uzbeks romped to the 2016 Bahrain edition of the competition by topping…
Kaka gets Brazil recall for World Cup qualifiers
Former Fifa World Player of the Year Kaka has been recalled to Brazil’s squad for their opening 2018 World Cup qualifiers, replacing injured Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho.The Brazilian football confederation did not specify the nature of Coutinho’s injury in an…
Atletico’s Vietto strikes late in draw with Real
Atletico Madrid substitute Luciano Vietto struck late to rescue a 1-1 La Liga draw against Real Madrid on Sunday, while Cristiano Ronaldo will have to wait to set a new club scoring record.Vietto slotted the ball home with seven minutes…
Neymar misses Brazil qualifiers after appeal rejected
Brazil’s appeal against Neymar missing their first two South American 2018 World Cup qualifiers this month has been turned down, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday. Neymar, banned for four matches at the Copa America in…
Ronaldo equals Raul’s Real Madrid record with Malmo brace
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Raul as Real Madrid’s most prolific goalscorer when he netted both goals in their 2-0 win over Malmo in Champions League Group A on Wednesday. Already the top scorer in the competition’s history, Ronaldo rifled home his…
Fifa: Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini inquired by ethics committee
Fifa president Sepp Blatter and European football chief Michel Platini are facing an investigation by Fifa’s ethics committee. The move comes after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against Blatter, 79. He is accused of signing a contract “unfavourable”…
Celta hand masters Barca a footballing lesson
Celta Vigo achieved something few, if any, clubs have managed in recent times when they thumped Barcelona 4-1 in La Liga on Wednesday, giving the Spanish and European champions a lesson in how to play football. Barca went into the…
Higuain dropped by Argentina, Dybala gets first call-up
Forward Gonzalo Higuain has been dropped by Argentina for their opening two World Cup qualifiers while Juventus striker Paulo Dybala has been called up for the first time. Higuain had a disappointing Copa America tournament in July, scoring two goals…
Ferguson wanted Pep as successor not ‘chosen one’ Moyes
Alex Ferguson has revealed that David Moyes, the man chosen as his managerial successor at Manchester United, was sixth on a list of ideal replacements headed by Pep Guardiola and four others, who were all “unavailable” at the time. In…
Messi strikes twice as Barca sweep aside Levante
Lionel Messi scored one penalty and missed another as his double helped Barcelona sweep Levante aside in the second half in a 4-1 victory on Sunday to maintain their perfect La Liga start. Last season’s treble winners lead the standings…
Benzema header gives Real victory over Granada
A second-half Karim Benzema header gave a below-par Real Madrid a 1-0 La Liga victory over Granada, who squandered several good chances, on Saturday. The Frenchman, who appeared marginally offside, nodded home an Isco cross after 55 minutes against a…
Liberated Ronaldo seeks to extend scoring spree
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has hit eight goals in two games playing more centrally for Real Madrid, aims to add to his tally against Granada on Saturday with coach Rafa Benitez saying his forwards are given flexibility to move freely. The…
Fifa secretary Jerome Valcke suspended in ticket scandal
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has been put on leave and released from his duties until further notice. A Fifa statement said it had “been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general”. Newspaper allegations on Thursday …
Benitez pleased with yet another Real clean sheet
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez praised his defenders as well as his forwards after Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League victory at home to Shakhtar Donetsk meant the club have not conceded in their opening four games for the first time. Real…
Van Gaal casts doubt on United’s Champions League hopes
Louis Van Gaal does not know how Manchester United will perform in the Champions League this season, the manager has said. United, who failed to qualify for the tournament last season, open their Group B campaign away at PSV Eindhoven…
Barca defender Vermaelen sidelined again by injury
Thomas Vermaelen’s struggles with injury continued on Saturday when the Barcelona defender picked up a calf problem in the 2-1 La Liga victory at Atletico Madrid. The Belgian international damaged his hamstring at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, shortly…
Atletico looking to new boys to see off Barca
Atletico Madrid will be looking to some of their new signings to help see off Barcelona when the champions visit the Calderon in La Liga on Saturday, according to fullback Filipe Luis. Atletico were one of Spain’s most active clubs…
Neymar inspires Brazil to 4-1 win over US
Substitute Neymar scored two second-half goals to inspire Brazil to a 4-1 win over the United States in Massachusetts on Tuesday. The Barcelona striker came on at half time with his ahead 1-0 quickly doubling their lead with a penalty…
Fraser-Pryce wins third world 100 metres title
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce rallied to claim an unprecedented third world championship 100 metres title in 10.76 seconds at the Bird’s Nest stadium on Monday.With her long, dyed green braids flowing behind her, the diminutive 28-year-old was not quickest out of…
United extend unbeaten start but goal concerns persist
Manchester United maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United on Saturday that highlighted goalscoring remains a concern for the Old Trafford side.Leaders Manchester United commanded 70 percent of possession and had…
Juventus sign Brazil left back Alex Sandro from Porto
Juventus have signed Brazil left back Alex Sandro from Porto on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of 26 million euros ($29.23 million).The fee for the 24-year-old, who has played six times for Brazil, will be paid over the…
Pique banned for four matches over Super Cup red card
Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique has been banned for four matches by the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) after he was sent off for insulting a linesman in Monday’s Spanish Super Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao.Barca can appeal and may…
India falter at the final hurdle: Bangladesh win 4-2 in penalties
The Indian colts lost out on spot-kicks in the final of the U16 SAFF Cup held in Bangladesh against the hosts… India was defeated 2-4 on penalties against Bangladesh in the U16 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup final. The…
Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-4 after extra time to win European Super Cup
Barcelona substitute Pedro scored deep into extra time to secure the European Super Cup with a 5-4 win over Sevilla in a thriller on Tuesday after they surrendered a three-goal lead in Tbilisi. Unsettled Pedro had said in the build-up…
Ten-man Chelsea held amid high drama, United win
Chelsea were embroiled in familiar Premier League high drama as the champions were reduced to 10 men and held 2-2 by Swansea City on Saturday in an entertaining start to the defence of their title at their home fortress.The new…
Brazil midfielder Fred tests positive for banned substance
Brazil midfielder Fred tested positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide during the June-July Copa America, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday.The 22-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk player denied using the substance, which is a diuretic.
Chelsea beat Barcelona in shootout after 2-2 draw
Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season tour of the United States on a high note by beating Barcelona in a shootout after their International Champions Cup match ended 2-2 on Tuesday.Eden Hazard scored an exquisite opener for the English champions before…