Bale takes full part in training before Portugal Euro 2016 semi Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales talisman Gareth Bale played a full part as Chris Coleman’s squad trained on Tuesday on the eve of their Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday. Bale, 26, had trained separately on Monday, explaining that he felt “a bit stiff” following Friday’s 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium in … [Read more...]

Gundogan: Zlatan said Guardiola is the best 3:59 AM GMT Manchester City's new midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has already got into the crosstown club rivalry by saying Zlatan Ibrahimovic rates Pep Guardiola as the best coach he has worked with. The former Borussia Dortmund and German midfielder was unveiled by City alongside Spanish forward Nolito on Saturday, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced last … [Read more...]

Ukraine soldiers stage own frontline football tournament Kurakhove (Ukraine) (AFP) – As football fans prepare for the climax of the Euro 2016 tournament in France, battle-hardened Ukrainian troops are playing their own tournament against locals near the front in the war-scarred east. “After completing your watch at the front with a machinegun in your hands, standing knee-deep in mud in the … [Read more...]

Antoine Griezmann leads French goals charge at Euro 2016 Montpellier (France) (AFP) – He boasts a Germanic name, Portuguese roots and learned his football in Spain, but France are counting on Antoine Griezmann’s loyalty to take them to a Euro 2016 triumph. Going into Thursday’s semi-final with Germany, the 25-year-old Atletico Madrid striker is the tournament’s leading scorer with four goals. … [Read more...]

Wales jibes fire Bale for Euro 2016 semi-final Dinard (France) (AFP) – Gareth Bale will have the taunts of team-mates past and present echoing in his memory when he takes to the field for Wales in Wednesday’s Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal. Bale saw five major tournaments come and go over the first 10 years of his career, but with Wales having ended their 58-year wait on the international … [Read more...]

Wales jibes fire Bale as Euro semi-final looms Dinard (France) (AFP) – Gareth Bale will have the taunts of team-mates past and present echoing in his memory when he takes to the field for Wales in Wednesday’s Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal. Bale saw five major tournaments come and go over the first 10 years of his career, but with Wales having ended their 58-year wait on the international … [Read more...]

Jose Mourinho starts work as Manchester United manager Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho officially started work as Manchester United manager at the club’s Carrington training base on Monday. The Portuguese travelled to Manchester by train on Sunday night and posted a video on Instagram showing his arrival at Picadilly station, saying: “I am here/UNITED we can”. He arrived at … [Read more...]

Germany’s Joachim Loew relishes France Euro 2016 semi-final Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew is relishing facing hosts France in Thursday’s Euro 2016 semi-final despite a mounting injury list. “It’s great that there’s a game like this. I love playing knockout games against teams of this calibre,” said Loew in Evian on Monday. Loew’s cause for optimism over the Marseille … [Read more...]

Iceland football team hungry for more of the ‘big stage’ Paris (AFP) – Gylfi Sigurdsson has promised Iceland will not be content to bask in the glory of their Euro 2016 heroics having had a taste of the highs and lows of tournament football. The smallest nation ever to take part in the European championship with a population of just 330,000 stunned England to reach the last eight. They received … [Read more...]

Manage England – ‘never’, says Wales’ coach Coleman Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales manager Chris Coleman would “never, ever” consider taking charge of beleaguered rivals England but as he plots the downfall of Portugal in Wednesday’s Euro 2016 semi-final he said a move abroad is possible. Having guided Wales to a first ever major tournament semi-final by masterminding a stirring 3-1 win over … [Read more...]