England headline Euro 2016 super Saturday Paris (AFP) – England’s bid to end 50 years without winning a major international tournament takes centre stage at Euro 2016 on Saturday as Roy Hodgson’s men take on Russia. Real Madrid star Gareth Bale leads Wales’ charge against Slovakia, whilst there will be the rare of sight of brothers going head-to-head as Arsenal’s new recruit Granit Xhaka faces … [Read more...]

Spain’s De Gea calls sex scandal claims ‘a lie’ Saint-Martin-de-Ré (France) (AFP) – Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David De Gea on Friday dismissed as “a lie” claims that he organised a party at which women were forced to have sex with footballers. “I am the first one to be surprised by this report. I deny it, it is false and nothing more, it is a lie and false,” De Gea told a press … [Read more...]

FOX’s ‘Copa Tonight’ show is a train wreck, in stark contrast to ESPN’s programming ESPN’s Euro 2016 Preview, which aired Thursday night on the main ESPN network, reminded English-language dominant American viewers what a top serious soccer production looks like around a major international tournament. ESPN’s serious preview involved no less than a dozen commentators on site in Paris, a mixture … [Read more...]

Day of history arrives for Bale and Wales Bordeaux (AFP) – Gareth Bale and Wales will play their inaugural European Championship finals game on Saturday mixing the joy of a special day with nerves over whether they can get back to winning ways. The Group B game against Slovakia will be the first time that a Wales team has appeared at a major tournament since June 19, 1958 in Gothenburg, Sweden, … [Read more...]

Strike-hit France vows smooth Euro 2016 Paris (AFP) – France vowed drastic measures to ensure the smooth running of Euro 2016, as strikes and terror fears threaten to overshadow Europe’s showcase football event, which kicks off Friday. The action on the pitch starts when hosts France face Romania in the Stade de France in Paris at 1900 GMT, but industrial unrest and jitters over a potential … [Read more...]

Wales fans’ journey reaches Euro 2016 destination Bordeaux (AFP) – For the thousands of long-suffering Wales supporters excitedly travelling to France this week, the road to Euro 2016 has been perilous and, at times, seemingly never-ending. Gareth Bale and his team-mates face off against Slovakia in their Group B opener in Bordeaux on Saturday, after the minnows secured a place at a major … [Read more...]

Riot police use tear gas on England fans 11:43 PM GMT Two English football fans have been arrested after French police used tear gas to disperse an apparent clash with locals in Marseille ahead of the first matches at Euro 2016. Press Association Sport reports that one England supporter suffered a head injury in the brawl after being hit across the face with a wooden chair. French police clad in … [Read more...]

Mexico beat Jamaica to reach Copa America quarter-finals Pasadena (United States) (AFP) – Mexico survived a first half barrage and a clear-cut penalty shout to beat Jamaica 2-0 in the Copa America Thursday, booking a quarter-final place with a game to spare.  The win leaves the Reggae Boyz still searching for their first goal and unable to go through, with Uruguay also knocked out after losing … [Read more...]

Uruguay on brink after Venezuela upset at Copa America Philadelphia (AFP) – Uruguay were sent spinning to the brink of elimination from the Copa America Centenario after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Venezuela. Uruguay, the record 15-time Copa America champions, were on Thursday left staring down the barrel of their first group phase exit since 1997 after Salomon Rondon’s first half goal at … [Read more...]

Euro 2016 match commentators on ESPN Deportes for Group Stage Fernando Palomo, the accomplished and respected soccer voice, will lead ESPN’s match commentator teams in Spanish language during the company’s exclusive presentation of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 this summer. The month-long event in France will feature many of the world’s best national teams, Friday, June 10 through … [Read more...]