Lionel Messi to take stand at tax fraud trial in Spain Barcelona (AFP) – Argentina and Barcelona football star Lionel Messi, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, is due to take the stand Thursday for the first time at his tax fraud trial in Spain. The 28-year-old and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes … [Read more...]

Injury ends Kaka’s Copa dream Los Angeles (AFP) – Brazil’s Copa America injury crisis deepened after veteran striker Kaka withdrew from the squad with a hamstring injury three days before the team’s tournament opener against Ecuador.  The 34-year-old Orlando City attacking midfielder had been looking forward to competing in his first Copa America but saw his dream dashed after suffering an … [Read more...]

After Mourinho chat, Rooney embraces England duties Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney called Euro 2016 his “biggest test” as an international player on Wednesday and revealed that he has spoken to newly appointed Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Rooney’s immediate focus is on leading England out against Portugal at Wembley on Thursday in their final warm-up … [Read more...]

Everything you need to know about Copa America Centenario The 100 year centenary edition of Copa America will feature the best teams from South America, Central America, North America and the Caribbean in a major soccer tournament that will be played across the United States this summer. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about Copa America Centenario including team previews of each of … [Read more...]

Chicharito: Utd never gave me a chance 2:21 PM GMT Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez said that he is sure he would have found the same success at either Manchester United or Real Madrid had he been given a chance like he has been for the Bundesliga club, according to a recent interview in FourFourTwo. The Mexico star, who turned 28 on Wednesday, scored 25 goals in 28 … [Read more...]

Keane slams players over Belarus performance Cork (Ireland) (AFP) – Roy Keane said on Wednesday he felt like killing some of the Republic of Ireland players who played in Tuesday’s Euro 2016 warm-up defeat by Belarus. However, the plain-speaking 44-year-old assistant coach — who infamously was sent home before the 2002 World Cup finals after a blazing row with then-coach Mick McCarthy — told … [Read more...]

Benzema says Deschamps ‘bowed to racists’ over Euro snub Madrid (AFP) – France’s top scorer Karim Benzema on Wednesday accused coach Didier Deschamps of bowing to pressure from a “racist” political party by not choosing him for the country’s Euro 2016 squad. The Real Madrid striker, who is being investigated over an alleged sex-tape blackmail case, questioned whether Deschamps left him out … [Read more...]

‘Lewangoalski’ emerges from Poland’s dust Warsaw (AFP) – Out of a thick cloud of dust, it is just possible to make out a scrum of boys fighting for a football. The photo is old, taken years before Robert Lewandowski shot to stardom. “The smallest one in the middle, that’s Robert,” said Krzysztof Sikorski, who coached the Bayern Munich striker and star of Poland’s team at the European … [Read more...]

Dónde ver la Copa América Centenario en la TV estadounidense Este verano, cada partido de la Copa América Centenario se transmitirá en vivo en las redes de TV del mundo, incluido los Estados Unidos. Aquí están los detalles para cómo saber cuándo, dónde y cómo ver la Copa América Centenario. Primero, aquí hay algunos antecedentes importantes: en los Estados Unidos, FOX Sports y Univision tienen … [Read more...]

England set for Portugal dress rehearsal London (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson could reveal his hand ahead of Euro 2016 when his side tackle Portugal at Wembley on Thursday in their final pre-tournament warm-up match. Hodgson finalised his 23-man squad for the campaign on Tuesday, including 18-year-old Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and cutting loose Leicester City’s Danny … [Read more...]