11th European crown caps rollercoaster Real season Madrid (AFP) – A season that promised so little when Zinedine Zidane took charge of a beleaguered Real Madrid less than five months ago ended beyond even the richest club in the world’s wildest dreams with an 11th European Cup win in Milan. Cristiano Ronaldo struck the winning penalty in a shootout to cap a remarkable turnaround in Real’s … [Read more...]

Real fans celebrate 11th European crown in divided Madrid Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid fans descended into the streets of the Spanish capital in the early hours of Sunday morning to celebrate a historic 11th European Cup win after beating local rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties. “The 11th is here,” fans chanted with many expected to wait for their heroes to return from Milan with the trophy at … [Read more...]

Benzema, Ben Arfa omission a missed opportunity for France, says Cantona Paris (AFP) – The omission of Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa from the France squad for next month’s European Championships is a missed opportunity to unite the country in the face of extremism and division, according to ex-international Eric Cantona. Cantona stirred up a hornet’s nest last week when he claimed that France … [Read more...]

Victorious Real Madrid get heroes welcome in Spanish capital Madrid (AFP) – Thousands of Real Madrid fans chanted and waved supporter scarves under a rain of confetti on Sunday in the Spanish capital as the team returned home after an historic 11th European Cup win. An open top bus emblazoned with the word “Campeones” (Champions) carried the team, who showed off the trophy to fans who had spent … [Read more...]

Bruce eyes Premier League survival blueprint London (AFP) – Steve Bruce believes Hull can copy the blueprint of the Premier League’s overachievers as they look to survive in the top-flight. Bruce’s side secured an immediate return to the big time following last year’s relegation thanks to Mohamed Diame’s sublime strike in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday. Senegal … [Read more...]

Teen star Pulisic on target as US rout Bolivia Los Angeles (AFP) – Rising teenage star Christian Pulisic scored his first international goal as the United States warmed up for the Copa America Centenario on Saturday with a 4-0 thrashing of Bolivia. Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Pulisic, 17, grabbed a coolly taken strike on 69 minutes at the Sporting Park Stadium in Kansas City as Jurgen … [Read more...]

Ronaldo strikes shoot-out winner as Real crowned kings of Europe Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo added the finishing touches as Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for an 11th time with a 5-3 penalties victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final. Two years after reviving Real’s bid for a 10th title, captain Sergio Ramos struck the opener after just 15 minutes at a packed San … [Read more...]

Messi due to go on trial in Spain for tax fraud Barcelona (AFP) – Argentina star Lionel Messi, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, goes on trial in Barcelona on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding Spain of over four million euros in unpaid taxes. After winning a league and Cup double with Barcelona, the five-time World Player of the Year and his father will confront in court the accusations … [Read more...]

Milan readies for glitzy, all-Spanish Champions League final Milan (AFP) – Milan’s San Siro stadium is preparing for a glitzy all-Spanish final of the Champions League on Saturday as fans of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid packed the city in glorious summer sunshine. Record ten-time champions Real, who won the inaugural trophy in 1956, are gunning for their 11th title from European football’s … [Read more...]

Messi scare as Argentina down Honduras San Juan (Argentina) (AFP) – Lionel Messi was taken to hospital after suffering an injury scare on Friday as Argentina defeated Honduras 1-0 in their only warm-up game before next month’s Copa America Centenario in the United States. A first-half goal from in-form Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain settled a low-key encounter in San Juan, with two-time world … [Read more...]