Reds fall to better technique, says Sevilla defender Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) – Superior technique honed by playing in the “best league in the world” was key to Sevilla’s record-setting Europa League triumph over Liverpool on Wednesday, said the club’s French central defender Timothee Kolodziejczak. Five-time European champions Liverpool travelled to St Jakob-Park in Basel confident of a first … [Read more...]

Strikers U19 team to compete against several of the best clubs in the world This summer, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ under-19 team will compete in a tournament in China against several of the best clubs in the world. The U19 tournament, named the 2016 Weifang Cup, will be contested between: • Real Madrid (Spain) • Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) • S.L. Benfica (Portugal) • Fort Lauderdale … [Read more...]

Leicester City mobbed in Thailand on Premier League victory tour Bangkok (AFP) – Thai fans mobbed newly crowned English Premier League champions Leicester City Wednesday as they began a global publicity blitz after their fairytale title triumph. They also hoped to banish the memory of a sex tape scandal that marred a visit a year ago to the homeland of their billionaire owner. Scores of Thai … [Read more...]

Probe opened into suspect Serie A-related betting Rome (AFP) – The Italian football federation and national Olympic committee have opened an enquiry into suspicious bets that surfaced around the sending off of a Frosinone player against Napoli on the weekend, Italian media reported Wednesday. Shortly before Saturday’s Serie A match, which Napoli won 4-0, three bookmakers stopped taking bets on a … [Read more...]

Spanish FA chief Villar to fill in for Platini at Euro Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) – Spanish football federation president Angel Maria Villar will award the Euro 2016 trophy to the tournament winners in the absence of Michel Platini, UEFA anounced Wednesday. The move follows the resignation of UEFA president Platini after a sports tribunal rejected his final appeal against his ban from football … [Read more...]

Forget pizza, now it’s lobster for Leicester City stars Bangkok (AFP) – Leicester City’s Italian manager Claudio Ranieri on Wednesday joked that it was time for him to boost the culinary incentives from pizza to lobster for his players to keep clean sheets. The genial Italian, 64, has said he rewarded each match without conceding a goal during the Foxes’ stunning English Premier League title win … [Read more...]

In-form Chicharito headlines Mexico’s Copa America squad Mexico City (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez headlines Mexico’s 23-man squad named Tuesday to compete in next month’s Copa America Centenario. PSV midfielder Andres Guardado and Porto fullback Miguel Layun are the other prominent picks, but coach Juan Carlos Osorio left former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela out … [Read more...]

Man City, United battle for Schalke's Sane 12:18 AM GMT Jack Rathborn The summer transfer window will be opening before you know it, and rumours around the world are picking up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. See the latest deals here. TOP STORY: City to pinch Sane from United? Manchester City are ready to steal a march on … [Read more...]

Van Gaal on future: 'I am still the manager' 9:30 PM GMT Arindam Rej Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted the club have taken a backwards step with their fifth-placed finish this season, but he said he can help them challenge for the title in the next campaign. Speaking after United ended the league season with a 3-1 home win against Bournemouth, Van Gaal bemoaned his … [Read more...]

Dutt joins Stuttgart exodus, Luhukay takes charge Berlin (AFP) – Jos Luhukay has been named as the new coach of VfB Stuttgart after their relegation to the German second tier, while Robin Dutt became the third senior figure to leave the club on Tuesday. Director of sport Dutt became the latest victim of Stuttgart’s first relegation for more than 40 years when he was dismissed after ex-coach … [Read more...]