STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Stuttgart brought Bruno Labbadia back for a second spell as coach Monday as it fights to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.
Labbadia has been given a contract through June 2025 and will take charge of his first training session next week.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in England’s 3-0 win against Senegal at the World Cup.
Pointing a finger in the direction of Jude Bellingham, Henderson charged over to his teammate, pressed his face nose-to-nose with the teenager and stared intensely into his eyes before embracing him in celebration.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — American success in the men's World Cup remains a dream.
The U.S. team looked better this year, but the results were the same as in 2010 and 2014. The Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 following a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday.
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Niclas Füllkrug was scoring goals in Germany’s second division one year ago.
Now he’s scoring at the World Cup.
“That’s exactly what he’s there for,” teammate Thomas Müller said after Füllkrug's late goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Germany against Spain in Group E on Sunday.
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller has undergone a second operation for testicular cancer, which has kept him sidelined this season.
“Operation number 2 went well!” Haller wrote on Twitter, adding his thanks to his medical team and that he “can't wait” to take the next step.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Just wait, thought Ritsu Doan. Just wait.
The Japan midfielder, who plays for German team Freiburg, had to grit his teeth when he heard people saying his team would be an easy opponent for Germany at the World Cup.
BERLIN (AP) — A U.S. investment firm has agreed on a deal to buy investor Lars Windhorst's majority stake in Bundesliga soccer team Hertha Berlin.
Miami-based 777 Partners said it agreed to buy the 64.7 percent stake in Hertha’s company structure from Windhorst's firm Tennor, subject to approval from Hertha's board and the German league.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Even for their opening game at the World Cup, Switzerland against Cameroon has the look of a must-win opportunity in a tough group.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Another one of France’s 2018 World Cup -winning team is injured and was ruled out of the title defense on Wednesday, and likely for the rest of the season.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Alphonso Davies will make his World Cup debut in a boost for Canada, which returns to soccer's biggest stage for the first time since 1986.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Germany’s opening World Cup game against Japan will set the tone for the rest of the tournament — both for the team and the fans who may or may not be watching at home.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Canada winger Alphonso Davies is fully fit and on track to start his nation's World Cup opener against Belgium on Wednesday night after he recovered from a strained right hamstring.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi returns to the World Cup for a fifth attempt at finally winning soccer’s biggest prize.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — He started. He scored. He got serenaded.
All in all, a pretty good World Cup debut for 19-year-old Jude Bellingham.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — As Poland's all-time leading scorer, Robert Lewandowski is still missing something from his collection: A goal at the World Cup.
That could change on Tuesday against Mexico, Poland’s opening opponent in Group C.
BERLIN (AP) — Not every big soccer star will be playing at the World Cup.
Some will be missing from the tournament in Qatar because of injuries or because their countries didn't qualify, including Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema of France and runner-up Sadio Mané of Senegal.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Canada coach John Herdman spoke of the thrill that striker Alphonso Davies felt arriving this week in Doha — Canada's first appearance in the World Cup in 36 years.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Italian referee Daniele Orsato was chosen Friday to handle the opening game of the World Cup.
FIFA picked Orsato for Sunday's match between host Qatar and Ecuador, describing him as “one of Europe’s most experienced referees.” He turns 47 on Wednesday.
BERLIN (AP) — Normally when the World Cup comes around, Germans happily wave their country’s flag and enthusiastically back their team.
Not this time.
Anyone walking around Berlin this week will struggle to notice any signs of World Cup fervor.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Senegal star Sadio Mané has been ruled out of the World Cup after undergoing surgery for his leg injury, Bayern Munich and the Senegalese soccer federation said Thursday.
Bayern said the 30-year-old Mané had an operation in Innsbruck, Austria late Thursday to reattach a tendon to the head of his right fibula bone, treating an injury he sustained playing for Bayern in a German league game against Werder Bremen on Nov.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt signed promising attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson, the younger brother of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson, from MLS team Philadelphia Union on Thursday.
PARIS (AP) — Defending champion France's World Cup injury worries continued as forward Christopher Nkunku was injured in the team's last training session and replaced in the squad by Randal Kolo Muani on Wednesday.
Niclas Füllkrug took the scenic route before earning his first call-up for Germany on the eve of the World Cup.
At the age of 29, the Werder Bremen forward may have thought the day would never come after years of being overlooked for the senior team following his last appearance for Germany’s Under-20s in 2014.
GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — European soccer shapes to have some World Cup winners with 73% of players at the tournament coming from clubs in the sport’s richest continent.
LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen became the latest Bundesliga club to criticize the World Cup in Qatar by describing the decision to award the tournament to the country as “scandalous” on Tuesday.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal forward Sadio Mané will miss his team's “first games” at the World Cup because of a leg injury, a Senegal soccer federation board member said Tuesday.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former Argentina defender Martín Demichelis said on Monday he will take over from Marcelo Gallardo as coach of River Plate.
The 41-year-old Demichelis was in charge of Bayern Munich reserves.
How things stand in Europe's top leagues ahead of the World Cup:
ENGLAND
Arsenal looks like the real deal after building a five-point lead atop of the Premier League. Few saw Mikel Arteta’s team as a credible title challenger before the season but 12 wins from 14 games have set a pace that even Manchester City cannot match.
DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — One of Germany's top players at the World Cup in Qatar could easily have been in the England squad.
Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala represented England at junior level before finally opting for Germany last year after being persuaded by then-coach Joachim Löw.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan seems certain to end his Manchester United career.
It is hard to see a way back for the 37-year-old forward, who said he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and feels “betrayed” by the club.
Marcus Thuram was handed the last spot in the France squad that will defend its World Cup title in Qatar while the uncapped Axel Disasi was also called up on Monday after Presnel Kimpembe had to pull out.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen will miss Germany's flight to a pre-World Cup training camp in Oman due to a gastrointestinal infection, the team said Monday.
The squad assembled at a Frankfurt airport hotel Sunday and is heading to Oman on Monday for warm-weather training.
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s professional soccer leagues have been marked by widespread protests against the World Cup in Qatar, with rival fans joining forces to condemn FIFA corruption and human rights abuses in the Gulf Arab country.
MUNICH (AP) — Even in defeat, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll could recognize the special experience of participating in the NFL's first regular-season game in Germany.
Seattle and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a Bavarian welcome both in the days leading up to the game and during it, highlighted by an energetic capacity crowd of 69,811 at Allianz Arena singing together in the final minutes of the game and afterward.
FREIBURG, Germany (AP) — The last Bundesliga game before a long World Cup break brought plenty of drama as Vincenzo Grifo scored a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes to fire Freiburg to a 4-1 win over Union Berlin and up to second place on Sunday.
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund is planning to hold talks with England midfielder Jude Bellingham about his future after the World Cup.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted the German club can't offer Bellingham the same terms as the biggest European clubs might, in remarks shown Sunday by Bild TV, the television arm of Germany’s main tabloid.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will look for his team to end on a high at Fulham as the Premier League pauses for the World Cup.
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — With players keen to avoid injury risks ahead of the World Cup, Bayern Munich stretched its Bundesliga lead to six points after a 2-0 win over Schalke on Saturday in its last game before the tournament in Qatar.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In a surprise to no one, Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is headlining South Korea’s squad for the third straight World Cup as coach Paulo Bento places his hopes on his superstar striker who is recovering from a fractured eye socket.
MUNICH (AP) — Tom Brady got a full dose of Germany on Friday when he was presented with Bavarian lederhosen before being questioned about his personal life.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback responded that he doesn't feel remorse returning for another season.
BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund’s trying week ended with a final sting when Jonas Hofmann led Borussia Mönchengladbach to a 4-2 rout of his former team in the Bundesliga on Friday.
It was Dortmund’s second loss in four days after falling at Wolfsburg 2-0 on Tuesday, and it potentially leaves the team nine points behind leader Bayern Munich for the league’s extended winter break.
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Bayern Munich and Celtic were fined by UEFA on Friday for fans showing banners judged to be offensive at Champions League games.
Bayern fans spelled out an expletive on a pitch-side barrier fence to protest the 70 euros ($72) ticket price they had to pay at the stadium of Czech opponent Viktoria Plzeň on Oct.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Sadio Mané was included in Senegal's World Cup squad on Friday as coach Aliou Cissé gambled on one of the world's best forwards being fit and ready in time after injuring his lower right leg this week playing for Bayern Munich.
ZEIST, Netherlands (AP) — Uncapped attacking midfielder Xavi Simons was included Friday in the Netherlands' World Cup squad, while veteran goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen did not make coach Louis van Gaal's roster for the tournament in Qatar.
MUNICH (AP) — Pete Carroll arrived in Germany with a reminder that the Seattle Seahawks are teaching people lessons about having low expectations.
The surprising Seahawks lead the NFC West and take a four-game winning streak into Sunday's matchup with Tom Brady and the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.