All Blacks job puts Robertson’s Crusaders role in spotlight
March 23, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies and Christchurch-based Crusaders will meet Friday in a fifth-round match in Super Rugby Pacific which might attract more attention on the coaches than the players.
Lyon condemns online racist abuse aimed at Houssem Aouar
March 22, 2023 GMTLYON, France (AP) — French soccer club Lyon has condemned the online racist abuse suffered by midfielder Houssem Aouar after he chose to represent Algeria despite previously playing for France's national team.
Europe’s top teams get ready to start Euro 2024 qualifying
March 21, 2023 GMTMANCHESTER, England (AP) — Three months after the World Cup ended, qualifying for the next European Championship starts this week with several of the biggest teams looking to rebound.
France came within a penalty shootout of winning back-to-back World Cup titles, losing to Argentina in the final, but Spain, Germany and Italy all went through humbling experiences either before or during last year's tournament in Qatar.
Injured Netherlands midfielder De Jong out for France match
March 20, 2023 GMTZEIST, Netherlands (AP) — Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong and winger Steven Bergwijn dropped out of the national squad for the team's opening European Championship qualifier against France, coach Ronald Koeman said Monday.
Brothers Khéphren and Marcus Thuram are both in France squad
March 16, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Brothers Khéphren and Marcus Thuram were called up by France coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday for upcoming European Championship qualifiers against the Netherlands and Ireland.
They are the sons of former France defender Lilian Thuram, who played alongside Deschamps when France won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
Most players prefer World Cup in European summer, union says
March 9, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Most of the players from last year's World Cup do not want the soccer tournament to be held again in November and December, global union FIFPRO said Thursday.
Citing the short preparation and recovery times for players from a World Cup squeezed into the middle of the European club season, FIFPRO said a survey it conducted also highlighted player concern for the physical and mental fatigue they felt in January.
Embattled France coach pledges to stay amid opposition
March 8, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Facing opposition from several players amid reports she could be replaced before the Women’s World Cup, France coach Corinne Diacre said Wednesday she is the victim of a smear campaign.
NZ: Next All Blacks coach to be appointed within 6 weeks
March 1, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Rugby will appoint the next All Blacks head coach “within four to six weeks,” dealing a blow to Ian Foster who will lead the national team to the World Cup in France later this year.
World Cup qualifying enters final days, with 10 spots left
February 25, 2023 GMTThere are still 10 spots left unclaimed for this summer’s Basketball World Cup, with all but one of them expected to be decided on Sunday.
Angola became the 22nd team to qualify for the 32-team field, getting in on Saturday.
Messi, Mbappe and Benzema battle for FIFA Best Player award
February 10, 2023 GMTZURICH (AP) — It’s Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappé again, this time for the FIFA Best Men’s Player award for 2022.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain and France’s superstar forward head the three-player shortlist announced by FIFA on Friday, eight weeks after leading their teams in an epic final in Qatar.
Former Croatian national team coach Blazevic dies at 87
February 8, 2023 GMTZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Miroslav “Ciro” Blazevic, who coached the Croatian national soccer team to the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup in France, has died. He was 87.
His family and friends said Blazevic died at a Zagreb hospital on Wednesday after a long battle with prostate cancer.
World Cup winner Raphael Varane retires from France team
February 2, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — France defender Raphaël Varane announced his retirement from the national team on Thursday, the second major player to leave Les Bleus following the World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
Meillard beats Caviezel for Swiss 1-2 in GS; Odermatt rests
January 25, 2023 GMTSCHLADMING, Austria (AP) — Loïc Meillard beat his teammate Gino Caviezel to lead a Swiss 1-2 finish at a floodlit World Cup giant slalom Wednesday.
The pair stepped in to give the Swiss ski team a victory despite the absence of its standout performer, Marco Odermatt, who had won four of the five giant slaloms this season but sat out the race to rest a sore knee.
Messi scores in 1st game after World Cup as PSG wins
January 11, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi scored in his first game since leading Argentina to the World Cup title as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 2-0 on Wednesday.
Messi vs. Mbappé Part II: World Cup stars chase Ballon d’Or
January 9, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi finally has something Kylian Mbappé already had with a World Cup winners' medal. Now Mbappé wants what Messi has won many times: the Ballon d'Or.
Newcastle humbled in FA Cup again; non-league Wrexham wins
January 7, 2023 GMTEven having club soccer’s richest owners cannot improve Newcastle's pitiful record in the FA Cup.
Newcastle was humbled by a lower-league opponent in the third round of the famous old competition for the second straight year under its Saudi owners, losing at third-tier Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on Saturday.
Deschamps extends contract as France coach to next World Cup
January 7, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — After leading France to another World Cup final, coach Didier Deschamps is signing up for another shot at the title, prolonging his contract to July 2026.
Sloppy Liverpool tumble again in loss at Brentford
January 2, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Liverpool lost more ground in the race for a top-four English Premier League finish when it lost to Brentford 3-1 on Monday.
Sloppy defending cost Liverpool twice in the first half, prompting angry boss Jurgen Klopp to substitute key defender Virgil van Dijk at halftime.
MATCHDAY: France’s Lloris, Argentina’s Martinez meet in EPL
December 31, 2022 GMTA look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
The two goalkeepers in the World Cup final — France's Hugo Lloris and Argentina hero Emiliano Martinez — are set to meet again two weeks later as Tottenham hosts Aston Villa in the first Premier League game of 2023.
PSG stars Mbappé, Neymar fired up as French league resumes
December 27, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain stars Kylian Mbappé and Neymar could take out their World Cup frustrations on struggling Strasbourg when the French league resumes on Wednesday.
France: Car hits, kills boy amid World Cup game celebrations
December 15, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — A suspect driving a car in the southern French city of Montpellier “violently hit” and killed a teenage boy as crowds celebrated France's victory in the World Cup semifinal, local authorities said Thursday.
Morocco looks to the future after World Cup dream ends
December 15, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — Morocco made history, but couldn’t make it past Kylian Mbappé and France.
The first African country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup was eventually beaten by defending champions France, losing 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.
Perisic looks to seize the big moment again at the World Cup
December 12, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — The late run. The timing. The delivery. Leo Perišić has certainly learned a thing or two from his father.
While Ivan Perišić has been his usual consistent self at the World Cup to help Croatia reach the semifinals, the winger’s young son has provided one of the more touching moments of the tournament.
Tchouaméni shows at World Cup why Mbappé wanted him at PSG
December 12, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — Kylian Mbappé is finally getting his chance to play alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni with France into the World Cup semifinals and Morocco up next on Wednesday.
Mbappé to face good friend Hakimi in World Cup semifinal
December 11, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — Kylian Mbappé is going to meet his good friend Achraf Hakimi again at this World Cup.
Not like the first time in Qatar last week, when the France star went to visit his Paris Saint-Germain teammate at the Morocco team hotel in downtown Doha.
England looks to future after latest World Cup heartbreak
December 11, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — It was a new twist on an old story for England.
Harry Kane's late penalty flew high over the bar at Al Bayt Stadium Saturday, effectively sealing the national team's World Cup fate.
World Cup exit leaves Southgate considering England position
December 11, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — After a third shot at a major tournament ended in disappointment, Gareth Southgate wants time to consider his future as England coach.
Kane sends penalty, England’s World Cup hopes, over the bar
December 11, 2022 GMTAL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Late in the match and with the ball resting motionless on the penalty spot, Harry Kane stood ready, concentrated, eyeing the goal and his teammate from Tottenham in front of it.
France advances to semifinals at World Cup, tops England 2-1
December 11, 2022 GMTAL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — France’s players reacted as if they had already won the World Cup. What they were actually celebrating, though, was Harry Kane's missed penalty.
Mbappé laughs, shows his joy as World Cup history beckons
December 10, 2022 GMTAL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Kylian Mbappé’s immense sense of joy was written all over his face.
The France forward’s mouth opened as wide as could be and his eyes squinted tight in elation after what he had just witnessed at the World Cup.
Memorial to American writer Wahl placed at World Cup game
December 10, 2022 GMTAL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — American soccer writer Grant Wahl was honored with a tribute from FIFA on the desk where he was due to work Saturday at the World Cup quarterfinal match between France and England.
Tenacity and penalties, keys to Croatia’s deep World Cup run
December 10, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — With a population of around 4 million people, the magnitude of Croatia's win against Brazil wasn't lost on the team's coach, Zlatko Dalić.
Odermatt dominates World Cup GS to consolidate overall lead
December 10, 2022 GMTVAL d'ISÈRE, France (AP) — Olympic champion Marco Odermatt dominated on Saturday to win a World Cup giant slalom and consolidate his lead in the overall standings.
The Swiss skier posted the fastest times in both runs on the Face de Bellevarde course in Val d’Isère to finish 1.40 seconds ahead of Austria’s Manuel Feller.
Dutch eliminated from World Cup in Louis van Gaal’s finale
December 10, 2022 GMTLUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — The Dutch were outnumbered in their quarterfinal match at the World Cup.
Argentina had one Lionel Messi and the Netherlands had none.
And still, the Oranje came back and forced extra time in a knockout match for the ages by scoring in the 83rd minute and then on a playground-type restart in the 11th — yes, 11th!
Croatia wins yet another penalty shootout at World Cup
December 9, 2022 GMTAL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — When it comes down to a penalty shootout at the World Cup, count on Croatia to make it through.
Twice already at the tournament in Qatar and twice four years ago in Russia, the Croats had to steel themselves for one of the toughest — and certainly one of the cruelest — tests in soccer.
England out to stop World Cup’s ‘irresistible force’ Mbappé
December 9, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — England’s players have been asked one question over and over again as they prepare to face France in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
England coach lets captain Kane do final World Cup pep talk
December 9, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — England coach Gareth Southgate has nothing to tell his players just before they leave the locker room to play defending champion France in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
Morocco coach skeptical World Cup can open door to Europe
December 9, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — Morocco coach Walid Regragui has guided his team to the World Cup quarterfinals — the first time an Arab nation has advanced that far in the tournament.
From serving pizzas, Fofana now delivering World Cup crosses
December 9, 2022 GMTAL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Youssouf Fofana has gone from serving pizzas to delivering crosses in the World Cup.
Dropped in 2015 at age 14 from Clairefontaine, France's national training center, his future in soccer seemed at an end.