SPORTS

Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres has signed for Japanese side Sagan Tosu. His Atletico Madrid contract ran out this summer and was not renewed, with his final appearance as a 90th-minute substitute in the Europa League final defeat of Marseille. The Spaniard, 34, rejoined his boyhood club in 2014 after a loan at AC Milan. The World ...

Hearts were broken when all five African nations – Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia – crashed out in the first stage of the World Cup – but some fans say hope is not lost. “At least we still have France,” many people have joked on social media. Even French President Emmanuel Macron has got in on the act, telling ...

In-form Romelu Lukaku will be key to Belgium’s plans to unlock Brazil’s formidable defence in Friday’s World Cup quarterfinal. The 25-year-old Manchester United striker has already begun to silence his critics with a four-goal haul in Russia. But his impressive goalscoring prowess and his aim to be remembered as Belgian’s most successful goalscorer faces its sternest test in Kazan against ...

Brazil right back Danilo has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after suffering ankle ligament damage in training on the eve of Friday’s quarterfinal against Belgium, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement. The 26-year-old suffered a thigh problem in Brazil’s opening group game against Switzerland and has since been replaced in the team ...

England defender John Stones has described World Cup last 16 opponents Colombia as “probably the dirtiest team I have ever come up against” in the latest salvo in the bitter fall-out from England’s victory over the South American side. Colombian players have complained that the American referee Mark Geiger was biased towards England while their coach Jose Pekerman said football ...

Sweden’s strong collective is aiming to make life difficult for their more illustrious English counterparts when the two sides meet in their World Cup quarterfinal clash on Saturday. The Swedes trained at their hotel on the Black Sea before departing for Samara where they will face England in their first World Cup last eight match since 1994, when they came ...

The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 17 referees, 37 assistant referees and 10 Video Assistant Referees for the final phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Given the number of matches left and the teams that have qualified for the next round, the number of referees has been reduced. Appointed for the next phase are: AFC: FAGHANI Alireza (IRN); ...

Fifa condemned comments by Diego Maradona on Wednesday, after the Argentinian legend claimed that Colombia only lost to England in the World Cup last 16 because of the appointment of referee Mark Geiger for the match. The 1986 World Cup winner said England’s win was a “monumental robbery” after Gareth Southgate’s men edged through a bad-tempered encounter on penalties on ...

Cristiano Ronaldo has received an offer to leave Real Madrid and join Italian champions Juventus, a source close to the player told Reuters on Wednesday. Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United in 2008 for a then world record 80 million pounds ($105.65 million), is the Spanish club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and has won ...

France have a number of options to limit Lionel Messi’s influence in their round of 16 clash against Argentina but they are also resigned that he could turn the match in an instant, coach Didier Deschamps said on Friday. Messi has yet to light up the World Cup in a stuttering Argentina side but his clinical strike in the 2-1 ...