SPORTS

Germany’s Leon Goretzka scored two expertly-taken early goals to set them on the way to a thumping 4-1 win over Mexico in a dramatic, end-to-end Confederations Cup semifinal in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday.Mexico had more chances and more possession but their defence left wide open spaces which were ruthlessly exploited by Germany’s young, experimental team. Goretzka struck twice in the ...

Tanzania edged through to the Cosafa Castle Cup quarterfinals by the slimmest of margins as they topped Group A on Thursday despite being held 1-1 by Mauritius at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West Province. They finished level on five points after three matches with Angola but take top place by virtue of a better goal difference. Tanzania ended ...

Claudio Bravo was Chile’s hero on Wednesday as they beat Portugal 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out in the Confederations Cup semifinals in Kazan, Russia. The Manchester City goalkeeper saved all three penalties from Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani, while Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez nailed their spot-kicks for the South Americans. “We are satisfied with the ...

A penalty in the first half ensured Ghana were beaten 1-0 by Mexico in an international friendly on Wednesday. It was the third meeting between the two countries who are shaping up for crucial competitions ahead of them. Mexico, who face Germany in the Confederations Cup semi-finals later on Thursday, presented their Concacaf Gold Cup squad against the Black Stars ...

Football and showbiz stars gather in northern Argentina on Friday for Latin America’s celebrity wedding bash of the decade when Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi marries his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo. Here is what we know from the few details given by Messi’s spokespeople as well as media reports and local people close to the event in his home city of ...

Mozambique coach Abel Xavier has come up with a novel way to get around club resistance to call-ups to the national team of their players and keep everyone ion his country’s football community happy. For the Cosafa Castle Cup in the North West Province of South Africa this week, he named just one player from each of the top Mozambican ...

Copa America champions Chile will try to curb Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Wednesday’s Confederations Cup semifinal with the goal-ace in rich form despite the tax storm brewing in Spain.The 32-year-old converted a penalty in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand to claim his 75th international goal. The Real Madrid forward has now scored 16 times in his last 10 ...

Zanaco FC skipper Ziyo Tembo has been ruled out of his side’s crunch CAF Champions League Group D clash against Al Ahly (Egypt) after accumulating two yellow cards in this year’s Caf Champions League. Tembo was first cautioned in the preliminary round, first leg match at home to APR for unsporting behaviour, while his second yellow card was given to ...

Juventus full-back Dani Alves has confirmed that he is leaving the Italian champions after a season in Turin in a posting on his Instagram account on Tuesday. “Today our professional relationship ends and I will carry away with me all those who truly make Juve a great club,” said the 34-year-old Brazilian in a lengthy post. Alves, who joined Juve ...

Copa America champions Chile will try to curb Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Wednesday’s Confederations Cup semifinal with the goal-ace in rich form despite the tax storm brewing in Spain.The 32-year-old converted a penalty in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand to claim his 75th international goal. The Real Madrid forward has now scored 16 times in his last 10 ...