• The Canadian Press

    Neymar says not 100% fit for Brazil, compares Saudi league to French

    SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil striker Neymar said he is not fully fit to play in the two opening rounds of World Cup qualifying due to the right ankle injury that has sidelined him since February. Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal but hasn't yet played for his new club. He said in a press conference Thursday that the Saudi Pro League could be as good as France's Ligue 1 — if not better. Brazil will play its first match in World Cup qualifying on Friday in the Amazon city of B

  • The Canadian Press

    7-time French champion Lyon is in crisis amid a fight between owner Textor and former boss Aulas

    There was a time when Lyon ruled French soccer. Back when the likes of Karim Benzema, Brazil midfielder Juninho and France winger Florent Malouda were helping the club win seven consecutive league titles at the start of the century. Well, that was a long time ago. And it doesn't look like such a dynasty can be revived soon, with the club now plunged in a sporting crisis amid a legal dispute between its current owner, American businessman John Textor, and his predecessor. It was worth listening t

  • The Canadian Press

    Champions League draw to include 14 former winners as PSV Eindhoven beats Rangers in playoffs

    MONACO (AP) — There will be 14 winners of the Champions League, or the old European Cup, in the 32-team group stage draw Thursday after PSV Eindhoven advanced in the qualifying playoffs. PSV, the European champion in 1988, beat Rangers 5-1 in their playoff second leg Wednesday to complete a 7-3 aggregate score. Royal Antwerp had not played in the competition since 1957 yet also sealed its place in the draw by winning 2-1 at AEK Athens. The champion of Belgium advanced 3-1 on aggregate. Copenhage

  • The Canadian Press

    Thierry Henry looking to coach France to Olympic gold at Paris Games

    PARIS (AP) — Having helped France win trophies as a prolific forward, Thierry Henry wants to lead Les Bleus to a long-awaited Olympic gold medal in his new role as coach. Henry was hired as coach of the national under-21 team last week on a two-year contact, and he will also lead the France team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The French Olympic team last won gold at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and Henry intends to put that right. “It’s been a long time since we’ve won. There’s a problem somewher