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LONDON — Thomas Tuchel insisted England’s dispiriting 1-0 loss to Japan in a friendly on Tuesday will have no bearing on the team’s chances at the upcoming World Cup. England has lost some of the momentum built up under Tuchel by drawing with Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on Friday and then succumbing to Kaoru Mitoma’s first-half goal for Japan at the same venue four days later. Tuchel has fielded experimental lineups for both games, with key regulars like captain Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka missing because of minor injuries. The German coach also said many of his players are “heavily invested” in their club campaigns at this stage of the season. For that reason, Tuchel felt sure “this camp will not define us.” “It’s just a reality if teams like Uruguay or Japan come well-drilled, with their top lineup, it’s a difficult task,” Tuchel said. “It was not necessary to lose the match. Unfortunately, we lost it, which is disappointing, a...

For the third straight time, Italy will miss the FIFA World Cup. And because of that, Toronto won’t get the spectacle of a Canada-Italy World Cup match. In a shock result, visiting Italy lost 2-1 (4-1 on penalty kicks) to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final of their UEFA playoff qualifier on Tuesday, officially eliminating the Italians from World Cup contention. With the win, Bosnia and Herzegovina secured its spot and will take on host Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B action. Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Canada in the opener for both teams on June 12 in Toronto. Misses from Italy’s Francesco Esposito and Bryan Cristante in spot kicks set the loss in stone for the Italians, extending their World Cup drought to 12 years after having missed the tournament in 2018 and 2022. In response, the Bosnians converted all four of their penalty attempts. Beyond the clinical conversions in penalties, it took some late heroics from the Bosnians to secure their spot, as Haris Tabako...

Roberto De Zerbi was hired Tuesday as Tottenham’s third coach of the season in a last-ditch bid by one of England’s top clubs to avoid costly relegation from the Premier League. The appointment came amid criticism from fans’ groups about the Italian coach’s past support of a player who was charged with — but not convicted of — offences including attempted rape. Tottenham, the reigning Europa League champion and an ever-present in England’s top division since 1978, is one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with seven games left. De Zerbi has replaced Igor Tudor, who was fired on Sunday after 44 days as interim coach, and left Marseille in February. He previously worked in the Premier League as Brighton’s manager. While at Marseille, De Zerbi coached former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault after images and videos were posted online. Bri...

MADRID — The final six World Cup places will be decided this week with the conclusion of two playoff tournaments that will complete the 48-team lineup. Eight teams from Europe will compete for four spots, while the new intercontinental tournament that is being staged in Mexico will determine the other two places. The biggest ever World Cup — up from 32 teams in Qatar in 2022 — is being co-hosted by three nations for the first time: The United States, Canada and Mexico. Four-time champion Italy is the standout name in the European playoffs as it tries to avoid missing out on a World Cup for a third consecutive time. European playoffs There will be more European teams than from any other continent at the World Cup: 16. Eight teams made it through the last round of the playoffs and will seek the final four spots in winner-take-all matches: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy, Sweden vs. Poland, Kosovo vs. Turkey and Czech Republic vs. Denmark. All four games will be played Tuesday. The w...

LONDON — Igor Tudor has left his role as Tottenham interim coach after seven matches in charge. A club statement on Sunday afternoon read: “We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect.” Tottenham thanked Tudor for his work and said “An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course.” Tudor’s exit leaves Spurs without a head coach heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season, with the London club just one place and one point above the relegation zone. Their next match is at Sunderland on April 12.

TORONTO — If Jesse Marsch was worried, he hid it very well.  Under normal circumstances, Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Iceland in an international friendly might be concerning for the Canadian men’s team coach, especially with his side’s opening match of the FIFA World Cup a little less than 80 days away.  Iceland, after all, boasts one of European soccer’s more modest national teams, having failed to qualify for the World Cup and sitting 75th in the current FIFA world rankings, 45 spots below the Canadians.  But this disappointing result for Canada comes with somewhat of an asterisk considering how badly Marsch’s team was hit by injuries and suspensions — noticeably absent for the Canadians were Alphonso Davies (their captain), one of their starting centre backs (Moïse Bombito), their best right fullback (Alistair Johnston), and their two starting central midfielders (Ismaël Koné and Stephen Eustáquio).  Maybe that’s one of the reasons why Marsch cut such a calm f...

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona forward Raphinha will be out for approximately five weeks and miss Champions League quarterfinal games against Atletico Madrid after injuring his right hamstring while playing for Brazil in a friendly against France. Five-time champion Brazil starts its World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13. “Raphinha has a right hamstring injury, as confirmed by medical tests carried out by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) following the discomfort he experienced during the Brazil v. France match in Boston on Thursday,” Barcelona said in a statement on Friday. “The player is returning to Barcelona to begin the appropriate treatment. The estimated recovery time is five weeks.” The 29-year-old Raphinha scored twice in Barcelona’s 7-2 rout of Newcastle in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 but is now set to miss both matches against Atletico Madrid in the last eight with Barcelona hosting the first leg o...

MARIETTA, Ga. — Miles Robinson will miss the United States’ friendlies against Belgium and Portugal because of a groin injury and Chris Richards is likely to sit out both games with a knee problem, leaving the American central defence with few options in the last two matches before coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his World Cup roster. Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty are the only available central defenders for Saturday’s game against Belgium. Outside back Joe Scally and defensive midfielder Tanner Tessmann also are options in central defence, Pochettino said Friday. Pochettino has used a three-central defender formation since September. Robinson injured his groin during training on Tuesday, according to Pochettino. Richards played until the 75th minute in Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League match at Larnaca on March 19. He definitely won’t play Saturday and likely won’t be available Tuesday. “The club gave permission to come to America and he report(ed...

MONTERREY, Mexico — Moises Paniagua and Miguel Terceros scored goals within a seven-minute span in the second half, and Bolivia rallied to beat Suriname 2-1 on Thursday to qualify for the final of the World Cup qualifying playoff against Iraq. In another match Thursday, Wrexham striker Bailey Cadamarteri scored a first-half goal, giving Jamaica a 1-0 victory over New Caledonia and a place in the international playoff final against Congo. Liam Van Gelderen put Suriname ahead in the 48th minute but Paniagua tied the score at the 72nd and Terceros had the winning goal on a penalty kick in the 79th minute for the Bolivians, who are aiming for their second World Cup appearance. “I want to highlight the players’ character in never giving up; it’s a team that never considers anything lost and that today knew how to pull through,” said Bolivia’s coach Oscar Villegas. Juan Godoy came off the bench in the 74th and five minutes later was tripped by Leo Abena inside the box ...

Toronto FC have traded defender Kosi Thompson to the Colorado Rapids in a deal that could reach up to $400,000 in General Allocation Money, the team announced Thursday. TFC will receive $200,000 in GAM upfront from Colorado, with a further $200,000 in performance-based add-ons. Toronto may retain a sell-on percentage if the Canadian defender leaves Colorado in a permanent transfer in the future. The 23-year-old North York, Ont., native was in the final year of his contract and requested a move in search of more consistent playing time. A versatile player who featured across the back line and in midfield, Thompson has made 113 appearances for TFC across all competitions since his 2022 debut. “We understand his desire to challenge for consistent minutes at this time,” Toronto FC general manager Jason Hernandez said in a statement. “As one of our homegrown players, Kosi dedicated many years of his football journey to TFC, and we greatly appreciate his efforts within our environment.” ...

BOSTON — Kylian Mbappé on Wednesday denied media reports that claimed Real Madrid examined the wrong leg when the France star sustained a knee injury late last year. The soccer show “After Foot” on French broadcaster RMC Sport reported this week that the Spanish club had initially scanned his right knee, rather than the left one, in December. Other media outlets in Spain ran similar stories, nearly all of them citing RMC. Mbappé played throughout January but was then sidelined for three-and-a-half weeks before making his latest comeback. “The report that said that they (examined) the wrong knee is false,” Mbappé said at a press conference ahead of France’s World Cup warmup against Brazil. “I am maybe responsible indirectly for this situation, because when you don’t communicate on what’s happening, it opens doors to others’ interpretations.” The club said in late December that Mbappé had sprained his left knee. Mbappé said he has “very clear communication” ...

NYON, Switzerland — Benfica was fined by UEFA on Wednesday for racist abuse by fans at a Champions League game against Real Madrid, whose forward Vinícius Júnior was allegedly racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni. UEFA’s investigation of Prestianni is ongoing, and the verdict on a separate charge against Benfica for misconduct by fans at the Feb. 17 game in Lisbon was published Wednesday. Benfica was fined 40,000 euros ($46,000) for “illicit chants and gestures by two supporters,” UEFA said. The club must serve a one-year probation period to avoid closing part of the Stadium of Light at a future European competition game. Benfica previously suspended five fans who were under investigation for “inappropriate behaviour in the stands of a racist nature.” Television images showed some fans making monkey gestures after Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League knockout playoffs round. The game was stopped for nearly 10 minutes when Vinícius told the...

Real Madrid reportedly made a bizarre error in trying to get to the bottom of an injury suffered by Kylian Mbappé. The La Liga team did an MRI on Mbappé’s wrong leg after he suffered a knee injury in December, The Athletic reported Tuesday. When the test showed no damage on his right knee, Mbappé returned and played three games before the team corrected the mistake, The Athletic reported. In late December, a test on his left leg revealed a partial posterior knee ligament tear. The Frenchman returned from a three-plus-week injury absence in last Tuesday’s Champions League victory against Manchester City. On Monday, ahead of international friendlies in the U.S., Mbappé told reporters his left knee was now fine. “There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, and then also some anxiety at one point,” Mbappé told French media late Monday at a promotional event. “I had reached a stage where I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I didn’t go through that period in ...

The first major domestic trophy of the season is Manchester City ‘s. And after a dominant 2-0 win against Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday, it may not be the last.  Manchester-born Nico O’Reilly sealed victory with both goals in the second half at Wembley Stadium. The win could also have delivered a psychological blow in the race for the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola aims to chase down Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the standings. “(It’s an) unbelievable feeling to win a final and to beat this team. We know how good they are,” O’Reilly told Sky Sports. “We need to build on it now, it’ll give us momentum.”  This was serial trophy-winner Guardiola flexing his muscles. It was his 16th major trophy as City manager and a record fifth League Cup. He has won 34 career titles as a manager including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.  And, once again, he was stamping out Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s own ambitions, h...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is moving to Orlando City in Major League Soccer this summer. The 35-year-old World Cup winner from France signed with Orlando City on Tuesday. The deal lasts from July through the 2027-28 season with an option for an extra year. Orlando City said Griezmann will join when the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July. “From my first conversations with the club I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me,” Griezmann said in a statement provided by Orlando City. He helped France win the 2018 World Cup and retired from internationals in 2024 with 44 goals in 137 caps. He is Atletico’s all-time leading scorer but his minutes have been managed by coach Diego Simeone this season. Even so, Griezmann has 13 goals this campaign in all competitions.

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain wants to postpone its Ligue 1 title clash with Lens because it falls between the Champions League quarterfinal legs against Liverpool. Lens has rejected moving the April 11 home fixture, saying the French league would be relegated “to accommodate the European ambitions of certain parties.” A decision by the French league is expected on Thursday. The league has previously helped its teams in European competitions. Two years ago, for example, Marseille’s game against Nice was postponed due to Marseille’s Europa League quarterfinal against Benfica. At that time, France had three teams in European competition — PSG and Lille were the others — and Marseille’s then-president Pablo Longoria thanked the league for showing consideration to the French teams involved. Ligue 1 is enjoying a close title race. Lens sits one point behind PSG having played one game more. Their showdown is a thorn for Champions League defending champion PSG, which is scheduled to host L...

ROME — Coach Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged that only “someone without blood running through their veins” wouldn’t feel nervous as Italy attempt to avoid failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Gattuso is still just as feisty and gritty as when he played on the Italy team that won the country’s fourth World Cup in 2006. Ahead of Thursday’s playoff match against Northern Ireland, he also suggested he sent home talented winger Federico Chiesa in what could amount to a definitive break with the standout player of the European Championship trophy run five years ago. “It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness,” Gattuso said Monday. “Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it. But we need to do a good job of transmitting a lot of positivity.” Positivity, however, is not what describes Italy’s performances in the playoffs for the previous two World Cups, when the Azzurri were eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia...

Antoine Griezmann is on his way to the U.S. The French star has a verbal agreement in place to join Orlando City of the MLS, Fabrizio Romano reported Sunday. The deal is for July 2026 on a free transfer from Atlético Madrid, Romano adds. Griezmann has played his entire career in Spain for Atlético, Real Sociedad and Barcelona. He made 792 appearances for the clubs with 298 goals. The 35-year-old has also posted 44 goals and 30 assists for the French national team. Griezmann was originally set to join Orlando in March, but the deal was rejected, per Romano.

CINCINNATI — Tom Barlow scored short-handed for the equalizer in the 80th minute and Kévin Denkey followed with the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, rallying FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over CF Montreal on Sunday. Barlow tied it 3-3 when he scored three minutes after subbing in to the match. It was his first MLS goal with his new team. Denkey scored for the second time this season — also unassisted — after notching 15 goals in 29 appearances last season — his first in the league. Cincinnati (2-3-0) was forced to play a man down after Miles Robinson’s red card in the 60th minute. Newcomer Wiki Carmona used assists from Prince Owusu and Bode Hidalgo in the 6th minute to score for the third time in three matches and give Montreal a 1-0 lead.  Ender Echenique tied it in the 40th minute for Cincinnati with his first goal this season. The 21-year-old scored once in eight appearances last season. Defender Alvas Powell and Matt Miazga had assists. Powell picked up his f...

The first major domestic trophy of the season is Manchester City’s. And after a dominant 2-0 win against Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday, it may not be the last. Manchester-born Nico O’Reilly scored both goals in the second half at Wembley Stadium to not only give City the win on the day but also potentially deliver a psychological blow in the race for the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola aims to chase down Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the standings. “(It’s an) unbelievable feeling to win a final and to beat this team. We know how good they are,” O’Reilly told Sky Sports. “We need to build on it now, it’ll give us momentum.” This was serial trophy-winner Guardiola flexing his muscles. It was his 16th major trophy as City manager and a record fifth League Cup. He has won 34 career titles as a manager, including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. And, once again, he was stamping out Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s own ambitions, ha...

It was a frustrating start to the season for Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White.  The American attacker was getting plenty of prime chances, but they weren’t going in.  A goal against Toronto FC on Feb. 28 opened the floodgates. He added a brace against the Portland Timbers the following week, then tallied two more against Minnesota United.  Now White has five goals on the season, tied with Petar Musa of FC Dallas for the most in Major League Soccer through the first four games of the year.  “For me, it’s all about scoring goals to help the team win. At the end of the day, three points is what’s most important,” the 30-year-old forward said Friday. “So if I can score goals and put myself on that list, yeah, that obviously means a lot to me personally. But like I said, the most important thing is three points.” Even when White was struggling to find his scoring touch, he was contributing to the team, said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen.  “He star...

CAGLIARI, Italy — Napoli won at Cagliari 1-0 and moved into second place in Serie A on Friday. A Scott McTominay goal after just 90 seconds proved to be decisive in a game the visitor dominated. The Scotland international tapped in a loose ball after a cross from the right fell at his feet, and the lead was never challenged by a side that did not have a shot on target in the entire match. It was the fourth win in a row for Antonio Conte’s men. The win lifted Napoli two points above third-placed AC Milan, which plays Torino on Saturday. League leader Inter Milan is at Fiorentina on Sunday. Cagliari’s winless league run was extended to seven games dating to the end of January. It remained in 15th place, but with only eight rounds remaining it could easily be dragged into the relegation battle. It was six points above the drop zone with the five teams below it all having a game in hand. In another piece of good news for Conte, Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne played 90 minutes ...

Iceland and Tunisia were not exactly the marquee opponents Canada fans had hoped to be seeing in action at BMO Field next week, but given the current weather in Ontario, you can understand why the who’s who of international soccer would rather commit to either home games or warmer climates as they build up to the World Cup. Regardless, both opponents will pose a challenge to coach Jesse Marsch’s hopefuls, and a handful of players will be keen to impress. Injuries have softened the quality of this squad, although several of the hobbled masses will at least be in attendance next week, but it means that there is opportunity for certain players to make a real case for consideration. Owen Goodman Three goalkeepers have been called up to the squad, with Goodman very much in the shadow of Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau. How long he remains in their shadow is something to watch closely. On loan at Barnsley in England’s League One, Goodman is in fine form having once again sav...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi has reached another milestone, getting his 900th career goal in the opening minutes of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 match against Nashville on Wednesday night. The back-to-back Major League Soccer MVP, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion got it as would be expected — with his left foot, like the majority of his career goals for club and country. He took a pass in the middle of the box in the seventh minute, controlled the ball, spun and lined a low shot through a maze of defenders and into the far corner of the net. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only other men’s player with more than 900 goals — at least, by official counts. It took Ronaldo about 100 more matches to get to the milestone than Messi needed; Ronaldo was 39 when he got to 900 goals in September 2024, while Messi doesn’t turn 39 until June. The historic goal drew the attention of star names from even outside the soccer world. Basketball Ha...

LIVERPOOL, England — It has been a season to forget for Mohamed Salah. But the Egyptian icon burst into life Wednesday to fire Liverpool into the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Salah scored his 50th Champions League goal. But this is still far from vintage Salah. He got a first-half penalty so wrong that it was hard to tell if he was trying an audacious ‘Panenka’ chip or if it was simply a horrible mis-kick. Either way, it was an embarrassing moment just before halftime and all too typical of a campaign in which Salah’s powers appear to have diminished. That all changed after the break when he was at the heart of a Liverpool goal spree that sealed a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray and set up a tantalizing showdown with defending champion Paris Saint-Germain. With Liverpool leading 1-0 at halftime through Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal, Salah crossed for Hugo Ekitike to double the advantage. Two minutes later, his fierce shot was saved by Galatasaray goalk...

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi was called up Wednesday for a March 31 friendly match against Guatemala as Argentina gears up to defend its title in the World Cup. The game at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires was arranged after the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain on March 27 in Qatar was called off because of the conflict in the Middle East. Coach Lionel Scaloni left out striker Lautaro Martínez, defender Lisandro Martínez, and midfielder Giovani Lo Celso because of physical problems. Martínez (left calf strain) has been cleared to play but has yet to return for Inter Milan. José Manuel López of Palmeiras in Brazil was called up in his place. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez is unavailable due to physical discomfort. Lo Celso of Real Betis is recovering from a muscle tear. Estudiantes de La Plata defender Tomás Palacios and Racing Club full-back Gabriel Rojas received their first senior national team call-ups. Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was called up despi...

WREXHAM, Wales — Wrexham will play Liverpool in a friendly match at Yankee Stadium as part of its East Coast tour this summer, and by that time, the fast-rising Welsh club will know if it has reached the Premier League. Wrexham has earned an unprecedented three straight promotions and is playing in the second-tier Championship for the first time since the 1980s. Its surge up the English soccer pyramid, documented in the Emmy-winning “Welcome to Wrexham” TV series, began in 2022 with promotion from the non-league fifth division. Wrexham is currently in sixth place in the Championship with 11 games remaining in the season. The top-two finishers secure automatic promotion to the Premier League and the teams that finish third to sixth will qualify for the end-of-season playoffs for the one extra promotion spot. Wrexham’s three-match tour, announced on Wednesday, begins July 25 against Leeds at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Liverpool game is on July 29. The...