Football: Body recovered from wreckage of plane carrying footballer Emiliano SalaLONDON (REUTERS) - A body has been recovered from the wreckage of the plane that was carrying Argentina-born professional soccer player Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Britain said late...

Football: Real Madrid, Atletico close in on BarcelonaMADRID (AFP) - Karim Benzema shot Real Madrid to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with the winner in a scrappy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, while countryman Antoine Griezmann fired a brace in a 3-2 win over Real Valladolid to take Atletico Madrid level...

Football: Little people, big ambitions - China trials football kindergartensSHANGHAI (AFP) - President Xi Jinping has vowed to make China a footballing force and is prepared to go to great lengths to do it, sending thousands of toddlers to "football-focused" kindergartens.China, which has a population of 1.4 billion but...

Football: World Cup 2022 or bust for Lippi on China return, country will host 2023 Asian CupSHANGHAI (AFP) - Marcello Lippi says he will quit for a second time if he fails to guide ambitious China to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.The 71-year-old Italian World Cup winner is back as national coach just four months after leaving.But...

Football: Guardiola to make late decision on Silva for Palace tripMANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City linchpin Bernardo Silva faces a late fitness test before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, his manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday (April 12).The Portuguese international has emerged as one of...

Football: Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over ArsenalMANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday (Feb 3) and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool.The victory put the pressure on Liverpool ahead of their...

Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates - pressure comes with the territoryTOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan captain Maya Yoshida warned his young teammates that they will need to handle the pressure that comes with being Asian Cup favourites as the four-time winners prepare to open their campaign against Turkmenistan...

Young Lions pull out of AFF U-22 c'shipThe Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced yesterday that the national Under-22 team will not be competing at next month's Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-22 Youth Championship.A packed schedule in the opening months of this year has meant that Fandi Ahmad's Young...