Chinese football aims to be top in AsiaSHANGHAI • China wants its domestic league to be the best in Asia and No. 6 in the world as the country ramps up its ambitions to become a major men's footballing power by 2050.Li Yuyi, the Chinese Super League (CSL) chairman, told Xinhua news agency that a better league is a priority...

Football: Rice scores first Hammers goal to defeat ArsenalLONDON (AFP) - Declan Rice's first West Ham goal secured a 1-0 win over Arsenal in a capital city derby clash at the London Stadium.The victory in Saturday's (Jan 12) early kick-off saw the Hammers move up to eighth in the Premier League table, on 31 points, ahead...

Football: Huddersfield's Aaron Mooy dropped from Australia squad for Asian Cup defenceMELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Huddersfield Town midfielder Aaron Mooy has been ruled out Australia's Asian Cup defence after a thorough assessment of his ligament injury, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) said on Monday (Dec 24).The injury...

Cubs to watchSaifullah AkbarAge: 20Position: Attacking midfielderFootball hero: Hariss HarunFact: Saifullah is the son of former Tampines Rovers coach Akbar Nawas, now at Indian I-League side Chennai CitySyahrul SazaliAge: 20Position: Left-backFootball heroes: Shaiful Esah and Andy RobertsonFact: His sister is Putri Nur...

Football: PSG to make late call on Cavani fitness for Man United tiePARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain will make a last-minute decision on the fitness of Edinson Cavani for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Tuesday (March 5)."He has taken a full part...

Football: Jurgen Klopp fires up Liverpool with 'It's only pain' motto, Pep Guardiola urges City to 'be precise'LONDON (THE GUARDIAN) - Jurgen Klopp has vowed Liverpool's injury-hit squad will fight to the last to land the club's first English Premier League title in 29 years on Sunday (May 12) and will go to Wolves with...

Football: Arsenal must improve away form for top-four finish, says EmeryLONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal can finish in the Premier League's top four but must pick up more points from away games by fixing their leaky defence and improving their mentality, manager Unai Emery said on Thursday (Feb 7).Sixth-placed Arsenal, three...

We're not favourites against Germany: Van DijkAMSTERDAM • The Netherlands will not be lulled into a false sense of security when they face a struggling, new-look Germany in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Amsterdam today, Virgil van Dijk has said.The Dutch beat the Germans 3-0 at home last October and came from behind with...

Football: Former England star Paul Gascoigne faces assault trial for kissing incidentLONDON (AFP) - Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge ruled on Tuesday (Jan 8).The 51-year-old ex-Tottenham and Lazio...

Football: My players must want the ball, says new Lions coach Tatsuma YoshidaSINGAPORE - He envisions a pacy and attacking brand of football for the Lions, and new national coach Tatsuma Yoshida was quick to emphasise this philosophy to his players during his first training session on Monday (June 3).The workout at the...