Germany are trying to move into a new era after their disastrous World Cup campaign, but Thursday's 0-0 draw with France showed the importance to coach Joachim Loew of keeping faith in the old guard.

Roberto Mancini takes charge of his first competitive game as Italy coach in Friday's Nations League opener against Poland in Bologna with the tough task of rekindling the nation's love affair with their national side, decimated after the low of their World Cup fiasco.

The former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss was appointed in May after the four-time winners' shock failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Two years ago, the Islamic State group offered two successful Iraqi weightlifters a choice -- either they compete in the Rio Paralympics, or stay in Mosul, then controlled by the jihadists.

Superstar attacker Neymar leads a powerful Brazil side into a pair of North American friendlies starting Friday against a young United States lineup eager to test itself against world powers.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who sold AC Milan after a trophy-laden three decades under his ownership a year ago, could be set to return to football by buying Serie C side Monza, according to press reports in Italy on Thursday.

Colin Kaepernick's re-emergence as the face of a new Nike advertising campaign has underscored an uncomfortable truth for the NFL as the 2018 season prepares to kick off on Thursday.

Rafael Nadal, trapped in a nightmare first set against Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open, knew where to look for answers.

Luis Suarez believes Paul Pogba should be challenging for more trophies than he is at Manchester United and would always be welcome at Barcelona. 

France star Antoine Griezmann insists he deserves to be on the podium for this year's Ballon d'Or after winning the World Cup and major silverware with Atletico Madrid.

Five-time champion Roger Federer crashed out of the US Open on Monday, beaten in four sets by 55th-ranked Australian John Millman.