Australia have never progressed past the quarter-finals at seven Women's World Cups but with Sam Kerr leading an in-form team in front of their home fans they could...

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne faces up to four months out and could require surgery on a hamstring injury. The 32-year-old was forced off in the first half of June’s Champions League final triumph against Inter Milan and did not play a single minute of pre-season. De Bruyne returned from that hamstring issue as a second-half substitute in the Community Shield shoot-out loss to Arsenal and captained the side against Burnley in Friday’s Premier League opener. But the Belgium playmaker only lasted 23 minutes at Turf Moor, where seemingly out of nothing he signalled to the bench that he had felt something. Guardiola said after the game at Burnley that the issue related to the same hamstring and would see him miss a few weeks, but it appears worse than first feared. “It’s serious, the injury,” the City boss said. “We have to decide if it’s surgery or not surgery, but it will be a few months out.” Guardiola said that decision will be taken in the “next days” and De Bruyne faces “three or four months out” if he goes under the knife. “Ramon (Cugat) saw the images,” Guardiola said of his go-to doctor in Barcelona. “He didn’t personally (do anything) and they have two or three doctors have the same opinion, more or less, what they have to do.” Guardiola was speaking on the eve of City’s first ever UEFA Super Cup appearance, with De Bruyne’s injury leaving him clearly downbeat in Greece. “I have to say the injury for Kevin is a sore blow for us, so he’s a big loss,” Guardiola said at the press conference previewing the clash with Sevilla. “Kevin has specific qualities that you can lose for one game, two games, but for a long time is really, really tough for us. “But at the same time you have to look forward and of course you have alternatives there with different skills because the skills for Kevin are irreplaceable. “But you have different talent players so it’s an opportunity. Life gives you that. “When there’s an injury, there’s an opportunity for the other ones and I’m pretty sure they will take it.” Asked if the injury was down to bad luck or De Bruyne returning too soon, Guardiola shot back: “Give me 25 days of preparation and he will not be injured. “Before I take the decision I spoke to the doctors, the physios with him and he told me ‘I feel good, I feel good’. “So, I said ‘ok, it’ s better start then half-time (take him off) but unfortunately it happened.” Phil Foden looks primed to step up in that role but the severity of De Bruyne’s injury could see City look at a signing before the window closes. “We will see,” he said. “After what happened, we haven’t talked with Txiki (Begiristain, City sporting director). “We will see the chances and possibilities. We will see.” De Bruyne looks set to miss City’s entire Champions League group stage and potentially December’s Club World Cup on top of domestic matters. The severity of the Belgium playmaker’s injury is a big setback and came as a surprise to team-mate Rodri. “Well, I didn’t know it was that much, honestly,” he said. “What can I say? I mean, he is one of the most important players of the club. “For sure we are going to miss him a lot. We are going to try to support him in this bad moment. No one wants injuries. “I saw him the other day and he was positive, he wants to come back (quickly). “He’s an experienced player, he knows he doesn’t have to run fast to come back. He has to recover – that’s the most important part. “We are going to miss him but at the same time I can tell you we have a very complete squad to play these two months without him. “And hopefully we can have him back because he has been so important these years.”

AC Milan were held to a second successive goalless draw in the Champions League at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday to slip...

Troy Lesesne will step in as head coach for New York Red Bulls after Gerhard Struber and the club mutually agreed to part ways.

Croatia’s soccer federation has been fined $165,000 by UEFA for offensive chants and disorder by fans at the Nations League Finals last month

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Nick Castellanos was red hot in the NLDS, but that hasn't carried over to the Diamondbacks series with a World Series spot on the line.

MLB Rumors: Carlos Correa's contract drama back in playCarlos Correa signed with three teams this offseason, only to have two of those deals reneged thanks to suspicious medicals. Correa's ankle appeared to be the holdup for both the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, both of which ...

The Republic of Ireland embark upon a face-saving mission in Faro on Monday evening when they attempt to secure just a second Euro 2024 qualifier victory at the seventh time of asking. Anything but a comfortable win over Group B minnows Gibraltar, the only team Stephen Kenny’s men have beaten to date during a desperately disappointing campaign, would invite derision with automatic qualification gone and a play-off place an unlikely source of salvation. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the game at the Estadio Algarve. The end is nigh Stephen Kenny launched his reign as Ireland manager on twin promises to overhaul an ageing squad and play a more exciting brand of football. He has delivered the former and achieved only partial success with the latter. Unfortunately for him, any progress has not been translated into results and as he heads into what seems certain to be his penultimate competitive game, he has won only five of the 27 which have preceded it. So near, so Faro While the Republic of Ireland’s last away game against Gibraltar – a 1-0 Euro 2020 qualifier win at the Victoria Stadium in March 2019 – was played on the rock itself, the sides have met previously at the Estadio Algarve. Robbie Keane’s double and goals from Cyrus Christie and Shane Long secured a 4-0 Euro 2016 qualifier victory in September 2015. However, their most recent visit to the stadium in September 2021 had a nasty twist in the tail when Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-gasp double overhauled John Egan’s header to hand Portugal a 2-1 World Cup qualifier win. Fergie time? Ireland hope they have found a new talisman for years to come in the shape of 18-year-old Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. The teenager was left painfully isolated for long periods against Greece after hitting the post early on, and he will hope for better service as he attempts to add to his two senior international goals – the last of them against Gibraltar – in seven appearances to date against a significantly more porous defence. Winging it Celtic winger Mikey Johnston has not kicked a ball in anger for his club yet this season after being laid low by a back injury during the summer. Kenny threw him on for the last 20 minutes against the Greeks in an effort to add creativity to his labouring side and, while he remains short of match fitness, Monday’s game could be the perfect opportunity for him to launch his season. The Republic lacked inspiration on Friday evening and Johnston provided just that in a second-half cameo in the reverse fixture, in which he scored the opening goal in a 3-0 win. No points, no goals In many respects, Ireland could not have chosen a better opponent for a game they simply have to win. Gibraltar have lost their last seven – a run culminating in Wednesday night’s 4-0 friendly defeat in Wales – without scoring and have conceded a total of 17 goals and collected no points in their five Group B fixtures to date. They last found the back of the net in a 1-0 friendly victory over Andorra in November. Read More Triumphant Wigan boss Matt Peet aims to emulate coaching heroes Dan Biggar confident future is bright for Wales as Test career draws to end England captain Jos Buttler says Afghanistan defeat ‘tough loss to take’ England’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy after shock Afghanistan defeat England’s shock World Cup defeats as Afghanistan add their name to list Harvey Elliott believes Jordan Henderson deserves better from England fans

Veteran former Spain defender Sergio Ramos said Monday he was returning to his home-town club Sevilla...

Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren combined for 76 points Saturday as the Thunder erased an 18-point deficit to beat Golden State 130-123 in overtime, handing the...

Will Howard threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others as No. 15 Kansas State defeated Troy 42-13

The Chicago Bears are reeling after two discouraging losses to start the season