Coach Roberto Mancini made eight changes to the starting line-up from the team which lost 1-0 to Portugal in the Nations League in their last outing where he in turn had made nine changes from the previous game.
FIFA World Cup set pulses racing and ended with a young, exciting France team clinching the title.
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Booted out by his beloved Manchester United, suspended by the Football Association and deemed over the hill by many, Cristiano Ronaldo answered everything in the best possible fashion with another record-breaking display on Thursday.
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In his fifth World Cup, Ronaldo will arrive captaining a team of standout players who are widely seen as among the world's best but who have arguably underachieved on the biggest stage.
All you must know about soccer's return to action after coronavirus
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Air pollution in the city is a cause of concern for not only the Sri Lankan cricketers but also for the footballers competing in the Indian Super League as they wore masks while training on Tuesday.
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A summary of Saturday's action in the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship qualifiers.
Having started the year in the 129th position, the Sunil Chhetri-led team end the year at 105th spot in the FIFA rankings
World champions Germany drew 1-1 with Spain in a high tempo friendly on Friday as they launched their preparations for a title defence in Russia while their opponents had striker Diego Costa making his long-awaited comeback as a substitute.
Rediff.com brings you some interesting clicks from the by lanes of Indian cities that summarise the soccer madness...
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The stadiums at Qatar offer plenty of wisdom and chutzpah on how to take our own lives forward.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Manchester United midfielder Angel di Maria's transfers might have amounted to more than 100 million euros, but the price of the Argentine when his first ever transfer was made was just 20 footballs.
Ronaldo was also one of five Premier League players named in the FIFPRO Team Of the Year, which is the only global player award exclusively voted for by professional footballers.
Centre forward Eder, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2016 final against France, was among 10 players from that squad omitted from Santos's list. Other unlucky players included midfielders Andre Gomes and Renato Sanches, forward Nani and defender Eliseu.
On a day when Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first footballer to score goals in five World Cups and also become the second oldest man to score a goal at the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet, FIFA honoured the oldest soccer player to score a goal at a World Cup.
Dignified, unassuming and regarded as Manchester United's greatest ever servant, Bobby Charlton appeared 758 times for the club, scoring 249 goals
Real Madrid and Portugal record goal-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo is certain in his mind that he is the best footballer in the world.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name in the record books as professional football's all-time leading scorer with 807 goals after a brilliant hat-trick against Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Mumbai City made their debut in the competition last year but were eliminated in the group phase, twice losing heavily to Saudi side Al-Shabab.
Images from the Women's European Football Championship matches in England on Saturday.
The World Cup began with 32 teams competing in a group stage, with teams divided into eight groups of four.
India's ranking among Asian Football Confederation members, however, still remained static at 19th place
As the game wound on, Morocco fans screamed "Ole, ole, ole!" in unison, drowning out the handful of Portuguese fans and whistling whenever Portugal took possession of the ball.
Players who have been ruled out or are doubtful for the 2022 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced he will invest over USD 40 million in hotels bearing his CR7 moniker in his native Portugal, Madrid and New York.
Proud Morocco want to build African legacy after World Cup run, says Regragui
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr last week on a 2-1/2 year deal estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($210.94 million).
Retired Ivorian player and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba: "They did it!!!! Well done Morocco for this feat. Long live Africa."
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Brazil failed to make a winning start despite home advantage, a multi-million dollar strike force and a man advantage as they were held 0-0 by South Africa in their opening soccer match at the Rio Olympics on Thursday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
He donned the number seven shirt during his first stint at the club, following in the footsteps of great United players including George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
