France have no option but to fight back straight away after starting their Euro 2012 soccer qualifying campaign in humiliating fashion, defender Bacary Sagna said.

Former Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan ended his chance to play for the U.S. national team, playing his first competitive game for Armenia in a 1-0 loss to Ireland on Friday in an opening qualifier for the 2012 European Championship. The 23-year-old was born in Armenia but had a green card that made him potentially eligible for U.S.

The sidewalks and parks in Doha are empty in June, as residents head to the air-conditioned malls for relief from temperatures that soar to 48 degrees (118 F). Professional footballers from the region flee to the cooler climes of Europe to train. And anyone looking to cool off with a cold beer in Qatar's capital has to make do with a handful of pubs hidden in five-star hotels, since drinking...

Panama and Costa Rica played a 2-2 draw Friday in a friendly match between two Central American neighbors. Michael Barrantes gave Costa Rica a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. But Panama took a 2-1 lead on goals in the 28th and 39th minutes by Luis Tejada. Alvaro Saborio tied the match in the 52nd before a crowd of 32,000 at newly remodeled Rommel Fernandez stadium in Panama City.