Soccer

ZURICH (AP) — France will be without captain Griedge Mbock for its opening match at the Women’s European Championship against defending champion England .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt signed Germany forward Jonathan Burkardt from Bundesliga rival Mainz on Friday. The 24-year-old Burkardt signed a contract through June 2030. “Jonny has a lot of qualities that will benefit our game.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain winger Nico Williams agreed to long-term deal on Friday that will keep him at Athletic Bilbao through 2035. Barcelona was reportedly keen on trying to sign the 22-year-old Williams.

ZURICH (AP) — England’s bid to retain its Women’s European Championship title has been boosted by one of its star players nearing a return to full fitness.

LYON, France (AP) — U.S. midfielder Korbin Albert has joined Lyon from Paris Sain-Germain on a three-season deal until the end of June 2028. Albert joined PSG in 2022.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Former Brazil international Philippe Coutinho has completed a permanent move to Vasco da Gama from Aston Villa.

LONDON (AP) — Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape, British police said Friday. Partey has also been charged on one count of sexual assault, with the alleged offenses taking place from 2021-22.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, has died at the age of 61. The Nigerian Football Federation announced the death Thursday.

PARIS (AP) — The family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria is calling for help from the sporting world and soccer great Zinédine Zidane.

Houston Dynamo (6-9-5, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. San Diego FC (12-5-3, first in the Western Conference) San Diego; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: San Diego -141, Houston +338, Draw +291; over/under is 2.