Arlington, July 14 (IANS) As familiar foes, France and Spain will renew acquaintances on the biggest of stages in a FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final showdown at Dallas Stadium, La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente said he knows Le Blues are a much better team than the one they defeated in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The two teams will face each other for the second time in the final stages of the World Cup after the round of 16 matchup in 2006, which France won 3-1. Since then, the tide has turned,…
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Los Angeles, July 11 (IANS) Two knockout matches, two decisive goals. Mikel Merino has become Spain’s unlikely hero at the FIFA World Cup, establishing himself as one of the tournament’s most effective substitutes.The midfielder came off the bench in the 86th minute and struck just two minutes later to seal Spain’s 2-1 victory over Belgium in Friday’s quarterfinal, sending La Roja into their first World Cup semifinal since 2010. It was a repeat of his match-winning contribution in the round of 1…
Los Angeles, July 11 (IANS) Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised the depth, unity and selflessness of his squad after two of his key selection decisions proved decisive in a 2-1 victory over Belgium that sent the European champions into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals on Friday.Fabian Ruiz, who was handed a surprise start in place of Pedri, broke the deadlock before second-half substitute Mikel Merino came off the bench and fired home the winner just two minutes after his introduction after Belg…
New York, July 9 (IANS) Spain and Belgium meet in an all-European World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, with Belgium facing the daunting task of becoming the first team to score against Spain in the tournament.Spain has yet to concede a goal at the World Cup, with goalkeeper Unai Simón extending his shutout streak in World Cup finals to 609 minutes, a run dating back to the group stage of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.Luis de la Fuente is expected to retain his preferred back four of Marc Cucurell…
New York, July 7 (IANS) Aymeric Laporte and Cristiano Ronaldo experienced contrasting emotions after Spain eliminated Portugal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday.While Ronaldo left the field in tears following Portugal’s exit in the Round of 16, Laporte was all smiles after helping Spain book a place in the quarterfinals while extending one of the tournament’s most remarkable defensive records.Laporte spent two years alongside Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr between 2023 and 2025 before r…
New York, July 5 (IANS) Spain and Portugal will renew one of international football’s fiercest rivalries on Monday when they meet in a blockbuster World Cup round-of-16 tie, with one of the tournament favorites guaranteed to make an early exit.Spain remains among the leading contenders for the title after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Austria in the last 32 reinforced confidence in coach Luis de la Fuente’s side.De la Fuente’s team has scored eight goals in four matches, with Mikel Oyarzabal co…
Los Angeles, July 2 (IANS) Head coach Luis de la Fuente described Spain’s 3-0 win over Austria as nearly faultless but warned tougher challenges await as La Roja seeks a second World Cup title. Mikel Oyarzabal scored either side of Pedro Porro’s first international goal as Spain cruised into the round of 16 at Los Angeles Stadium.”The big teams turn up when their presence is needed,” De la Fuente was quoted as saying by Xinhua. “I think today we’ve seen a great game. I’m happy because in all asp…
Los Angeles, July 2 (IANS) Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said his team is growing in confidence ahead of their FIFA World Cup round-of-32 match against Austria, while warning that there is no room for complacency in knockout football. Spain will face Austria in Los Angeles on Thursday after finishing top of Group H, while Austria advanced as Group J runners-up.”The team knows where it is and feels very confident,” De la Fuente told a pre-match press conference, as quoted by Xinhua. “When I …
New York, July 1 (IANS) Spain will be without two key players for their World Cup Round-of-32 match against Austria in Los Angeles on Thursday, but Lamine Yamal looks likely to play an increasingly important role for coach Luis de la Fuente.Spain’s bruising final group match against Uruguay on Friday left Nico Williams nursing a groin injury after a heavy challenge from Nicolas de la Cruz, while Yeremy Pino suffered a shoulder injury following another bad tackle.Although neither injury is as ser…
New York, June 30 (IANS) Spain has had some positive news on the injury front with the confirmation that winger Nico Williams didn’t suffer a torn groin muscle in his side’s 1-0 win over Uruguay on Friday night and has a chance of playing again in the World Cup. Williams was seen limping badly after the game following a dreadful challenge from behind from Uruguay’s Nicolas de la Cruz and early expectations were that he had suffered a groin injury that would end his World Cup.Williams wrote on so…