Madrid, June 10 (IANS) Spain midfielder Mikel Merino believes the European champions have every reason to back themselves against any opponent at the FIFA World Cup 2026, insisting that his side can beat anyone when they are at their best. Having arrived at UEFA Euro 2024 without being considered among the leading contenders, Spain transformed perceptions by lifting the trophy and have since emerged as one of the favourites for the World Cup.”It’s true that teams didn’t see us as one of the …
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Puebla, June 7 (IANS) Spain’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup enter a crucial phase as Luis de la Fuente’s side travel to Mexico for their final warm-up match against Peru on Monday before opening their campaign against Cabo Verde on June 15. The Spanish squad left for Puebla on Sunday after arriving at their World Cup base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday. The match presents an additional challenge, with Puebla located around 2,100 metres above sea level, leaving Spain little time to ac…
Madrid, June 3 (IANS) Spain will play the first of their two warm-up matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday night when they face Iraq at Deportivo La Coruna’s Riazor Stadium.The friendly, Spain’s only match on home soil before the squad flies to Mexico to meet Peru on June 9 in the second preparatory match, will give coach Luis de la Fuente a chance to hand minutes to most of his players.However, with Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Victor Munoz still working their way back from muscle…
Madrid, May 21 (IANS) Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said that he has already decided on the 26 players who will form his squad for this summer’s World Cup.De la Fuente will name his squad on Monday after the last round of matches in La Liga, and in an interview with former Spain player Mario Suarez, he admitted the “squad is already decided and the approach and strategy are too.”He admitted it was “possible” he could include players who haven’t played for Spain before and “three” goalkeepers, wh…
Madrid, May 18 (IANS) Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has suffered a major setback ahead of naming his World Cup squad after FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez was ruled out of the tournament with a broken foot.Lopez fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the 3-1 win against Real Betis on Sunday. The Spanish champions announced that Lopez will have surgery, but did not give a timeframe for his return.”Fermin Lopez suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone in his righ…
Madrid, May 2 (IANS) The Spanish football federation has confirmed on Saturday that the team will play an extra warm-up match against Iraq ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will commence on June 12.Spain’s clash against Iraq will happen at the iconic Deportivo La Coruna’s Riazor Stadium on June 4 and will serve as Spain’s final match before traveling to Mexico, where they will face Peru in another preparatory fixture in Puebla, as reported by Xinhua.Spain and Iraq have met only once before…
Madrid, April 28 (IANS) Atletico Madrid face Arsenal at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, in a rematch of the league phase meeting that Arsenal won 4-0 in London in October.Since then, Arsenal’s imperious early-season form has dipped, with Mikel Arteta’s side now locked in a tight Premier League title race with Manchester City.Injuries have also taken a toll. Mikel Merino is a long-term absentee and is doubtful for the World Cup, Ju…
London, Jan 15 (IANS) Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi helped Arsenal take a one-goal advantage into the second leg after a breathless 3-2 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.White headed home Declan Rice’s corner after seven minutes before Gyokeres tapped home White’s low cross in the second half. Alejandro Garnacho halved the deficit before Zubimendi rounded off a flowing move to make it 3-1.Garnacho then found his second of the game seven …