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…
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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 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 Delhi, June 26 (IANS) Former Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ashley Westwood has tipped Spain to overcome Uruguay in one of the most anticipated knockout clashes of the FIFA World Cup, while describing teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as a “special talent” destined for greatness.Westwood said Spain’s ability to control possession and dictate games gives them an advantage, even though Uruguay is known for its fighting spirit.”Spain will have the edge because they control possessi…
New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) Spain head into their crucial Group H fixture against Saudi Arabia carrying the tag of one of the most complete teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a squad capable of challenging for the title on multiple fronts.La Roja have combined technical excellence, tactical versatility and emerging young talent to establish themselves among the tournament favourites. As they prepare for a key test against Saudi Arabia, there are several reasons why opponents continue to view S…
Gangtok, June 12 (IANS) The ongoing FIFA World Cup has further strengthened football’s popularity in Sikkim, where the sport has witnessed significant growth in recent years, according to Tseten Bhutia, Assistant Director of the Sikkim Sports Department.Speaking about football culture in the Himalayan state, Bhutia noted that the game has become a vital part of life for people in Sikkim, thanks to the success of the Sikkim Premier League (SPL). “Over the years, the football scene in Sikkim has e…
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 5 (IANS) The Spain national team flew to the United States on Friday to continue with its preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals, with a few questions still to be answered.Spain flies from Santiago de Compostela (northern Spain) to Nashville after Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Iraq, and from Nashville, the team travels to Baylor School in Chattanooga, which will be its base for the tournament.It is hard to draw many conclusions from Thursday’s game in which the Spanish were f…
Madrid, May 28 (IANS) FC Barcelona are closing in on their first signing for the 2026-27 La Liga season after reportedly reaching an agreement to sign England international winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported on Wednesday that the deal is worth around 70 million euros (81.3 million U.S. dollars), plus an initial 10 million euros in performance-related variables.The newly crowned La Liga champion has reportedly fought off strong interest …
Madrid, May 25 (IANS) Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Monday he had picked a “well-balanced” and “well-considered” 26-man squad for the World Cup, with his selections showing both loyalty to trusted players and a willingness to take calculated risks.One of the unluckiest players to miss out is Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro, who has been replaced by Barcelona’s Joan Garcia. Remiro has been part of De la Fuente’s squads for the past three years and has been valued as a positive presence …