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Tag: Spain

  • Enrique quits as Spain manager

    Enrique quits as Spain manager

    Luis Enrique

    Spain announced the departure of Luis Enrique as coach of the national team on Thursday following the team’s shock penalty shootout defeat on Tuesday to Morocco in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, and his replacement was named.

    The former Barcelona manager, whose contract with Spain was set to end this month, took full responsibility for his team’s earlier than expected exit from the tournament.

    The Spanish FA announced that Luis Enrique would be replaced by Spain under-21 manager Luis de la Fuente. De la Fuente, 61, guided Spain’s under-19 side to a European Championship title in 2015 and led the under-21s to the same honour in 2019, while he was in charge of the team that won a silver medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

    A statement from the Spanish FA said: “The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.

    “The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new national coach. The sporting director, Jose Francisco Molina, has transferred a report to the president, Luis Rubiales, in which he recommends the coach to lead the new chapter that begins after the World Cup in Qatar.

    “The RFEF board of directors must approve the appointment next Monday.”

    In a statement published on his social media channels, Luis Enrique thanked the Spanish FA for having appointed him, the players, who he said had been “exemplary in their behaviour” and the fans. He also said the national team needed “support” to allow De la Fuente to succeed while in charge of Spain.

    “Everything started four years ago and how quickly time has passed,” Luis Enrique said.

    “I can only be super grateful to those who appointed me twice (president Rubiales and sporting director Molina).

    “How could I not [be grateful] to the players who have been exemplary in their behavior and faithful to the idea put forward. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you more.

    “Last but not least, to the fans who in a uniform way have transmitted their support in all moments and especially the most delicate ones.

    “It’s time to say goodbye and in these cases just a small reflection… What the national team needs is SUPPORT in all its meaning so that Luis de la Fuente can achieve everything that is proposed.”

    December 8, 2022
  • 2022 World Cup: Morocco beat Spain to qualify for quarterfinal

    2022 World Cup: Morocco beat Spain to qualify for quarterfinal

    Spain crashed out of yet another major tournament on penalties thanks to Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi’s perfect Panenka.

    Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed their spot-kicks for the 2010 champions as Morocco made history by reaching the World Cup quarters for the first time.

    Luis Enrique’s Spain meanwhile have now been knocked out of the last three international competitions from 12 yards – including the 2018 World Cup and last summer’s Euros.

    Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou was the hero – saving two while the other smacked his left-hand post, and was held aloft by his jubilant team-mates at the end.

    And PSG full-back Hakimi then stepped up to score the winner with an outrageous dink down the middle of the goal to leave Unai Simon red-faced.

    December 6, 2022
  • 2022 World Cup: Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain are favourites for title -Messi

    2022 World Cup: Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain are favourites for title -Messi

    Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring the goal

    Lionel Messi named his favourites to win the 2022 World Cup after Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Australia in the round of 16 on Saturday.

    The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward scored his team’s first goal to inspire the Albiceleste to qualification to the quarter-finals, where they will take on the Netherlands.

    “[Argentina] are one of the candidates,” Messi told the media.

    “Argentina are a powerhouse and are always among the best.

    “We knew we were one of the candidates, but we had to prove it on the pitch and we proved it again against Australia.”

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    The forward was then asked about the other teams in the tournament.

    “We watch all the World Cup and all the matches we can,” he revealed.

    “Brazil are doing very well, despite the defeat against Cameroon. They are still one of the great favorites.

    “France are also doing well and Spain, despite losing to Japan, are a team that play very well, that are very clear about what they do and it is very difficult to take the ball away from them, as they control possession for a long time. It will be difficult to beat them.”

    Messi speaking on the elimination of Germany from the group stage for the second consecutive World Cup said: “I was surprised that they were out.

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    “They had many top players, and they are a young team that is always among the best in a World Cup.

    “It’s surprising that they were out again in the first round, but that shows how difficult the World Cup is.

    “It’s no longer the name of the national team that matters, but what you see on the pitch. Everything is becoming more and more equal.”

    December 5, 2022
  • Balde added to Spain World Cup squad as late replacement

    Balde added to Spain World Cup squad as late replacement

    So many special talents have emerged from FC Barcelona’s academy over the years and Alejandro Balde, who also goes by the name of Álex Balde, has what it takes to become the next great La Masia alumnus.

    Still only 19 years of age, the left-back has already earned the respect of Xavi Hernández, one of the greatest players to ever graduate from La Masia.

    And now he’s gone a step further, earning a call-up to Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    Baldé, who was born in Barcelona in 2003 to a father from Guinea-Bissau and a mother from the Dominacan Republic, first caught the eye in pre-season this past summer.

    Barça coach Xavi was full of praise for the youngster in press conferences: “Balde is part of my plans, as he has had a very good pre-season,” he said. “He will provide very good competition for Jordi Alba. He is a very young footballer, for the future, but one who can also help us out now.”

    Xavi then put those words into action by starting Balde in FC Barcelona’s second match of the new season, the difficult away trip to Real Sociedad. Even though the club’s veteran left-back Jordi Alba was fit and available, Xavi placed his faith in Balde to occupy the left-wing-back role in a new-look 3-4-2-1 formation.

    That trust immediately paid off, as Balde burst forward down the left flank inside the opening minute and assisted Robert Lewandowski’s first ever LaLiga Santander goal, with the ball rippling the net just 45 seconds after kick-off. The Polish forward then ran to celebrate his historic first goal for Barça with the player who made it possible, a player almost half the striker’s age.

    With interventions like this, Balde has been able to win over the superstars of the dressing room. He has even earned the respect of Jordi Alba, the player who stands to lose the most minutes from Balde’s progression. When the young talent was substituted off for Raphinha against Real Sociedad, Jordi Alba, who was still on the bench at that point, was the first to go over and congratulate the youngster. That says a lot about how highly regarded Balde is among the members of FC Barcelona’s first team.

    Beyond this world cup, he’ll be hoping for better long-term luck than he had last year. At the start of last season he made his debut and a couple of early season appearances under Ronald Koeman, but then suffered the first of a series of injuries. In total, the left-back featured in seven first-team matches last term, impressing enough to earn minutes under Koeman, under Xavi and under interim boss Sergi Barjuán too, but he could have played in many more matches had he not been so unlucky health wise.

    The fact that injuries kept Balde sidelined for so much of last season makes it all the more impressive that he was nominated for the 2022 Golden Boy award, the prize given out each year by Italian newspaper Tuttosport to the best Under-21 talent. Balde made the original list of 100 players and then also survived the cut down to just 60 candidates, even having had limited opportunities to show what he can do.

    Now, it seems that Xavi will be giving Balde more chances to showcase his talents in LaLiga Santander matches, with the teenager having thoroughly earned these opportunities.

    He has already won over all those around him, and is only just getting started. And what better scene to make your mark as a youngster than the World Cup?

    November 18, 2022
  • Sergio Ramos laments World Cup snub

    Sergio Ramos laments World Cup snub

    Sergio Ramos has expressed his disappointment at missing out on this year’s World Cup with Spain boss Luis Enrique opting not to take the 36-year-old.

    Ramos has reacted to the fact he won’t be going to what would have been his fifth World Cup. Omitted from the squad by Luis Enrique, the PSG defender has released a statement on his Instagram sharing his thoughts.

    “I can say that this season I feel like myself again and am back to enjoying football, playing for a great club in a great city like Paris. The World Cup? Of course, it was one of those big dreams I wanted to realize but. It would have been my fifth, unfortunately, I’ll have to watch it at home. It’s tough, but the sun will still rise in the morning.”

    The veteran defender has put his omission down to a tough 21/22 campaign, a season that saw him play just 12 times for the French champions due to an abundance of injuries, including a calf problem that kept him out of action for almost four months.

    Ramos hasn’t featured for the Spanish national team since March 2021. He came on as a substitute in their 3-1 win over Kosovo during the qualification stage for the upcoming tournament in Qatar.

    PSG host Auxerre in Ligue 1 and Galtier does not intend to spare any of his stars before they fly to Qatar.

    Ramos is Spain’s most capped player of all time having played 180 times for his country. He’s also tied with Iker Casillas for the most appearances at a World Cup tournament with 17.

    Featuring heavily for Christophe Galtier’s side this season, Ramos has a chance to rest and recover before PSG’s quest for domestic and European silverware resumes against Strasbourg on December 28.

    November 15, 2022
  • I’Il aim for Barcelona presidency in future, says Pique

    I’Il aim for Barcelona presidency in future, says Pique

    Gerard Pique has said he will focus on his other business ventures before taking a run at the Barcelona presidency after retiring from professional football this week, BBC reported.

    Pique went out with a tirade of expletives towards referee Jesus Gil Manzano on Tuesday, although he insisted the referee’s version of events is not entirely true and refutes some of the insults he is charged with saying.

    The former Spain international also spoke about his respect for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez but expressed surprise at how he handled the failed launch of the European Super League last year.

    “I’m sure it will appeal to me at one point but not right now,” Pique told Ibai Llanos on Twitch on Wednesday in a wide-ranging interview, the first since he announced his retirement from football last week.

    “Not training every day will give me the opportunity to focus on other things. In the future, we will see, but I would like to help the club of my life maximise the potential it has.”

    Pique, 35, is already the owner of second division side Andorra, who he said he can now give more attention to, and through his company Kosmos is also involved in various other projects, including the tennis tournament the Davis Cup and various esports endeavours.

    The defender’s final game for Barca ended with a half-time red card against Osasuna on Tuesday, meaning he was unable to come on for what would have been the 617th and final appearance of his career with the Catalan club.

    Gil Manzano’s report after the game detailed how Pique had launched a wave of abuse against him, but Pique said the referee’s explanation is incorrect and added that it was a teammate who shouted the most extreme insult.

    “I went to talk to him about various moments in the game, saying that he had screwed us and, at that moment, he sent me off,” Pique said. “I had not said anything else at that moment and he dismissed me.

    “His report is not right. I did not insult him or anything. Then, once sent off, I go into the dressing room, which is next to the referee’s dressing room, and a teammate shouts the phrase that is in his report. And the referee hears that next door and puts the words in my mouth.”

    November 10, 2022