Tag: Spain

Alex Grimaldo believes Spain can emulate their Golden Generation by winning the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 two years after being crowned European champions.

The Bayer Leverkusen left-back was part of the squad that dazzled in Germany in 2024, beating the hosts and richly talented France and England sides to win the trophy.

But La Roja have not won a World Cup knockout game since Andres Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 final.

An ageing squad, who had won the Euros in 2008 and 2012, crashed out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and failed to get past the last 16 in Russia and Qatar.

However, blessed with the prodigious talent of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the European champions arrive in the United States in top form.

Excluding penalties, Luis de la Fuente’s side are unbeaten in 31 competitive games stretching back to March 2023.

Spain will face tournament debutants Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.

“I see us as favourites,” a confident Grimaldo told AFP ahead of his first World Cup.

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“The stats are things of the past. We have to concentrate on the day-to-day and go into the first game against Cape Verde as well-prepared as possible.

“The team is full of confidence and very motivated. We are desperate to do a good job because we have the team to do so.”

A set-piece specialist, Grimaldo came through the ranks of Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy but was forced to move to Portuguese giants Benfica to find regular football.

After seven seasons in Lisbon, his move to Leverkusen propelled him into the national team for the first time in 2023.

Grimaldo was one of the stars as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time and completed a league and cup double under Xabi Alonso in the 2023/24 campaign.

In three seasons in Germany, the 30-year-old has scored 30 goals and provided 45 assists from left-back.

“I am a full-back that offers a lot going forward. I think that makes people think that I don’t know how to defend, when I have defended all my career,” he said.

“I think I am in very good form. I have played at an incredible level for many years, which has brought me to where I am today.”

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No other player has scored more than Grimaldo’s six goals from free-kicks over the past three seasons in Europe’s top five leagues.

And he believes only the great Lionel Messi can claim to be better from dead ball situations.

“I think the distance that is best for me is 25 metres out, more or less. I don’t know if there is anyone that hits it better than me, excluding Messi because Messi is Messi,” he said with a smile.

“From further out there are players that hit it very well like Julian Alvarez or Dominik Szoboszlai.”

Despite his prolific Bundesliga form, Grimaldo remains behind Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in the battle to be De la Fuente’s starting left-back.

He believes he suffers as only two players in the Spain squad not to play in La Liga or England’s Premier League.

“It is something that I have said a number of times and I don’t hide it. I think (a return to) Spain is the objective I have for the future, but it depends on many things,” he said.

For now the burning desire is to return home as a World Cup winner.

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Spain gave a taste of what makes them one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 favourites with a 3-1 win over Peru on Monday in their final friendly before the showpiece kicks off.

The European champions were missing Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as he recovers from injury but still had too much for a Peru side who did not qualify.

The 18-year-old Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams are expected to be available for Spain’s World Cup opener against debutants Cape Verde on June 15.

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Luis de la Fuente’s team took the lead after just two minutes in Puebla, Mexico, when Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal rifled into the top corner from outside the box.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri doubled Spain’s lead on 32 minutes, and a Pedro Gallese own goal eight minutes after half-time made it 3-0 when the goalkeeper flapped a cross into his own net.

Jairo Velez scored a consolation after 66 minutes in front of a crowd of 46,000.

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Lamine Yamal has been named in the Spain squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, announced by coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday, which also included Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino after his recent return from injury.

For the first time at a World Cup, the Spain squad will not feature a Real Madrid player, with Dean Huijsen dropped and veteran Dani Carvajal also excluded after struggling through an injury-hit campaign.

Merino, a favourite of coach De la Fuente, appeared as a substitute for the Gunners against Crystal Palace on Sunday in their final Premier League match, for his first appearance since January after a foot fracture.

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De La Fuente also called up defenders Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill after impressive seasons with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, respectively, deciding to leave out Huijsen and Atletico’s Robin Le Normand.

Along with teenager Barca star Yamal, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams played a key role as Spain won Euro 2024, and he is in the squad despite a season badly disrupted by fitness issues.

Yamal, 18, is a doubt for the first matches of the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury with Barcelona, which has kept him out since late April.

Spain squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona)

Defenders: Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri, Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)

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Former Spain coach Robert Moreno denied using artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to prepare for games during his time in charge of Russian club Sochi on Monday.

Moreno left top-flight side Sochi in September 2025 after a poor run of results and reports emerged recently in Russia saying he had heavily relied on ChatGPT in his role, even using it to decide between potential signings.

“I have never used ChatGPT or any AI to prepare matches, decide line-ups, or choose players. That is completely false,” wrote Moreno in an open letter sent to Spanish newspaper Marca.

The 48-year-old said he used technology in his job but made his decisions himself and with his staff.

“My career in football began precisely through data and video analysis. It’s what I specialise in and what made the difference in my early days,” continued Moreno.

“Like any professional coaching staff, we use analysis tools — GPS, Wyscout (a football analytics database), video, scouting platforms.

“Technology helps process information faster, but the sporting decisions are always made by the coaching staff.”

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Moreno said the reports about his use of ChatGPT came from former club executive Andrei Orlov whom he had differences with.

“My departure was by mutual agreement at a time of inconsistent results and disagreements over sporting planning, as is common in football,” added Moreno.

“To present it as being ‘fired for using ChatGPT’ simplifies something much more complex and is also untrue.”

Moreno, who has also coached Monaco and Granada, took over the Spanish national team on a temporary basis in 2019 from Luis Enrique.

He was appointed on a full-time basis in June that year after Luis Enrique resigned because his daughter Xana was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.

Spain rehired Luis Enrique to replace Moreno in November 2019 after his daughter’s death. The coach accused Moreno of being “disloyal” for trying to stay in charge for Euro 2020.

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Italy claimed a third Davis Cup in as many years on Sunday after beating Spain 2-0 in front of delighted home fans in Bologna and completing a treble without star player Jannik Sinner.

Flavio Cobolli sparked loud celebrations by coming back from a set down to beat Jaume Munar 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 and ensure that Italy retained their title.

Matteo Berrettini had earlier cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Pablo Carreno Busta, setting Filippo Volandri’s team up for victory without the doubles match needing to be played.

“This was my dream, we’re a really united team, and we tried to recreate the spirit of the Italy team that won the (football) World Cup in 2006,” said Cobolli.

“I’m really proud of everyone and our brilliant fans are also part of this team. I’ve been repeating for three days but it’s the best day of my life.”

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori haven’t been employed in a doubles contest in northern Italy as the hosts won the Davis Cup without losing a match.

It’s an impressive feat by Italy who competed without their two highest-ranked players in superstar Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.

Both players sit in the top 10 of the men’s world rankings and were major absences for the tournament, especially as they chose not to take part in the title defence on home soil.

“It doesn’t matter who goes out there for us, we have a deep squad and we have a lot of great lads who play great tennis,” said Berrettini.

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Spain, too, were missing their top player in world number one Carlos Alcaraz, but the six-time Grand Slam winner would have played had he not suffered a hamstring injury during his ATP Finals showdown with Sinner a week ago.

Their bid for a seventh Davis Cup came up short after returning to the final for the first time since 2019.

“It was a very, very, very close tie,” said Spain captain David Ferrer. “We were really close.”

“Italy, in important moments, they play really good,” he added. “It’s not easy for us to play in Italy against Italy.”

Earlier on Sunday, the head of the International Tennis Federation insisted that top players were not snubbing the competition.

“There’s this false feeling out there that top players don’t represent their nation. That’s not true,” David Haggerty told reporters ahead of the final.

“Some of those top players that played in the qualifier round or the second qualifier round didn’t make it to the finals. And so we had many top players who have played.”

American Taylor Fritz, Australian Alex de Minaur, Dane Holger Rune and Norwegian Casper Ruud, all in the top 20 of the men’s rankings, featured in the early rounds of the competition without managing to reach the finals with their respective nations.

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Lamine Yamal returned to the Spain squad named on Friday after injury forced Barcelona’s young star to miss last month’s World Cup qualifiers.

The 18-year-old will be featuring in the lineup to face Georgia and Turkey next week.

He was out of Spain’s previous fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria due to a groin problem.

But after recovering from a groin injury and returning to club duty, Yamal is back in the reckoning to face Georgia on November 15 in Tbilisi, followed by Turkey in Seville three days later.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz is also fit again after recovering from a leg injury suffered in the 2-1 Champions League defeat of Barcelona at the start of October.

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Spain, the European champions, are top of Group E, with automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in their grasp.

While Yamal returns to national duty, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente will be missing his Barca teammate Pedri.

Also out of contention with injury are Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, and Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand.

Spain squad:

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, Álex Remiro and David Raya.

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marcos Llorente, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, Dean Huijsen and Pedro Porro.

Midfielders: Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Aleix García, Pablo Barrios, Álex Baena and Pablo Fornals.

Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Samu Aghehowa, and Borja Iglesias.

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Aymeric Laporte has replaced injured Dean Huijsen in the Spain squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to a calf injury.

“Huijsen arrived with symptoms of muscular fatigue at the Spain national team camp on Monday night,” said the Spanish football federation in a statement.

“On Tuesday he did not train… and on Wednesday he had a medical test confirming a muscular injury, which Real Madrid have been informed of.”

Real Madrid said Huijsen has suffered a “calf muscle injury in his left leg”, without specifying an expected recovery date.

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Spanish media reported he is likely to return in 10-12 days, putting in doubt Huijsen being fit for Madrid’s La Liga game at Getafe on October 19.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined Real from Premier League club Bournemouth this summer and made his Spain debut in March in the Nations League.

Laporte, who recently rejoined Athletic Bilbao, was a key part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024.

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez had already withdrawn from the squad for the games against Georgia and Bulgaria on Saturday and October 14, respectively.

Spain tops Group E after beating Bulgaria and Turkey in their opening qualifiers for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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Spain confirmed Monday Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez will not be joining them for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, after suffering a hamstring injury.

Rodri is “out of the squad because of injury” said the Spanish national team in a statement, ahead of games against Georgia and Bulgaria on October 11 and October 14 respectively.

The 29-year-old was taken off in the 21st minute of City’s Premier League win over Brentford on Sunday, confirming after the game he had felt discomfort in his hamstring.

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Rodri was a key part of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph but suffered a serious knee injury in September of that year, missing the majority of last season as he recovered.

Spain did not say if they would be calling up another player in place of the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

On Sunday coach Luis de la Fuente selected Celta Vigo striker Borja Iglesias to replace injured Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

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Inter Miami’s former Barcelona and Spain star Sergio Busquets said Thursday he will retire from football at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

The 37-year-old midfielder made the announcement in a social media post.

“These will be my last months on the pitch. I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all grateful,” Busquets said in a video on his Instagram page.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone and to football for everything. You will always be a part of this beautiful story.”

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An elegant, skillful player known for his poise and calmness on the ball, Busquets is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in history.

He was a key figure in nine Spanish league victories with Barcelona and also helped the club win three Champions League titles.

He was a member of the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, winning 143 caps.

He retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, and in 2023, he headed to the United States to link up with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

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Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or at an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, the third consecutive year she has taken the prize.

Bonmati edged out Mariona Caldentey, her teammate in the Spain side beaten on penalties by England in the Women’s Euro 2025 final in July.

The 27-year-old midfielder also lost the Women’s Champions League final with her club last season, at the hands of Caldentey’s Arsenal.

Bonmati was named player of the tournament at the Euros, despite not starting either of Spain’s first two matches as she recovered from a bout of viral meningitis.

“I am very proud,” said Bonmati, who credited her teammates for their role in her personal triumph.

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“I think I am here for the third consecutive time because of the teams I play in, so all of this is because of them.”

Alessia Russo, one of the nominees from the triumphant England European Championship team, came in third place.

The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual prize in both men’s and women’s football, and Bonmati’s run of three in a row follows back-to-back victories for her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas.

Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and USA star Megan Rapinoe are the only other players to have won the Women’s Ballon d’Or since it was introduced in 2018.

The Ballon d’Or is voted for by a panel of journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA world rankings for the men, and from the top 50 for the women.

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