Tag: Spain

Spain failed to find a way past inspired Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha as the 40-year-old secured a stunning 0-0 draw for the FIFA World Cup debutants and was reduced to tears at his heroics.

La Roja rolled into Atlanta as one of the pre-tournament favourites, with coach Luis de la Fuente boasting that he has the best squad in the competition.

Yet a Spain side featuring a Ballon d’Or winner in Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, fresh from a second consecutive Champions League victory with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and packed with many of the squad that won Euro 2024, could not breach Cape Verde’s dogged defence.

Even the introduction of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal on his return from injury in the second half did not break the deadlock as Vozinha marshalled his backline to a clean sheet they will never forget.

“Very proud. For me, it is an honour for me to represent my country,” Vozinha told reporters. “We are from a small country. Our qualification was very difficult in a group with Cameroon and Libya, but we knew if we followed the plan of the coach, we had a great chance to qualify.

“The dream came true. We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde.”

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Vozinha was only really tested in a short spell of Spanish pressure just before half-time.

He turned over Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header and got down well to Ferran Torres’ low shot before producing his best stop at full stretch from an Aymeric Laporte header.

His tears at full-time were provoked not only by the size of Cape Verde’s achievement, but also by the fact that he was not able to share the moment with his mother and grandparents.

“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here, they died a few years before, and they did everything for me and my life,” he added.

“Also my mum she didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. The money for the visa, we didn’t manage (to do) on time and I would like her to be here.

“But I am very happy and also happy for all the Cape Verdean people.”

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Vozinha’s nomadic career has taken him from his homeland to Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Slovakia before his latest move to Portugal.

And he now has a legion of new fans. In just a few hours, his Instagram account ballooned from a mere 50,000 followers to two million.

Cape Verde coach Bubista paid tribute to one of his most experienced players, who, on his 89th cap, finally reached the biggest stage in world football.

“He was overcome with emotion. He has a lot of experience and has given so much to get to this stage. They were tears of resilience,” said Bubista.

“He has spent many years with us. I normally do not like to comment on individuals, but he had a great performance. He was the best player on the pitch but I think we were defensively very strong and he is there to help the team.”

READ: Uruguay frustrated by Saudi Arabia in World Cup draw

Spain’s ghosts of recent World Cup horror shows reappeared in Atlanta as the European champions were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in their opening game on Monday.

Lamine Yamal was left on the bench as the Barcelona superstar is eased back to fitness after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury and even his appearance as a second-half substitute failed to break down Cape Verde’s dogged defence.

Since winning the World Cup for the first time in 2010, Spain have not won a knockout game and their inability to make dominance of possession count was reminiscent of their meek exits in 2018 and 2022.

“Reality has to sink in,” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. “This is a World Cup. We know that some teams, on paper, they are not better than us and we thought that we were far better than them. But then it’s a struggle to win.”

Blessed with what coach De la Fuente claimed is the best squad in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way and lift the World Cup on July 19.

But the importance of Yamal and Nico Williams to their chances of success was underlined by a flat performance.

Williams also had an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute.

Ranked 67 in the world, Cape Verde were making their debut on the global stage and did a nation of just over 500,000 people proud.

In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.

It took until six minutes before half-time for Spain to seriously threaten.

Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.

Torres tested Vozinha again moments later before Aymeric Laporte’s header from a corner was also clawed away by the Cape Verde number one just before half-time.

The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks and they comfortably held out in the second period until Yamal’s entrance after the second hydration break.

Billed as one of the stars of the tournament, the 18-year-old’s appearance instantly lifted the crowd and injected life into the pedestrian Spanish attack.

His first involvement set up a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.

Yamal also began the move that saw Oyarzabal’s effort deflected over with Spain’s best chance of the second half.

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Cape Verde nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon.

But even without a winner, 40-year-old Vozinha was reduced to tears at full-time as Cape Verde produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far.

“I’ve worked all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,” said Vozinha, who plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division.

“A lot of generations in the past dreamed of this, they didn’t achieve it,” he added. “The dream came true, for all of us.”

Spain’s road to victory in 2010 also began disappointingly with defeat to Switzerland, but they have much to work on ahead of facing Saudi Arabia in Atlanta once more on Sunday.

Cape Verde next take on Uruguay in Miami.

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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fit but will begin the European champions’ World Cup 2026 opener against Cape Verde on the bench.

Barcelona superstar Yamal has not played since suffering a hamstring injury on April 22.

There were fears the 18-year-old could miss Spain’s opening two games of the World Cup, but he has trained all week and is set to feature in Atlanta on Monday.

“He is available, but not to start the game. He is in perfect condition to play some minutes,” De la Fuente told a press conference on Sunday.

Wingers Nico Williams and Victor Munoz are also fit enough only for a place on the bench, limiting De La Fuente’s options in wide areas.

“They are fine to play tomorrow without setting them back. If it was not like that they would not even sit on the bench,” added De la Fuente.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

For the first time, Spain head into a World Cup without a single Real Madrid player in the squad. But that could change in the coming days after the Spanish giants reportedly reached an agreement with Chelsea for the signing of Marc Cucurella for 55 million euros ($63 million).

De La Fuente, though, said he was not concerned his players could be distracted by speculation over their future during the tournament.

“I know the commitment, the professionalism they all have. This happened at the Euros, too, with some of our group, and we lived with it. It has not generated any uncomfortable situation,” he added.

“I can guarantee you that no one in the team would jeopardise the good of the team. And if it is good news for Cucu, or anyone else during the tournament, we will celebrate it.”

Despite limited expectations pre-tournament, La Roja stormed to victory at Euro 2024, beating hosts Germany, France and England in the latter stages.

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This time, they are considered among the favourites to win a second World Cup.

De la Fuente did little to quell expectations as he talked his players up as the best squad in the tournament.

“For me, with all due respect to the rest, it is the best team in the world. The best players,” he said. “To see the level of footballers we have, you only have to see the ones I leave out.

“But the players understand their role and accept it. That is the luck this team has.”

After facing tournament debutants Cape Verde, Spain will also take on Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.

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WAVRE: Spain 5-1 victory over Pakistan handed the Green Shirts their ninth consecutive loss in the FIH Pro League at the Belfius Hockey Arena on Sunday.

Spain started strongly, scoring in the 11th minute when Alvarez Nicolas netted, applying early pressure.

The first quarter ended with Spain leading 1-0. Pakistan had a penalty corner in the second quarter but couldn’t capitalize.

Spain proved more clinical, with Cunill Pepe scoring twice, extending their lead to 3-0 by halftime. Post-break, Pakistan fought back; Abu Mahmood scored in the 43rd minute, briefly offering hope.

Despite two more penalty corners, Pakistan couldn’t convert, and Spain maintained a 3-1 lead into the last quarter.

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Spain dominated down the stretch, netting two more goals through Reyne Merc and Alvarez Nicolas to reach 5-1.

This victory was Spain’s first of the season, moving them to seventh place with five points and a goal difference of -16. Pakistan remains without a win after nine defeats, at the bottom with zero points and a goal difference of -30.

A day earlier, hosts Belgium routed Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League at the Belfius Hockey Arena. Belgium remained dominant throughout the game, never allowing the Green Shirts to make a comeback.

Pakistan squad for FIH Pro League

Goalkeepers: Waqar Ali, Ali Raza.

Defenders: Abu Bakar, Arbaz Ahmad, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufyan Khan.

Midfielders: Nadeem Khan, Ammad Shakeel, Moin Shakeel, Hammad Anjum, Zakriya Hayat.

Forwards: Gjazanfar Ali, Mohammad Emmad, Rana Waleed, Afraz Khan, Rana Wahid, Abdue Rahman, Ahmad Nadeem, Arshad Liaquat, Hanan Shahid.

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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.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

“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.

READ: Infantino draws backlash in Italy over World Cup qualification remarks

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.

READ: Kane Williamson returns to New Zealand squad for West Indies Tests

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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