BERLIN: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called on a “brilliant” generation of players to make history for their country in the Euro 2024 final against England on Sunday.
La Roja are aiming to win a record fourth European Championship 12 years after they last lifted the trophy.
With Rodri Hernandez pulling the strings in midfield and explosive young wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in attack, Spain have been the tournament’s great entertainers on the road to Berlin.
“It’s a brilliant generation, many of them have come through successful youth levels and that usually bodes well for success,” De la Fuente told reporters Saturday.
“We want to start to make history — and we have made history already in the run to (the final)... I trust in a great future, there’s both present and future.”
Spain won the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup with many star players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, including Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Ramos and David Villa.
The current side has fewer stars but consider that one of their strong points, with the squad on an even footing and “unity” has been a key word among Spain players at the tournament.
Despite Spain shining en route to the final while England have scraped through, De la Fuente said the clash at the Olympiastadion will be “extremely balanced.”
“Whichever team manages to impose their strengths, whoever makes less errors (will win),” said the coach.
“But you can win a one-off game, even playing far worse (than your opponent).
“We need to have maximum concentration, not make any mistakes and take advantage of the chances we have — put them away.”
The coach thanked injured duo Pedri and Ayoze Perez, who will not be available to face England, and said Barcelona midfielder Gavi will travel to join the team for the final.
The 19-year-old missed most of the season with a knee injury but was an important player for Spain before sustaining it in November.
De la Fuente said it was no challenge to keep Barcelona’s Yamal, who turned 17 on Saturday, and Athletic Bilbao’s Williams, 22, calm ahead of the biggest game of their careers.
“It’s not at all hard, they have such joy, and incredible maturity for such young players, they understand the sport very well and they are well accompanied by more experienced players,” explained the coach.
“We’re a team, it’s not about hailing individuals, and this makes us stronger.”
At the other end of the age spectrum is 38-year-old Sevilla defender Jesus Navas, who started the semifinal win over France in direct confrontation with Kylian Mbappe.
Navas won the 2010 World Cup, 2012 Euros and the 2023 Nations League with Spain and said he would love to lift another trophy with his country.
“To still be enjoying myself with my national team at 38 is incredible,” said the right-back.
“In (Spain’s golden years) we were such a close-knit group, and you could feel it. Now it’s the same, there’s an incredible group. I’m delighted by everything that’s happening to us.
“We know the excitement and hope that we all have and I hope we can win it.”
De la Fuente calls on Spain players to make history in Euros final
https://arab.news/8zxh7
De la Fuente calls on Spain players to make history in Euros final
- “It’s a brilliant generation, many of them have come through successful youth levels and that usually bodes well for success,” De la Fuente told reporters Saturday
Kings League MENA drops line-up of superstar team presidents
- Region’s biggest content creators join SURJ Sports Investment-backed Kings League MENA as team presidents
- Tryouts open, giving talented amateur players from across the region an opportunity to join Gerard Pique’s seven-a-side competition
PARIS: Kings League, former Barcelona player Gerard Pique’s revolutionary seven-a-side football competition, is set to debut its new Middle East and North Africa league in Riyadh, in autumn 2025, under a joint venture with SURJ Sports Investment announced last week.
As SXB FC, the team led by Saudi Arabian streaming sensation SHoNgxBoNg, took the field for its second game at the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025 in Paris, the first team presidents of Kings League MENA were unveiled.
At the same time, the application portal for player tryouts was opened for the newest competition in Kings League’s growing global ecosystem. Talented amateur players from across the MENA region have a life-changing opportunity to play in Kings League, as the selection process gets underway.
Kings League MENA is the latest expansion of the rapidly-growing Kings League global competition ecosystem. This covers leagues in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Latin America and Spain, plus two annual international competitions: the Kings World Cup Clubs and the Kings World Cup Nations.
Through this partnership, SURJ is revolutionizing sport in the region — bringing the MENA region its first digitally native, fast-paced, always-on, creator-powered football league, as it continues to drive investment that helps elevate the area’s sporting ecosystem.
In a dramatic video presentation before the start of last night’s Kings World Cup Clubs match between SXB FC and Kunisports (the team led by football legend Sergio “Kun” Aguero), the first Kings League MENA team presidents were announced:
SHoNgxBoNg (27.6 million social media followers) — The Saudi Arabian streamer vies with Drb7h for the title of number one streamer in the Arab world. He is a two-time winner of Best Influencer at the regional Joy Awards and one of the founding figures of the POWR esports team. He is currently taking part in his second Kings League World Cup, after leading the Saudi Arabian national team to the Kings World Cup Clubs in Italy in January 2025.
Drb7h (8.6 million followers) — Drb7h and SHoNgxBoNg are considered the leading streamers in the Arab world. Drb7h is also from Saudi Arabia and is part of the Falcons Esports team. In 2024, he won the Best Streamer award from the Saudi Esports Federation.
Ilyas Elmaliki (3.9 million followers) — Morocco’s biggest streamer, the man from El-Jadida led the national team that rocked the Kings League universe with a sensational run to the semifinals at the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025.
Tarboun (11.2 million followers) — After a long break from streaming, the gaming legend from Egypt is back and has his eyes on glory in Kings League MENA.
Maherco (12 million followers) — The veteran PUBG and Fortnite streamer is representing Jordan. He will aim to make experience count against his young gun rivals.
Fwaz (861,000 followers) — A rising star of streaming from Kuwait and a key member of the TheUltimates.gg esports team.
Absi (9.9 million followers) — Another up-and-coming streamer, representing Jordan’s next generation.
MENA fans can expect big announcements about more team presidents, the participation of iconic football players, and other exciting developments in the build-up to Kings League MENA.
In the coming months, the players selected during the tryouts will be allocated to their Kings League MENA teams at a draft.
Then, at a special presentation in the weeks leading up to kick-off, the team names, kits, and logo designs will be revealed.
Brazilian star Neymar tests positive for COVID-19
- The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities
- The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains undecided, with his contract set to expire on June 30
Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club Santos said in a statement as quoted by Brazilian media.
The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A side said on Saturday.
The club did not disclose how long Neymar will be out of action and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Neymar is already ruled out of Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza through suspension.
The Fortaleza match will be Santos’ last outing before the Brazilian league pauses for the June 14-July 13 Club World Cup in the United States.
The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains undecided, with his contract set to expire on June 30. Limited by injury, he has made 12 appearances for Santos across all competitions this season, contributing three goals and three assists.
Turkiye rally for 2-1 win in friendly against US, who lose 3rd straight under Pochettino
- With a year to go before co-hosting the World Cup, the US play Switzerland on Tuesday at Nashville, Tennessee, in another friendly, then open the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15
- Preparing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in September, Turkiye have six wins, one loss and one draw in their last eight games
EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut: Turkiye took advantage of a sloppy defense to beat the US 2-1 in a rainy friendly on Saturday, dealing the Americans their third straight loss as Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu scored in a 2-minute, 20-second span midway through the first half.
Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds in for the US, who were missing many regulars as coach Mauricio Pochettino revamped his roster following a dismal performance at the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March.
With a year to go before co-hosting the World Cup, the US play Switzerland on Tuesday at Nashville, Tennessee, in another friendly, then open the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15.
The Americans dropped to 5-4 under Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination last year’s Copa America led the US Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. They have lost three straight for the second time in a year.
Pochettino changed eight starters from the Nations League loss to Canada in March, keeping only left back Max Arfsten, winger Diego Luna and forward Patrick Agyemang.
Defender Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old son of former NFL All-Pro receiver Antonio Freeman, started in his US debut. Matt Freese, a starter at Major League Soccer’s New York City, made his debut in goal. Matt Turner, the usual starter since 2022, didn’t play for Crystal Palace after March 1.
McGlynn scored when he ran onto a pass from Malik Tilman, took several touches, cut inside and curled a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area inside the far post for his second goal in five international appearances. It was the earliest US goal since Shaq Moore scored 20 seconds in against Canada during the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Turkiye tied it in the 24th minute when Freese tapped the ball to Johnny Cardoso, whose pass ricocheted off a leg and past Freese for Guler’s fifth international goal.
Then in the 27th, Miles Robinson tried to clear Oguz Aydın’s shot and the ball went to Akturkoglu, who one-timed a bouncing shot past Freese for his 12th international goal and sixth in eight games.
Turkiye goalkeeper Berke Ozer also made his international debut. Preparing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in September, Turkiye have six wins, one loss and one draw in their last eight games.
Tuchel slams England’s lack of ‘seriousness’ in win over Andorra
- Tuchel’s side were booed at the final whistle in Barcelona after Harry Kane’s 50th minute tap-in saved England from a humiliating draw
- “I liked the attitude how we started the game, the first 25 minutes, but I didn’t like the last 25 minutes, the last half an hour,” Tuchel said
BARCELONA: Thomas Tuchel slammed England’s attitude and accused them of a lack of “seriousness” during Saturday’s lacklustre 1-0 win against minnows Andorra.
Tuchel’s side were booed at the final whistle in Barcelona after Harry Kane’s 50th minute tap-in saved England from a humiliating draw with a team ranked 173rd in the world.
Although England have won all three of their World Cup qualifiers since Tuchel took charge, they have struggled to fulfil the German’s desire for a more attacking style of play.
Their labored efforts against Andorra infuriated Tuchel, who saw alarming signs that his players threw in the towel in the closing stages.
“I didn’t like the attitude how we ended the game,” he said.
“I liked the attitude how we started the game, the first 25 minutes, but I didn’t like the last 25 minutes, the last half an hour.
“I think we lacked the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier.
“We played with fire and I didn’t like the attitude in the end. I didn’t like the body language and I think it was not what the occasion needed.”
England sit top of Group K as they progress toward next year’s World Cup, yet they will need to improve signficantly to make an impact in the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Tuchel was relieved to secure the victory after Andorra pushed for a late leveller, but he conceded his team had played with a lack of energy.
“In the end we played with fire, honestly. I felt it almost like in a cup game where the favorite does not smell the danger,” he said.
“I didn’t feel a team that is aware it’s only 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier because we were not happy with ourselves.
“I’m not blaming them. I even feel like they felt ‘OK, we’re not happy and this is stuck today, it will not happen today’.
“Step by step the energy dropped. We needed exactly the opposite but we couldn’t deliver and so we got away with a win.”
Tuchel had admitted before the game that it might be hard to crush Andorra by a huge margin because his players were tired after a draining domestic campaign.
Nine of England’s squad will jet off to the Club World Cup after Tuesday’s friendly against Senegal in Nottingham.
First, Tuchel will demand a more positive performance at the City Ground next week.
“We will not stop to encourage them and make clear after we have a proper look at the match what we want from them,” he said.
England supporters made up the majority of the crowd at the RCDE Stadium and their displeasure was audible throughout a limp game that felt more like a pre-season friendly.
Tuchel could not blame them for expressing their frustration, with jeers for the team mixed with abusive songs about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“The booing is OK.”
“They were underwhelmed and not happy with our performance, especially how we ended the first half, so I don’t think we can blame them for that,” he said.
“We cannot even blame them how we ended the match. In the opposite. I thought they were fantastic throughout the whole match.
“I did not hear anything about what you said about abusive songs or chants (about the Prime Minister), so if it happens of course it’s not acceptable but I didn’t hear it.”
Italy already fear missing yet another World Cup after Norway nightmare
- Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday’s match in Oslo
- A 2-1 defeat at the San Siro in the first leg left Italy chasing the tie in Germany
OSLO: Italy’s World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway.
Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday’s match in Oslo, while Italy had yet to play, having been involved in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, losing out to Germany.
A 2-1 defeat at the San Siro in the first leg left Italy chasing the tie in Germany and they found themselves 3-0 down at the break before staging a second-half comeback to salvage a draw, and some pride.
It was the same story on Friday for Italy at the Ullevaal Stadium, at least as far as the opening act went. Norway roared into a 3-0 lead in the first half but this time there was no Italian fightback in a goalless second half.
“Enough!” screamed the Gazzetta dello Sport front page on Saturday, after Italy suffered their third loss in a four-game winless run, with the newspaper adding that for Italy the “World Cup is already at risk.”
Next year’s World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico but in the two decades since Italy won the tournament for the fourth time, they have struggled to perform or, more recently, to even get there.
Berlin 2006 seems a lifetime ago now, with Zinedine Zidane sent off for his head butt to Marco Materazzi’s chest and Italy lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout win over France.
The next two World Cups saw Italy exit at the group stage, and while they triumphed at Euro 2020, on either side of that success they missed out on the World Cup after playoff defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia.
With Italy now playing catch-up and only the group winners qualifying automatically, La Repubblica’s front-page headline “Azzurri humiliated in Oslo, the playoff nightmare returns” hints at the frightening possibilities ahead.
Italy’s loss came less than a week after Inter Milan’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of Paris St. Germain in the Champions League final and on both occasions the tired-looking losers were outclassed by a hungrier, more creative side.
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was spared following last year’s dismal Euros but is now under real pressure and nothing but a convincing win at home to Moldova on Monday will do, with media and fans increasingly calling for a change of leadership.
