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Tag: Spain

  • Jorginho secures Italy’s spot in Euro 2020 final

    Jorginho secures Italy’s spot in Euro 2020 final

    Italy beat Spain on penalties to reach the Euro 2020 final after an enthralling semi-final at a noisy Wembley.

    After Alvaro Morata’s penalty was saved, Jorginho strolled up to score and set up a final with either England or Denmark in London on Sunday.

    Federico Chiesa looked as if he had sent Italy – who are unbeaten in 33 games – to the final in normal time with a delightful curled finish to cap off a quick counter.

    But Morata stepped off the bench to slot an equaliser with 10 minutes to go after a one-two with Dani Olmo.

    But the Juventus forward’s penalty miss in the shootout proved costly as Spain lost a semi-final for the first time in their history.

    Fears about an empty or quiet crowd proved unfounded despite tickets still being on sale during the day, and with fans unable to fly from either country without quarantining for too long to watch the game.

  • Barca should block Pedri from Olympics – Guardiola

    Barca should block Pedri from Olympics – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged Barcelona midfielder Pedri to snub the Olympics Games.

    Pedri, currently with Spain at the Euros, has been selected by Spain for the Tokyo Games.

    But Guardiola said: “I think that a competition in the summer is enough. Messi went to the Olympic Games (in 2008) because he had neither the World Cup nor the Copa America.

    “Ferran Torres and Rodri could have gone to the Games and they don’t go, but they’ve already gone to the Euro. It’s too much. They should turn it down. We pay them very well and they serve the club.

    “Going to the Euro is very good for them, they are doing very well.”

  • Italy clash with Spain will be battle until the end – Bonucci

    Italy clash with Spain will be battle until the end – Bonucci

    Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says Italy will be ready for Spain in their Euro 2020 semifinal.

    Italy face Spain on the back of victory over Belgium.

    “We knew Belgium’s quality, especially in attack and the danger they posed to us on the counter,” Bonucci told RAI Sport.

    “We went 2-0 up and were dominating the game, then they got back into it with a dubious penalty, we did really well to hold on and showed once again how important the heart of this Italy side and of the Italians is.

    “Now we can keep dreaming with our feet on the ground. Spain are a great team, but we started this tournament with a dream in our hearts, let’s keep it there until the end,” continued Bonucci.

    “There are two matches to go, the most difficult will be against Spain, who play similar to Belgium. They again looked as if they might not make it, but they got back on their feet, so it’ll be a battle to the end.”

  • I know why Spain fans booing me – Morata

    I know why Spain fans booing me – Morata

    Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata feels he knows why he’s being booed by Spain fans at Euro 2020.

    Morata, on-loan with Juventus, has stated that he is ready to speak about the booing at the end of the European Championship.

    The Spain striker answered his critics with a fine strike to give his side a 4-3 lead in their extra time victory over Croatia in the round of 16 and is solely focused on the task at hand at a critical stage in the tournament.

    “I know the reason [why they keep booing me],” he told Deportes Cuatro.

    “I know it perfectly well and it isn’t very difficult to understand.

    “When the European Championship finishes, if everything goes well, I will speak. I have no problem. I am fully aware why they boo me, of course.”

  • Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Spain reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 in dramatic fashion by beating Croatia in extra time after an eight-goal thriller.

    Luis Enrique’s side were rocked when Croatia substitutes Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic scored twice in the final five minutes to come back from 3-1 down and force extra time, but Spain rallied as the added 30 minutes produced yet more drama.

    Striker Alvaro Morata, who revealed before the match that his family have been threatened during the tournament as a result of his performances, silenced his critics when he thumped in Spain’s fourth goal in extra time in Copenhagen.

    The scoring did not end there as Mikel Oyarzabal added a fifth goal three minutes later to finally see off Croatia, who had fought bravely in this highly entertaining last-16 tie.

    In a hint of what was to come, 20 minutes into the game goalkeeper Unai Simon failed to control Pedri’s 49-yard back pass, presenting Croatia with the lead.

    That bizarre own goal sparked a response from Spain though, with Pablo Sarabia thumping in an equaliser, Cesar Azpilicueta heading in another and Ferran Torres making it 3-1.

    Spain looked comfortable and poised to cruise through but Croatia burst into action through their substitutes late on to force added time.

    The thrilling moments continued as Simon made up for his earlier error with a heroic stop from close range to deny Andrej Kramaric before Morata went up the other end to crucially put Spain ahead again.

    It was the most entertaining match of the tournament so far and three-time champions Spain will face the winner of France and Switzerland (kick-off 20:00 BST) in the quarter-finals.

  • Euro 2020: Perisic tests positive for COVID-19, out of Croatia vs Spain clash

    Croatia winger Ivan Perisic has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Monday’s Euro round of 16 clash with Spain.

    The Croatian Football Federation confirmed this in a statement released.

    The statement read: “During Saturday evening, Croatian Football Federation received the results of regular testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which showed that player Ivan Perišić has tested positive for novel coronavirus.

    “Medical staff isolated Ivan from the other members of the national team immediately and thoroughly informed epidemiological authorities about the situation, providing evidence of complying with all the necessary measures aimed at protection against the spread of coronavirus.

    “Perišić will spend 10 days in self-isolation and during that period will not participate in the matches of the Croatian national team.

    “All other players, staff and delegation members tested negative. The national team will be traveling from Pula on Sunday 27 June with a charter flight to Copenhagen, where it will play a Round of 16 match of the UEFA EURO 2020 against Spain on Monday.”

  • Popular antivirus software creator, John McAfee found dead in Spanish prison

    Popular antivirus software creator, John McAfee found dead in Spanish prison

    John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official confirmed on Wednesday.

    Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the 75-year-old tycoon’s extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.

    Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive him, but the jail’s medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

    The statement didn’t identify McAfee by name, but said he was a 75-year-old U.S. citizen awaiting extradition to his country. A Catalan government source familiar with the event who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to the AP that the dead man was McAfee.

    Spain’s National Court on Monday ruled in favor of extraditing McAfee, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he was returned to the U.S.

    The court’s ruling was made public on Wednesday and could be appealed. Any final extradition order would also need to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

    Tennessee prosecutors charged McAfee with evading taxes after failing to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consultancy work, as well as income from speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

    The entrepreneur was arrested last October at Barcelona’s international airport. A judge ordered at that time that McAfee should be held in jail while awaiting the outcome of a hearing on extradition.

  • Euro 2020: Sweden send Poland out as Spain earn first win

    Euro 2020: Sweden send Poland out as Spain earn first win

    Sweden substitute Viktor Claesson scored a 93rd-minute winner as a valiant Poland fightback proved in vain and they were eliminated from Euro 2020.

    In a captivating game in St Petersburg, Sweden led 2-0 at the hour mark thanks to two goals from Emil Forsberg.

    But a Robert Lewandowski double put Poland within a goal of the win they needed to advance – only for Claesson to end their hopes.

    Sweden will now prepare for a last-16 tie against Finland or Ukraine at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on 29 June.

    Spain earned their first win at Euro 2020 in style as they thrashed Slovakia to progress as Group E runners-up and set up a last-16 tie with Croatia.

    Luis Enrique’s side head into the knockout stages on the back of their best attacking display of the tournament, proving far too good for a seriously below-par Slovakia.

    Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres all scored after a bizarre own goal from Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka broke the deadlock at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.

    The Slovakia goalkeeper, who earlier saved a penalty from Alvaro Morata, punched the ball into his own net after Sarabia’s effort hit the crossbar and looped into the air.

    Juraj Kucka inadvertently completed the rout for Spain, bundling the ball over his own line from close range.

    Spain’s meeting with Croatia will take place in Copenhagen on Monday, while Slovakia are out.

  • Euro 2020: ​Chelsea defender set for first Spain start

    Euro 2020: ​Chelsea defender set for first Spain start

    Spain are set to turn to veteran defender Cesar Azpilicueta as they attempt to stay at Euro 2020.

    Luis Enrique’s team need to win their remaining game of the group stages against Slovakia on Wednesday.

    Spain have two draws from their two games against Poland and Sweden.

    According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea captain Azpilicueta could be in line for his first start at Euro 2020.

    Sergio Busquets of Barcelona may come in for Manchester City’s Rodri, while changes across the front line are also possible.

  • Euro: Van der Vaart Spain comments just shameful – Busquets

    Euro: Van der Vaart Spain comments just shameful – Busquets

    Barcelona midfielder Sergi Busquets has hit out at Rafael van der Vaart after the Dutchman’s criticism of Spain’s style.

    “Spain are horrible, I hope we play them,” Van der Vaart had said, adding that they didn’t have any player who could make a difference.

    Busquets has now responded, blasting the former Real Madrid midfielder.

    “When you use adjectives like that, you lose any meaning,” the Barcelona midfielder told Mediaset.

    “I don’t understand why he, as a former player, talks like that for a moment of fame or glory.

    “I think it’s shameful.

    “He’s left himself out to dry, I could discredit him even more as a person, for various clashes I had with him in his career that everyone remembers, but I’m not going to do it.”

    Spain face Slovakia to secure qualification from the group stages of the tournament on Wednesday.