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Tag: Spain

  • Euro 2024: France to slug it out with Spain for a place in the final today

    Euro 2024: France to slug it out with Spain for a place in the final today

    Spain versus France, two football heavyweights will clash tonight in a  mouth-watering semifinal clash between both the current and pre-tournament favourites.

    The talismanic Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for the French, while promising young winger Lamine Yamal is also catching the eye. However, France’s form has faltered, despite expectations that they would dominate the competition.

    Despite reaching the final of the last two World Cups—winning in Russia in 2018 and narrowly losing on penalties to Argentina in Qatar in 2022—France’s Euros record under coach Didier Deschamps is less impressive. In his 12 years, their best result was a runner-up spot in 2016 on home soil.

     

    In the quarterfinals, France edged past Portugal on penalties, with Mbappe being substituted after spending more time adjusting his mask than threatening the opposition goal.

     

    Mbappe’s form, after sustaining a broken nose in France’s opener, and the form of forward Antoine Griezmann remain significant question marks ahead of the clash with Spain, who knocked out hosts Germany with a goal in extra time.

    “I don’t give a damn [about the critics],” midfielder Youssouf Fofana told a press conference on Sunday. “We are semifinalists. Questions about the level of Antoine and Kylian? We have to realize that being in the semifinals is enough. So I don’t see why we would nitpick.”

    The second semi – final will see England do battle with Netherlands on Wednesday

  • EURO 2024: Hosts Germany crash out after losing 2-1 to Spain

    EURO 2024: Hosts Germany crash out after losing 2-1 to Spain

     Spain on Friday evening cruised into the semi-final of the ongoing Euro 2024 after defeating hosts Germany 2-1 at the Alianz Arena.

    Both teams  played attacking football from the blast of the whistle but the hosts created more chances in the first half of the encounter.

    All efforts to score by both teams  proved abortive in the first 45 mins of the encounter.

    Upon resumption of the second half, Spain grabbed a goal when Leipzig’s Dani Olmo latched on to a pass from youngster Lamine Yamal and swept the ball past Germany goalie, Manuel Neuer.

    The Spaniards held on with the lone till the very last minute Writz converted for the Germans to draw level for the hosts.

    Mittelstadt received a pass from  the left side of the pitch then sent a cross over to the far post where Kimmich leapt up nod the ball down into the box, Floran Writz was there to connect and fired a shot into the ground and over to the opposite side of goal for the dying minute equalizer for the Germans.

    The match  headed into extra time and just when the referee was preparing to oversee a penalty shoot-out between both teams  Spain’s Mikel  Merino  headed home the winning goal late into extra time to drive the 2012 Champions into the semi-final of the ongoing tournament.

    Spain’s Dani Carvajal was sent of at the death of the thrilling encounter.

    He will miss Spain’s semi-final tie next week Tuesday.

     

  • Euro 2024: Spain to take on Germany as two quarter final fixtures released

    Euro 2024: Spain to take on Germany as two quarter final fixtures released

    The ongoing Euro 2024 tournament holding in Germany has produced two powerful quarter-final fixtures.

    Four teams have already scaled through to the round of 8 following Round of 16 clashes on Sunday.

    Recall that England produced an impressive comeback to beat Slovakia 2-1 in Cologne on Sunday night.

    They will now play Switzerland, who eliminated Italy thanks to a 2-0 victory yesterday.

    In the second game of the day, Spain also came from behind to wallop Georgia 4-1.

    The Spaniards will now take on hosts Germany in the quarterfinal next week.

    Meanwhile today will see France slug it out with Belgium, whilst Portugal clash with Slovenia in the round of 16.

  • Euro 2024: Spain thrash Georgia 4-1 to advance to quarter-final

    Euro 2024: Spain thrash Georgia 4-1 to advance to quarter-final

    Spain continued to thrill with their relentless attacking play, creating numerous chances and capitalizing when Fabian Ruiz headed in a cross from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.

     

    Despite Georgia’s spirited effort and Napoli winger Kvaratskhelia nearly scoring a spectacular goal from the halfway line, Spain’s superior possession game dominated. Nico Williams powered a shot into the roof of the net to make it 3-1, and Dani Olmo’s precise finish sealed the victory.

     

    Next up for Spain are European giants and home favorites Germany in Stuttgart on Friday, while Georgia exits the competition after an impressive run that exceeded all expectations.

     

    “This is the path we are on. Germany at home will be very strong, but we have no fear,” said Rodri about Spain’s next match. “I’m sure they will be worried about us too. We will have to play fantastically, but we are here to win, not just play well or give a good impression. We are going all out to win.”

  • Euro 2024: England book second round qualification with a game to spare in group C

    Euro 2024: England book second round qualification with a game to spare in group C

    The Three Lions of England have booked a spot in the knockout phase of the ongoing Euro 2024 ahead of its final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday evening.

    England currently sit top of Group C on four points after beating Serbia and drawing with Denmark, and following Monday night’s results which saw Spain beat Albania while Italy snatched a late 1-1 draw against Croatia, it means that the Three Lions will be guaranteed to finish as one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage.

    After 12 teams would have secured automatic qualifications four of the best third-placed teams out of all six groups will go through to the last-16 and with England, France and Netherlands already on four points with one game each remaining, all three nations are guaranteed a spot in the last 16.

    If England beat Slovenia to secure top spot in Group C on Tuesday, they will face a third-place team from either Group D, E or F.

  • Euro 2024: See teams that have already qualified for knockout round

    Euro 2024: See teams that have already qualified for knockout round

    Four teams have already made it to the round of 16 at the ongoing Euro 2024 in Germany.

    Switzerland joined Germany and Spain on Sunday night to secure second round ticket after playing a 1-1 draw with the German Machine in Frankfurt.

    Ndoye’s goal was cancelled out by a late Fullkrug header.

    Germany finished top of Group A with seven points, while Switzerland progressed as runners-up with five points.

    Portugal and Spain have also qualified for the next round.

    Switzerland will take on the team that finishes second in Group B, while Germany faces the team that finishes second in Group C.

    Both matches are on Saturday.

    Portugal are waiting for the best third-placed team from Group A, B or C and Spain take on the best third-placed team from Group A, D, E or F.

  • Euro 2024: Germany, Spain book knockout round tickets

    Euro 2024: Germany, Spain book knockout round tickets

    Two teams have secured qualification to the knockout phase of the ongoing Euro 2024 in Germany.

    They are hosts Germany after recording two straight wins over Scotland by 5-1  and Hungary 2-0, whilst Spain defeated Croatia 3-0 and followed it up with a win over the Azurri.

    Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal in the 55th minute proved to be decider for the La Roja of Spain.

    La Roja are now top of Group B with a maximum of six points following their 3-0 win over Croatia.

    They join hosts Germany in the knockout rounds.

    The hosts booked their place with a 2-0 victory over Hungary on Wednesday night.

  • Euro 2024: Spalletti lays out battle plan for Spain

    Euro 2024: Spalletti lays out battle plan for Spain

    Italy coach Luciano Spalletti says they’ll seek to keep the ball against Spain in their next Euros clash.

    Spalletti admits Spain’s attack is a concern in his tactical planning.

    He said: “(Alvaro) Morata is the best running backwards. He’s not lazy. He runs a lot. In terms of metres traveled and speed, his numbers are incredible, also in maintaining speed over long distances, and that allows him to be more direct.

    “The same as (Lamine) Yamal. Spain has two wingers who like one-on-one situations and one of the problems we will encounter is that when we dominate the game we have to make sure we are in the right position for a turnover, because they are deadly if you leave too much  space.”

    Spalletti continued: “The key is to play good football and maintain more possession. Maybe against Spain there are more vertical passes because they don’t wait on the edge of the area. Against Spain we will have to go beyond the defensive line because they are more aggressive and also put pressure on the goalkeeper.

    “Morata presses back passes 20 out of 20 times. Of course: we have the utmost respect for Spain and its players but we should not think that they are better than they really are.”

  • Euro 2024: Lamine Yamal shines as Spain spank Croatia 3-0, Switzerland beat Hungary 3-1

    Euro 2024: Lamine Yamal shines as Spain spank Croatia 3-0, Switzerland beat Hungary 3-1

    The La Roja of Spain started off their Euro 2024 campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over Croatia in Group B as Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to feature in the history of the competition.
    La Roja broke the deadlock when Alvaro Morata raced clear before producing a composed finish to open the floodlight of goals.
    Four minutes later, they doubled their lead when Fabian Ruiz bamboozled the opposition with some sharp footwork before lashing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

    Zlatko Dalic’s team were easily sliced open by the Spanish, who are more purposeful under new boss De la Fuente than his predecessor Luis Enrique. They retain all the technical artistry but can be more direct.

    Yamal, aged 16 years and 338 days old, produced a brilliant cross which was converted by Dani Carvajal for his first international goal.

    Croatia eventually got a goal after being awarded a penalty when Rodri brought down Bruno Petkovic after a mistake by Simon.
    Petkovic’s spot-kick was saved but he converted the rebound, however the goal was chalked off for encroachment in the box by Ivan Perisic.
    The result meant Spain top group B with three points and three goal difference.

    Elsewhere, Switzerland battled their way to victory over Hungary as they made a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign at Cologne Stadium.

    Kwadwo Duah scored his first international goal, before Michel Aebischer doubled Switzerland’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

    Barnabas Varga gave Hungary hope with 30 minutes left after the striker guided Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliantly-weighted cross beyond Yann Sommer.

    Substitute Breel Embolo clinched the three points in stoppage time with a lovely lobbed finish over Peter Gulacsi.

  • Paris 2024: Super Falcons set to camp in Spain ahead of Olympics

    Paris 2024: Super Falcons set to camp in Spain ahead of Olympics

    The European country of Spain is being considered as training camp for the Super Falcons ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.

    According to NigeriaFootball.ng, the NFF is considering Spain in order for the team to acclimatize to the weather conditions in neighbouring France.

    Randy Waldrum’s side are scheduled to camp in the European country from 5 to 16 July.

    The West Africans will also play an high flying friendly game  in Spain to serve as preparation.

    Recall that the Super Falcons will face World champions Spain, Japan and Brazil in Group C at Paris 2024.

    The West Africans will open their campaign against Brazil at Stade de Bordeaux on July 25 before taking on Spain three days later in Nantes and later Japan on July 31 at the same venue.

    The 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 25 to August 10.