News, Videos, Opinion, Fan Blogs, Fixtures & Results for die-hard Spanish fans

SUAREZ TO APPEAL RED CARD

index March 28, 2017 Spain Videos CHAMPIONS, EURO, Highlights, Spain

Luis Suarez is hoping an appeal will save him from missing the Copa del Rey final after being sent off for Barcelona in a bad-tempered semi-final, second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Suarez scored the vital goal as three players were dismissed in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday that secured the team’s place in a fourth straight final, Barca winning 3-2 on aggregate.

However, the Uruguayan – sent off for the first time in three years since his move to Spain – claimed a stray elbow on Koke as the game entered stoppage time was not even a foul.

“It makes me laugh because it was like he [the referee] wanted to do it,” Suarez told Gol Television.

“We need to see if we can appeal the second yellow because it isn’t even a foul, but we already know how these things go.

“That is why I am so angry because it was absolutely nothing. The first yellow was also for the first foul I committed in the game, but you could see it coming.” (more…)

RAMIREZ JOINS TEAMMATES IN SPAIN

index February 22, 2017 Spain Videos CHAMPIONS, EURO, Football, Highlights, Live, Spain, world

Star player Gaston Ramirez has joined up with his teammates in Spain as he is set to continue with the club this term.

The player was heavily linked with a move to struggling Leicester City but Boro disallowed the deal.

The player is now keen to rebuild his reputation at the club after he handed in a transfer request to exit the Riverside Stadium. The former Southampton player has not featured in the last six games for Boro due to a knee injury he picked up. The 26-year old playmaker would join teammates in Spain for a four-day training break so he can return refreshed for the race to finish the campaign well.

“He is and he will be an important player in this team and he knows that. He know the effort that the club made to sign him last season and therefore that the club made this summer to sign him permanently,” Boro manager Aitor Karanka said. (more…)

Pep Guardiola favors Changing Teams every year

index January 28, 2017 Spain Videos

Pep Guardiola believes that one of the primary objectives of him switching teams after every few years is the desire to have more and more idea of the game of Football.

As per Guardiola, if that desire to gain knowledge was not there, he would not have moved out of Barcelona. His tenure there was going like a dream and he could have glued himself to that position of Barcelona coach. The sword of axe was definitely not hanging over him.

But, he had to see other places, other leagues, different approaches, different conditions and that took him first to Germany and now to England where he is now coping with different ‘refereeing methods’ too as he pointed out in one of his latest press conferences. (more…)

Who would wears that?!

admin January 11, 2017 Uncategorized Football, Spain

Neon boots, sarongs, gold cars! No one said footballers had any sense of style. Footballers might be well paid but style cannot be bought.

The football bets team at Paddy Power have devised a quiz of the most recognisable players and their accessories from boots to sports cars, can you guess who owns what?

Diego Costa is out injured and David Villa has the chance to return

index December 13, 2016 Spain Videos

Chelsea’s Diego Costa has recently sustained a thigh injury that has forced him to stay out of the latest training sessions of the Spanish national football team and this has compelled the head coach Julen Lopetegui on having to search for a replacement which is what the 50 year old Spanish tactician did as he recently called up Iago Aspas.

While Diego Costa is out injured and unable to perform, Julen Lopetegui opted to give Iago Aspas the chance to perform for the Spanish national side while Costa is unable to compete.
The 50 year old manager Julen Lopetegui has also recently talked about the possibility of calling up David Villa and give the veteran attacker the chance to come back to the international stage after having retired on 2014.

David Villa decided to retire from the international scene on 2014 after having scored 59 goals in 97 appearances but Julen Lopetegui has hinted out the possibility of making a surprise call up as Lopetegui appears to be closely monitoring David Villa in the MLS.

“The truth is that I saw him very well and playing with a lot of intensity. Villa continues to play at a very good level and in the future we will see if he can return. We don’t close the door to any player and we always have consideration for players that can help the national team. Villa is well, playing with a lot of rhythm, scoring lots of goals and showing a great attitude. He is a player who has done priceless things for Spanish football.” Spain’s Julen Lopetegui said.

David Villa is a 34 year old attacker who is currently performing for the MLS side, New York City FC and the Spanish player is a hugely influential player for the American outfit as he was the top goal-scorer of New York City FC after scoring 18 goals during the 2015-16 season and Villa has continued his impact with the club by netting 22 goals in 32 appearances.

HERNANDEZ CONSIDERS SPAIN MOVE

index November 8, 2016 Spain Videos

Lucas Hernandez currently plays for the youth team of France, his birth country but is yet unsure of whether he would keep on representing them up till the senior level.

Hernandez, who plies his trade with Atletico Madrid at Club level as a defender has been embroiled in a tug of war over the right choice to make after Spain indicated their interest in him.

Hernandez was born in Marseille, France and had taken the decision to play for France youth side at first. With this move from Spain, he is unsure yet of what he really wants to do.

In an interview just recently, the 20 year old defender suggests that he would carefully go through his options before making a decision on whom to play for.

“That’s a personal decision. At the moment, I’m happy playing for the France U21 side, but the future depends on who I can play for.”

Hernandez hopes to feature in the Champions League game to be played on Wednesday against Rostov. He has still indicated yet that there is an intense competition in Diego Simeone’s squad.

“New players are contributing a lot and this is being seen on the pitch and in the performances,” he continued.
“And of course this year will hopefully be better than the past. (more…)

Is Iker Casillas international career over?

index October 22, 2016 Spain Videos EURO, Football, Goals, Madrid, Spain, world

On June 30 of 2016, Vicente del Bosque decided to step down from coaching the Spanish national football team and around 1 month later, it was confirmed that Julen Lopetegui was the man selected to replace Vicente del Bosque and become the new coach of Spain.

Even with this managerial change in the Spanish national side, it seems like Iker Casillas can’t change his fortune as he has had to settle with a place on the sidelines as a 2nd choice goal-keeper behind David de Gea.

Iker Casillas is 35 years old and it’s not surprising to see such a veteran player having to be dropped more regularly to the bench while other younger performers are getting the chance to showcase their skills and this is the case of David de Gea from Manchester United.

David de Gea has already demonstrated his skills and he is deserving of taking up the 1rst spot in the Spain national team. The young shot-stopper is considered to be as one of the best goal-keepers in the world along with: Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois.

For the entirety of Iker Casillas career he has been the main man in between the posts for Spain but times change and with the uprising of David de Gea, it’s hard to deny that the star player of Manchester United is a world class player and that he truly does deserve to become the new undisputed shot-stopper of Spain. (more…)

RODRIGUEZ SET TO LEAVE SPAIN THIS SUMMER

index September 13, 2016 Spain Videos EURO, Football, Highlights, Spain

Real Madrid could release the Columbian skipper this summer for a move away from Spain, according to reports making the rounds.

Express Sport claims that Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has received the go-ahead to submit a bid for the player as he is desperate for playing time. The report claims that the management would allow the deal of up to £60 million go through if the coach deems him an asset.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane does not have Rodriguez on his priority list and isn’t keen to adjust the current to make him fit in, despite the huge transfer fee spent on getting the Columbian after the 2014 World Cup. However, popular Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague told Sky Sports that Madrid could be the ones behind the story to attract bids from interested clubs. Chelsea remains the top club keen on landing Rodriguez.

“Real Madrid will be happy to let James go this summer. It’s been reported Chelsea are willing to pay £60.1 million for the Colombia international.
“We will see if they are willing to pay that sort of money, but it sounds to me that Real are leaking this story to attract interest in the player. He’s not worth that money and I’m pretty sure Chelsea know that,” Balague said.
(more…)

Phil Neville to leave Valencia role

index August 14, 2016 Spain Videos 2012, Brazil, EURO, Euro2012, final, Football

Phil Neville has announced that he is going to leave Valencia during the summer.

He joined the Spanish club as an assistant when NunoEspirito Santo was named as the manager of the Spanish team. However, when the latter was sacked, his brother Gary Neville was appointed as manager. However, with the sacking of Gary, he remained with the team and worked as a coach for them.

Phil Neville continued with Valencia and became an assistant to the new manager PakoAyestaran until the end of the season. The latter has been given a new contract following his good performance as manager. However, Phil Neville has announced that he is not going to continue as a coach and he wants to make his debut as a manager. (more…)

Spain began their defence of the European Championship with Struggle

index July 18, 2016 Spain Videos 2012, ALBA, Brazil, CHAMPIONS, FULL

Spain began their defence of the European Championship title with a narrow 1-0 win over Czech Republic.

The game continued to see Spain’s struggles in front of goal. The national team has been going through a very poor patch of form for the last two years. They have never really recovered from the humiliating exit suffered at the World Cup 2014. Even just before the start of the Euro 2016, Spain were involved in a couple of pretournament friendly games. They suffered yet another humiliation after losing to Georgia, who were ranked below 120 places.

Even though they managed to get the right result and three points at the start of the tournament, Spain certainly did not look convincing. Gerard Pique scored from a header and this was probably the only great opportunity the team had throughout the 90 minutes. Spain struggled to create chances in front of goal while conversion was even more difficult. Even though Vicente del Bosque said that a victory was a good start to the tournament, he admitted that the national team struggled to create enough chances. Spain will have to hit the ground running soon or face the risk of an early elimination from a major tournament to once again. The national team’s next match is against Turkey. (more…)