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BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Exceptional' Spain show adaptability - but are they 'vulnerable'?
Two games, six points, 11 goals - Spain are making their mark at Euro a convincing opening five-goal win over Portugal and a 6-2 thrashing of Belgium, La Roja are through to the knockout stage in world champions and the top-ranked side in the tournament, Spain already had a target on their back - now they have underlined why they are favourites."It'll take something special to outdo them or get a win over them," ex-Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told BBC Radio 5 Live."Spain deserve all the credit they've had so far. It's a daunting task for whoever has to face them as the tournament progresses. "It's a Spanish side that are nothing short of exceptional."Former England forward Eni Aluko told ITV: "Spain are the team to beat."They want to complete football. They are World Cup champions, Nations League - they want to win this Euros because they have not done that yet." 'They have a bit of everything' - what makes Spain so good? Portugal offered little resistance in Spain's Group B opener, but Belgium proved a different challenge, twice equalising after going each time the Red Flames responded, Spain replied instantly to restore their lead and regained complete control when Esther Gonzalez netted their rest of the game was spent largely in Belgium's half, with Mariona Caldentey, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas scoring in the final half an hour to round off a successful evening for Spain in having 12 shots in a hard-fought first half, Montse Tome's side stepped up a gear after the break to take their shot tally to 33."They have a bit of everything," Corsie said. "They have players that are dynamic, they have players that are exceptionally talented individually, one v one."Their second-half performance left Belgium manager Elisabet Gunnarsdottir saying she "wanted to cry" when she entered the dressing room."I really believed in what we were doing and loved seeing my players give everything they had," Gunnarsdottir said."They [Spain] understand the game on a different level to anything we will see at this tournament."They're so good about making decisions around the box. If you give them time around the box, or give them space, they use it."With Patri Guijarro dominating play from the base of Spain's midfield, and Putellas and either Aitana Bonmati or 18-year-old Vicky Lopez in front, Spain are able to camp outside the opposition's if they fail to squeeze the ball through to one of their forward players, they are ready to have a go themselves."Patri underneath that midfield two, she instructed everything - I thought she was excellent," Corsie said. An ability to adapt - are Spain showing there is more to come? The worry for Spain's rivals? Both Tome and Putellas said in their post-match media conferences that Spain had "room for improvement". Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne agreed on ITV, saying: "I still believe there is a lot more to come from Spain. We haven't seen the best from them in a while, even though they are winning."They have got the quality, you can certainly see that, but I still don't think we've seen Spain in full flow yet. We've seen it in moments. "There is more to come and that's the scary thing."With seven different names on the scoresheet across their two games, Spain have shown they are not reliant on one Spain are known for their short, intricate passing and high possession count, they took a different approach for their second goal, with captain and centre-back Irene Paredes showing up to head home a was also seen by Caldentey's long-range ball over the top for Putellas' goal against Portugal."Spain have added a different style by being able to go more direct. When sides go 5-4-1 it is very difficult to break down, so Spain adding a long ball is an extra thing to win competitions," former Spain midfielder Vicky Losada added: "I am interested to see how Spain change their game. We are so used to them keeping possession and nice passes - but now they have a target in the box." 'Spain have shown their cards' - are there any areas of weakness? So, are Spain unstoppable? The task for their opponents is to find and crack any weaknesses Tome's side may at least, showed their defence is not invincible. Justine Vanhaevermaet's header from a corner proved there are opportunities from set-pieces, while a counter-attacking ball over the top was all Belgium needed to put Hannah Eurlings through on goal for their second. "Their primary strengths are in possession and going forward. Today, Belgium didn't have too much of the ball and they managed to create goals and chances, which on a different day could've been more," Corsie said."That will give teams and nations that they'll face later on a bit of hope, and the way you can see they can be vulnerable."It's understanding that when you do win the ball there's a lot of place to play with if you can find that initial combination to break their press. "You need two passes to break it, and if you can do that, that's where Belgium were able to find success."Spain, after all, have been beaten recently. England triumphed against them in the Nations League this year, and they lost to Brazil and Germany in a disappointing Olympic campaign last summer."For Spain, they will be disappointed that they've given Belgium opportunities from very little, because the other teams look at that and potentially use that to their advantage," Corsie added."Spain have shown their cards on that front and will have to be better when they face better nations later on."
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
VAR rules out Portugal goal dedicated to Diogo Jota at Women's Euro 2025
Diani Silva dedicated a goal to Diogo Jota, only for it to be ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside, as Portugal battled from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Euro 2025 and keep their tournament alive. Portugal, who lost their opening game 5-0 to Spain, were on the verge of being knocked out of the Euros as they trailed to Cristiana Girelli's stunning finish in the 70th minute. Diani Silva looked to have equalised for Portugal and celebrated by copying Jota's gaming celebration, but it was ruled to have been offside following a two-minute VAR review. Portugal hit the crossbar in the 89th minute but Francisco Neto's side kept pushing and they eventually got their reward when Diani Gomes finished a low cross moments later to avoid elimination. Portugal warmed up by wearing Jota's name on the back of their shirts in tribute to the Liverpool forward, who was killed in a car crash last Thursday along with his brother Andre Silva. Head coach Neto revealed after his team's 5-0 defeat to Spain, which was played just hours after Jota's death, that the Portugal and Liverpool star had been a supporter of the women's team and followed their results. And they could still progress to the knockout stages although they will need to beat Belgium and hope Spain beat Italy, who are six better in goal difference. Spain earlier defeated Belgium 6-2, with the draw between Portugal and Italy sending Spain into the quarter-finals while eliminating Belgium with one game to play.
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thiago Silva SPYING on his beloved Chelsea as he bids to wreck their Club World Cup dream
THIAGO SILVA admits he has been spying on his beloved Chelsea to help wreck their dream of becoming world champions. The legendary defender is now with Brazilians Fluminense, who face The Blues on Thursday evening in the semi-final. 3 3 3 There is £97 million for the tournament winner and veteran Silva will find it tough to play against the team with whom he won the Champions League and became a cult hero with the fans. Silva, 40, said: "I'm trying to help the coaching staff with small details, things that will stay between us. 'I was in London not too long ago visiting my kids and went to some training sessions, you know. 'I know a lot of the players there, and I talk to them pretty much every week, some of them are really close to me. 'I'm happy to have this matchup, and it's going to be a special day for me, but it will be even more special if we manage to go through. 'I'm just really grateful for everything I went through there. It was a very special team in my life, where I won one of the biggest titles of my career, and facing them now definitely won't be easy. 'I know how strong they are, but at the same time, we're going to try to play our game in the best way possible, respecting our opponent but fighting for our dream — the dream of our fans and the club. 'I don't think even the most optimistic fan could've imagined we'd be here, in the semifinals of a Club World Cup. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN 'We've earned our place with hard work, and now we need to stay fully focused for tomorrow's match so we can try to reach the next round.' Silva was a free transfer from French giants Paris and signed by former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. Watch Thiago Silva's son Iago, 13, drive Porsche as Chelsea youngster's mum Belle says 'bard did it right first time' He was an inspirational character as part of the squad that was crowned kings of Europe by beating Manchester City 1-0 four years ago. Silva is still going strong in his fifth decade and is an icon in his homeland with 113 caps for Brazil. He said: 'People always talk about the gap between Europe and South America. I was just saying recently how much respect they have for us. 'If you look at most European teams, they have top players from our continent, and that shows the respect they have for us — and it will be the same tomorrow. 'The expectations are huge. The nerves are there, the excitement is there, the anxiety too, going into a Club World Cup semifinal against them. 'At what you could call the final stage of my career, I'm still living important moments and trying to help in the best way I can. 'It would be special to eliminate Chelsea, even with all the love I have for them, but when you're on the pitch, you have to focus on your own team. 'After the tournament, my support for Chelsea and PSG will always be there. "I'm forever grateful to those clubs, I did everything I could while I was there, and I'll keep doing the same for Fluminense. "Hopefully, we can get this qualification.'
