Soccer-Arbeloa named manager of Real Madrid reserves
FILE PHOTO: Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa blows a kiss as he celebrates after scoring a goal against Almeria during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, April 29, 2015. REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo
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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Spain target ‘enormously important' Nations League defence
SPAIN are aiming to become the first side to defend the Nations League trophy, with Luis de la Fuente's side going from strength to strength on the international stage ahead of next year's World Cup. The coach enjoys recalling La Roja's triumph at the 2023 tournament, which was an early sign that a young Spain side were heading back to the top. It proved the springboard to Euro 2024 glory and De la Fuente wants to continue Spain's resurgence by retaining it this summer in Germany. It would bode well ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer where Spain will be among the favourites. They face France in the Nations League semi-finals in Stuttgart before a potential final against Germany or Portugal. 'We attach enormous importance to it -- it's almost more difficult than a European Championship, and we want to be the first team to win it twice,' De la Fuente told reporters last week. 'We want to continue competing at the highest level with these teams.' After European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012, sandwiching their World Cup 2010 triumph in South Africa, the Spanish national team slumped. Poor outings at the Russia and Qatar World Cups started to fade from memory, though, as De la Fuente's side beat Italy and Croatia to win the Nations League. It helped him on a personal level too, with many doubting his credentials and blaming him for an embarrassing defeat by Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying. The Scots beat De la Fuente's Spain in March 2023 in what was their last competitive defeat, 23 matches ago. Spain beat Italy, Germany and France on the way to the Euro 2024 final, where they got the better of England to claim their first major trophy for 12 years. The worrying thing for the rest of the world is that De la Fuente's Spain team remains hungry, with many players yet to reach their peak. The side is led by Barcelona's teenage winger Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 on the eve of the Euro final, and on the opposite flank Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, 22, also has his best years ahead of him. Barcelona midfield maestro Pedri, 22 as well, pulls the strings, while there are emerging talents in other areas including Porto striker Samu Aghehowa and new Real Madrid signing Dean Huijsen. Isco's return Despite a focus on younger players, De la Fuente showed he is not stubborn by turning to Real Betis midfielder Isco. After a superb season in which the former Real Madrid playmaker took the Andalusians to the Conference League final, the 33-year-old finally got the call he craved. Some said De la Fuente should have given Isco a chance last summer but the coach was proven right as his team went on to win the Euros. 'He's going to add a lot -- if we had any doubts, he wouldn't have been here,' said De la Fuente. 'He could have been at the Euros, or not, but those who had to be there, were there.' Isco's presence gives Spain even more depth in a midfield packed with quality, and one which is still without Manchester City's Rodri Hernandez who has yet to return to action after missing most of the season injured. 'In Spain, we are privileged to have many very good footballers,' De la Fuente said during the Euros. 'I think they are the best players in the world for many reasons.' In almost every position the coach is blessed with multiple strong options, with the team perhaps only short of one elite striker -- although it has not held them back. Aghehowa, 21, could develop into that player, although De la Fuente ran through all of his possible options there, including veteran Alvaro Morata, Dani Olmo as a false nine, or Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner against England. 'This is a team, and in that team, everyone contributes their bit to make a stronger, more solid group,' said De la Fuente. 'Samu is fantastic, Alvaro, Mikel, Dani... we can play in many ways with different players and that is exactly what our strength is.'
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Five challenges Ancelotti faces as Brazil reign kicks off
SAO PAULO: After a warm welcome to Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao's first foreign coach in more than 50 years, is on a mission to fix a stuttering team and win back fans which starts on Thursday against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier. The 65-year-old Italian led his first training session on Monday in Guayaquil, Ecuador, ahead of what should be his first match, if his move from Real Madrid passes scrutiny by football's governing body FIFA. AFP identifies five issues Ancelotti faces: "The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup," said Ancelotti when he took the job. First he has to get there. The South American group is a two-year, 18-match marathon. Brazil's campaign has included a first-ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, 1-0 at the Maracana to old enemy Argentina, part of a run of three straight defeats in 2023 that ended the coaching reign of Fernando Diniz. Their last match was a 4-1 humiliation in Argentina in March that finished off former coach Dorival Junior. Yet the format is forgiving. The top six in the 10-team group qualify directly for the World Cup. Brazil are fourth, six points clear of Venezuela in seventh with four matches to go. Ecuador may be second in the group, but are only two points ahead of Brazil, who then host Paraguay, who are fifth. Qualifying ends in September with a visit to last-place Chile and a home game against struggling Bolivia. Brazil is still churning out dazzling attackers but the production line has stalled on No. 9s. In this century, Romario, Ronaldo and Adriano have all led the attack and banged in the goals. The nearest player to a classic No. 9 in Ancelotti's first squad is a player he coached at Everton, Richarlison, now of Tottenham. Yet Ancelotti has won without a central striker before. His 2024 Champions League winning side was led by two Brazilians: Vinicius Jr, who is in Ancelotti's squad, and Rodrygo, who he did not select. Ancelotti also has Raphinha of Barcelona, who was joint top scorer in this season's Champions League. A bigger problem might be supplying the attackers, veteran Brazilian football journalist Juca Kfouri told AFP. With Brazil's youth academies focusing on defensive midfielders and quick wingers rather than classic creators, the Selecao faces a shortage of ideas in midfield. In Brazil's last two outings Dorival Junior tried Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Andre and Joelinton in the role. None convinced. At Madrid, Ancelotti "had Toni Kroos as a supply line for Vini. Brazil does not have a Toni Kroos," said sports writer Tim Vickery on his 'Brazilian Shirt Name' podcast. Ancelotti has recalled Kroos's former Real Madrid midfield partner Casemiro, although the 33-year-old now with Manchester United is primarily a defensive player to add, the coach said, "charisma, personality and talent." The supply of swashbuckling fullbacks, such as Carlos Alberto, Cafu and Roberto Carlos – another hallmark of great Brazil teams – has also dried up. Ancelotti has recalled Carlos Augusto, part of the Inter Milan team crushed in the Champions League final, and picked Flamengo duo Wesley Franca and Alex Sandro after seeing them play last week in a 1-0 victory over Venezuelan team Deportivo Tachira in the Copa Libertadores. Ancelotti needs to rebuild the bond between the team and the public. Part of the problem is that after Brazil won five World Cups playing – mostly – the "jogo bonito" (the beautiful game), fans have little patience with mediocrity. But many supporters have been turned off by the way the famous yellow jersey has been hijacked as a symbol by supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. "This issue of the extreme right appropriating the jersey has distanced part of the country," said Kfouri, adding Ancelotti called on the fans when he took the job saying, "I hope to have the support and help of the country."
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-Ashes tickets sell at record rate
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Ashes - Fifth Test - England v Australia - The Oval, London, Britain - July 31, 2023 Australia's Pat Cummins and teammates pose with the urn and trophies after drawing the series and retaining the Ashes Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tickets for the Ashes series were snapped up at a record rate when they went on sale on Tuesday with the allocations for the first three days of the Brisbane and Sydney tests as well as day one of the Melbourne test all exhausted. Cricket Australia said a total of 311,066 tickets were purchased on Tuesday for international matches in the home 2025-26 season, when the hosts will defend the urn against England in a five-test series. The previous record for a single day's sale was 111,741 tickets ahead of the 2017-18 Ashes series, CA said. "The record demand for tickets shows the excitement fans are feeling about the fantastic international season to come," said Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg. Australia won both the 2017-18 series and following home series in 2021–22 4-0 before drawing 2-2 in England in 2023 to retain the urn. England last triumphed in Australia in 2010-11, which is also the last time the tourists won a test Down Under. This year's series begins in Perth in late November before a day-night match in Brisbane, the third test in Adelaide and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney tests in December and January. More tranches of tickets will be made available for those fans who signed up for pre-allocation at a later date, while the general public will be able to make purchases from June 13. Australia also host both South Africa and India in Twenty20 and one-day series before the Ashes, while the women's team will play India in all three formats in February and March. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
