Latest news with #LuisDeLaFuente
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Isco tries to lead Real Betis to its 1st European title in Conference League final vs. Chelsea
WROCLAW, Poland (AP) — It's been a breakthrough season for Francisco 'Isco' Alarcon with Real Betis, and it could culminate with him leading the Spanish club to its first European title. The Betis captain could be the one lifting the historic trophy on Wednesday if his team defeats Chelsea in the Conference League final. 'Chelsea and ourselves are two good teams with some great players. The game tomorrow is very important for everybody, but I believe what Betis has is a lot of excitement, and the opportunity to win a first final is something historic for us,' Isco said Tuesday. The Seville club won the Spanish league in 1934-35, as well as three Copas del Rey — most recently in 2022 — but it is yet to triumph at the European level, where it had never gone past the quarterfinals in any competition. 'Believing is the first step to victory,' the 33-year-old playmaker said. 'It is going to be a very difficult game, but we trust our squad. We have proved that we are capable of beating any team, and we are looking forward to this final and bringing joy to our fans, who have deserved it the most.' Isco's superb season with Betis earned him a spot back in Spain's national team after a long absence. He was called back to Spain's national team by coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday for the Nations League semifinal against France on June 5 in Stuttgart. He hadn't been with Spain's squad since 2019. After nearly a decade with Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles and three Spanish league titles, Isco returned to his roots in southern Spain, first with Sevilla in 2022-23 and then with Betis, where he has been thriving for the last two seasons. Betis also has the experience of coach Manuel Pellegrini, who won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2014 and later was in charge of West Ham at a time when now-Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was his assistant. Betis also has a Conference League winner in its squad: midfielder Pablo Fornals, who won the competition with West Ham in 23. 'When you are close to a final,' Isco said, 'you always visualize what might happen, but you have to focus on the game at hand. This is Betis' first final, and it would be a dream to win it, but it will be very difficult.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona star's brother responds to Spain squad snub
The brother of Barcelona star Alejandro Balde has on Monday taken to social media, to provide his response to the latest Spanish national team squad announcement. This comes after Balde was left out once again by La Roja boss Luis de la Fuente. Spain are primed to return to competitive action early next month, in a highly-anticipated Nations League semi-final meeting with Didier Deschamps' France. Ahead of what is expected to be a challenging outing for the reigning European champions, the aforementioned De la Fuente and his staff therefore unveiled a strong panel of players earlier today. This included no fewer than six Barcelona stars. As alluded to above, though, this Blaugrana contingent did not include first-choice left-back Alejandro Balde. And such news, evidently, has not gone down well with the defender's family… This comes with Balde's brother, Edi, having taken to his official Instagram account on Monday, to unveil a post featuring little more than a photo of his sibling, and a yawning emoji: 📲 | Alejandro Balde's brother Edi Balde on IG:Balde was not called up by Spain 🇪🇸❌ — BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) May 26, 2025 Conor Laird – GSFN
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
After 6-year absence, Isco returns to Spain's squad for Nations League semifinal. Rodri still out
MADRID (AP) — Isco is back with Spain's national team after a six-year absence, while Rodri remains out after a long injury layoff. Coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday named 26 players for the Nations League semifinal against France on June 5 in Stuttgart. Germany and Portugal will play in the other semifinal on June 4 in Munich. The 33-year-old Isco, the former Real Madrid player who is now with Real Betis, hadn't been called up for Spain since 2019. His solid performances for Betis in the Spanish league earned him a spot in the national team again. 'I've never paid attention to how long they've been away,' De la Fuente said. 'It was the right time for Isco to return, he'll be there and he'll contribute, because if I had thought otherwise, he wouldn't have been there.' Rodri recently returned for Manchester City after a long layoff because of a serious knee injury, but De la Fuente felt it was too soon to bring him back to the national team. 'He's very important but has been out for eight months and played only 10 minutes,' De la Fuente said. 'I've spoken with him and we thought it wasn't the time to take any risks.' The coach did select midfielder Gavi, who also sustained a serious knee injury but played often for Barcelona this year. 'He's at a high level and has room for improvement,' De la Fuente said. 'He has to keep working to maintain the level he was at a little over a year ago.' Included in the list, as expected, were Barcelona players Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo. Athletic's Nico Williams also was called up. Some of those missing were defenders Iñigo Martínez of Barcelona and Raúl Asencio of Real Madrid. ___ Squad: Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao) Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Óscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid) Midfielders: Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Aleix García (Bayer Leverkusen), Pedri (Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis). Forwards: Álvaro Morata (Galatasaray), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (Barcelona). ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨Official: Spain announce squad for Nations League Final Four
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. Luis de la FuenteAgainst France on June 5th in Stuttgart, the first semi-final of the Final Four of this Nations League will take place, in which Spain defends the title. De la Fuente has revealed his list of called-up players. Este 2025 nuestra ⭐️ cumple 15 años.¿Quién mejor que @IkerCasillas, @capde11, @andresiniesta8 y @Torres para dar la lista de la @SEFutbol para la Fase Final de la #NationsLeague?Y con Luis de la Fuente y Vicente del Bosque en el banquillo 🥹.¡¡QUÉ RECUERDOS!!#VamosEspaña — Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) May 26, 2025 Within the list, the returns of players like Gavi and Isco stand out. A special list with voices that have made history with the National Team. This is the complete list: Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, David Raya, and Álex Remiro. Defenders: Pedro Porro, Óscar Mingüeza, Le Normand, Cubarsí, Vivían, Huijsen, Grimaldo, and Cucurella. Midfielders: Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Fermín, Isco, Baena, and Fabián Ruíz. Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Yeremi Pino, Samu Omorodion, Morata, and Oyarzabal. On the horizon, a possible final in Munich on June 8th awaits. On the other hand, Portugal and Germany will play for a spot in the grand final. 📸 Aitor Alcalde - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🏆Villarreal secure Spain's top homegrown goalscorer
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. With a total of 19 goals, Ayoze Pérez wins the Zarra Trophy as the top national scorer in the his goals, the campaign of a Villarreal looking towards Europe could not be explained, as Ayoze Pérez has managed to repeat what Gerard Moreno once did. ¡𝗘𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝗼 𝗭𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝘃𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 💛!Ayoze Pérez, como haría Gerard Moreno en las campañas 2019/20 y 2020/21, se proclama máximo goleador nacional de @LaLiga con 19 goles — Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) May 26, 2025 The Zarra Trophy for top national scorer goes to the Villarreal player after scoring 19 goals in the League. Will he receive a call from Luis de la Fuente? 📸 Clive Brunskill - 2025 Getty Images
