Latest news with #SPAIN
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Granollers, Zeballos win first Grand Slam doubles title at French Open
SPAIN's Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won their first Grand Slam men's doubles title on Saturday after edging British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in three sets. Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win. Granollers had finished on the losing side in each of his previous five doubles finals, including at Roland Garros in 2014 with former partner Marc Lopez. Salisbury fell short in his bid for a fifth Grand Slam triumph in men's doubles after winning four times with Rajeev Ram. Skupski won at Wimbledon in 2023.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Granollers, Zeballos Win French Open Doubles Title
SPAIN's Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won their first Grand Slam men's doubles title on Saturday after edging British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in three sets. Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win. Granollers had finished on the losing side in each of his previous five doubles finals, including at Roland Garros in 2014 with former partner Marc Lopez. Salisbury fell short in his bid for a fifth Grand Slam triumph in men's doubles after winning four times with Rajeev Ram. Skupski won at Wimbledon in 2023.
The Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller to reach Nations League final
The 42 SPAIN STARLETS LAMINE Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart on Thursday, to set up a Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France's makeshift defence to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the scoresheet for the Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France's three late goals – a Rayan Cherki screamer, a Spain own goal and a stoppage time strike from Randal Kolo Muani – were not enough. Yamal, still just 17, said Spain 'deserved to win.' 'It was a great game – at the end it was a little too close, but we played very well,' he added. Spain held on to book an all-Iberian Nations League final against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal on Sunday in Munich, while France will face hosts Germany in Stuttgart for the bronze medal earlier in the day. A smiling goalscorer Merino told DAZN: 'It was a crazy game. Not the best game for the coaches – nobody wants to concede so many goals – but an amazing game for the fans. 'We're going to remember this one for a long time.' France coach Didier Deschamps said 'it's a mixed bag.' 'Not everything can be thrown in the rubbish bin… but I'm not leaving with a smile,' he added. Returning to Germany, where they won the European Championship in dominant fashion a year ago, Spain seem an even more complete team, despite their late fadeout. France dangerous, Spain efficient France were more dangerous in the opening stages, with Didier Deschamps electing to channel his attack through Ousmane Dembele rather than Mbappe. Dembele, fresh from Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph, created an early chance for Mbappe, but the Real Madrid superstar wasted it, electing to pass rather than shoot when one-on-one with the 'keeper. Advertisement Minutes later, Spain escaped again as Theo Hernandez's long-range effort shaved the top of the crossbar. Spain made France pay soon after, when Williams and Oyarzabal, La Roja's two goalscorers in the Euro 2024 final, linked up with 22 minutes played. After a tear down the right, Yamal threaded it to Oyarzabal, who held off three defenders with his back to goal before finding Williams, who rifled his shot into the top of the net. Spain grabbed full hold of the match just three minutes later when Oyarzabal dinked the French defence, allowing Merino to collect and hammer past an off-balance Maignan. France had the better chances later in the half, with Dembele finding space in the box three times, only to blast straight at a grateful Unai Simon. Just before half-time, the narrowest of offsides robbed Spain of what would have been an incredible third. In a clearly rehearsed free-kick play, Yamal found Martin Zubimendi behind the lines, who cut it back for Huijsen. The second half played out like the first, with France missing two big chances before Spain again scored a quick-fire double. With 54 minutes played, Yamal won and converted a penalty, taking the ball from Williams before calmly slotting home. France were reeling, but Spain's starlets had no sympathy, Williams setting up Pedri for a fourth just one minute later. Mbappe won and converted a penalty with 59 minutes played, but Yamal stepped up again to snuff out French hopes of an unlikely comeback, scoring Spain's fifth with just over 20 minutes remaining. Spain made four changes as their thoughts turned to Sunday, allowing France to score two late consolation goals. Substitute Cherki scored a long-range effort and then forced Spain into conceding an own goal through Daniel Vivian. Kolo Muani's goal came in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cut the deficit to one, but France had left their comeback too late, as Spain held on. © AFP 2025 Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Lamine Yamal Shines as Spain Reach Nations League Final
SPAIN STARLET Lamine Yamal said Sunday's Nations League final against Portugal would give him the chance to 'prove who I am' after helping his side past France in the semis on Thursday. Yamal scored twice and was named man of the match in a 5-4 win over the French in Stuttgart on Thursday, sealing progress to this weekend's Nations League final against their Iberian rivals. A late French flourish obscured Spain's dominance, with La Roja cruising at 5-1 before dropping their intensity, allowing France to score three late goals. As they did on their way to winning Euro 2024 in Germany last season, Spain's success was built on the foundation of wingers Yamal and Nico Williams. Williams, who got a goal of his own and set up another, was man of the match in the 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England. Thursday's victory puts 2021 Nations League winners against Portugal, who won the competition in 2019. 'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters. 'This is the kind of game I want to play, to prove who I am.' Still just 17, Yamal will face off against Portugal veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 23 years his senior. 'He's a football legend,' Yamal said. 'I, like all the players, have huge respect for Cristiano. 'I will do my job, which is to try to win, and that's it,' he added. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said fans would see 'two super powerful teams' on Sunday, adding 'this could be a World Cup final. 'We're playing against one of the greats: Cristiano Ronaldo. Just his name stands out -- I have limitless admiration for him. 'It's really great to see a player at his age to keep playing and be as fit as he is. I admire him very much.' Mikel Merino, another Spanish goalscorer on Thursday, was confident. 'It's not our first final,' he said. 'Munich brings us amazing memories from the European Championship. 'I'm very happy to be in another final is a huge accomplishment and hopefully we can win it again.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Spain's Yamal primed to 'prove' himself against 'legend' Ronaldo in Nations League final
SPAIN STARLET Lamine Yamal said Sunday's Nations League final against Portugal would give him the chance to 'prove who I am' after helping his side past France in the semis on Thursday. Yamal scored twice and was named man of the match in a 5-4 win over the French in Stuttgart on Thursday, sealing progress to this weekend's Nations League final against their Iberian rivals. A late French flourish obscured Spain's dominance, with La Roja cruising at 5-1 before dropping their intensity, allowing France to score three late goals. As they did on their way to winning Euro 2024 in Germany last season, Spain's success was built on the foundation of wingers Yamal and Nico Williams. Williams, who got a goal of his own and set up another, was man of the match in the 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England. Thursday's victory puts 2021 Nations League winners against Portugal, who won the competition in 2019. 'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters. 'This is the kind of game I want to play, to prove who I am.' Still just 17, Yamal will face off against Portugal veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 23 years his senior. 'He's a football legend,' Yamal said. 'I, like all the players, have huge respect for Cristiano. 'I will do my job, which is to try to win, and that's it,' he added. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said fans would see 'two super powerful teams' on Sunday, adding 'this could be a World Cup final. 'We're playing against one of the greats: Cristiano Ronaldo. Just his name stands out -- I have limitless admiration for him. 'It's really great to see a player at his age to keep playing and be as fit as he is. I admire him very much.' Mikel Merino, another Spanish goalscorer on Thursday, was confident. 'It's not our first final,' he said. 'Munich brings us amazing memories from the European Championship. 'I'm very happy to be in another final is a huge accomplishment and hopefully we can win it again.'
