Page 11 - Spain

Xavi's debut as Barca coach highlights weekend football in Spain

Though millions of Barca fans all over the world will be anxiously waiting for the result of the Barca match, there are other key games to be played this weekend

Barcelona fans welcome new coach Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou

Thousands of fans arrived at the Camp Nou to welcome Xavi Hernndez as Barcelona's new coach on Monday, hoping he can turn the club's fortunes around after a dismal start

Real Madrid forward Benzema faces verdict in blackmail trial

A French court trying an alleged blackmail case involving Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and four other defendants expects to render its verdict on Friday. Benzema hasn't been attending the trial that opened Wednesday in Versailles and is scheduled to wrap up Friday. He is charged with complicity in the alleged attempt in 2015 to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape thought to have been stolen from his mobile phone. Prosecutors asked Thursday that Benzema be fined 75,000 euros ($87,000), the maximum allowed on the charge, and be given a suspended 10-month jail term. The law allows for a maximum of 5 years imprisonment. The four other defendants are being tried on charges of attempted blackmail.

Barcelona hosts Real Madrid, Sociedad at Atltico on super Sunday

Barcelona faces another test of its post-Messi era when Real Madrid visits Camp Nou on an action-packed Sunday that also features a clash between the Spanish league leader and its defending champion

1 in 5 students prefer new destinations like Ireland, Turkey, Spain: Study

Western Union's study on overseas education shows over 50% students prefer specialised courses over varsity reputation

Spain to send 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Haiti

Spain will send on Saturday 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Haiti hit by the powerful earthquake, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

Heat is on in every sense of the word as new La Liga season kicks off

Fans will be back in the stands after over a year of empty grounds when the new La Liga season kicks off this weekend in Spain

La Liga without Messi: A look at top contenders for Spanish league title

The Spanish league starts on Friday. Here is a look at the top contenders expected to fight for the title and top positions in the table. ATLTICO MADRID Atltico Madrid defends the title it won last season with the goals of Luis Surez and the tireless preparation of coach Diego Simeone. Its position as champion has been strengthened by the exit of top players from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atltico has kept all its talent and added Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul. Simeone, who signed a contract extension in July through 2024, will have Surez back to lead his attack. The Uruguay striker was crucial to Atltico's title march, leading the team with 21 league goals. Can he, though, at the age of 34, maintain the same production? Expectations are big for Joo Flix to become a leader with his playmaking in an otherwise workmanlike squad. But Simeone has shown that with a strong defense anchored by goalkeeper Jan Oblak his side can grind out wins without many frills. REAL MADRID

Real Madrid, Barcelona oppose Spanish league's $3 bn funding plan

Real Madrid and Barcelona expressed their opposition to the Spanish league's deal with an investment fund that secured $3.2 billion in funding to help its clubs.

Tokyo: Spain, Greece win water polo groups with solid defensive performance

Spain allowed a tournament-low 31 goals while going 5-0 in Group B. Greece permitted just 34 goals while going 4-0-1 in Group A

World Coronavirus Dispatch: Singapore's leap of faith in its virus strategy

Spain battles deadly outbreak even as vaccinations surge, Astra shot brings no increased blood-clot risk after two doses, and other pandemic-related news across the globe

Olympics: Spain held to 0-0 by Egypt with 6 players from Euro 2020

Starting with six players who rushed from the European Championship to the Olympics, Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Egypt on Thursday in the team's opening match of the men's soccer tournament.

How local politics and nationalism shaped football as we know it today

The sport, which began capturing global imagination just after World War I, has been used as a platform to make political and racial statements and broadcast ethnic identities

Euro Cup 2021 final date, match time, live telecast and streaming in India

England qualified for the first major tournament final since 1966 and will now face Italy in the summit clash at Wembley Stadium on July 12

Spain has hopes of a bright future after Euro 2020 campaign

Losing big matches inevitably leads to questions about the future. With Pedri Gonzlez, Spain already seems to have the answer. Still only 18, Pedri was the man in the middle at the European Championship, starting every match for his team and controlling the transition between the defense and offense. That quality and leadership, even coming from a teenager playing in his first major tournament, helped Spain make it all the way to the semifinals. What Pedri has done during this European Championship I haven't seen done by any 18-year-old in any other competition, Spain coach Luis Enrique said. I've never seen anything like it. The constant comparisons to Andres Iniesta, the great Spain playmaker who helped the team win Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup, don't seem so exaggerated anymore. Not after this tournament. Not even Iniesta did what Pedri did, Luis Enrique said. Always calm and collected, Pedri was key in controlling the tempo in Spain's midfield match after match

Ex-Madrid captain Sergio Ramos signs 2-year deal with PSG

Obsessed with winning the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain added precious experience to its squad by recruiting former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos on Thursday

Spain, Italy take unbeaten runs into Euro 2020 semifinals

Luis Enrique thought for a couple of seconds, looked straight back at the questioner, and gave the curtest of replies. No, said the Spain coach, with the blankest of looks on his face, after being asked if he had seen a better team than his at the European Championship. An answer out of blind loyalty? Perhaps. Or was it the fact that Spain was the leading scorer at Euro 2020? Maybe. Or the fact that La Roja is on an unbeaten streak stretching back to October, a run of 13 games? Quite possibly. Spain's opponent in the European Championship semifinals on Tuesday might have something to say about all that. Italy, another of the continent's traditional powers, brings an even better run of form to Wembley Stadium a national-record 32 matches unbeaten, going all the way back to September 2018. From the moment tenor Andrea Bocelli cleared the field at Stadio Olimpico after his stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma at the opening ceremony, making way for the start of the tournament, the .

Spain beat 10-man Switzerland on penalties to reach Euro 2020 semis

Mikel Oyarzabal held his nerves to score the crucial penalty as Spain entered the semi-finals of the ongoing Euro Cup after beating Switzerland 3-1 on penalties on Friday.

Euro Cup: Spain beat Croatia in extra time thriller to reach quarter-finals

Spain defeated Croatia 5-3 after extra time in their Round of 16 clash in the ongoing Euro Cup in Copenhagen to progress to the quarter-finals on Monday.Alvaro Morat scored in the 100th minute to take Spain 4-3 ahead and Mikel Oyarzabal netted one in the 103rd minute to get Spain a double lead. In the final few minutes, Croatia tried hard but were unable to score a goal as Spain got over the line.In the first half, Spain struggled to string passes together and the strikers failed to get through Croatia's defense. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was unable to control a bouncing pass from Pedri which resulted in an own goal as Croatia took the lead.However, Spain bounced back in style as Pablo Sarabia latched onto a rebound to drill home the equaliser from close range in the 38th minute.In the second half, both teams started the game from 1-1 but Cesar Azpilicueta scored his first-ever goal for Spain as the side again got the lead in the 57th minute.Croatia kept pressing hard for an ...

Spain, Croatia peaking ahead of Euro 2020 knockout game

Dani Osmo will be lining up against some familiar opponents when Spain faces Croatia in the round of 16 at the European Championship. In fact, he easily could have been lining up for Croatia instead of Spain at Euro 2020. The attacking midfielder turned down overtures from Croatia's national team after moving to Dinamo Zagreb from Barcelona's academy as a 16-year-old and spending six seasons at the club. Olmo has never played senior club soccer in Spain he moved to RB Leipzig in 2020 but doesn't regret his decision to stick to his home country. "There was interest from Croatia, but I always preferred to play for Spain," Olmo said. The 23-year-old Olmo is part of a group of young players who have been given leading roles in Luis Enrique's new-look Spain team. Against Croatia, he has the added role of being the in-house expert on the opposing players. "Our coach knows the Croatia team well. If he asks me, I will share my opinion with him, Olmo said. I have played with the majorit