Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out

Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out
Spain's forward #11 Ferran Torres celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Albania and Spain at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on June 24, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 25 June 2024
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Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out

Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out
  • It is the first time since 2008 that Spain have won all three group games at either a World Cup or European Championship

DÜSSELDORF, Germany: An early Ferran Torres strike gave Spain’s second-string side a 1-0 win over Albania on Monday as the three-time champions finished the Euro 2024 group stage with a perfect record and the defeat eliminated their opponents.
Barcelona winger Torres finished off a fine move in the 13th minute in Duesseldorf to puncture the atmosphere in a stadium filled with a majority of noisy Albanian fans.
However, this game was not a cruise for a Spain team showing 10 changes to the side which started their 1-0 win over Italy four days earlier.
Spain had already secured top spot in Group B, but Albania knew they realistically needed a win to go through and that made for a frantic encounter at times, particularly as they pushed forward in the second half.
Despite their best efforts, Albania go home after picking up only one point and finishing bottom of a difficult section.
It is a regression for them from their debut European Championship appearance in 2016, when they also went out in the first round but did manage to win a game.
Beating a Spain side who have probably been the most impressive so far in Germany was always going to be a big ask for Albania, coached by former Barcelona left-back Sylvinho.
It is the first time since 2008 that Spain have won all three group games at either a World Cup or European Championship.
Coach Luis de la Fuente can now turn his full attentions to a last-16 tie in Cologne on Sunday against an as-yet unknown third-place finisher.
Center-half Aymeric Laporte was the only Spain player to keep his place following the Italy game, with key midfielder Rodri suspended and everyone else given a breather.
Goalkeeper David Raya, defender Dani Vivian, left-back Alejandro Grimaldo and midfielder Martin Zubimendi, all largely untested at international level, came in.
There was also a start for Jesus Navas, who was part of the Spain teams that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and who is now 38.
Even Laporte was removed at half-time, replaced by Robin Le Normand, while Lamine Yamal and Alvaro Morata also appeared in the second half.
Albania, ranked 66th in the world, knew it would be a big ask to beat Spain having lost all of their eight previous meetings.
Spain first threatened in the 12th minute when Mikel Merino’s header was saved by goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, and a minute later they were ahead.
Dani Olmo stepped into the space between the Albanian lines to receive a pass, and then fed a measured ball in behind for Torres to latch onto.
The former Manchester City player timed his run perfectly and finished with precision too, his first-time effort going in off the far post.
Torres has made a habit of scoring at these tournaments, having netted twice at the last Euros and twice at the 2022 World Cup.
It took Albania until the final minute of the half to test Raya, the Arsenal shot-stopper flying to his right to parry a powerful strike by Kristjan Asllani.
Joselu hooked a Grimaldo cross just wide moments after the restart for Spain, before the Albanian fans raised the noise levels as they became aware of events in the other match.
They were very close to equalising when substitute Armando Broja met an Asllani free-kick and tried to lob Raya, but the goalkeeper saved.
Asllani then fizzed an effort just wide, and Broja was again denied by Raya in stoppage time as Albania bowed out.


Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast
Updated 28 February 2025
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Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast
  • After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys“
  • The Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench

ISTANBUL: Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho was handed a four-match ban and fined more than €40,000 by the Turkish football federation on Thursday for comments he made after an explosive Istanbul derby against Galatasaray.

After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys.”

He also reportedly repeated his criticism of Turkish referees.

Fenerbahce said that Mourinho’s comments were taken out of context.

On Thursday the Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench.

They were judged “contrary to sporting ethics.”

Mourinho, whose team trail leaders Galatasaray by six points in the table, was also fined just over €42,000.


Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations
Updated 27 February 2025
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Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations
  • The Portuguese executive is said to have been offered a decade-long deal worth €20 million a year
  • Sources say the federation wants to restructure the national team ahead of 2034 World Cup, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals

PARIS: Representatives of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation met Luis Campos, the sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain, in Geneva last week to discuss an offer for him to handle the federation’s sporting operations, French daily newspaper Le Parisien reported on Wednesday.
The Portuguese executive was offered €20 million ($20.8 million) a year in a contract that would run until 2034, according to the newspaper. Citing unnamed sources, it said the move is part of the federation’s plans to restructure and reorganize the Saudi national team ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the Kingdom will host, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals.
If Campos, also a former sporting director of AS Monaco, accepts the offer, he will reportedly submit reports on Saudi football and the national team to Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and the federation’s president, Yasser Al-Misehal.
The Le Parisien report added that Campos was given until the end of the year to respond to the offer, and in the meantime he will continue to focus on PSG until the end of the season. Campos joined the club in July 2022 and has helped it secure back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.


Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension

Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension
Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension

Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension
  • The PFF decided to approve those amendments
  • Pakistan remained hopeful the suspension will be lifted in time to play Syria on Mar. 25

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation took a step toward returning to international soccer by unanimously approving constitutional amendments proposed by FIFA on Thursday.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected electoral reforms.
The PFF decided to approve those amendments by a 23-0 vote at an extraordinary congress in Lahore, where the attendees included officials from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
“The congress members endorsed the FIFA proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, paving the way for the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers following the expected lifting of FIFA’s suspension,” the PFF said in a statement.
Pakistan remained hopeful the suspension will be lifted in time to play Syria on March 25 in its first qualifier for the 2027 Asian Cup. For that to happen, the AFC told the PFF the ban must be lifted by Tuesday.


Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich

Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich
Updated 27 February 2025
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Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich

Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich
  • Bayern decided at their supervisory board meeting on Monday to withdraw the offer
  • The proposed new deal reportedly included a modest pay rise

MUNICH: German media is reporting that Bayern Munich have retracted their contract extension offer to midfielder Joshua Kimmich, whose deal expires at the end of the season.
Kicker magazine on Thursday corroborated a report from the Bild tabloid saying Bayern decided at their supervisory board meeting on Monday to withdraw the offer they made to the player because of his hesitation in accepting it.
The 30-year-old Kimmich, who has played more than 400 games for Bayern since joining as a 20-year-old from Leipzig in 2015, reportedly earns around 20 million euros ($21 million) a year at the Bavarian powerhouse.
The proposed new deal reportedly included a modest pay rise.
Bayern’s board member for sports, Max Eberl, told broadcaster Sky this month that talks between the two parties were positive after the club announced new contract extension deals with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Manuel Neuer.
“We’ve done our work bit by bit. We’ve had very good discussions with Joshua. We’ve clearly shown what our idea is with the extensions (that were announced),” said Eberl, who hoped that “we’ll get it over the finish line.”
Kimmich played every minute for Bayern across three competitions until he was forced off before the break against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend with a tendon strain. He will likely miss the team’s visit to Stuttgart on Friday, but the club hopes he’ll be back for Bayer Leverkusen’s visit in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
Kimmich is at liberty to join another club at the end of this season — as long as he does not sign a new deal at Bayern in the meantime. There has been speculation of a possible reunion with former Bayern coach Hansi Flick at Barcelona, though the financially troubled Spanish club would still need to pay his wages.


England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch

England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch
Updated 27 February 2025
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England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch

England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch
  • Park netted in the 33rd minute at Wembley to ensure England saw off the side ranked second in the world
  • Spain never relented in five minutes of stoppage time, but England held firm to banish the painful memories of the World Cup misery

LONDON: Jess Park fired England to a 1-0 win against Spain on Wednesday in a Women’s Nations League clash that provided a measure of revenge for their World Cup final defeat.

Park netted in the 33rd minute at Wembley to ensure England saw off the side ranked second in the world.

It was the first time England had faced Spain since the Lionesses lost the 2023 World Cup final.

That showpiece success for Spain was eventually overshadowed by the controversy caused by the Luis Rubiales case.

Former Spanish football federation boss Rubiales was recently found guilty of sexual assault after kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the World Cup medal ceremony.

Spain have tried to moved on from the scandal, with their Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati saying she hoped speaking out about what happened can lead to change in football and wider society.

With the focus back on the pitch, England struggled in the early stages of their latest Spain showdown.

They were fortunate not to fall behind when Lucia Garcia’s corner hit the crossbar.

Lauren James finally tested Spain keeper Cata Coll with a curling effort and then a fierce drive at the near post.

England were growing into the game and Park struck after some fine work by Alessia Russo, who carved through the Spanish defense for a shot that was blocked by Spain captain Irene Paredes.

The rebound fell for Manchester City midfielder Park, who prodded home from close range.

Spain looked to Salma Paralluelo for a near-instant reply, but the Barcelona winger’s shot was wide before England keeper Hannah Hampton denied Bonmati.

Hampton saved again to frustrate Bonmati just before half-time.

The game was briefly paused in the 52nd minute when the stadium lights went dark.

But light was restored and Paralluelo looked in prime position to equalize after she was released by Athenea del Castillo, but she was closed down at the last moment by Millie Bright.

Montse Tome’s team piled on the pressure, with Leila Ouahabi repelled by Hampton in a frantic finale.

England nearly had a late second after Coll spilled the ball from a sharp James effort before the keeper smothered it on the line.

Spain never relented in five minutes of stoppage time, but England held firm to banish the painful memories of the World Cup misery.