Real Sociedad hosts rival Athletic Bilbao in a mouthwatering Basque derby on Saturday, aiming to tighten its grip on third place in LaLiga. Sociedad has toyed with a top-four finish in recent seasons but ultimately lacked the stamina to cling on to it, so Imanol Alguacil hopes things can be different in this campaign. The coach […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch (highlights): Spain's record-setting rout over Costa Rica featuring Gavi and Co.
Spain’s 7-0 romp over Costa Rica was its biggest-ever margin of victory in the World Cup. Spain also broke its World Cup record for most goals in a game, surpassing its production in a 6-1 win against Bulgaria at the 1998 World Cup. The 18-year-old Gavi became the third youngest player to score in a World Cup since Pele (17 […]
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Remembering the great Paco Gento: My teammate for a day
“Don’t you know that’s Paco Gento!” That’s what I yelled when I uncharacteristically entered the fray as a couple opponents got into a chest-puffing shoving match with my stocky 5-foot-7 teammate after he reacted angrily to getting fouled. Though usually one to head a different direction when the danger of a fight emerged on the […]
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Watch: Ferran Torres shine as Spain ends Italy's big streak
The Azzurri’s world record 37-game unbeaten run ended with a 2-1 loss to Spain in the UEFA Nations League semifinal on Thursday. Italy, which earlier this year lifted the postponed Euro 2020 title after beating Spain in the semis on a PK tiebreaker, fell victim to two strikes by 21-year-old Ferran Torres, who now has […]
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Watch: An own-goal header from 27 yards out
LaLiga defending champion Atletico Madrid tied 2-2 with Villarreal thanks to this massive miscue from Aissa Mandi in stoppage time. Luis Suarez sparked Atletico’s comeback with his first goal of the season.
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Whose game is it? A philosophical take on the Super League controversy
To say the ill-conceived and short-lived European Super League was about “money” is to simplify the point. The point is a question that’s relevant from the highest level of the game to the grassroots, from European giants to the thousands of youth clubs in the United States. Whose game is it? Let’s be clear: Nothing […]
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Who is this 'global fan'?
“We asked ourselves, what is worse: a European Super League, or a European Super League without Arsenal? We also asked ourselves what do the fans want? The global fan wants Arsenal against Barcelona as often as possible.” — Arsenal FC director Josh Kroenke. * * * * * * * * * * One of […]
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What They're Saying: Ronald Koeman
“If you want to sit on the fence, sit on the fence!” — Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, asking a reporter — a rare neutral in Spain’s El Clasico — whether Barcelona should have been awarded a late penalty for a foul on Martin Braithwaite in its 2-1 loss at Real Madrid before cutting short his […]
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Saudi 'sportswashing' shows why more players must take a moral stance
This month’s Spanish Super Cup will not be played in Saudi Arabia after all. The four-team tournament — featuring Real Madrid (LaLiga champions), Barcelona (runner-up), Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid (both Spanish Cup finalists) — will instead take place from January 13-17 in the three Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Malaga and Seville. The relocation is […]
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Watch: Own goal by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak
Real Madrid ended Atlético Madrid’s 26-game LaLiga unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win that included this unlucky mishap from goalkeeper goalkeeper Jan Oblak. After Casemiro gave Real the lead, Dani Carvajal‘s 27-yard strike hit the post and bounced into the net off Oblak’s back. Third-place Real Madrid is now two points behind second-place Real Sociedad […]