The seas off the Canary Islands is being searched by Spanish police for a boat that vanished more than a week ago carrying at least 200 African migrants.
Other ships in the region have been instructed to keep an eye out for the missing ship, and a search plane is currently probing the waters south of the Spanish islands.
A seaside village in southern Senegal called Kafountine is 1,700 kilometers (or around 1,000 miles) from the Canaries, where the boat left from.
Many children are on board, according to aid workers.
Also reported missing are two smaller boats from the same region that were carrying numerous people.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will travel to Kiev this weekend to demonstrate the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine as Spain assumes the rotating EU chair, according to authorities.
Sanchez “will kick off the EU presidency on Saturday, July 1, in Ukraine … to demonstrate with his presence the unfaltering European Union support” to the country, said a statement from his office.
The announcement was made as Sanchez attended an EU summit in Brussels, during which Zelenskyy, participating via videolink, confirmed the visit.
A mother of three who successfully sued her landlord for hazardous mould that made living there “unbearable” for her family says she is eager to “make our house a home” now.
The 36-year-old Sara-Jae Gumbley had to undergo a three-year “living nightmare,” purchasing up to 20 air fresheners each month in an effort to cover up the musty odour.
She remarked that the thick black mould covering the walls and ceiling of the downstairs bathroom made it uninhabitable and “looked like it had suffered a huge fire.”
It meant Sara-Jae and the kids all had to use the upstairs one, with the mum, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, adding: ‘My youngest occasionally had accidents on the stairs. It was terrible.’
Despite repeatedly reporting the dire living conditions to Eastbourne County Council, Sara-Jae said they did little to resolve the situation.
She eventually called upon the help of a firm of lawyers specialising in housing disrepair who fought her battle in court – and won.
Veritas helped secure her £2,500 in damages as well as ensuring the council carried out the £3,000 worth of works to fix the problem.
Sara-Jae said: ‘My little one is delighted that she can now have play dates with her friends. It’s time to make our house a home.’
She said of the issue: ‘I felt helpless and ashamed. The mould took over our lives, and the smell was unbearable.
‘I tried my best to hide it with all the air fresheners but, deep down, I knew it wasn’t a solution. My children’s health was at risk, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
‘The kids couldn’t have their friends over because I was concerned they might touch something by accident, not to mention my embarrassment of the state the house was in.
‘The downstairs toilet, which we could never use, looked like it had suffered a huge fire. It was just black with mould and always had a puddle on the floor.
‘That meant we had to share the upstairs toilet which, between four people, was challenging. My youngest occasionally had accidents on the stairs. It was terrible.’
She described feeling unable to have any guests over at all – even at Christmas – fearing they might touch something and fall ill.
After years of anguish, the council completed the repairs last month. Sara-Jae hopes to use part of the settlement to take her children, aged five, 11 and 13, to Spain.
In a message of advice to others living through similar harrowing ordeals, she added: ‘Don’t suffer in silence. Take action and get the help you deserve.
‘Reach out to organisations who can guide you through the legal process. Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy home.’
Eastbourne Borough Council said: ‘We are committed to ensuring everyone has a place to call home which is secure, decent and genuinely affordable.
‘We take all issues of damp, mould and disrepair very seriously.
‘Advice has been given to Ms Gumbley on good ventilation in the property. We are pleased that Ms Gumbley is satisfied with the work that’s been carried out.’
Faraz Fazal, a Managing Partner at Veritas Solicitors, said: ‘This case reinforces our resolve to combat substandard living conditions and advocate for tenants’ rights.
‘It serves as a reminder to all landlords that they have a fundamental duty to provide safe and habitable homes.’
On Monday, president Akufo-Addo, has left Ghana for a six-day working trip to Spain, France, and the United Kingdom (UK).
At the joint invitation of the King of Spain, His Majesty Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso VI, and the King of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein, President Akufo-Addo will on Tuesday, 20th June 2023, participate in the Aqaba Process meeting of West Africa and the Sahel in Cordoba, Spain.
He will travel to Paris, France, at the invitation of the French President, H. E. Emmanuel Macron, to participate in the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, to be held from 22nd to 23rd June, 2023 and proceed to the United Kingdom on 23d June, 2023 for a private visit.
He was accompanied by the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr Kwaku Afriyie, and officials of the Presidency.
President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Saturday, 24th June, 2023 and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Afticle 60 (8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.
Spain clinched their first-ever Nations League title in a hard-fought encounter against Croatia, with Dani Carvajal’s deft chipped penalty proving decisive in a grueling 120 minutes of play and a dramatic penalty shootout.
Having learned from their defeat to France in the 2021 final, La Roja displayed determination as they faced off against a fervently supported Croatian team in Rotterdam.
The match at De Kuip was a nail-biting affair, with the shootout reaching sudden death after Lovro Majer of Croatia and Aymeric Laporte of Spain missed their spot-kicks.
In the end, it was goalkeeper Unai Simon who emerged as the hero, making a crucial save from Bruno Petkovic’s shot. Carvajal stepped up confidently to convert the decisive penalty, securing a 5-4 victory and the coveted trophy for Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish side.
Although clear-cut opportunities were scarce, Spain had the better chances during regular time. Gavi, the midfield maestro, came close with a shot that narrowly missed the target early on, while Marco Asensio headed over the bar in the second half.
Spain came out on top in a close contest against Croatia in Rotterdam
Ansu Fati was also denied on the line by Ivan Perisic in the game’s closing stages.
Croatia could perhaps have taken the lead themselves, only for Laporte to make an outstanding tackle to deny Andrej Kramaric.
However, they created relatively little throughout the match, in a cagey affair that perhaps reflected the high-stakes occasion.
The result is a devastating blow to the Vatreni, who were hoping to secure international silverware for the first time.
Instead, it is Spain who will be celebrating after ending their 11-year trophy drought, following La Roja’s 2012 European Championship triumph.
Hero of the hour Carvajal said: “For us, it was a unique opportunity, we went out early in another tournament [at the World Cup] and today we had to take advantage.
“We had confidence with the penalties and it went well, I knew how I was going to shoot it, and I knew I was going to be sixth. I wanted to take it Panenka style and it went well.”
It’s understandable if many in Spain believe that this week is the midst of the summer.
The nation is preparing for its warmest April day ever as a heat wave moves from Africa to Europe, with a predicted high of 40°C.
Following the driest March in 20 years, the temperature is predicted to rise to levels that are typically only experienced in July.
Spanish citizens were advised to brace themselves for “exceptionally high temperatures for this time of year,” according to the State Meteorological Agency of Spain, often known as AEMET.
The agency said on Sunday that the heat wave will begin by marching towards the Iberian Peninsula on Monday and today, peaking by Thursday and Friday.
Madrid, Andalusia, Murcia and Aragón will all be hard hit by the spring heatwave, the country’s weather agency said.
Weather forecasters are warning Spaniards to brace themselves for extreme temperatures (Picture: Aemet)
People living in the Guadalquivir Valley near the Córdoba province could see 40°C – the first time the temperature has been recorded in April.
While in Seville, the capital city of the southern Iberian community of Andalucía, an extreme temperature of 37°C is expected.
Zaragoza in northeastern Spain could see thermometers soar to 35°C this week.
Spain’s capital, Madrid, won’t be spared, with 33°C expected in the region.
The night will offer people little respite, AEMET added. In Andalusia, nighttime temperatures will stubbornly remain in ‘tropical’ heights at 20°C.
Some Spanish farmers, wary of the heat and increasing lack of water, haven’t planted crops for weeks, while civil police warn of a ‘high risk’ of wildfires.
The nation’s water reserves have become cracked and scorched in the heat, plunging the southwest European country into a long-term drought.
Reservoirs are around 15% below average levels (some have shrunk by 26%) which is fuelling fears of another wild-fire-filled summer ahead.
Agriculture, a lifeline of Spain’s economy, is feeling the heat, agriculture minister Luis Planas said last week, adding: ‘We are in a difficult moment.’
The country’s top farmers’ union, COAG, said on April 17 that 60% of farmland has been ‘suffocated’ by the lack of rainfall.
‘Irreversible damage has been done to more than 3.5 million hectares of rainfed cereals,’ the union said. Losses have been seen in crops such as nuts and wheat.
A pasture in Badajoz, western Spain, is so dry that cattle have next to no grass to eat or water to drink.
‘There is a lot of uncertainty because although there is more water available than last year, the land is much drier,’ COAG added.
It comes after a heatwave caused fires to rage in France and Spain before sending mercury sky-high in the UK last year.
The heat wave was the upshot of planet-warming pollution causing wind patterns to change and the ‘Azores High’ to become even larger.
This high-pressure system in the north Atlantic has long been behind the summer’s balmy heat – but the last few years have been especially blistering.
So much so that the Met Office issued its first red warning for exceptional heat in 2022.
And the dry zone is only getting larger and larger each year amid climate change, a study published in Nature Geoscience found.
This is all throwing Europe’s typically moderate temperatures topsy-turvy, with winter rainfall rates decreasing by the decade, leading to droughts.
Scientists expect a further 10–20% drop in winter rainfall by 2100, a daunting prospect for agricultural countries like Spain.
After helping Spain defeat Norway 3-0 in Malaga on Saturday, Joselu was in a state of dreamland after scoring twice on his country’s debut.
In his first match as head coach after succeeding Luis Enrique, Luis de la Fuente selected a team that was somewhat unfamiliar for their first two Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Many believed Joselu’s call-up was overdue because he had double digit LaLiga goal totals in each of the previous three seasons.
When he entered the game at La Rosaleda in the second half, Spain was struggling to win 1-0 and he scored twice to end the match.
As such, he became the oldest debutant to score for Spain since September 2006, two days before his 33rd birthday, and he was left in disbelief.
“The truth is that I still don’t believe it,” he told TVE. “This is everything a player can have and in the end, the daily work has had its reward.
1 – Joselu Mato (32 years and 363 days) is the oldest player to score on his debut for Spain since Sep 2006, scoring his first goal after 147 seconds after coming off the bench and becoming the first substitute to score a brace on his debut for Spain since then. Brilliant. pic.twitter.com/xiSjE7zJO1
“I think I would especially like to thank my wife and my children, and my mother, who have come here today.
“The truth is that I am not believing it.”
Joselu was also Spain’s oldest debutant since 2006, with De la Fuente opting to pick a few somewhat unfashionable options who were largely neglected by his predecessor.
The striker subsequently paid tribute to De la Fuente for giving him the opportunity.
“I thank him for everything, being here, trusting me, being on the first list,” he said.
“I think I have responded more than enough.
“Age doesn’t matter to me because I feel like a kid, I feel like an 18-year-old kid. I want to enjoy this; I want to hug my family because today is an incredible day.”
Erling Haaland,who withdrew from the Norwegian team for their first two Euro 2024 qualifying matches due to a groin injury, will return to Manchester City for medical tests.
Following a five-goal outburst in a 7-0 Champions League thrashing of RB Leipzig, the star striker netted a hat-trick as City defeated Burnley 6-0 at the weekend in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Haaland joined his teammates from Norway as they got ready to play Spain and Georgia, but he won’t be taking part in either of those games.
Team doctor Ola Sand told the Norwegian Football Federation’s website: “We hoped that this would carry over to Saturday but after doing tests and examinations yesterday it became clear that he will not make it to the games against Spain and Georgia.
“It is better that he receives medical follow-up at the club.”
Kampene mot Spania og Georgia går dessverre uten Erling Braut Haaland. Han har reist hjem grunnet skade. Les mer her: https://t.co/BPVnWNWUgt
Norway boss Stale Solbakken added: “Erling took it hard when he realised that he could not fight for the team.
No conclusive evidence to leave Walker out of England squad – Southgate
“Fortunately, there is still plenty of self-confidence, talent and cohesion in this group to win points in the next matches.”
City will hope the injury is not serious ahead of a busy period following the international break, starting with a crunch Premier League clash at home to Liverpool on April 1 as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to bridge the eight-point gap to leaders Arsenal.
Great Britain, making their tournament debut in the fifth iteration, stood out in a tense match against Mexico, who shocked Pool C favourites USA in their previous game.
This was stated in a message at the presentation of the Sovereign with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
“This joint bid, which is unprecedented in football history, will bring together Africa and Europe, the northern and southern Mediterranean, and the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds,” said the Sovereign in this message read by the Minister of National Education, National Formation and Sport, Chakib Benmoussa.
King Mohammed VI further specified that this candidacy “will also bring out the best in all of us – in effect, a combination of genius, creativity, experience, and means.”
In Kigali, CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 was also awarded to King Mohammed VI.
This is “first and foremost, a tribute to the genius of Africa and its vibrant youth,” the Sovereign said on Tuesday.
The King stated that “it is still my firmly held belief, as I pointed out in my speech at the 29th African Union Summit in 2017, that “the future of Africa hinges on its youth”.
Only “a proactive, youth-oriented policy can channel energy for the achievement of development, therefore, the Award you are bestowing upon me today is, first and foremost, a tribute to the genius of Africa and its vibrant youth.”
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has achieved another significant accomplishment at the 2023 World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC).
The Kumasi-based university attained second position in the competition’s English as a Second Language (ESL) category finals.
As a result, the school has broken records by becoming the first African university to achieve this position in a competition that began 43 years ago.
They finished second in Madrid, Spain in January and qualified for the semi-finals in 2023. As reported by the Voice of KNUST, the university was ably represented by Prosper Michael Ametu, a fourth-year BA Sociology student, and Vincent Johnson Attakpah, a fourth-year BSc Statistics student, who qualified through nine rounds of debate.
Spanish MPs have voted to provide paid medical leave to women suffering from severe period pain and to allow anyone 16 and over to change the gender on their ID card with a simple procedure.
This makes them the first European country to advance such legislation.
While similar laws in other countries have prompted disagreement over the difficulties of the problem, lawmakers also approved a law allowing anybody 16 and over to change the gender on their ID card. Spain is now one of the few countries that permits people to change their gender on their national identity card with just a simple declaration according to a bill that was approved with 191 votes in favor, 60 votes against, and 91 abstentions.
Denmark was the first nation in Europe to establish such a right in 2014. Adults in Spain had to present a doctor’s note attesting to their gender dysphoria and documentation of two years of hormone therapy in order to request the change up until this point. Minors required judicial approval.
The new law drops all such requirements, with those aged 14 and 15 allowed to apply if their parents or legal guardians agree. Those aged 12 and 13 will also require a judge’s permission to make the move.
The menstrual leave law, which passed by 185 votes in favour to 154 against, is aimed at breaking a taboo on the subject, the government has said.
Menstrual leave is currently offered only in a small number of countries across the globe, among them Japan, Indonesia and Zambia. “It is a historic day for feminist progress,” Equality Minister Irene Montero tweeted ahead of the vote.
The legislation entitles workers experiencing period pain to as much time off as they need, with the state social security system – not employers – picking up the tab for the sick leave. As with paid leave for other health reasons, a doctor must approve the temporary medical incapacity.
The length of sick leave that doctors will be able to grant to women suffering from painful periods has not been specified in the law. About a third of women who menstruate suffer from severe pain, according to the Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics Society.
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The measure has created divisions among both politicians and unions, with the UGT, one of Spain’s largest trade unions, warning it could stigmatise women in the workplace and favour the recruitment of men.
The main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) also warned the law risks “stigmatising” women and could have “negative consequences in the labour market” for them. “Menstrual leave” is one of the key measures in the broader legislation, which also provides for increased access to abortion in public hospitals. Less than 15% of abortions performed in the country take place in such institutions, mainly because of conscientious objections by doctors.
The new law also allows minors to have abortions without parental permission at 16 and 17 years of age, reversing a requirement introduced by a previous conservative government in 2015.
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Spain, a European leader in women’s rights, decriminalised abortion in 1985, and in 2010, it passed a law that allows women to opt freely for abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy in most cases.
Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international football.
He won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 in addition to La Roja’s victory in 2010. Ramos, 36, was capped a record 180 times for Spain.
But, the Paris Saint-Germain defender has opted to call it quits after going without a match since March 2021, capping a glittering international career.
He wrote: “The time has come, the time to say goodbye to the national team.
“This morning I received the call from the current coach who told me that he doesn’t count and that he won’t count on me, regardless of the level I can show or how I continue my sporting career.
“With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I hoped would be longer and that would end with a better taste in the mouth, on the height of all the successes we have achieved.
“Humbly, I think that that career deserved to end because of a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our national team deserves, but not because of age or other reasons that, without having heard them, I have felt.”
He continued: “Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability.
“I look with admiration and envy at [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi, Pepe.
“Unfortunately, it won’t be like that for me, because football is not always fair and football is never just football.
“Through it all, I take it with this sadness that I want to share with you, but also with my head very high and very grateful for all these years and for all your support.
“I take back indelible memories, all the titles we have fought and celebrated all together and the tremendous pride.
“All of you have made me happy. I will continue to cheer on my country from home with the thrill of the privileged who has been able to proudly represent it 180 times. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who always believed in me!”
Young Nigerian player playing for CD Madridejos in the Spanish Terceira level, Ado Bala Hadi passed away on Sunday while his team was playing SP Cabanillas at home.
Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation, which announced this in statement on Monday, said Hadi reportedly collapsed “for no apparent reasons” in the 39th minute of the ill-fated match.
Accordingly, medical personnels on the ground at the Municipal Toledo ground immediately came to his aide but efforts to revive him proved abortive as he was later pronounced dead minutes after.
“The Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation and Castilian-La Mancha football, with its President Pablo Burillo at the helm, are totally dismayed at such an event.
“For this reason, the federative body remains at the disposal of CD Madridejos for everything it needs in these difficult times,” the statement reads.
The 21-year-old Hadi last played in Nigeria with Jigawa Golden Stars, The PUNCH reports.
Until his death, Hadi was one of the four Nigerian players on the books of CD Madridejos including former Nigeria U17 and U20 striker, Kehinde Ayinde.
Club Deportivo Madridejos, which is founded in 1968 is a football club based in Madridejos, Castile-La Mancha in Spain. The team plays in Tercera División Group 18. The club’s home ground is Nuevo Estadio, with a 2,000-seat capacity.
At the June Nations League finals, Italy, the defending European champion, will play Spain, while Croatia, a semifinalist at the 2018 World Cup, will play the Netherlands.
Italy, who missed the World Cup in Qatar for the second time in a row, won their group ahead of Hungary to advance to the Nations League semifinals. This group also included Germany and England.
The Azzurri were defeated 2-1 by Spain at the same stage of the competition in 2021 before losing to France in the championship game. Spain stands in Roberto Mancini’s team’s way of the championship game.
Luis de la Fuente will take over as Spain’s head coach after Luis Enrique left the team following their unexpected World Cup loss against Morocco. Spain defeated Portugal to win Group A2.
The Netherlands, who lost in the final of the 2019 Nations League Finals in Portugal, will play Croatia at home in Rotterdam’s De Kuip.
After losing to eventual champions Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinal, Ronald Koeman took over as manager of the Oranje, replacing Louis van Gaal.
While everything will be different for Spain and the Netherlands in June, Croatia’s lineup will seem familiar thanks to talismanic midfielder Luka Modric, who has committed to continuing his international career after helping the team earn bronze in Qatar.
The third-place play-off and final will be held on June 18, following the semi-final matches on June 14 and 15.
While Spain and the Netherlands will have completely new lineups in June, Croatia will have a more recognizable lineup thanks to stalwart midfielder Luka Modric, who has committed to continuing his international career after helping the team earn bronze in Qatar.
On June 14 and 15, the semi-final matches will be played, and on June 18, the third-place play-off and championship match will be contested.
Police in Spain have demolished three illegal tobacco factories run by a motley crew that employed low-wage Ukrainian refugees.
27 people have been detained after the operations were discovered in three different regions of Spain.
The gang is accused of smuggling sizable amounts of tobacco that were used to make fake cigarettes.
The factories had the capacity to produce more than 500,000 cigarette packs per day, which were sold both domestically and abroad.
Police said the Ukrainians, who had fled Russia’s invasion of their country, were living “crammed” into prefabricated shelters within the factories.
They were working long hours and were not leaving, to avoid detection, as some had entered the country illegally.
Meanwhile, the bosses of the organization enjoyed a “life of luxury,” allegedly laundering money for their tobacco smuggling operation.
The authorities seized tobacco products worth €37.5m ($41m; £33m), luxury vehicles, jewellery and large quantities of cash during their raid. More than 20 homes, industrial buildings and shops were searched.
The first clandestine factory was found in a chicken shed near Seville in the south at the end of 2021 – leading the authorities to uncover two other operations, in the eastern Valencia region and La Rioja in the north.
Police said the gang was also diversifying production by developing large marijuana plantations.
The investigation got assistance from the European policing agency Europol.
According to the United Nations, there are nearly eight million recorded Ukrainian refugees across Europe, who fled Russia’s February 2022 invasion. More than 160,000 have been registered in Spain.
In November, lawmakers at the European Parliament reported that labor exploitation ofUkrainians was on the rise, saying the urgency of their situation and language barriers sometimes forced refugees to take on informal and underpaid work.
The removal of cigarette butts from Spain’s streets and beaches will now be the responsibility of the tobacco industry, per new environmental regulations.
Each year, millions of butts are discarded, releasing toxic plastic waste that can take decades to decompose.
A fifth of adult Spaniards, according to data from 2020, smoke every day.
Although the regulations took effect on Friday, it is still unknown how they will be put into practice and whether they will likely be passed on to consumers.
A report by the Catalan Rezero Foundation estimated that local authorities in Catalonia were paying between €12 and €21 (£11 and $13-22) per inhabitant per year on road cleaning of cigarettes, with higher rates in coastal areas.
The report called cigarette waste the “most abundant waste” on the beaches of the western Mediterranean, adding that existing measures to tackle it – such as awareness campaigns and portable beach ashtrays – had been insufficient.
The new rules make manufacturers responsible for collecting discarded butts as well as transporting them for waste treatment.
The Mesa del Tabaco industry association has said it is still waiting for details on how the rules will be implemented, local media say.
Most cigarette butts contain filters made of cellulose acetate fibre, a type of a bioplastic.
These can take years, if not decades, to break down, and microplastic pollution can hamper plant growth too, according to scientists.
The new rules are part of a law passed last year banning single-use plastics like cutlery and straws – drawn up to comply with a European Union directive.
Ireland introduced similar legislation on Thursday, requiring tobacco companies to contribute to the cost of cigarette litter.
Almost half of litter in Ireland is cigarette-related, according to the country’s National Litter Pollution Monitoring System.
Spain has introduced a host of sweeping measures to curb smoking in recent years. Last July, smoking was banned on all of Barcelona’s public beaches, with offenders fined €30 (£27; $32).
Following his decision to leave the international game, Sergio Busquets received praise from Xavi, who hailed him as one of the best midfielders in history.
Busquets, who led La Roja in each of their four games during the World Cup in Qatar, confirmed his retirement from Spain service on Friday.
Busquets’ blunder in a penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the round of 16 put an unseemly end to his illustrious career with Spain, where he made 143 games as a senior.
The Blaugrana manager thinks few players can match the effect of the 34-year-old, who played with his Barcelona teammate-turned-coach Xavi when Spain won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
“In the end, it’s a personal decision that you make when you feel the time is right,” Xavi told Barcelona’s website. “I wish him the best, now he will be able to rest more and focus on Barca.
“He is a player who has made history. He is one of the best midfielders that football has produced worldwide and, for sure, the best defensive midfielder in the history of Spain.”
Xavi on Sergio Busquets’s announcement that he is retiring from the Spain national team pic.twitter.com/pIga3KNy4f
Fellow Barcelona star Jordi Alba said Busquets will be “sorely missed” by Spain, who will be led by Luis de la Fuente in Euro 2024 qualifying after Luis Enrique left his role as head coach.
“You have always been a great leader for all of us who are part of the team, both in good times and in bad,” Alba wrote on Twitter.
“After so many training sessions and games together in the national team, today you say goodbye and you will be sorely missed, friend.
“Thank you for what you have contributed to us and for everything you have given.”
Javier Clemente, a former La Roja head coach, said that Spain’schoice to fire Luis Enrique after their World Cup departure was “yet another mistake.”
Two days after Morocco eliminated the 2010 world champions on penalties in the round of 16, the former Barcelona manager’s resignation was officially announced on Thursday.
After the finals, Luis Enrique’s contract was about to expire, and the Royal Football Federation (RFEF) decided not to renew it. Instead, they named existing Under-21 manager Luis de la Fuente as the new manager.
Former Spain manager Clemente believes Luis Enrique shouldn’t be held accountable for his team’s second straight last-16 defeat after losing to host nation Russia at the same level four years prior. Clemente coached Spain at the World Cup in 1994 and 1998.
“I think it is not a success to have dispensed with Luis Enrique as coach,” he told El Programa de Ortega. “This is yet another mistake.
“Luis Enrique is a very good coach, with his ideas, with his personality, friendly, pleasant, man of the house. The problem of the Spanish team is a problem of Spanish football.
“[Morocco] stood up and closed well behind, and the players did not have the temperament to overcome it.
“You always talk about the coaches, but when you play badly, you also have to talk about the players. Is Luis Enrique to blame [for the penalties]? Not really.
The RFEF is expected to officially announce De La Fuente as Luis Enrique’s successor on Monday.
The 61-year-old has spent close to a decade coaching Spain’s age-grade sides, winning the Under-19 European Championship in 2015 and the Under-21 equivalent in 2021.
He also took charge of the Under-23 side at the Beijing Olympics last year and won a silver medal following defeat to Brazil in the final.
“You don’t imagine he’ll end up as a coach,” said Clemente, who coached De La Fuente at Athletic Bilbao during the early stages of his playing career.
“I think it’s good, he’s been in the Under-21s, and he’s had good results. He’s done well, he already knows the kids. I don’t know how he coaches, but I tell you he’s very good because he’s a friend of mine.”
By appointing Albert Luque as their new sporting director in place of Jose Molina, Spain has made additional adjustments to their coaching structure.
Two days after losing to Morocco on penalties in the World Cup round of 16, La Roja announced that head coach Luis Enrique would be leaving.
Luis de la Fuente, who has excelled at the Under-19 and Under-21 levels and who last year won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, is slated to take over the position the following week.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed that Molina won’t be renewing his contract in January 2023, making him the most prominent person to leave his position recently.
Francis Hernandez will collaborate with the former Spain international as Luque assumes the role of sports director.
During Molina’s four years in the position, Spain twice advanced to the Nations League Finals and the semifinals of Euro 2020.
At the end of March, the defending world champions will play their first Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Scotland and Norway.
🔴 OFICIAL | Albert Luque, nuevo director de la @SEFutbol
▪️ José Francisco Molina abandonará la dirección deportiva de la @RFEF en enero de 2023
Following Luis Enrique‘s resignation as head coach on Thursday, a number of Spain players paid tribute to him.
Luis Enrique lost his job as a result of Spain’s shocking elimination from the World Cup round of 16 by Morocco on Tuesday.
As his contract was slated to expire at the conclusion of the competition, the Royal Football Federation said on Thursday that it would not be extending it. Later, it was reported that Luis de la Fuente, who had previously been in charge of Spain’s Under-21 team, would take over.
After the announcement, Luis Enrique’s former players thanked him, with Cesar Azpilicueta posting his congratulations on social media.
“We had all imagined another ending after months of work, passion, dedication and commitment,” Azpilicueta posted on Instagram.
“Thank you very much for the trust, Luis Enrique, and all the coaching staff I wish you the best in the future.”
Dolidos por la eliminación en el Mundial pero convencidos del trabajo hecho.
Gracias por todo mister, siempre agradecido por la confianza que me diste desde el primer momento y todos los consejos que me has dado. Os deseo lo mejor a ti y a tu staff! pic.twitter.com/c4NZSHny6u
Luis Enrique gave Gavi his Spain debut last year, making him the youngest player in the history of La Roja at just 17 years and 62 days old.
“I wish you luck and success in the future, you gave everything for the team and we will always be grateful to you!”
Pedri also enjoyed his maiden international outing under the stewardship of Luis Enrique and is one of the young stars that look to have given Spain a promising future, despite the disappointment in Qatar.
“Thank you very much for everything, Luis,” Pedri added on Instagram. “For your trust and support from the very beginning, and for always believing in and caring for this group.
“We haven’t gotten where we wanted in this World Cup, but I’m sure the future will bring you new successes.”
Following Spain’s shocking World Cup elimination against Morocco, Luis Enrique has resigned from his position as manager.
The 52-year-old took over in 2018 and led Spain to the Euro 2020 semifinals.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said a “new initiative” should begin but did not specify when a new manager would be named.
“We would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff,” the RFEF said in a statement.
The former Spain midfielder took a brief leave of absence from his position in 2019 due to the diagnosis of bone cancer in his late daughter before returning for the team’s great performance at the Euros in the competition that was postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The eventual champions Italy eliminated Spain from the Euros after their semifinal match ended in a penalty shootout.
They defeated Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening World Cup group match, but after drawing 1-1 with Germany and losing 2-1 to Japan, they were criticized for playing a “boring” possession-based style of football.
Spain was held to a scoreless draw by Morocco on Tuesday before losing once more in a penalty shootout and being eliminated.
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos has won an appeal to block a portion of a case brought against him in the United Kingdom by his ex-lover.
Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, a businesswoman, has accused the former monarch of directing a harassment campaign against her since their relationship ended in 2012.
However, UK judges ruled that the former king was immune from prosecution for allegations relating to his time as monarch.
Juan Carlos, 84, stepped down in 2014. He claims he did nothing wrong.
Ms zu Sayn-lawyers Wittgenstein’s in the UK said the ruling did not affect the “overwhelming” chunk of her claim.
She is seeking damages and an injunction over allegations that the former king caused her “great mental pain” as a result of “a continuous and ongoing campaign of harassment” since 2012.
Tuesday’s Court of Appeal judgment overrules a previous one earlier this year. That one had ruled that Juan Carlos’s behaviour before 2014 had been “private conduct” and, therefore, could be prosecuted.
Following the appeals ruling, Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein’s lawyer, Michael Kim, insisted that the judgement “applies to a very narrow issue” concerning “only the period when Juan Carlos was the reigning king of Spain.
“The overwhelming part of Corinna’s claim, from 2014, remains unaffected and should proceed to trial,” Mr Kim said.
Juan Carlos was credited with overseeing Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy in 1975. But he abdicated following a series of scandals involving his family, including a corruption investigation involving his daughter’s husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who was later jailed.
The former king has spent more than two years in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates, after leaving Spain over allegations of fraud which were eventually dropped. A Swiss investigation into a multi-million dollar payment from Saudi Arabia was closed because of insufficient evidence.
Police in Spain arrested 30 people on suspicion of smuggling cannabis disguised as aid for Ukraine.
Those detained in Andalusia included Ukrainians, Spaniards, Germans, and Moroccans.
According to police, the drugs originated in the southern region, were packaged in cardboard boxes, and were transported in convoys across several countries.
The seizure comes just a month after Spanish authorities announced the largest cannabis haul ever discovered in the country.
The Guardia Civil police force said in a statement on Monday that they became suspicious after identifying a group of Ukrainians on the Costa del Sol collecting cannabis and storing it in a flat in Mijas, near Malaga.
The drugs were packed in vacuum bags and placed in cardboard boxes on vans registered in Ukraine, which proceeded to travel “as a solidarity convoy so they could pass under the radar of police and border controls”, it said.
In raids in Malaga province and in the southern cities of Granada, Cordoba and Seville, police seized nearly €800,000 (£690,000; $847,000), six guns and 2,500 cannabis plants.
Thousands of people across Europe have been involved in efforts to alleviate the suffering of Ukrainian civilians since Russia launched an invasion of its neighbour on 24 February.
Coach Luis Enrique of Spain is choosing not to dwell on the shortcomings of his team’s defeat to Japan and is instead emphasizing how brilliantly La Roja performed throughout their World Cup group stage matches.
Japan defeated Spain 2-1 on Thursday to win Group E, sending Germany home early and securing a matchup with Croatia in the round of 16.
In comparison to Japan’s 228 passes, Spain attempted 1,058 passes, had 82.3% of the possession, and had 12 shots—five of which found the target.
However, Japan’s six attempts totaled out to a combined anticipated goals (xG) of 1.45, with Ritsu Doan and Junya Ito scoring in the span of three second-half minutes, compared to Spain’s 1.04 total.
If media allegations in Spain are to be accepted, Luis Enrique, a former coach of Barcelona, may not remain in charge of Spain after the World Cup, but he is fully confident in his strategy going into Tuesday’s match with Morocco.
“We are talking about 270 minutes if I’m not wrong, plus added time [in the group stage],” Luis Enrique said in a press conference when he was asked if his team failed to recover from setbacks during matches.
“Out of 300 minutes in total, you focus on 10 minutes that you didn’t like. As far as we progress, you will see more of these minutes.
“We are footballers and the opponents also play. There are things to be improved, and I’m sure we will be bitten by Morocco in some moments of the game.
“We can’t take blows? What about them? Did Germany take it well when we scored? We are in a competition where the score dictates the risk you are willing to take.
“Other teams pull back but we keep attacking and of course we need to improve that.”
Asked if his team lacked the experience required to see out spells of pressure, Luis Enrique replied: “It’s such a cliche, we have to try and get rid of this idea.
“I don’t believe they lacked experience. Experience in what? Being builders, carpenters? When you lose, people talk about issues and if you win, they don’t.
“I don’t share this analysis. This team will be recognised by the way we play, analyse our matches, our philosophy but not these sorts of issues.
“Mistakes happen, we are talking about a very complex, unfair sport, 11 players on a huge field, it’s impossible to control all the aspects.
“At the end of the day the ones making the decisions are the players, I want them to implement my idea and I want them to buy the whole package when they lose, it’s not fair to only buy it when we win.”
Spain have only made it beyond the round of 16 once at the last four World Cups, when they went on to win the trophy in South Africa in 2010. This record, though, is of no concern to Luis Enrique.
“This is not our usual trend, to look at everything from a negative perspective,” he said.
“I am not concerned about those results. I want to control the things I can control as a coach. I want my team to play in a certain way, I want my players to forget about the result.
“Football is not fair but if you have more merit you usually win the game. I am convinced we will have more merit than Morocco. Our objective was to play seven games, so we want to play seven games.”
Jadon Sancho will stay behind to concentrate on a personal program “as part of a process to get back to his highest level” rather than joining Manchester United’s training camp in Spain.
In order to be ready for the return of domestic football, United will spend a week in Spain, playing friendlies against Cadiz on Wednesday and Real Betis on Saturday.
Due to the World Cup, Erik ten Hag will be without 13 members of his first team, and the Premier League club has also stated that Sancho, who was not selected for Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Qatar 2022, will not be there.
The 22-year-old was recently seen practicing with Ten Hag-recommended coaches at Dutch amateur team OJC Rosmalen.
🇪🇸 Our travelling squad has been revealed for our winter camp in Spain. #MUFC
United confirmed on Sunday on their website: “Jadon Sancho is continuing his individual training programme as part of a process to get back to his highest level. The club is fully supporting him in this.”
Sancho has scored three goals and contributed one assist in 14 games (12 starts) for his club this year, compared to just five goals and three assists in 38 games (27 starts) the year before after joining from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million (€85 million).
Additionally, because they are still recovering from injuries, United will be without their defense three of Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan Bissaka, and Brandon Williams in Spain.
The Red Devils resume competitive play in the EFL Cup on December 21 when they face Burnley in the fourth round, while Premier League play resumes on December 27 when Nottingham Forest visits Old Trafford.
In light of Thursday’s thrilling Group E finale, Luis Enrique claims he would have “had a heart attack” if he had known Spain was momentarily on its way out of the World Cup.
Samurai Blue defeated Spain 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium, with Japan rallying from a deficit after Alvaro Morata’s early goal.
La Roja entered the match at the top of the standings but needed a point to ensure progression without a doubt.
Even though they failed to accomplish that, Germany’s 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in another match meant Luis Enrique’s team would continue to compete, placing Die Nationalelf in second place behind Japan.
Spain, though, entirely dropped out of the top two for a brief period while Costa Rica took the lead in Germany.
Luis Enrique stated that he was ignorant and that he was appreciative of his ignorance.
“We were knocked out for three minutes? Why do you say this? I was not paying attention,” Luis Enrique said with a look of bemusement. “When did that happen?
“Okay, fantastic. I didn’t know this. Why? Because I was paying attention to my match. If I’d have found out, I’d have had a heart-attack.”
Of course, the defeat ultimately cost Spain little because many will argue their immediate path in the knockout stages is now kinder than it would have been if they won the group.
Topping Group E would have put them on track to face Croatia next and potentially Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Finishing as runners-up means they are now likely to come up against Portugal in the last eight, assuming La Roja get beyond Morocco.
Avoid talking about manipulating results. Prior to this game, Brazil dominated the news cycle, but Luis Enrique was not in the mood to celebrate advancement given how close Spain came to packing their bags.
“In football there are no good or bad sides,” he added. “In football you deserve or not and today I’m not happy at all.
“Yes, we qualified, I’d have liked to be top by winning this game, but this was not possible because in five minutes they got two goals, and in 10 minutes we were completely out.
“We were dismantled. We tried to close the game, but it wasn’t possible. But we didn’t have any danger in the first half, then in the second… I told them in half-time [Japan] will push us, they had nothing to lose.
“We didn’t have good game management, we collapsed. I’m not happy, I never celebrate defeats.
“I have nothing to celebrate. Of course, the bracket changes and many things are different, but I have nothing to celebrate.”
Japan’s winning goal by Ao Tanaka was somewhat controversial in nature, as replays showed the ball was agonisingly close to going out of play before Kaoru Mitoma’s cut-back to the match-winner.
Luis Enrique was shown an image of the situation and was left concluding it to be fake.
“I saw the images, they must be wrong or fabricated,” he said. “I saw an image and said that can’t be true.
“I have nothing else to say. I have full respect. I knew something going on as VAR took so long.”
Sergio Busquets refuted claims that Spain was happy to avoid playing Brazil in a potential World Cup quarterfinal after La Roja came through a major scare to advance from Group E.
Alvaro Morata handed Spain an early lead against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday, putting them on track to win the group. However, Ao Tanaka responded to Ritsu Doan’s equalizer within 142 seconds to propel the Samurai Blue to the top spot.
As Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in the group’s second match, Spain’s loss allowed them to advance on goal differential. La Roja was briefly on the verge of an astonishing group-stage elimination when Los Ticos lead Hansi Flick’s squad with 20 minutes remaining.
However, Busquets was dismissive when asked if that represented a positive outcome, saying: “It has nothing to do with it.
“We wanted to win and be first. We go to the other side of the bracket, but that does not guarantee that it will be easier or more difficult.
“We didn’t want this to happen, our intention was to win. To continue, we have the round of 16 against Morocco, which is going to be a very difficult match.
“We were not comfortable. They closed the pass between the lines very well and it was very difficult for us to connect and create danger.
“We knew it was going to be like that, it’s a shame about the goals. We have to continue, try to correct the mistakes, and go through the knockouts.”
Spain dropped to third place when Manuel Neuer’s own goal put Costa Rica 2-1 up against Germany at Al Bayt Stadium, before the four-time winners levelled the scores through Kai Havertz three minutes later.
Busquets’ midfield partner Pedri revealed Spain were made aware of their perilous situation during that brief period, as he emphasised the need to improve against Morocco.
Social media video from Spain appears to show a novel method of transport for African migrants trying to enter the European Union.
On Thursday evening, a paraglider drifted over the border fence that separates Morocco from the Spanish territory of Melilla.
Spanish police have not caught or identified the illegal entrant.
Security forces in Spain’s enclaves in North Africa have frequently had to deter large groups of migrants trying to climb over fences, swim onto beaches or walk round at low-tide.
Luis Enrique insists that Spain won’t take any dangers by attempting to orchestrate a certain outcome against Japan in order to avoid playing Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals.
La Roja takes on Samurai Blue on Thursday knowing that a win will guarantee the group’s top rank and set up a matchup with the Group F runners-up in the round of 16.
However, it would also put them in position to face the Selecao in the round of eight.
Attempting to avoid Brazil has been a hot issue throughout Spain’s recent media appearances, and Luis Enrique even acknowledged talking about it with his team.
“Great question, we’ve wondered about this and reflected on it. From a professional point of view, we are only thinking of winning because the four teams can qualify,” he said.
“We want to be first, we cannot and should not speculate. It’s very human to talk about it, we have done it, but it’s useless to choose.
“Imagine, we reach minute 95, we are drawing 0-0, we are winners of the group. But then just before full-time, Costa Rica and Japan score. You’ve speculated the entire game and then in the last 15 seconds you concede. That’s it, you’re out.
“If you’re convinced your team is a good one [you try to win]. We’re here to win seven games.
“Your theory is Brazil [in the quarter-finals]. Let’s play Brazil. We can’t start with these estimations.
🗣️ @LUISENRIQUE21: “Imagínate que salimos a especular ante Japón y quince segundos antes de terminar el partido quedamos eliminados”.
“We try to put up a fight – it doesn’t matter who we’re playing in the round of 16 or quarter-finals.
“If we play Brazil in the quarters, well so be it… We must beat Japan – elite sport and speculation don’t compute, or we don’t understand it that way. Being first would mean that we have been better.
“To win a World Cup you have to win against everyone who comes your way. That’s our goal.”
In fact, Luis Enrique continued by saying he would enjoy playing Brazil in the quarterfinals, even if it meant La Roja had a more difficult path to the championship game.
“I hope to play against Brazil. It will mean that we have both reached the quarter-finals,” he continued.
“Brazil is always a clear favourite [for the World Cup], regardless of the year. They have so much talent and quality, both individually and collectively.
“As for everyone else [the favourites], there aren’t big surprises. I always stick to the FIFA rankings, you can see which are the favourites. You look at the top 10, some aren’t here but generally those are the favourites. Brazil, France won [their groups] easily, so there’s no surprises.”
Spain have generally impressed across their first two games with their vibrant and attack-minded style of play, with many considering them early favourites despite possessing one of the youngest squads.
But one of their young talents who is yet to make an appearance is Ansu Fati, who some felt was fortunate to even be named in the squad after only playing bit-part role for Barcelona this season on his return from injury.
Luis Enrique acknowledged Fati was the most uncertain selection in the group, but he stressed he was thrilled with the training level of all of his forwards.
“He was the last player to enter the list. He wasn’t even in the squad in the previous two international breaks. It might be the position where I had the most doubts, regarding bringing Ansu or another player.
“I have to base my decisions on training. We have eight forwards training so well, I am delighted with them, they are flying. It’s a shame they’ve not all had minutes, they all deserve to play and it hurts me, but there’s no space for everyone – some will not play.
“There’s five substitutes allowed, and some players will end the competition without playing a minute. I’m sorry about that, so sorry, but they have to keep training at a top level and I make decisions based on what I see. I am sorry, but also happy with what I see from those eight players.”
The Nations League Finals in 2023 will be held in the Netherlands.
Since only they and their opponents from Group A4—Belgium, Poland, and Wales—expressed interest in hosting the knockout round, the Oranje were widely expected to welcome their rivals to play them on home soil.
After defeating the trio to advance as group champions, the Netherlands will now welcome Croatia, Italy, and Spain for the 2022–23 edition’s grand finale the following year.
The Johan Cruyff Arena and Philips Stadion will be unavailable due to concerts, so Feyenoord’s De Kuip and FC Twente’s De Grolsch Veste will host the games.
The competition begins on June 14 and 15, with the semi-finals, and concludes on June 18, with a play-off for third place.
Next January, a draw will be conducted at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon to determine the pairings for the final four teams.
🇳🇱 Netherlands will host the 2023 #NationsLeague finals!
On Sunday at Al Bayt Stadium, Morata scored his second goal of the competition after coming off the bench to give Spain the lead. However, Germany’s substitute Niclas Fullkrug scored a late equalizer to earn his team a point.
Spain, who is currently in first place in Group E, merely needs a point against Japan on Thursday to advance, while Germany must defeat Costa Rica and hope Luis Enrique’s team can help them out.
Striker Morata stressed there is no chance Spain will take Japan lightly at Khalifa International Stadium.
“Japan is a tough team, they run a lot, they are good tactically. It’s another tough game, it’s a World Cup.” he said.
The Atletico Madrid frontman says he has no problem with being among the substitutes again after also finding the back of the net in a 7-0 rout of Costa Rica.
“We are on the bench for this [to score]. Germany are a great team, this match could have been a semi-final or final in the World Cup,” he said.
“It’s the same [starting of being a substitute], the most important thing is to win. They scored an amazing goal, so we didn’t have the victory, but we keep training and pushing with good vibes and positivity.”
Morata has scored eight goals at European Championships and World Cups, at least double the amount of any other player for Spain since 2016.
Former Spain international Inaki Williams wants to give back to Ghana for the opportunity given him to feature for the national team at the World Cup.
Williams, who was born in Bilbao, confirmed in June that he would play for Ghana and will make his debut at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Since switching nationality, the Athletic Bilbao star has capped three times for the Black Stars and is expected to make more appearances in subsequent games.
According to the forward, he will do everything to repay Ghana opportunity at the biggest soccer mundial in the Asian country.
“I’m going to try to enjoy the moment, my roots, and try to give back to Ghana the opportunity it has given me,” Williams said.
The 28-year-old is expected to start Ghana’s Group H opener against Portugal on Thursday.
The Black Stars who are returning to the global showpiece after missing out in Russia 2018 has been housed in Group H against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
Ghana will open their campaign with a clash against former European champions Portugal before taking on South Korea and Uruguay in subsequent games.
Aymeric Laporte is confident that Spain have the ability to fight for glory at Qatar 2022 despite falling short of expectations at each of the last two World Cups.
The 2010 champions begin their campaign against Costa Rica on Wednesday, with a tough test in Group E also putting them alongside Germany and Japan.
After victory in South Africa, Spain were eliminated at the group stages four years later in Brazil and lost at the round-of-16 stage to host nation Russia in 2018.
Brazil and Argentina have been tipped as the favourites for glory at this instalment, though Spain are considered among the teams going for glory in Qatar and Laporte is confident Luis Enrique’s side have everything required to go all the way.
“All the teams have their strengths, we have an amazing squad, the big majority [of players] compete at the top level in the Spanish league, in England or other places,” he told a press conference on Monday.
“We have people very well placed in football, quality, with this boss we are working very well on a tactical leveI. I believe we have everything.
“Then, in these type of games or tournaments, you need luck and there are other factors to be taken into account. But on what depends on us, we will do everything to win.”
Laporte was also asked about the injury suffered to France striker Karim Benzema, who has been ruled out of competing at the tournament, which he says is disappointing for the fans.
“In this type of tournament we expect the best to be competing, or many of them,” he added. “It is a shame for fans to not see all the best players in the world fighting each other, but those who remain here have a goal and we are going for it.”
Marco Asensio wants to stay at Real Madrid for “10 more years” as the Spain international continues to negotiate a new contract with the club.
Asensio, who is on duty with La Roja at the World Cup, is set to become a free agent when his existing deal with Los Blancos expires at the end of June.
Repeatedly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Barcelona reported to be among his possible destinations, the forward has started just once in LaLiga for Madrid this season.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old hopes he can prolong his stay with the reigning Champions League winners, for whom he has made 250 appearances since arriving from Mallorca in December 2014.
“There is talk that I am changing Real Madrid’s mind. But I have always tried to give the maximum that I have inside, and then it will be known,” he told Radio Marca.
“The one that decides, too, is the club, it not only depends on me. After the World Cup, we will both make a decision.
“What if I want to renew? Hopefully, it can happen, and I will be very happy at Real Madrid for many years. Hopefully, everything will be given to stay 10 more years.”
Asensio also offered his commiserations to team-mate Karim Benzema, who was ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from a quadriceps problem in his left thigh.
The France international became the first reigning Ballon d’Or winner to miss the finals since Allan Simonsen’s Denmark failed to qualify for the 1978 tournament.
“I send him all my encouragement and support from here,” Asensio added. “These are things that happen in football, and it has weighed on him not being able to reach 100 per cent. He was very excited about this World Cup.”
Pheasant Island is a tiny islandon the border between Spain and France that alternates ownership status between the two countries every six months.
Located on the Bidasoa River, the natural border between Spain and France, Pheasant Island is a deserted patch of land with a rather fascinating history and political status. It might not look like much today, but hundreds of years ago it was where the Thirty Years’ War between Spain and France finally ended.
The two countries sent a couple of their most important dignitaries to the island to negotiate, with their respective armies gathered on both sides of the Bidasoa, in case things went wrong. 11 years and 24 summits later, a deal was struck, and Pheasant Island became the world’s smallest condominium, under the joint sovereignty of the two nations.
When France and Spain decided to end their long war, Pheasant Island became a metaphor for long-lasting peace. French King Louis XIV married the daughter of King Philip IV, Maria Theresa of Spain on the tiny island, a monument to commemorate the historic agreement was built in the center of it, and most importantly, it was decided that, from that point on, both countries would have joint custody of the territory for six months out of a year.
Since 1660, when the landmark agreement was struck, Pheasant Island has belonged to Spain from 1 February to 31 July of each year, and to France for the other half of the year. Visitors are only allowed onto the island on rare occasions, like the bi-annual handover ceremony, or on rare heritage tours. Other than that, employees of the municipal governments of Irun, in Spain, and Hendaye, in France, will venture onto Pheasant Island every six months for cleaning and gardening work.
The Naval Commands of both Spain and France are responsible for monitoring Pheasant Island, so during their six months of annual ownership crews will land on it every five days.
Eric Garcia believes Spain’s“spectacular” blend of exuberant youngsters and experienced veterans could see them beat any team at the World Cup in Qatar.
Between 2008 and 2012, Spain lifted two European Championship titles and also won their first World Cup as they dominated international football, boasting stars such as Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and David Villa.
However, since that Euro 2012 triumph, Spain have not made it back to a major tournament final and the majority of their key players from those glory years have retired.
Just Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba remain from that Euro 2012 squad, but the emergence of exciting young talent such as Ansu Fati and Pedri has reignited hopes of success returning under the stewardship of Luis Enrique.
Defender Garcia feels Spain’s mix of senior figures, such as Busquets and Alba, and their electrifying tyros could lead to a successful tournament in Qatar.
“For me, we have a perfect combination between young and old,” Garcia told SPORT. “In the end, youngsters continue to learn every day, and other more experienced players try to teach us.
“I think that this combination has many benefits in many aspects, because this group is spectacular.
“We have to be ourselves. We know what we are capable of when we are ourselves, we can compete and beat any team. That is the first step, first Costa Rica and then the rest, with the intention of going far, which is what we want.
“Maybe we don’t have a [Lionel] Messi or a Neymar, but we have players who individually contribute a great plus, like Pedri, Gavi, Busquets, [Marco] Asensio at the level he is. Having these players will help us.”
Qatar will be Garcia’s first taste of World Cup action with Spain, and he is thrilled to be part of the team, explaining how he watched past tournaments since childhood.
“As you get older, you’re thinking, ‘I wish I could be there one day’,” he said. “It is a privilege to be able to be here, living an experience that everyone would like to live, so it must be appreciated and valued.”
Garcia hopes to be selected in Luis Enrique’s line-up for Spain’s opening game against Costa Rice on Wednesday, adding: “The competition in each position is very high, but in my head is to work as much as possible in training and if the coach counts on me, be at the highest possible level every minute I play.”
After the meeting with Costa Rica, Spain will take on Germany and Japan in Group E.
Barcelona’s 19-year-old full-back Alejandro Balde has been added to Spain’s squad for the World Cup following an injury to Jose Gaya.
Valencia left-back Gaya has won 18 caps for Spain after making his international debut in 2018, and he looked likely to deputise for La Roja’s vice-captain Jordi Alba in Qatar.
However, Gaya suffered an ankle sprain in training on Wednesday, and while initial reports said his injury was not serious, Luis Enrique has opted against taking any risks ahead of the tournament.
Balde had been preparing to represent Spain’s under-21 side against Japan in a friendly on Friday, but he could now win his first senior cap on the grandest stage of all.
Balde made his Barcelona debut in a Champions Leaguedefeat to Bayern Munich last September, and has assumed a prominent role in Xavi’s new-look team this season.
With Barcelona battling a series of injury problems in defence, Balde has made 16 appearances for the Blaugrana this campaign, starting on 13 occasions.
Spain begin their Group E campaign against Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday, before taking on Germany in a huge clash four days later.
A squabble has broken out in Spain after it was revealedthat a landmark law toughening penalties for sex crimes is being used by lawyers to reduce clients’ existing sentences.
The notorious 2016 Manada or “wolf pack” case, in which five men raped an 18-year-old woman in Pamplona, prompted the “only yes means yes” law.
Last month, the new law went into effect.
According to Spanish media, the change allows at least four sex offenders to leave jail early.
Lawyers have also won sentence reductions for convicted abusers in at least eight other cases.
A lawyer for the Manada gang, Agustín Martínez, also revealed he was working to get a reduced sentence for one of the five convicted of the attack.
This is because the Spanish criminal code states that when a new law is introduced, new sentences contained within it can be retroactively applied to convicted criminals if they stand to benefit.
So in some cases, lawyers argued that the new law established lower minimum sentences, and that the original sentences should therefore be reduced.
Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero, who steered the new law into effect, defended it by saying “machismo may make some judges apply the law incorrectly”.
Her comment “provoked uproar among the legal profession”, Prof Carlos Flores, a law lecturer at the University of Valencia, told the BBC, saying Ms Montero had “decided to put all the blame on the judges, and not admit a mistake”. The main judges’ associations also jointly rejected her claim of male chauvinist bias.
“Now 55% of Spanish judges are women, so blaming them for ‘machismo’ is an insult. And the legal education of judges in gender issues has been going on for a long time,” Prof Flores pointed out.
This row is particularly uncomfortable for the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as gender equality has been a major policy focus since it took power in early 2020.
The new law was one of the government’s landmark reforms, prompted by widespread outrage after the five were found guilty of sexual abuse, but not rape, and got nine-year jail sentences during their initial trial. After mass protests, the Supreme Court in 2019 increased the jail terms to 15 years.
At the original trial, the men had been cleared of rape on the grounds that neither violence nor intimidation had been used.
Spotlight on consent
The new Guarantee of Sexual Freedom law stipulates that victims no longer have to prove that they suffered violence or intimidation, or that they physically resisted, in order to show that they have suffered a sexual assault. Any sexual act without consent will be liable to be deemed assault.
Amid controversy over the recent sentence reductions, Finance Minister María Jesús Montero said she thought the issue needed to be reviewed “because evidently the goal… wasn’t to lower the sentences for abuse of minors – quite the opposite”.
In one recent case, a man jailed for eight years for having sexually abused his 13-year-old stepdaughter had his sentence cut by two years, by a Madrid court.
A man who raped a 67-year-old woman in her own home was jailed for three years and 10 months, but a Barcelona court ruled that, under the new law, his sentence should be between two and four years.
In Majorca, two sex abusers jailed for three years can now go free, a court has ruled, because they have already served two years.
Prof Flores noted that Justice Minister Pilar Llop – a Socialist – had not commented on this “major legal embarrassment” for the government. He saw that silence as a sign that the new law was “adding to the division in the coalition” between the Socialists and Podemos, the junior party in the leftist coalition.
“Even if you go back to a more punitive law you cannot apply it retrospectively,” he said, adding that “we are bound to have a growing number of cases reviewed”.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere — and boy, could the executives at Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate use a drink. But first, they’ve got to get through these earnings conference calls. Perhaps we should refer to this round as “losses conference calls.”
On Thursday afternoon, within a span of 15 minutes, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed it lost $2.3 billion in the July-September quarter of 2022 and Lionsgate reported an operating loss of $1.8 billion from the same time period. Better make it a double.
The good news for Warner Bros. Discovery is that a loss of $2.3 billion is better than a loss of $3.4 billion, which is the unfortunate figure it posted last quarter. It’s pricey to merge two major media companies, and so far, not so good.
WBD ended the third quarter with 94.9 million combined direct-to-consumer subscribers. That all-in number includes linear HBO and streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+, and represented an additional 2.8 million subs from the end of the prior quarter. The timeline to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ has been moved up from Summer 2023 to Spring 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery’s president and CEO David Zaslav said on his company’s Q3 conference call.
Before the call, in a prepared statement accompanying the disappointing financials, Zaslav again touted his company’s content. He also found another $500 million in synergies between WarnerMedia and his former Discovery, Inc.
“At Warner Bros. Discovery, we have one of the strongest portfolio of assets and IP across sports, news, and entertainment, and the best leadership team in media executing against the right strategy and financial framework to drive profitability, generate meaningful shareholder value, and ultimately position us for long-term success,” Zaslav said. “We are reimagining and transforming the organization for the future while driving synergy enterprise-wide, increasing our target to at least $3.5 billion, and making significant progress on our combined DTC product. While we have lots more work to do, and there are some difficult decisions still to be made, we have total conviction in the opportunity ahead.”
There was no way to spin company revenue. Warner Bros. Discovery suffered an 11 percent decline in Q3 ad sales and saw an 8 percent drop in overall revenue, posting $9.82 billion vs. a market forecast of $10.36 billion. After sharing an already rough Thursday with the rest of the stock market, shares in WBD declined a few percentage points more in after-hours trading.
“Clerks III”
Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection
Here we should admit that it’s a bit unfair to lump Lionsgate’s second (fiscal) quarter in with Warner Bros. Discovery. Lionsgate’s wasn’t so bad — it beat on both revenue estimates and adjusted earnings per share — and its stock is moving in the right direction following the market close. (Before the market closed, shares in both companies sank 6 percent.) But still.
Lionsgate will exit seven Lionsgate+ (the former StarzPlay International) territories — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux, the Nordics, and Japan — to “streamline the business,” in their words. That streamlining cost Lionsgate $218.9 million in content write-offs. Tack that on to the $1.48 billion (non-cash) write-off from the Starz acquisition, reflecting changes to future free cash-flow projections, and boy would they have liked to sell that thing.
The Lionsgate earnings call has yet to begin — it’s set for 6 p.m. ET. In the interest in fairness, we’ll give CEO Jon Feltheimer his say.
“We reported another strong library performance and continued growth in Lionsgate Television series deliveries as our studio businesses continued to perform in line with expectations in the quarter,” Feltheimer said in a prepared statement included in the financials. “Economic and industry headwinds are having the greatest impact at Starz, where we are exiting seven international territories. This will allow us to streamline Starz’s international business and return it to profitability more quickly while continuing to build on the opportunities created by a strong Starz original series slate and focused content strategy domestically.”
Gerard Pique’s retirement brings one of the most distinguished careers in Barcelona and Spain footballing history to a conclusion.
Pique won eight LaLiga titles and the Champions League three times with Barca, while helping his national team lift their first World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship two years later.
The Los Cules great has decided to call it quits at the age of 35 after Barca’s next match, against Almeria on Saturday, having turned out for his hometown club over 600 times.
A number of high-profile names have hailed Pique since the announcement, including the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Fabio Cannavaro, while former centre-back partner Carles Puyol called it a “privilege” to play alongside him.
Pique will retire as a Camp Nou legend, with only four players featuring more times for Barca than his (614), those being Lionel Messi (778), Xavi (767), Sergio Busquets (694) and Andres Iniesta (674) – all of whom helped form part of the dominant Barca team in the 2010s alongside Pique.
Pique started in Barca’s youth ranks but left for Manchester United in 2004, where he won the Premier League and Champions League in the 2007-08 season.
However, Pique returned to Barca in 2008 and has won 422 of his 614 games in all competitions since.
He lifted 30 titles with the club in what was the most successful period in Barca’s history.
15 – @3gerardpique 🇪🇸 has played 15 seasons for @FCBarcelona 🔵🔴 (as many as Gonzalvo III, Puyol & S. Busquets). Only six players have played during more campaigns for them: Carles Rexach, Xavi, Messi (all 3 with 17), Salvador Sadurní, Migueli & Iniesta (all 3 with 16). Legend. pic.twitter.com/EGjWW0Umac
Pique also made his mark at international level, earning 102 caps for Spain between 2009 and 2018 and becoming one of just 13 players to feature 100 or more times for La Roja.
Pique played every minute of the final as they overcame the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time to lift their first World Cup in 2010, before Spain went on to win the 2012 Euros by routing Italy 4-0 in the final.
He scored five goals for Spain, all against different opponents, including three in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
European great
Only Sergio Ramos (135) made more Champions League appearances as a defender than Pique (128), while he scored the joint-most goals for a defender in the competition with Roberto Carlos (16).
Perhaps his best Champions League season was the 2008-09 campaign when he finished with the most ball recoveries (90), while only Xavi (967) completed more passes than him (695).
There are just four players with more Champions League titles, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, all of whom are on five.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday agreed to strengthen bilateral relations.
Ramaphosa told reporters at a joint news conference with Sanchez that there was consensus between the two countries about the effects of climate change on the continent.
“South Africa and Spain agree that climate change, the loss of biological diversity and other environmental challenges must be addressed within the context of sustainable development. Particularly, for those who are in areas that are vulnerable and will be negatively affected by the transition that we foresee” said Ramaphosa.
“An important part of our collective responses to climate change is increased support for green, sustainable energy policies and technologies.” added Ramaphosa.
On his part; Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on global leaders to prioritise solutions to the climate change crisis threatening food security in Africa and the effects on the continent of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sánchez said now more than ever, Spainwas determined to deepen its relations with the African continent as the two shared many common challenges.
“Spain wants to establish strong alliances with African countries to face together the challenges we share,” he said.
“The technological revolution, food security currently affected as a result of the crisis in Ukraine or migratory movements poses the firm determination of the Government of Spain to strengthen our bilateral relations with South Africa, both political and economic and commercial ones,” said Sánchez, speaking through a translator.
Sánchez was speaking during an official visit to South Africa where he met president Cyril Ramaphosa a day after meeting Kenyan president William Ruto.
Sánchez announced that the Spain would be available funding of up to 2.1 billion euros to South Africa over the next five years, which would be invested in various sectors including the renewable energy.
Ukrainehave joined Spain and Portugal in a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, it was announced on Wednesday.
Spain and Portugal had already joined forces with an “Iberian bid” to host but Ukraine have joined as a third host, with the bid now being referred to as a “European bid”.
Reports on Tuesday revealed Ukraine’s involvement, and it was confirmed on Wednesday by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) at UEFA’s Swiss headquarters, with Europe’s governing body backing the bid.
According to reports, the plan is for Ukraine to play host to one group in the 48-team tournament – which will be the second with expanded teams after the 2026 World Cup in North America; hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Ukraine previously hosted the 2012 European Championship alongside Poland, while Portugal hosted the same tournament in 2004. Neither has hosted the World Cup previously but Spain hosted it in 1982.
The European bid will compete with others for the rights to host the 2030 tournament, with a final decision to be made in 2024.
Currently, a South American proposal from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile has been made, while it is reported a joint bid from Greece, Saudi Arabia and Egypt is also in the works.
Another inter-federation bid may involve Israel, partnering with the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain, while Morocco could launch a joint bid with other northern African nations having failed with previous bids for the tournaments in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010.
Australia could also be an option, with reports previously indicating a joint proposal could be made alongside either New Zealand or Indonesia.
A plethora of joint bids appear to suggest that this year’s World Cup in Qatar could be the final tournament to be hosted by a single nation, with the appeal of hosting the tournament in numerous countries increasing – particularly to involve those who would not be able to host a tournament individually.
The increase to a 48-team World Cup would also put further strain on individual nations to host an entire tournament, with a total of 80 matches to be played – an increase on the 64 that will be played in Qatar.
Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso has backed a group of 15 players who are refusing to represent the national team under head coach Jorge Vilda.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) claimed last week that 15 of La Roja’s players had pledged not to play for the side while Vilda retained his position, citing impacts on their “emotional state”.
The RFEF has since offered its support to Vilda, describing the players’ behaviour as “harmful”.
However, Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who has played 100 games for Spain, joined the rebellion by posting a statement from the disgruntled players on social media on Friday.
Hermoso was not among the initial group of 15 to write to the RFEF, but the striker – who has scored 46 international goals – has now offered her “unconditional support” for those who did.
In a statement on Twitter, Hermoso wrote: “Frankly, I wish this situation had never been made public, but I respect the decision of my colleagues, who, despite having expressed themselves privately, have been subjected to a level of exposure that they never sought.
“We all deserve respect and the space to express ourselves safely and without fear of repercussions.
“I want to start by acknowledging how privileged I am to belong to a group of colleagues who have contributed directly and indirectly to the development of women’s football in Spain.
“I have always put the group first and this time will be no different because for me, defending my country is and always will be my great pride and motivation.
“Throughout these years I have witnessed significant growth and consistent evolution in the national team… which makes this whole situation that much more depressing.
Spent the last few days reflecting on all that’s been happening with the national team. I leave you with my thoughts. pic.twitter.com/0uljwll7Lh
“I want to publicly express my unconditional support to all my companeras who a few days ago decided to communicate the need to improve the working conditions that are experienced within the Spanish national team.
“It is important to understand that the situation we are experiencing does not happen overnight. It is the consequence of an accumulation of events, behaviours, decisions, failed attempts and mental exhaustion of trying to fight to have the players’ voices heard.
“The disconnection between coach and players, federation and players and the breaking up of the group are signs that something is not working.
“I am clear on the fact players must be part of this process and that what happened a few days ago is not blackmail, nor is this happening on a whim.”
Spain are due to face Sweden and the United States in friendlies next month, with Vilda expected to announce his squad for those games on Friday.
Luis Enrique believes Spain’s performance in the first half of Saturday’s defeat to Switzerland was their worst 45 minutes of his reign.
Spain slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss in Zaragoza that leaves them trailing Portugal by two points in Nations League Group A2 heading into the last game.
That final group match is on Tuesday as Spain prepare to face the leaders in Braga, with Fernando Santos’ side 4-0 winners over the Czech Republic on Saturday.
La Roja did not muster a single shot on target until Jordi Alba’s 55th-minute equaliser at La Romareda, and Luis Enrique could not hide his disappointment at the showing.
“Losing is always something that hurts. It has been a pity, but we must value Switzerland, who from the beginning caused us many difficulties,” the coach said.
“In the first half, it was the worst of my time as coach. [Then] we have badly defended the corner of their second goal.
“In the second half we improved. We have tried until the end. The key game is Portugal. We will go to Braga to win.”
The manner of Saturday’s loss clearly perturbed Luis Enrique, understandable given the World Cup starts in less than two months.
Yet, he is refusing to blow it out of proportion, adamant he does not need to re-evaluate his faith in the squad just because of one result.
Asked if the game generated doubts in relation to Qatar 2022, Luis Enrique replied: “No doubts.
“Obviously it’s better to go to Qatar on a winning streak, but I have full confidence in the team. I have seen many players in the first half who have been more imprecise than ever, but the opponents are good, they know how they play.
“But everything doesn’t always go well, when you don’t have a good day, this happens.
“A victory against Portugal would be the perfect way to reach the World Cup. We have drawn three times with them and now we will go there to win.”
Portugal only need a draw on Tuesday to seal their place in the Nations League Finals for the second time.
Luis Enrique is “optimistic about what lies ahead” as Spain prepare to try and win Group A2 in the Nations League.
La Roja host Switzerland on Saturday knowing a win will secure top spot for them if Portugal lose to the Czech Republic.
Should they not seal it this weekend, Spain will have a second chance to do so when they travel to face Portugal in their final Nations League group game on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Luis Enrique was boosted by what he had seen in training from his squad, including first-time call-ups Borja Iglesias and Nico Williams.
“It has been the best week of training for the players since I became a coach,” he said. “Even Borja and Nico, making their debuts.
“I am optimistic about what lies ahead. A brutal week, even those who play little have the level to compete.”
The former Barcelonaboss was refusing to look ahead to the clash with Portugal before facing the Swiss.
“Even losing [to Switzerland], if we beat Portugal, We’ll be through,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean we’ll speculate. The next one is the most important game.
“The good thing about the Nations League is that all the teams have something at stake. If Switzerland don’t get more points, they will [be relegated to League B].
“Good players can play together like [Alvaro] Morata and Borja. We will not change the way any player plays and everyone has assimilated to our way of working.”
Luis Enrique was also asked about the situation with the Spain women’s team, with 15 players having said they do not want to play under current head coach Jorge Vilda.
Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona superstar Alexia Putellas effectively joined the rebellion on Friday, posting a statement from the disenchanted group.
“It is a totally abnormal situation, and difficult to manage,” Luis Enrique said on the matter. “But I have not the slightest doubt that the [Spanish Football] Federation will manage it in the best possible way. There are many factors.”
Spanish-born forward Nico Williams could make his debut for Spain when they face La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza.
The 2010 World Cup winners will play Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League and the 20-year-old winger who earned an invite is likely to make his debut.
The fast-rising winger is expected to have some few minutes to test his abilities and, in the process, close the option so that Ghana can forget about him for a while.
Spain will play Portugal three days later at the Municipal de Braga stadium.
Nico Williams has been instrumental for Athletic Bilbao this season, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists in 6 matches.
The RFEF said the players claim his tenure is affecting their emotional state and health.
However, the RFEF said it “is not going to allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach”.
“These types of manoeuvres are far from exemplary and outside the values of football and sport,” they said.
“Making those decisions does not fall within their powers.”
It warned refusing to play for the national team was “a very serious infraction and can carry sanctions of between two and five years of disqualification” and went on to say it would not call up the 15.
“The Federation will only have committed footballers even if they have to play with youth,” it added.
“This fact has gone from being a sporting issue to a dignity issue. The selection is non-negotiable. It is an unprecedented situation in the history of football, both male and female, in Spain and worldwide.
“The national team needs players committed to the project, defending our colours and proud to wear the Spain shirt.”
It ended by saying the players – who have not been named – would only be called up again in the future “if they accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness”.
Vilda, 41, has been the national team coach since 2015 and led his side to the quarter-finals of Euro 22, where the pre-tournament favourites lost in extra time to eventual winners England.
In 2015 Vilda’s predecessor Ignacio Quereda resigned after Spain’s players called for him to be sacked. The move came after Spain finished bottom of their World Cup group.
Red Star Belgrade winger is delighted to be part of the Black Stars squad preparing for international friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.
Bukari has been outstanding since joining the Serbian giants, scoring seven goals in all competitions, and his inclusion in the squad for the games is well deserved.
The 23-year-old and his teammates are in France, where they will play five-time world champions on Friday in Le Havre.
Following their match in Brazil, they will travel to Spain to face Nicaragua, who are ranked 139th in the world by FIFA.
Bukari expects to play in both games and is excited about it.
“Always an honour to be in the national colours, feels good to be back with the boys. Let’s go Ghana” he tweeted.
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