Tag Archives: UEFA Nations League

Mikel Oyarzabal & Spain Soundly Defeat France to Reach FIFA World Cup Final

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2026 FIFA World CupMikel Oyarzabal has helped kick Spain straight into the FIFA World Cup finals.

The 29-year-old Spanish professional footballer’s first-half penalty goal helped Spain beat France 2-0 in their semifinal clash in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday to make it three wins in a row against their European heavyweight rival having beaten Les Bleus in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and the UEFA Nations League semifinals in 2025.

Spain, FIFA World CupThe win for Luis de la Fuente’s side also ended France’s dream of returning to the World Cup final for a third consecutive tournament — a feat achieved only by West Germany from 1982 to 1990 and Brazil from 1994 to 2002.

A first-half penalty from Oyarzabal and an early second-half strike by Pedro Porro staked Spain to a 2-0 lead as they played a near-perfect match against France to advance to a final against England or Argentina on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“We gave it our all in order just to go through to the final,” Porro said after the game. “We knew that we’re a very tough team, we’re doing things really well. This is our team, it’s not about me.”

Trailing 1-0 at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) after Oyarzabal converted a penalty following a foul on Lamine Yamal in the area, France took another hit when center back William Saliba was forced off because of a back injury in the 30th minute and replaced by Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

The European Champions looked like a well-oiled machine as they were strong in possession of the ball and did a great job of limiting the impact of France stars Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

Spain’s metronome throughout the game was central defender Rodri, who made decisive interventions and diffused threats from France, while always being steady on the ball in the middle of the field.

“It was a collective effort of everyone. Today we did best our best performance of the World Cup so far,” Rodri said after the game. “France is a very strong team and can punish you everywhere. But everyone [on Spain] rose to the level.

“I said it before. We are showing the character of being mature in big moments and this was the most important moment to wait for. Because in the big moments [France] will punish you, so the composure was the key.”

Spain were able to tie Italy for the most consecutive games without a loss at 37 and the nation’s second trip to a World Cup final to boot.

“It means a lot, because we have only been [to the final] twice in our history so we want to win the World Cup,” Rodri said. “We need to rest now and see what we can improve because we want to win the next one.”

France will play in the third-place game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, against the loser of Wednesday’s semifinal between England and Argentina.

Sergio Busquets to Reunite with Lionel Messi Following Agreement to Join the Team at Inter Miami

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Sergio Busquets is headed to Southern Florida…

The 34-year-old Spanish professional footballer, a midfielder for Barcelona, will join former teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami FC this summer.

Sergio BusquetsThe Major League Soccer (MLS) side has announced the arrival of the ex-Spain international on its social media accounts.

Busquets’ contract with Barca expires at the end of June and, after announcing his decision to end his 18-year stay at Camp Nou, he has been mulling over offers from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Sources tell ESPN that Barca left-back Jordi Alba has also received interest from Miami and will make a decision on his future in the coming weeks after winning the UEFA Nations League with Spain.

Busquets held negotiations with Saudi sides Al Nassr and Al Hilal in recent weeks but opted for Miami’s offer, which sources say was financially inferior, having previously spoken of his desire to play in the U.S.

He will be reunited in South Florida with seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who announced his intention to move to MLS earlier this month following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.

Busquets and Messi spent 13 years playing alongside each other in Barca‘s first team before Messi’s move to Paris in 2021. The two have remained close friends since.

Busquets made 722 appearances for Barca in total, winning nine league titles and three Champions Leagues during that time.

He has also been capped 143 times by Spain, winning the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012 before announcing his retirement from international football after last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Busquets and Messi could yet be joined in Miami by Alba, who reached an agreement with Barca last month to end his contract — which was due to expire in 2024 — one year early.

The left-back is also courting interest from Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and clubs in Saudi Arabia, with sources telling ESPN he will take some time with his family following the conclusion of the Nations League before making a final decision.

Alba’s desire to represent Spain in next summer’s European Championship, coupled with the fact that his partner is due to give birth to their third child in July, could influence his next move.

Sergio Ramos Becomes Most Capped European Player Ever

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There’s a new feather in Sergio Ramos’ cap(ped)…

The 34-year-old Spanish soccer player has become the most capped male European footballer ever, making his 177th appearance for Spain in their UEFA Nations League 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.

Sergio Ramos

But the milestone day almost turned into a nightmare as Ramos squandered two penalties in the stalemate, after not having not missed in his previous 24 attempts for either Spain or Real Madrid.

The defender — who captains both club and country — has now played one international game more than the previous record holder, former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who retired from international duty in

Ramos is now targeting the world record held by Egypt‘s Ahmed Hassan, who played 184 games for his country between 1995 and 2012. The defender could reach that mark at next summer’s Euro 2020 tournament, if he features in all of Spain’s matches before then.

But Spain coach Luis Enrique said Ramos’s twin spot-kick misses wouldn’t affect his captain.

“Sergio’s numbers when it comes to taking penalties are in the reach of few players. If we had got a third penalty or a fourth one he would have taken them as well,” he said. “He had scored his last 25, but football has moments like this.”

The number one spot-kick taker for Real Madrid and Spain, despite being a defender, Ramos has turned penalty taking into an art in the last two years, with his last miss coming when he hit the crossbar in Madrid’s 3-2 defeat by Sevilla FC in May 2018.

He has confessed to relishing the high-stakes situation of a penalty, scoring a number of crucial spot-kicks in Real’s run to the La Liga title last season as well as netting from the spot in last month’s 3-1 win at Barcelona.

But he finally met his match in Swiss keeper Yann Sommer, who guessed the right way to parry Ramos’ first penalty early in the second half and then refused to be fooled by the Spaniard’s ‘Panenka‘ routine which has worked so well for him in the past.

“It’s a real shame that Ramos missed the penalties because he’s usually so good,” added Spain forward Dani Olmo.

“But he’s very strong mentally and I’m sure that the next time he takes a penalty he’ll score.”

Saturday’s start further entrenches a remarkable international career that began when he made his Spain debut in March 2005, coming on for Carles Puyol at half time in a 3-0 friendly win over China.

He initially featured as a right back — including at Euro 2008, Spain’s first tournament win in 44 years, and in the country’s only World Cup winning side in 2010 — before switching to centerback for their defense of the European Championship title in 2012.

Despite turning 35 next March, he has expressed a desire to feature not just at the Euros in June, but also the Tokyo Olympics, describing the possibility as “a nice idea, an event no-one would say no to.”