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India Outplayed By Spain In Men’s Pro League Hockey Campaign Opener

admin — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:23:42 +0000

Spain took sweet revenge for their defeat against India in the bronze-medal match at the Paris Olympics, overcoming Harmanpreet Singh’s side 3-1 in a FIH men’s Pro League game in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. India put up a lackluster show in their first Pro League match this season, even as Spain showed loads of determination with Borja Lacalle (28th), Ignacio Cobos (38th) and Bruno Avila (56th) slotting home the goals after the hosts had taken the lead in the 25th minute through Sukhjeet Singh.

The first quarter was all about gauging one another’s strengths. Barring a run by Abhishek, who managed to create a chance for Lalit Upadhyay, the Spanish goalkeeper was hardly tested.

India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur too was rarely tested with the ball just hitting the far post and getting deflected, that too from outside the striking circle.

India brought in keeper Suraj Karkera in the second quarter, and he was called into action almost immediately. He did well to thwart Spain from scoring the opening goal following a good move from the right.

Sukhjeet opened the scoring for the hosts in the 25th minute following a speedy run and circle penetration from the right by Jarmanpreet Singh. The defender relayed the ball to Sukhjeet, who failed to trap it cleanly in his first attempt, but recovered well to send a powerful reverse-hit flying past the Spanish goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, Spain slotted home the equaliser. The rival team forwards prised open the Indian defence with a couple of passes inside the circle before Borja Lacalle, at the far post, tapped the ball in.

With India lacking cohesion upfront and a defensive strategy, Ignacio doubled the lead in the third quarter.

Spain were awarded a penalty corner but a poor trap from Borja saw him let the ball through. He, however, rushed back to take the ball in control and relayed it to Cobos inside the circle, who made no mistake in putting it in.

Spain looked clearly the better side as India conceded multiple penalty corners in the third and fourth quarters.

The European side piled more misery on the hosts when Harmanpreet tried to get an aerial pass from Spain under control and ended up conceding a penalty corner.

Bruno Avila then slotted home his maiden international goal with a powerful drag flick.

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Barcelona Suffer Twin Injury Blows, Robert Lewandowski And Lamine Yamal Ruled Out Till…

admin — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:12:03 +0000

File image of Robert Lewandowski.© AFP

Barcelona star forwards Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal have picked up injuries which have ruled them out of the international break, the La Liga leaders said Monday. Lewandowski suffered a back injury in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad during which he had a goal controversially disallowed. “Lewandowski is having trouble in the lumbar region of his back, and will be rested for about 10 days,” Barcelona said in a statement.

The 36-year-old will miss Poland’s upcoming Nations League games against Portugal and Scotland, but should be back for Barcelona’s next league outing at Celta Vigo on November 23.

Yamal missed Sunday’s game in San Sebastian with a right ankle injury and is expected to be out of action for between two and three weeks, the club said.

The 17-year-old will miss Spain’s matches on Thursday in Denmark and next Monday against Switzerland, and Barca’s trip to Vigo.

He is also a doubt for the home Champions League game against Brest on November 26 and the following La Liga meeting with Las Palmas.

Yamal has scored six goals in his 15 games this season, while Lewandowski has 17 in all competitions and is currently the top goalscorer in La Liga.

Barcelona are sixth in the Champions League with nine points.

The Catalans are six points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga but have played a game more than their title rivals.

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Spain Coach Apologises For Applauding Controversial Luis Rubiales Speech

admin — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:19:35 +0000

Spain men’s coach Luis de la Fuente apologised Friday for applauding football federation president Luis Rubiales‘ speech last week in which he said he would not resign, after his forcible kiss on the lips of Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. “I have to say sorry, I made a mistake, it’s inexcusable,” De la Fuente told a news conference. Rubiales, 46, sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) chief provoked further ire with a defiant speech at an emergency meeting in which he refused to resign despite mounting pressure and instead railed against “false feminism”, which De la Fuente applauded.

Rubiales insisted his kiss was consensual, but Hermoso said it was not and she felt like the “victim of an assault”.

World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after which De la Fuente published a statement criticising the president’s behaviour.

Some critics, including Spanish second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz, said De la Fuente could not continue in his post.

“I received heavy criticism for (applauding) and I think that it’s totally deserved, I understand it, I apologise for it, it was unjustifiable,” said De la Fuente.

“I came to the assembly convinced that we were seeing the goodbye of a president and it turned into the opposite.”

De la Fuente, 62, said the situation generated “emotional stress” and surprised those present.

“I arrived thinking it would be a resignation and we went into shock when we saw it wasn’t like that,” he added.

“I was not at the right level and I could not control my emotions. Later when you look and you see yourself on the cameras… I didn’t recognise myself.”

Interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha confirmed Thursday De la Fuente would “totally” be staying, but said he would be meeting women’s team coach Jorge Vilda next week.

Reports in Spain say Vilda is set to be forced out of his job despite the team’s World Cup victory in Australia and New Zealand.

Currently over 80 players are on strike from the women’s team because of the Rubiales incident and Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias says he will not play for the men’s team.

“I think he will want to come if he is called up, but I always stand for freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of thought,” added De la Fuente, who did not select the forward in his squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers later in September.

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