SPAIN 5 - COSTA RICA 0 | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

SPAIN played COSTA RICA tonight in a Friendly International in the Spanish city of Malaga. The final result was 5 - 0 victory for the local side. Total domination by Spain which experienced just a couple of chances to the visitors which failed to convert their limited goal opportunities. 

The starting 11 team for Spain was:

In the second half Spanish players Batra, Nacho, Asensio, Aspas, Saul & Luis Alberto got a run. Good warm up match for Spain as they begin planning for next years World Cup finals in Russia.

The names to highlight was DAVID SILVIA who put in a blinder with two goals & ISCO who was magical until taken off mid second half after a hard tackle from WASTON. The Real Madrid player will undergo medical checks but it looks like a knock at this stage & may be able to play next weekend clash against Atletico de Madrid.

The goalscorers tonight were:

• Jordi Alba 6th min , 1 - 0
• Alvaro Morata 22nd min, 2 - 0
• David Silva 51 st min, 3 -0
• David Silva 55th min, 4 - 0
• Andres Iniesta 73rd min, 5 - 0

Spain will continue with their International preparation games next Tuesday when they travel to St Petersburg to play Russia.

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FC BARCELONA IDEAL 11 FOR SEASON 2014 - 2015

The Spanish Liga season starts the 24th of August, & yesterday one of the big Clubs Real Madrid gave us an insight to what their ideal 11 for the new season may well look after playing in the UEFA Super Cup Final. However, what about their arch rivales FC Barcelona, how will their ideal 11 for season 2014-2015 shape up ?

Spanish Sports paper based in Barcelona, "Mundo Deportivo", have put forward what they think will be the FC Barcelona 11 for season 2014-2015. They speculate that goalie Ter Stegen has the advantage over Claudio Brave at this stage, & they assume FC Barcelona will finally shut the signing & transfer of Cuadrado from Fiorentina. 

With these assumptions their bet for the Barça 11 is:

Stegen, Cuadrado, Pique, Mathieu, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Messi, Luis Suarez & Neymar. 

Barça will have plenty of big names & young talents on the bench in case some of the above get injured, suspended or need rest. 

If in the end this is indeed the ideal 11 we are talking World Class Top notch stuff, the best of the best. This same statement can be given to Real Madrid who look a force & Atletico de Madrid which has rebuild a top squad as well to defend title.

An excellent season of Spanish Football coming up folks.

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POSSIBLE STARTING LINE-UPS SPAIN - HOLLAND | WORLD CUP 2014

The FIFA World Cup in Brazil kicked off last night with Brazil winning Croatia in controversial fashion. Tonight the defending World Champions Spain play Holland in their Group B opener. A repeat of the 2010 Final with Holland having 6 still in the team from last time. A very defensive Holland is expected with up to 5 defenders to halt Spain with perhaps the added "touch" of some physical Football. All is fair in love & "football"...

While Dutch Selector Van Gaal is pretty much open about his intentions, his counterpart Vicent del Bosque is keeping some cards up his sleeve. The SPANISH FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM starting XI line-up looks settled except for the forward. The question remains will Spain start with a pure centre-forward or a false centre-forward. Three names are up for one possible position: Torres, Diego Costa or Cesc Fabregas. 

I will speculate on what I think could be the starting line-up for Spain against Holland tonight:

Casillas, Azpilicueta, Pique, Ramos, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva & Diego Costa. 

However, as said it is my speculation, as Torres or Cesc could take the place of Costa.

For Holland their starting XI line-up looks fairly clear:

Cillessen Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; De Guzman, Sneijder, De Jong, Robben, Van Persie.

Everything indicates that Holland will place a 5-3-2 system, if so, ultra defensive.

Good luck to Spain!

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PREVIEW EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL | SEVILLA FC POSSIBLE LINE-UP

The first of the two big European Football Finals will be played tonight when Spanish Football Club Sevilla FC meets Portuguese Club Benfica in the Final of the Europa League. Sevilla FC have won this tournament twice, back to back, in 2006 & 2007 while Benfica has a believed "black legend" on the Club - "Curse of Bela Guttmann" - losing its last 7 European Finals that sub-consciously seems to play a part & that they desperately wish to bury tonight. The Portuguese, apart from mystical notions, are considered favourites. 

Therefore, beforehand an expected top match of European Football that Football fans must see, scheduled for 20.45 (Italy time) from Turin. 

courtesy of "sport"

The speculated possible starting XI team line-up for Sevilla FC is:

Beto, Coke, Fazio, Pareja, Navarro, M´Bia, Carriço, Reyes, Ratikic, A. Moreno & Bacca.

There is a "cloud" over Gamiero & Vitolo, but last information suggest they are fit & may be surprise inclusions, or at least get a run if needed.

Good luck to Sevilla FC & may the better team win. 

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PRE-MATCH | BAYERN MUNICH - REAL MADRID POSSIBLE STARTING TEAM LINE-UPS

Huge Football match tonight between two World & European Soccer giants. Bayern Munich hosts Real Madrid in the 2º leg semi-final of the UEFA Champions League with a 0-1 disadvantage. Maximum tension, plenty of nerves & Football pride intertwined in an atmosphere that will be heated up by 70.000 screaming fans. 

courtesy of "Sport"

Plenty has been said since the last time both teams met in Madrid last week, with a tsunami of criticism for Bayern Munich Coach Guardiola from within his own Club & the German press. One thing Guardiola is not, is stupid, & he has surely learnt well the possible mistakes from the 1º leg game. Real Madrid recover a dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo now at 100% level & Gareth Bale to add speed up front. 

But the big debate these last days is about the possible starting XI team line-ups for both Clubs. Spanish Sports paper "Sport" produce their habitual "infograph" with their speculated starting XI for both teams. Looking at it they follow the general consensus locally, that Bayern Coach Guardiola is very much concerned with the Real Madrid counter-attacks & pace & will put Lahm back to the right back position, with Javi Martinez in the midfield to perhaps do a man-on-man job & Muller to add some verticality to his team & aid Mandzukic.  With Real Madrid it is speculated that they will go all out to attack & attempt to score using the "BBC" ( Bale, Benzema & Cristiano Ronaldo ) formation. Here the variation is Bale for Isco, & this is a point of debate.

One of the reasons that Real Madrid won 1 - 0 in the 1st leg was the 4-4-2 combination used by Real Madrid & the incredible sacrifice & work effort by the midfielders Di Maria & Isco. Gareth Bale is seen too offensive & lacking in defensive spirit which could give Bayern the advantage in the midfield making them dangerous. Some local observers suggest that perhaps Real Madrid should not change their line-up & keep Isco in the starting line-up.

Another point to keep in mind is the yellow card accumulation for Sergio Ramos & Xabi Alosno ( along with Illaramendi), two key players who will be Bayern Munich targets tonight & two players psychologically "limited" in their playing abilities that may give Bayern Munich an important advantage. 

Said the above these are the speculated (rumoured) starting XI line-ups for Bayern Munich & Real Madrid.

BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer , Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba, Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez, Muller, Robben, Ribery & MandzuKic
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Xabi Alonso, Modric, Di Maria, Gareth Bale, Benzema & Cristiano Roanldo

As I always say, speculative line-ups, with last minute surprises also certain at this level. I beforehand put Bayern Munich as favourite to take the game. I also believe that Isco is still a possibility & that Bale may sit it out & come on late. However this is my opinion. I also fell that this is a match that will be determined by "small details" & that Real Madrid will have to be at 150% concentration & very disciplined in the midfield. Luck will play its part tonight as this element is forever present at this high level of competition. 

Therefore, big night ahead with enormous Football action. May the better team win tonight. The World Football fans will have their victory guaranteed.  

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ATLETICO DE MADRID 4 AC MILAN 1 | ATLETICO INTO THE CHAMPIONS QUARTER-FINALS

Atletico de Madrid brought back a 0 - 1 result from Milan in the 1º leg game. Tonight the Spanish Football Club added to the aggregate winning 4 - 1 AC Milan in the return 2º leg match of UEFA Champions League. Atletico de Madrid go into the Quarter-Final phase eliminating a "regular" of the competition in AC Milan.

A deserved victory for the Spaniards who exhibited more intensity, more willingness & overall more Football. Atletico de Madrid pressured the Milan defence all night to force mistakes from the Italians which lead to many goal opportunities. The opener for Atletico came from a defensive Milan mistake after Juan Fran picked up a lost ball & crossed to find Diego Costa in the 4th min to score.

The Italians recovered from the initial blow & began to improve & had possibly their best 20 mins of the game, moments that produced opportunities one of which came the Milan equalizer in the 27th min from a Kaka header. The Italians looked as if they would give this tie a "knock around" but Atletico lifted to pressured even more & put Milan again on the back foot. 

The second Atletico de Madrid goal came in the 40th min when Arda Turan got onto a loose ball outside the box which took a deflection into the net. An important goal close to the end of the first half that swayed the balance to the Spaniards.

The second half was more Atletico de Madrid with pressure, disciplined Football & numerous opportunities. The good play from the home side was rewarded with a third goal in the 70th min from Raul Garcia. Milan then pulled from pride & Robinho hit the bar but minutes later Diego Costa got his second & the Atletico de Madrid fourth for the night in the 84th min.

Deserved 5 - 1 aggregate win for Atletico which keeps progressing in Champions League. Tomorrow another Spanish Football Club has Champions League duty with FC Barcelona hosting Manchester City with a 2 goal away advantage. Top match not to missed.

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SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM LIST FOR FINLAND - CHILE MATCHES

The Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque handed in his list of players for the upcoming 2014 World Cup Group qualifier against Finland & the International Friendly against Chile.

The novelties, or news catchers,  are the inclusion of three Atletico de Madrid players: David Villa, Mario Suarez & young Koke. Apart Real Sociedad defender Iñigo Martinez & Isco retain their spot in the Spanish National Team.

Here is the full list of players:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Nápoles) & Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa & Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Iñigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Raúl Albiol (Napoles), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) & Nacho Monreal (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Koke & Mario Suarez (Atlético de Madrid), Busquets, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas & Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Francisco Alarcon 'Isco' (Real Madrid), Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal), Jesus Navas (Manchester City) & David Silva (Manchester City).


Forwards: Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City), Roberto Soldado (Tottenham), David Villa (Atlético de Madrid) & Pedro (Barcelona).

Spain plays Finland on the 6th of September & then flys of to Switzerland  for a Friendly against Chile on the 10th of Spetember.

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SPAIN 1 GHANA 0 | FIFA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP A GAME RESULT

Important win by the Spanish U-20 National Football Team 1 - 0 over Ghana in the Group A FIFA U-20 World Championships being held in Turkey. Earlier the other two teams of the Group France & USA drew 1 - 1 which gave Spain the chance to mathematically assure their presence in the next stage of the tournament if they could win. The Spanish youngsters did not disappoint. 

The first 20 min were brilliant from Spain which included the only,  & finally winning goal from Jese in the 13th min. Spain created multiple chances but failed to convert their opportunities & thus shut the match. This allowed Ghana the more stronger physically to created their chances with dangerous counter-attacks that at times nearly paid off for them. However, Spain held solidly in defence & the midfield was controlled by a very good Oliver who was outstanding.

Overall, Spain deserved the victory as they controlled the ball more & dominated the game. With the three points Spain leads the Group & awaits France in the last Group match were a draw will secure top spot.

Game details:

SPAIN 1 : Sotres; Manquillo, Puerto, Derik, Bernat; Saúl, Suso; Deulofeu (Jairo, 75’), Óliver, Denis (Rubén García, 87’); & Jesé (Campaña, 54’)

GHANA 0 : Antwi; Nketiah, Attamah, Lartey, Baba; Narh (Ashia, 68’), Salifu, Duncan, Acheampong; Boakye & Aboagye (Assifuah, 75’)


Goal: (13’) Jesé

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