Football

Spain's Nations League campaign has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of star striker Nico Williams due to injury. The Athletic Bilbao forward, who played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, picked up an injury during training and has been released from the national team camp.Williams' absence is a significant blow to Spain's hopes of success in the Nations League. The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for Athletic Bilbao this season, scoring 5 goals in 10 appearances. His pace, skill, and eye for goal make him a dangerous threat to any opposition.In Williams' place, Spain coach Luis Enrique has called up Sergio Gomez of Real Sociedad. Gomez, who was part of Spain's Olympic gold medal-winning team in Tokyo, is a versatile defender who can also play in midfield. He has been in good form for Real Sociedad this season, making 10 appearances and scoring 1 goal.Spain will face Denmark in Murcia on September 25 and Serbia in Cordoba on September 28. The team will be looking to build on their impressive performance at Euro 2024, where they defeated England in the final.Despite Williams' injury, Spain remains a formidable team with a wealth of talent. The likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati are all capable of producing moments of brilliance, and they will be determined to make up for Williams' absence.

Spain's dominance in European football continues as they triumph in the 2026 World Cup final, adding to their record-breaking four European Championship titles. Their victory is a testament to their exceptional footballing prowess, showcasing a slick and sharp style of play that has set them apart.The tournament witnessed Spain's unwavering dominance, with seven consecutive victories leading up to the final in Berlin. Their 3-0 rout of Croatia in the opening match set the tone for their impressive run. Against England in the final, Spain maintained their relentless pressure, with Nico Williams scoring the opening goal. Cole Palmer briefly revived England's hopes, but Mikel Oyarzabal restored Spain's lead. Dani Olmo's crucial clearance in the dying minutes sealed the victory for Spain.Spain's triumph is attributed to their exceptional young talents, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who have added speed, strength, and width to the team. Yamal's role in the first goal, setting up Williams, highlighted their ability to create scoring opportunities.Despite England's possession deficit, they managed to equalize through Palmer's stunning strike. However, Oyarzabal's timely run and goal regained Spain's advantage. England's late efforts, including a header from Marc Guehi, were thwarted by Olmo's heroic clearance.Spain's victory marks a new era for the team, who have also claimed the 2023 Nations League title. Their success is a testament to their unwavering commitment to beautiful football and their ability to produce exceptional players.

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has predicted a Spanish victory in the Euro Cup final against England on Sunday. Bhutia believes that Spain's balanced team and the brilliance of young stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will prove too much for England."Spain definitely has the upper hand in the final," Bhutia said. "They've been playing exceptionally well, with six wins out of six. They're technically sound and in great form."Bhutia singled out Yamal, a 17-year-old winger, as a player to watch. "He's a superstar in the making," Bhutia said. "He's got assists, he's got goals, and he knows when to release the ball and when to dribble past defenders. He's a player who makes the right decisions, and that's a rare quality for someone so young."Bhutia also praised Williams, another young Spanish winger. "He's got pace and can be a major factor in game-changing moments," Bhutia said. "If he can get his judgment right, he's going to be a huge problem for England."While Bhutia acknowledges England's quality, he believes their defensive formation under manager Gareth Southgate will hinder their chances. "I've never been a fan of Southgate's defensive approach," Bhutia said. "They have quality players who should be playing free-flowing, attacking football like Spain."However, Bhutia still believes England captain Harry Kane is a threat. "He's a natural goal scorer," Bhutia said. "He's scored goals in the Premier League, Bundesliga, and for Bayern Munich. He's one of the best goal scorers in this generation. If you have to bet on anyone to score goals, it's Harry Kane."

After a decade of disappointment, Spain has triumphantly returned to the pinnacle of football by reaching the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Having won two European Championships in 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup, La Roja seemed destined for continued dominance. However, their fall from grace was swift and unexpected.The players expected to replace the golden generation failed to live up to expectations. Spain's 2014 World Cup defense ended in humiliation, with a 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the group stage. They were eliminated by Italy in the Euro 2016 last-16, and by Russia on penalties in the 2018 World Cup.Despite a better showing at Euro 2020, where they reached the semi-finals, Spain's 2022 World Cup exit to Morocco was another painful blow. However, the Spanish football federation believed the team was close to their potential. They replaced coach Luis Enrique with Luis de la Fuente, who had a successful track record with national youth sides.Despite initial setbacks, including a 2-0 defeat to Scotland, Spain stuck with their relatively unknown coach. De la Fuente's first silverware came in the form of the Nations League last summer, and he has continued to impress with La Roja's performances at Euro 2024.Spain has dominated the tournament, topping a tough group featuring Italy, Germany, and France. Their success is remarkable considering their lack of recognizable stars beyond Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Young talents like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have emerged, but the team also features players who have struggled at their clubs, such as Marc Cucurella and Aymeric Laporte.However, their lack of superstars has not hindered them. "I have 26 great players and I'm just lucky that they are Spanish," said De la Fuente. Unlike opponents England, who have struggled to replace aging icons, or France, who have built around a sub-par Kylian Mbappe, Spain has embraced a team-first mentality."The big difference to all the (other) countries is that we are a team and there is no one leader above the rest," explained Barcelona's Pedri before the tournament. De la Fuente has also shown a willingness to try different approaches, balancing possession with attacking flair.While Luis Enrique's Spain relied heavily on possession, De la Fuente's team has shown more flexibility. They have released Yamal and Williams to exploit their pace, and have taken risks to beat their markers.De la Fuente's knowledge of his players has also been a key factor. He has coached the majority of the starting lineup over the past few years, winning the U19 Euros in 2013, the U21 Euros in 2019, and silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021."I know the players very well, what we had available to us and we needed time to do what we are seeing now," said the coach. "I am not surprised by it. Cooking this up... is a long process but we knew the decisions and the path we had to take."That continuity has proven vital in the international game, where coaches typically have limited time with their players. It has taken Spain to the verge of glory once more, and they will be confident of lifting the trophy on Sunday.