Saturday, April 26, 2025
12:28 AM
Doha,Qatar
*

In-form Spain look to win title for a third consecutive time

Holders Spain complete their preparations for Euro 2016 with what should be a comfortable friendly at home to minnows Georgia tomorrow.
La Roja are bidding to become the first country to win three consecutive Euros, having triumphed in sumptuous style in 2008 and 2012.
“We know it is going to be difficult (to win for a third time), but we are confident about our chances,” said Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
“Everyone wants to beat the champions, that always happens in football. But we are in good form and looking forward to it.”
Ramos is one of the four players from Real and Atletico - along with Lucas Vazquez, Juanfran and Koke - now available to Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, after taking a week off to recover from the May 28 Champions League final between the capital’s top teams.
Ramos, who captained Real to glory in the Milan final, denied he was tired after a gruelling schedule.
“It has been good to have a whole week away from football. Now I feel recovered mentally and physically, and I’m really looking forward to the Euros.”
The incorporation of Juanfran and Ramos means that Del Bosque will finally be able to field his first-choice defence – of Juanfran, Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba – in front of either Iker Casillas or David de Gea.
Del Bosque has reportedly decided in favour of De Gea as his first-choice keeper for the Euros, thus relegating the veteran Casillas to the bench after 14 long – and largely successful – years as Spain’s number one.
Leading the Spain attack against Georgia will be the in-form Nolito,
who scored four times in the 3-1 and 6-1 defeats of Bosnia and South Korea last week.
“I’m just trying to enjoy this moment,” the 29-year-old Celta Vigo striker said.
“I really don’t know if I’m going to be the first-choice striker (at the Euros). All I can do is play as well as possible, and keep my fingers crossed.”
Del Bosque will have to decide between youngster Alvaro Morata and veteran Aritz Aduriz to accompany Nolito in attack.
The game will be played in Getafe, a southern suburb of Madrid in a state of mourning following the relegation of their team after 12 years in the top flight.
“I hope this match is going to cheer our people up a bit. Things have been a bit flat around here for the last couple of weeks or so,” Getafe president Angel Torres said.


Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details