BREAKING: Spain’s Luis de la Fuente has interest in the USMNT coaching job, according to Steven Goff. The Spaniard’s representatives contacted the U.S. Soccer Federation via email about de la Fuente’s interest in the job on Friday. De la Fuente recently extended his contract with the Spanish national team until 2026.
If these guy leaves a Spain side that under his leadership could reach a World Cup final to coach the USA he’d be a bigger fool than Alexi Lalas trying to make a point on live tv.
There is no way that's legit. Dude has a Spanish golden generation at the peak of their powers and he would ditch them to coach the USA. No way, that has to be a troll report.
Earlier message Worst thing would be is to suggest only an OG was the difference between Italy vs Spain. Remove the crossbar, goal post, 3 world class Saves by Gigio, not being able to string 2 passes together, only then it was an even match. 2024 squad was a disaster. Gasperini's comments pretty much nailed it.
we were the only team Spain failed to score against .... that's all. beaten by the best! all seriousness as much as Spaletti made a mess of it I think the group knew they had no hope of winning after that match and that effected their morale for the Swiss match. In the end I think it's fine and Spalletti should persists with the 4231 and ball possession he just needs to call player that can do this and not call players suited to a back 5 then change his mind last minute.
The Spain match was the second match. If morale was low wouldn't it have affected their performance in subsequent match, which was Croatia? Spalletti blamed the heat. Versus Switzerland. I really don't see how Italy can come back from that. I legit think they are a NT outside the top 20.
Spalletti doesn't have winning mentality. Like 6 changes to lineup against the Swiss. Really strange behavior. Does the nt have their own shrink???
Yes, still on. I didn't even watch the last one. The team was so cooked plus the injury to Chiesa. Knew Italy weren't in good condition.
Yeah, like the Switzerland game, I could tell the majority of the players wanted nothing to do with playing that game. One thing that makes me sad is we have this trend of national team players making it pretty clear when they have no interest in competing. I used to only see that in friendlies, but this current generation seems to have carried that into competative fixtures.
And this is why those players need to be identified (not publicly, just in-house) and never wear the shirt again. Wrote it at the time, some of these guys need to decline the call up. Any wonder why the team had zero identity. If Di Lorenzo is given the starting spot against France in September it is clear that Spalletti and Staff haven't learned a thing. If he's called, I won't panic just yet as he can still be a backup. But if he starts, I really don't think I can watch. He really should sit out 1 or 2 international windows. Prior to the EC I mentioned a few times about the 9 or so players with under 10 Caps. But alongside Bastoni and Gigio, it was Calafiori that played well. Spain had more players with under 10 Caps heading into the tournament than Italy.
Monday, July 15, 2024 Euro 24: Superior, sporting Spain the undisputed champions by Ian Plenderleith Seven wins from seven games, without once having to resort to penalty kicks in its four knockout games – Spain’s superlative record in Euro 2024 saw it lift the trophy with no one disputing that, almost from the very first game, this team is currently Europe’s No. 1. Germany and Austria could be rated as distant seconds, while England’s late surge was carried more by hope than talent and consistency. Even better, this Spanish team has been a footballing delicatessen of attacking speed, a midfield combining grit with fluency, and calm but imperious defense — an improvement even on the storied but often quite dull and machine-like team that lifted two successive Euros and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012. The final: Spain 2 England 1 In England, the BBC commentators could barely contain their excitement when UEFA’s player of the tournament, Rodri, had to be subbed out at halftime with the score still at 0-0. While Spain had dominated first-half possession, it had little to show for it, and England had finished the first 45 minutes on a high with two half-chances for Harry Kane and Phil Foden. What could possibly go wrong? It then took less than two minutes for Spain to take the lead, with a fluid passing move that banished the memory of its earlier speculative crosses and uncharacteristically inaccurate long passes. The concise delivery from Lamine Yamal (just turned 17) to Nico Williams (22 — ancient!) for an effortless finish stood for all that’s thrilled us about this Spanish team over the past four weeks. This pair was the exception in a tournament bereft of outstanding individuals and future stars. It’s a thrill just to see their names on the team sheet. England keeper Jordan Pickford then did well to deny the Spanish several chances to seal the title, but a positive substitution from Gareth Southgate again turned the game, Cole Palmer striking beautifully into the bottom corner after an acrobatic assist from Jude Bellingham with just over a quarter hour left to play. Against any other team than Spain, you’d have backed England to ride the momentum and win. Postgame, English pundits were critical of Southgate for being over-cautious following the equalizer. He has form in this respect – in 2021, England could have wrapped up the final against Italy before halftime if it had kept the pressure on after taking an early lead. This time, I’m inclined to think that tiredness and the quality of the opponent were more of a factor. Although England looked a more kinetic team once the immobile Kane had been subbed out, this Spanish side would always exploit the extra space if England moved too many players upfield. And so it proved with another killer flowing move, culminating in Marc Cucurella’s precision pass to substitute Mikel Oyarzabal for the late winner. In added time, England had a triple-header in the tank, defied in turn by Unai Simon’s save, Dani Olmo’s header off the line, and Declan Rice’s last effort clearing the bar. It was the culmination of an excellent half of soccer that did its best to compensate for the standoffish first 45. It’s also worth mentioning that this final was played in great spirit by both teams and officiated impeccably by Francois Letexier of France. UEFA’s decree that only captains can speak to the referees has been such a success that it will be implemented at all UEFA club competitions this coming season. It is indeed possible to play competitive soccer without moaning, gesticulating, screaming, and mobbing the referees. Who knew? Player of the Tournament: as noted above, it went to Rodri, and deservedly so, but it could also have gone to Nico Williams, Fabian or Aymeric Laporte. Young Player of the Tournament: Lamine Yamal rightly took the official award, but England’s 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo deserves a mention. Team of the tournament (my choice, not UEFA’s) Goalkeeper: Mert Günok (Türkiye) Defense: Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Dayot Upamecano (France), Marco Cucurella (Spain) Midfield: Fabian, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams (all Spain) Attack: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Lamine Yamal (Spain) Goals: 117 in 51 games at an average of 2.29 goals per game. Not an impressive tally, and there were very few outstanding ‘classic’ games besides Austria’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands. On the plus side, there was a surplus of goals for the highlights reel. For its movement, daring and accuracy, I’d give Goal of the Tournament to Yamal’s curling long-distance effort against France in the semi-final. For drama and audacity, Ollie Watkins’ last-minute winner against Netherlands in the other semi warrants second place. In fact, it was the tension and elevated standard of the final three games that saved Euro 24 from being one of the least memorable tournaments in the competition’s history. The true champions? Out of 15 qualifying and championship games, Spain won 14 and lost only one. Wait a minute, which world-beating XI overcame the Spanish? None other than Euro 24’s worst team, Scotland! North of the English border, we scramble for accolades that, strictly speaking, do not exist. When Scotland (or anybody) will next beat Spain in a competitive match is an open question.
Did you enjoy quality of copa?? Mostly thug cynical play acting soccer. With nothing but respect for Argentina and the goat messi
UEFA teams are so much stronger while traditionally , CONMEBOL and especially CONCACAF have been considered very weak. Even at the World Cup, only Brazil and Argentina end up winning. Uruguay and Colombia make a lot of noise but they rarely win on the world stage. Chile wins Copa America’s but that’s it. Uruguay had two WC wins in 1930 and 1950 but hasn’t won since. Also, at least since 1978, South American’s top national team players usually play in Europe.
Uruguay has been in the mix since 2010 and has done better than Italy in every World Cup since 2010. For such a small country what they have been accomplishing is pretty good.