New Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has made his fourth summer purchase after agreeing to meet the €39 million buy-out clause for Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi. His other signings have been Isco from Málaga (€23 million), Dani Carvajal from Bayer Leverkusen and Casemiro’s from Sao Paulo.
Brazil 3-0 Spain
Italy showed the way to beat Spain but failed to put away their chances. Brazil adopted the same approach and duly took their chances, showing their intent with a goal within the first two minutes, Fred the scorer.
Spain through on penalties
Spain will face Brazil in the Confederations Cup final after a 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory against Italy in Fortaleza. Italy dominated much of the 90 minutes and should have been four or five goals in front by half time, but it wasn’t their day and Spain hung on and began to look the sharper side in extra time.
Ancelotti appointed as manager of Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the new manager of Real Madrid, with Laurent Blanc replacing the Italian as coach of Paris St-Germain. Ancelotti, aged 54, led PSG to the French title last season but asked to leave the club in May after Real made an approach for him. He has signed a three-year deal in Spain to replace Jose …
Spain 3-0 Nigeria
Spain will face Italy in the Confederations Cup semi-finals after they beat Nigeria 3-0 to top Group B. Jordi Alba scored twice and Torres, on as a substitute, grabbed one. Although Spain dominated possession, Nigeria caused problems for Spain’s defence but were let down by some poor finishing in front of goal. Brazil will play Uruguay in the other semi-final.
Spain 10-0 Tahiti
It was always going to be merely a question of ‘how many’ goals Spain would score against the footballing minnows of Tahiti in the Confederations Cup, and the answer turned out to be ten. There were four goals for Torres, three for Villa, two for Silva and one for Juan Mata. Tahiti, however, impressed with their attitude, sportsmanship and determination …
Spain retain under-21 title
A first half hat-trick by Thiago Alcantara, one from the penalty spot, and a second half penalty from Isco saw Spain beat Italy 4-2 to retain the European Under-21 Championship. The under-21 team now match the senior side in winning back to back titles. Immobile and Borini were the scores for six-times champions Italy, one goal coming in each half.
Spain 2-1 Uruguay
Spain dominated possession in their Confederations Cup match against Uruguay and were worthy 2-1 winners. Pedro and Soldado were the scorers for Spain, Luis Suarez getting a late goal for Uruguay from a free kick. The game was far more one-sided than the scoreline might suggest.
Lorenzo wins in Barcelona
It was a Spanish 1-2-3 on Sunday afternoon as world champion Jorge Lorenzo recorded his third win of the season with victory at the Catalunya Grand Prix. Lorenzo took the lead from Dani Pedrosa on the first lap in Barcelona and held off the challenge of his compatriot to follow up his win in Mugello last time out. Marc Marquez …
No European football for Málaga next season
Malaga will not be competing in next season’s Europa League after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld Uefa’s one-year European ban. The Blue and Whites, who finished sixth in La Liga, were originally given a two-year European suspension in December because of unpaid bills.