Gareth Bale likely won’t end up at Manchester United any time soon. The Real Madrid standout suggested he might be ready to move on following the Champions League final, citing his lack of playing time under former manager Zinedine Zidane during the 2017-18 season. Manchester United, once again, emerged as a possible destination, but Jose…
7 Ronaldo scoring records that will never be touched at Real Madrid
It’s safe to say Real Madrid got its money’s worth when Cristiano Ronaldo was acquired for a former world-record transfer fee back in 2009. The Portuguese superstar, whose illustrious career in the Spanish capital ended Tuesday with confirmation of his lucrative transfer to Juventus, boosted the reputation he established in England with Manchester United by…
How does Real Madrid fill the massive void left by Ronaldo's departure?
Florentino Perez is no stranger to luring world-class talent to the Spanish capital. The Real Madrid president’s tenure with the 33-time league winner has always been synonymous with a pair of galacticos eras, and with the cornerstone of the second age of Los Blancos world beaters off to Serie A, Perez will again have to…
Hierro out as Spain coach, declines return to sporting director role
Fernando Hierro is out as Spain head coach and declined to return to his role as sporting director of the national team after the country’s disappointing World Cup campaign, the Spanish football federation announced Sunday. The 50-year-old Hierro was appointed to the coaching role on a temporary basis after the Spanish FA dismissed Julen Lopetegui…
Russia shocks Spain on penalties to make quarter-final stage
Russia is off to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1970 after topping 2010 winner Spain 4-3 on penalties Sunday in Moscow. Koke and Iago Aspas missed from the spot for 2010 winner Spain, with the latter’s effort thwarted by a brilliant save from Igor Akinfeev to fire Russia to the last-eight….
Spain only has itself to blame for shocking World Cup exit
It didn’t matter that Spain completed more than 1,000 passes against Russia. It didn’t matter that Spain dominated the match with 74 percent of possession. The statistics that defined Spanish football for the past decade made no difference Sunday. Russia kept Spain at bay for long enough to reach penalties, and the host nation took…
World Cup bracket is complete, and one side is absolutely loaded
With the group stage over and the 16 teams moving on to the World Cup’s knockout stage established, attention has turned to the different paths each contender will travel down en route to the final on July 15. For some, like Group G winner Belgium, that journey looks frighteningly treacherous. For others, like Group G…
Spain steals top spot from Portugal in Group B after dramatic turn of events
Football, bloody hell. Spain’s dramatic last-minute equaliser against Morocco on Monday secured an unbelievable 2-2 draw that allowed the 2010 World Cup winner to wrest first place in Group B from Portugal. Fernando Santos’ side was all set to top the quartet until the final minutes of the corresponding Group B fixture, when a penalty…
Messi's mates finally step up when Argentina needs it most
All Lionel Messi needed was a little help from his friends. On Tuesday against Nigeria, the Argentina talisman got exactly that in progressing to the knockout stage after teetering on the brink of a calamitous World Cup exit in St. Petersburg. That’s where the flaw lies in comparisons between La Albiceleste’s current star and the…