De la Fuente Pleased with Injury-Free Friendly as Spain Turn Focus to US

 Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente during an international friendly soccer match against Iraq in A Coruna, Spain, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente during an international friendly soccer match against Iraq in A Coruna, Spain, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
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De la Fuente Pleased with Injury-Free Friendly as Spain Turn Focus to US

 Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente during an international friendly soccer match against Iraq in A Coruna, Spain, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente during an international friendly soccer match against Iraq in A Coruna, Spain, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)

Coach Luis de la Fuente was ‌happy Spain came through their final home friendly without injuries and used the opportunity to hand debuts to several youngsters, but said the intensity would step up a notch once they arrived in North America for the World Cup.

Spain, one of the favorites to lift the World Cup, were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in a warm-up match in La Coruna on Thursday, fielding a heavily rotated lineup.

"Today was about sensations and giving opportunities to other players. No injuries — that's important," de ‌la Fuente ‌told reporters.

"Now we enter a new phase with ‌more ⁠intensity and more ⁠players contributing. Tomorrow we're in the United States, and that puts our focus exactly where it needs to be."

Spain, who will be based in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the World Cup, face Peru in their final friendly in Puebla, Mexico on Monday before their Group H campaign against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and ⁠Uruguay.

De la Fuente rested several key players, including ‌Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, David Raya, ‌Victor Munoz, Marc Cucurella, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri and ‌Mikel Oyarzabal due to fitness concerns.

Meanwhile, Marc Bernal, Jon Martin, ‌Gonzalo, Turrientes, Javi Guerra, Marc Pubill, Javi Rodriguez and Leo Roman were handed senior debuts against Iraq.

"They all earned it. The match allowed us to give debuts to players who deserved the chance. They ‌helped us a lot," the 64-year-old said.

"They're players for the future, and we'll see them with ⁠the senior ⁠team soon. Another objective accomplished."

Spain will face Cape Verde in their opening match on June 15, though doubts remain over Yamal's fitness.

The Barcelona forward is recovering from a left hamstring injury that cut short his season in April, and de la Fuente said on Wednesday that the 18-year-old could be ready for the opener, though there were no guarantees.

"The plan is to stick to what we'd planned, and that schedule gave us confidence that he could be ready by the 15th," he said.

"Things are generally going very well, but there might be a day when we have to put something on hold."



Isak and Gakpo Injured on Int’l Duty in Blow to Liverpool

Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24 September 2026.  EPA/OLAF KRAAK
Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24 September 2026. EPA/OLAF KRAAK
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Isak and Gakpo Injured on Int’l Duty in Blow to Liverpool

Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24 September 2026.  EPA/OLAF KRAAK
Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24 September 2026. EPA/OLAF KRAAK

The international break is not being kind to Liverpool, with key attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both sustaining injuries while on duty with their countries.

Isak has left the Sweden squad and returned to Liverpool because of what the club has described as a “minor injury.” The striker played the full match as Sweden beat Romania 2-1 on Friday but will not be involved in the country's next three Nations League matches.

Gakpo came off in the 17th minute of the Netherlands' 2-1 win over Serbia on Sunday with an apparent ankle injury suffered a few minutes earlier. The forward tried to continue playing before leaving.

Liverpool's first game back after the international break is against Manchester City at Anfield on Oct. 11.


Messi and Alcaraz Love it, Now Padel Takes Step Closer to Olympics

Technical equipment is seen as Hong Kong's Mohammed Khan and Sean Lo Escoto (top) play against Kazakhstan's Zhakas Kozbak and Rodion Pak during the men's pairs padel first round match at the Nagoya City Highashi Sports Center in Nagoya on September 28, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
Technical equipment is seen as Hong Kong's Mohammed Khan and Sean Lo Escoto (top) play against Kazakhstan's Zhakas Kozbak and Rodion Pak during the men's pairs padel first round match at the Nagoya City Highashi Sports Center in Nagoya on September 28, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
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Messi and Alcaraz Love it, Now Padel Takes Step Closer to Olympics

Technical equipment is seen as Hong Kong's Mohammed Khan and Sean Lo Escoto (top) play against Kazakhstan's Zhakas Kozbak and Rodion Pak during the men's pairs padel first round match at the Nagoya City Highashi Sports Center in Nagoya on September 28, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
Technical equipment is seen as Hong Kong's Mohammed Khan and Sean Lo Escoto (top) play against Kazakhstan's Zhakas Kozbak and Rodion Pak during the men's pairs padel first round match at the Nagoya City Highashi Sports Center in Nagoya on September 28, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Carlos Alcaraz are all obsessed with it, and on Monday the fast-growing racquet sport of padel made its Asian Games debut with officials hoping a place at the Olympics is getting closer.

Padel, a cross between tennis and squash on courts surrounded by glass walls, is played by an estimated 38 million people and has ambitions to become a major global sport.

It took another step towards that goal at the Asian Games in Nagoya after being added to the continent's biggest sporting spectacular as a medal event.

After winning her opening match with doubles partner Danna Abad, Philippines player Joshea Malazarte told AFP: "Padel in Europe is really big and it has just started here, so we're just glad that they added padel."

Padel originated in Latin America and has exploded in popularity in the last decade, notably in Europe.

Officials say the sport is played in 170 countries and territories, with 85,000 courts around the globe.

It is still relatively unknown in Games host Japan, and there was curiosity among some of the crowd at the modest Higashi Sports Center.

Tickets for the event were free, and one spectator told AFP that she and her friend had dropped in to take a look before heading off for lunch.

Another, 60-year-old Yuko Hiraiwa, said she enjoyed the action but thought the crowd was "a bit quiet".

"I play padel but this was the first time I've seen it live," she said.

"It was really dynamic and exciting."

The sedate atmosphere in Nagoya was a far cry from padel's popularity in other parts of the world.

The sport has a professional tour circuit and an event held at the Roland Garros tennis stadium in Paris this month attracted over 80,000 people.

A galaxy of padel-playing sports stars including football icons Ronaldo and Messi and Formula One driver Max Verstappen have also given it a boost.

Padel has already appeared at the European Games, and International Padel Federation (IPF) official Donatella Del Gaudio said the next goal is the Olympics.

"We are working hard to make it happen soon," she said.

"We just need to be patient, diligent and respect the Olympic timeline."

Padel is usually played as a doubles game and uses solid rather than stringed racquets.

The courts are much smaller than in tennis and enclosed by glass walls, which can be used to hit balls off similar to squash.

Philippines player Malazarte said padel was "more like a chess match" than tennis.

"You have to open up the angle in order to win, you don't rush the points," she said.

"Whereas in tennis if you have a really good forehand, really good backhand, you can win a point."

Padel officials say the sport is enjoyed by people of all ages, and that 50 percent of the worldwide playing population are women.

But not all sports that enjoy high playing numbers translate into successful spectator events.

Despite millions of players around the world squash failed with four bids to become an Olympic sport until it was finally added to the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

So is padel as much fun to watch as it is to play?

"When I watch tournaments live, from the first rounds, every year is getting more and more full," said Kuwaiti player Mariam Al-Sarraj.

"Now it's almost fully booked, so I feel like people like to watch it."

The sport certainly won some new converts in Nagoya, with the crowd gasping in appreciation at some of the shots and rallies.

Interest was raised by the involvement of Japan's Teruaki Ando and Shinnosuke Nakamura, who won a tense thriller against a pair from Lebanon.

IPF official Del Gaudio said padel's Asian Games debut was "a source of pride" for everyone in the sport.

"It's confirmation of padel's growth worldwide," she said.

"It represents a closer step to the Olympics."


Xavi Pleased with 1st Week as Netherlands Coach, but Wants More

Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
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Xavi Pleased with 1st Week as Netherlands Coach, but Wants More

Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernández is pleased with his first week in charge but now wants his side to show an even more attacking game in their next two Nations League fixtures.

The Spanish World Cup winner wants the Dutch side playing with more of the attacking intensity that paid off last Thursday when their persistent forays forced a late equalizer against Germany in Amsterdam.

This was followed by their first victory under Xavi, a 2-1 defeat of Serbia on Sunday.

“It is always most important to get the three ⁠points, I’m happy ⁠that we managed to do that. But we do need to play better, because, especially in the first half, we did not press well," he said.

“Nevertheless, I'm very satisfied after a week of work.”

Xavi singled out AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink, who made his a ⁠debut as a substitute against Germany and then marked his first start for the Dutch by scoring both goals against Serbia.

“Mexx is a very hard worker who understands how we want to play," Reuters quoted Xavi as saying.

“He helped the team with more than just his goals, although those certainly helped. The work he did for the team was fantastic.”

The Dutch side face Greece next, in Thessaloniki on Thursday, then entertain Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday. Xavi ⁠was clear ⁠about where improvements on last week were needed.

“For example, there were many moments when we needed to attack the spaces, but we didn’t do it. That is something we need to improve. But also things such as making the pitch wider and moving the ball around more quickly," he said.

“But the most important thing is that we are creating a lot of chances. The players feel comfortable on the pitch with the structure we are playing in, so a lot of things are also going well."