Spain players on their way to becoming 'legendary': coach De la Fuente / Photo: Cesar MANSO - AFP
-
Thailand's Anutin rides wave of nationalism to election victory
-
Venezuela's Machado says ally kidnapped by armed men after his release
-
Maye longs for do-over as record Super Bowl bid ends in misery
-
Seahawks' Walker rushes to Super Bowl MVP honors
-
Darnold basks in 'special journey' to Super Bowl glory
-
Japan's Takaichi may struggle to soothe voters and markets
-
Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots
-
'Want to go home': Indonesian crew abandoned off Africa demand wages
-
Asian stocks track Wall St rally as Tokyo hits record on Takaichi win
-
Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rico in joyous Super Bowl halftime show
-
Three prominent opposition figures released in Venezuela
-
Israeli president says 'we shall overcome this evil' at Bondi Beach
-
'Flood' of disinformation ahead of Bangladesh election
-
Arguments to begin in key US social media addiction trial
-
UK-Based Vesalic Limited Emerges from Stealth with Landmark Discovery of Potential Non-CNS Driver of Motor Neuron Diseases, including ALS, and Breakthrough Therapeutic and Diagnostic Opportunities
-
Gotterup tops Matsuyama in playoff to win Phoenix Open
-
New Zealand's Christchurch mosque killer appeals conviction
-
Leonard's 41 leads Clippers over T-Wolves, Knicks cruise
-
Trump says China's Xi to visit US 'toward the end of the year'
-
Real Madrid edge Valencia to stay on Barca's tail, Atletico slump
-
Malinin keeps USA golden in Olympic figure skating team event
-
Lebanon building collapse toll rises to 9: civil defence
-
Real Madrid keep pressure on Barca with tight win at Valencia
-
PSG trounce Marseille to move back top of Ligue 1
-
Hong Kong to sentence media mogul Jimmy Lai in national security trial
-
Lillard will try to match record with third NBA 3-Point title
-
Vonn breaks leg as crashes out in brutal end to Olympic dream
-
Malinin enters the fray as Japan lead USA in Olympics team skating
-
Thailand's Anutin readies for coalition talks after election win
-
Fans arrive for Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl as politics swirl
-
'Send Help' repeats as N.America box office champ
-
Japan close gap on USA in Winter Olympics team skating event
-
Liverpool improvement not reflected in results, says Slot
-
Japan PM Takaichi basks in election triumph
-
Machado's close ally released in Venezuela
-
Dimarco helps Inter to eight-point lead in Serie A
-
Man City 'needed' to beat Liverpool to keep title race alive: Silva
-
Czech snowboarder Maderova lands shock Olympic parallel giant slalom win
-
Man City fight back to end Anfield hoodoo and reel in Arsenal
-
Diaz treble helps Bayern crush Hoffenheim and go six clear
-
US astronaut to take her 3-year-old's cuddly rabbit into space
-
Israeli president to honour Bondi Beach attack victims on Australia visit
-
Apologetic Turkish center Sengun replaces Shai as NBA All-Star
-
Romania, Argentina leaders invited to Trump 'Board of Peace' meeting
-
Kamindu heroics steer Sri Lanka past Ireland in T20 World Cup
-
Age just a number for veteran Olympic snowboard champion Karl
-
England's Feyi-Waboso out of Scotland Six Nations clash
-
Thailand's pilot PM lands runaway election win
-
Sarr strikes as Palace end winless run at Brighton
-
Olympic star Ledecka says athletes ignored in debate over future of snowboard event
NYSE - LSE
Spain players on their way to becoming 'legendary': coach De la Fuente
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Friday his squad are on their way to becoming "legendary" like the players that won the country's first World Cup, in 2010, and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
De la Fuente led La Roja to Euro 2024 glory last summer and Spain are closing in on qualification for next summer's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Spain visit Georgia on Saturday in a Group E qualifier and could qualify for the World Cup if they win and Turkey fail to beat Georgia in the other match.
"I wish (all the players) could all be eternalised, in the sense that they would remain, that they would stay in everyone's minds, that they would be a team like the one from 2008, 2010, 2012, which became legendary and that remains forever," De la Fuente told a news conference.
"I believe this team is on its way to achieving that. I think it has accomplished very important things, and many players have the opportunity to make history and leave a lasting memory in the minds of the fans.
"I believe that is the best reward a professional can achieve."
Spain have won all four of their qualifying matches so far, scoring 15 goals and not conceding any.
They will be without Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal for their last qualifiers, after releasing him from the squad following "invasive" treatment on a groin injury with his club.
The Spanish football federation Tuesday said they were "surprised and upset" to learn that Yamal had already undergone the procedure and was unavailable for the national team.
De la Fuente tried to calm the situation when asked about Spain's relations with Barcelona.
"Our relations with all the clubs are marvellous -- and everything can be improved. We try to improve in all aspects, but what we need to improve is tomorrow's performance to win tomorrow against Georgia," said the coach.
"The best news is all the time in the future that Lamine has with us," he continued.
"We need to think about the present and the future -- the present is about relying on the players we have, wonderful players, trying to win tomorrow... that is our concern."
As well as Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Carvajal and Rodri Hernandez are out injured, all key players for De la Fuente.
A.Aguiar--PC
