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Spain, Belgium brace for blockbuster last-eight battle
Doha, Qatar: Spain have made winning look routine at the FIFA World Cup, but Belgium’s growing confidence suggests today’s quarter-final could be anything but. chickenroad-game.rodeo
A place in the last four is at stake when two of Europe’s biggest football nations meet at Los Angeles Stadium today (10pm Qatar time), with La Roja’s flawless campaign coming up against a Belgian side that has gathered momentum with every passing match.
European champions Spain arrived in North America as one of the favourites and have done little to challenge that tag.
They topped Group H before sweeping aside Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edging Portugal 1-0 in a tense Iberian derby, where substitute Mikel Merino struck deep into stoppage time to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
More impressively, Luis de la Fuente’s men have yet to concede a goal, becoming the first team in World Cup history to register six successive clean sheets.
Spain’s defensive solidity has been matched by the quality throughout the side. Rodri continues to dictate play from midfield, Pedri and Dani Olmo provide the craft, while teenager Lamine Yamal remains one of the tournament’s biggest attractions despite the extra attention he receives from opposing defenders.
Mikel Oyarzabal has also been a key figure in Spain’s attacking surge, leading their scoring charts with four goals in five matches at the tournament.
“He brings so much to the team with his dribbling and presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opposing players close in on him, which opens up space,” Olmo said of his Barcelona teammate Yamal.
“Lamine scores and assists, he’s always done that in his short career, and even when he doesn’t, he’ll keep helping us with the work he’s doing.”
Spain’s success has been built as much on discipline as flair.
“We are a team where everyone attacks and everyone defends,” Olmo said. “The coach says the number nine is the first to defend and the others follow suit. The defensive line has been spectacular. If we keep a clean sheet, we’re closer to winning.”
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne in action during a training session yesterday. (PICS: AFP)
Belgium, meanwhile, have quietly grown into one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams. After opening with draws against Egypt and Iran, the Red Devils found their rhythm by thrashing New Zealand 5-1 to finish top of Group G. They then produced a stirring comeback from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32 before dismantling co-hosts United States 4-1 in Seattle to reach the last eight.
Rudi Garcia’s side still leans on the experience of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, while Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere have added pace, creativity and goals to Belgium’s attack.
The only major setback ahead of the showdown is the absence of Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the United States.
Today’s contest will renew a World Cup rivalry that has produced one win apiece. Belgium eliminated Spain on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 1986 quarter-finals before La Roja responded with a 2-1 victory in the group stage at Italia ‘90.
Overall, Spain have enjoyed the upper hand in the fixture, winning 12 of their 22 meetings, with Belgium claiming five victories and five matches ending level.
Spain’s perfect record and defensive resilience make them deserved favourites, but Belgium’s ability to overcome adversity and hurt opponents in different ways makes this one of the World Cup’s most intriguing quarter-finals.
أتلتيكو مدريد يتعاقد مع الدنماركي مورتن هيولماند حتى 2031
أعلن نادي أتلتيكو مدريد الإسباني اليوم السبت، تعاقده مع لاعب الوسط الدنماركي مورتن هيولماند قادما من سبورتينغ لشبونة البرتغالي، بعقد يمتد حتى 30 يونيو 2031.
وقال النادي في بيان، إن اللاعب البالغ من العمر 27 عاما انضم إلى صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، بعد التوصل إلى اتفاق مع سبورتينغ لشبونة بشأن انتقاله.
وانضم هيولماند إلى سبورتينغ لشبونة عام 2023، وخاض بقميصه 141 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات، وأسهم في تتويجه بلقبي الدوري البرتغالي موسمي 2023-2024 و2024-2025، إضافة إلى كأس البرتغال لموسم 2024-2025.
ويتميز لاعب الوسط الدفاعي بقوته البدنية، وقدرته على قطع الكرات، وقراءته الجيدة، إلى جانب دقة التمرير وبناء الهجمات من وسط الملعب.
ويأتي التعاقد مع هيولماند ضمن تحركات أتلتيكو مدريد لتدعيم صفوفه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية، استعدادا للمنافسة بقوة على جميع البطولات.
Qatar’s Seifeldin clinches pole vault gold in China
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Seifeldin Mohamed Abdelsalam produced a dominant performance to win the men’s pole vault gold medal at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, yesterday.
The 21-year-old cleared 5.45 metres to secure the title, finishing ahead of China’s Rui Liu, who took silver with a best effort of 5.20m. Kazakhstan’s Maxim Balabin completed the podium after clearing 5.05m, a personal best.
Abdelsalam was flawless throughout the competition, clearing 5.20m, 5.35m and the winning height of 5.45m on his first attempts. After confirming the gold medal, the Qatari raised the bar to 5.76m in an attempt to improve his mark, but could not clear the height in three attempts.
Liu cleared 5.05m and 5.20m on his second attempts before bowing out after failing to negotiate 5.35m, while Balabin cleared 5.05m before exiting the competition at 5.20m.
The victory marked another promising achievement for Qatar’s young athletics talent, with Abdelsalam leading the national team’s challenge at the first edition of the continental U23 championship.
Qatar are competing in Ordos with a group of promising athletes across several events, including Ahmed Jabreen (shot put), Khaled Hussein Sabaki (400m and 4x400m relay), Zakaria Ibrahim (3000m steeplechase and 1500m), Hatem Hamid (800m and 4x400m relay), Salah Younis (100m), Omar Daoud (110m hurdles), Abdulrahman Mohammed (400m hurdles and 4x400m relay) and Mubarak Abdulkarim (400m and 4x400m relay).