International Friendly

Jose Mourinho thinks Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is to blame for Diego Costa’s recent injury troubles.

Chelsea captain John Terry claims he and Branislav Ivanovic were "double headlocked at every corner" during Sunday’s gripping 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

Champions League Group G

“You are not happy when you give players in good conditions and you receive the players in bad conditions.”

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has named Diego Costa in his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers while Gerard Pique returns and uncapped duo Rodrigo Moreno and Juan Bernat have also been called up.

Spain’s bid to return to the peak of international football begins in La Roja’s first Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Macedonia tonight.

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has announced his retirement from international football.

Spain’s previously all-conquering players have not reacted well to their shock early exit from this summer’s World Cup.

Spain arrived in Madrid on Tuesday and unlike four years ago, after a triumphant World Cup in South Africa, there were few fans waiting for them at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque will make a decision on his future in the next week but revealed when he substituted goalscorer David Villa in the 3-0 win over Australia, he was unaware it was his last international.

Spain must trust in their philosophy but trust their youth to enact it

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli hailed his “rebels” after the South Americans knocked reigning champions Spain out of the World Cup.

Spain 0 Chile 2

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque is set to wield the axe ahead of the do-or-die clash against Chile on Wednesday.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque could make wholesale changes for this evening’s make-or-break World Cup Group B game against Chile in Rio.

Fernando Torres has warned that Spain are prepared to win at all costs against Chile tonight (8pm) — even if it means abandoning their usual stylish football.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes Gerard Deulofeu is ready for his return to the Barcelona first team, but admits he will miss having the exciting forward in his Toffees squad.

Holland’s Manchester United-bound boss Louis van Gaal has warned against getting carried away with his side’s stunning 5-1 victory over holders Spain in their World Cup opener, insisting they have achieved nothing yet.

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

World Cup 2014 kicks off in nine days so Ger McCarthy looks at how some of the contenders and outsiders are shaping up ahead of their final friendlies before boarding the plane to Brazil.

Uncapped duo Ander Iturraspe and Daniel Carvajal have both included in Spain’s 30-man provisional World Cup squad, along with Fernando Torres, but Real Madrid pair Alvaro Arbeloa and Isco have been omitted.

Breaking into the centre of Spain’s midfield has lately been about as easy as breaking out of Alcatraz.

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has been left out of Spain’s squad for next Wednesday’s friendly against Italy.

Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifying draw may have been the first time most football fans in Ireland realised Gibraltar had an international team which actually played in qualifiers.

Reaction to Friday’s difficult World Cup group stages draw was surprisingly confident in the Spanish camp.

Spain’s senior soccer squad trained last Wednesday at suburban Madrid’s ‘Ciudad del Futbol’ campus, with national manager Vicente Del Bosque preparing Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta and company for their last two crucial World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

Swansea's Michu has earned his first Spain call-up replacing David Villa in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has given his seal of approval to new Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was satisfied with his side’s performance in their 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in New York, but thought they could have been more clinical in front of goal.

There was something dispiriting about the last half hour of Barcelona’s 0-3 Champions League semi-final second leg defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has plenty to think about this week as he readies his previously all-conquering side for their crucial upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Finland in Gijon on Friday, and then France in Paris three days later.

As expected the last week brought startling revelations of performance enhancing drug use in Spanish football.

Holder Lionel Messi and last year's runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo are the favourites for this year's Ballon D'Or award, the shortlist for which was announced by FIFA this afternoon

Spain will begin their World Cup title defence with all-time leading goalscorer David Villa after he was recalled for the first time since suffering a broken leg eight months ago.

There has been an understandably euphoric reaction from the Spanish media after the national side became the first side to win three major international tournaments in a row last night.

All of the arguments, all of the debates, all of the questions around Spain are now irrelevant – except one.

Spanish boss Vicente Del Bosque was his typical modest self after his side had steamrolled Italy 4-0 to win Euro 2012 in Kiev last night.

Brilliant Spain playmaker Xavi has dismissed the allegation Spain have become a boring team.

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has backed UEFA’s suggestion they could hold the 2020 European Championship in up to 13 cities across Europe.

Should Spain win tomorrow night’s Euro 2012 final against Italy, Vicente del Bosque will become the first coach to win the Champions League, World Cup and European Championship trophies — an achievement which eluded even West Germany’s Helmut Schön, Holland’s Rinus Michels and Italy’s Marcelo Lippi.

1. Martin Keown’s poker face: “Del Bosque has played his hand here… it’s almost like a game of chess.”

The sideshow runs another night; there is a trophy still up for grabs and the shot of transient satiety that comes with it.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has no regrets over passing up the chance to eliminate Italy from Euro 2012 ahead of his side’s meeting with Cesare Prandelli’s men in Sunday’s final.