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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands : Spain will embrace their attacking instincts when they face the Netherlands in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final on Thursday in a match that would be a fitting European Championship final, said coach Luis de la Fuente.
WOLFSBURG, Germany: Defending champions Barcelona are on track for the final four of the women’s Champions League after a dominant 4-1 win in their quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Unlike the 2023 Champions League final between the same two opponents, won narrowly 3-2 by Barcelona who came from two goals down, Wednesday’s clash was an uneven affair. A first-half own-goal by Caitlin Dijkstra, followed up by two strikes in quick succession in the second period by Irene Paredes and Salma Paralluelo put the visitors firmly in control. Janina Minge pulled one back inside the final 15 minutes for Wolfsburg, before Sydney Schertenleib added a late fourth. Winners of three of the past four Champions Leagues, Barcelona showed fluency in attack and pinned the Wolves back early. Barcelona’s dominance of the ball finally showed on the scoreboard after 26 minutes when Ewa Pajor, who spent almost a decade at the German club, pressured Dijkstra into conceding an own goal from Aitana Bonmati’s cross. The visitors were unable to make their dominance count further with just a one-goal lead heading into half-time. But Barcelona quickly took control of the match, and the tie, with two goals in three minutes just after the interval. Paredes tapped in from close range after Wolfsburg failed to deal with a Barcelona corner on 50 minutes. On the 53rd-minute mark, Paralluelo scored on a Barcelona counter, her shot scuffed into her own net by Wolfsburg’s Minge. Paralluelo looked to have scored again just five minutes later, but was half-a-meter offside when assisted by Pajor. Minge gave Wolfsburg hope when she headed in unmarked from just near the penalty spot with 79 minutes gone, but Swiss teenager Schertenleib’s fine curling
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann emphasised the importance of building a winning mentality ahead of their clash against Italy at San Siro on Thursday.
Belgium’s record scorer Romelu Lukaku said he considered quitting the national side after last year’s disappointing European Championship but has been sold on the vision of the team’s new management and is keen to press on.
Italy will be without striker Mateo Retegui for both legs of their Nations League quarter-final tie with Germany, but Luciano Spalletti will wait before deciding to call up a replacement, the manager said on Wednesday.
PYLOS, Greece : Outgoing International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was named honorary president for life on Wednesday, with the German due to step down in June after 12 years in charge.
Michael O’Neill is more than happy to wait until September for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign to get under way as he focuses instead on friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden.
Italy will be without striker Mateo Retegui for both legs of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Germany because of a thigh injury, Italy's football association (FIGC) said on Wednesday.