Latest news with #Basques
France 24
15 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Defending champions Toulouse hold off Bayonne to reach Top 14 final
Toulouse scored two tries through half-backs Romain Ntamack and Paul Graou, while full-back Thomas Ramos kicked 22 points. But Ugo Mola's side were pushed hard in the sweltering Lyon heat, failing to erase the doubts of their 35-18 defeat in the Champions Cup semi-finals against Bordeaux-Begles in early May. Bordeaux-Begles face Toulon in Saturday's second semi-final. Bayonne, playing their first semi-final since 1983, were only trailing 20-15 at halftime but buckled in the second half. "In this type of match, Toulouse often comes out on top because they have the experience," said Bayonne coach Gregory Patat. "They controlled the game at their own pace, with their own know-how. "We should have scored a few more to get back into the game, to see where they (Toulouse) really stand." A succession of injuries in the last few months to Antoine Dupont, Peato Mauvaka, Blair Kinghorn, who returned on Friday night, and Ange Capuozzo, had raised Toulouse concerns but they came through to stamp their ticket for next week's final at the Stade de France. "Regarding commitment, and certainly what I needed answers on, we got answers," said Mola. "We were there. And we hadn't really hit the ground running for two months." Two-time defending champions and already qualified for the semi-finals several weeks ago, Toulouse had delivered several poor performances in recent weeks, including a defeat to Perpignan on the final day of the regular season. "This match was choppy, with a lack of rhythm, small mistakes, and minor errors that put us in a bit of difficulty," Mola acknowledged. "It was a tough and physically demanding match." Indiscipline Mola was left frustrated by the pileup of penalties conceded by his team, which Bayonne fly-half Joris Segonds took advantage of to keep his side in the game, scoring 18 points in total. Former Stade Français fly-half Segonds gave his team an early lead 6-3 after 10 minutes. But the reigning French champions fronted up physically and produced flashes of brilliance, with Argentinian Juan Cruz Mallia finding a gap for Ntamack to touch down his third try in three matches. Bayonne were opportunistic but struggled to put Toulouse under any real pressure in their own half. Ntamack set up Graou for Toulouse's second try after 31 minutes. Segonds' six penalties kept Bayonne in touch but they were always playing catch-up. Ramos punished the Basques with the boot taking Toulouse out to a 32-18 lead before Lucas Martin's consolation try for Bayonne in the final minute. "We saw a team that was used to controlling this type of match," said Patat of Toulouse who were playing in their sixth consecutive semi-final. "A match like this is significant," added Bayonne's former France fly-half Camille Lopez after his final match with the club. "It allowed us to gain experience. I hope the squad will build on this." Toulouse are now angling for a fifth crown in seven seasons since the first title won by this generation in 2018-2019. The June 28 final at the Stade de France will be the 31st in Toulouse's storied history.
Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
I'm pseudy and proud
What does it mean to be a 'pseud'? I hadn't thought a great deal about it, until a passage from a piece I'd written about semicolons made it into Private Eye's venerable Pseuds Corner. It appears just after a conversation between two AIs, and above a breathless quote from Meghan Markle (for it is she). Members of the public submit what they consider to be 'pseudy', and everyone laughs. I've always enjoyed it, and I was so delighted to be featured (I mean, Will Self's been in there!) that the column is on its way to the framers as we speak. To share some pages with Craig Brown, whose satirical bite in his diary is so excellent at exposing the emptiness of contemporary culture, is heavenly. But should it have been in there? Torn out of its context, my prose indeed is florid: Formed from two other punctuation marks, it [the semicolon] is a gorgeous, enigmatic, humanist chimera. It more closely resembles a gentleman, on the edge of his chair, leaning slightly forwards, poised to hear the aphorism fall from your learned lips. It is the jewelled hand, held out to be kissed; it is the tactful recognition of a guest in the glittering salon. Overblown? Yes. But the piece had begun with a request to the reader to rub ashes into your hair at the demise of this punctuation mark – did the person who sent it in to Private Eye think that I really meant that? The piece was an exercise in playful hyperbole; my tongue was, quite firmly, in my cheek. It was, in short, an extended joke, and a sincere one too: the opposite, in fact, of pseudery. Yes, I care deeply about semicolons, and yes, I'm happy to deploy a range of literary techniques to mourn its passing – isn't that what writing is? There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason as to what ends up in Pseuds Corner: sports writers feature heavily, and indeed, Dan Carrier of the Camden New Journal is in there with a comparison between the Basques and Tottenham Hotspur. (I think it's actually quite good.) The AI conversation surely doesn't count, because AIs don't have a concept of pseudery. They're not real! They can't be pretentious! What about Meghan Markle? The Cali Duchess muses: 'I think it speaks to this chapter many of us find ourselves in, where none of us are one note. But I believe all the notes I am playing are part of the same song.' Sure, it's meaningless, and to say that the metaphors are mixed would be an understatement, but isn't she – and heaven forfend that I'm actually defending Miss Markle here – trying to articulate something that she truly means, but lacks the rhetorical ability to formulate? As a form of literary criticism, then, it seems that Pseuds Corner essentially comprises 'things that Private Eye readers think are pretentious'. Which is to say, jargon, extended metaphors, and anything that smacks of fanciness or, as with Markle, flummery. Private Eye wants writers to be blunt, concrete, and to the point. Perhaps this is a result of its largely grammar/minor-public school and Balliol conception in the 1970s, and its distrust of anything that smacks of aristocracy or academia. It's a bit like the Augustan poets, with their ornate phrasing, being shoved out of the way by Wordsworth, with his old men and daffodils. Experimenting with language; employing unusual vocabulary; working with extended metaphors: these are good and necessary parts of a vital literary landscape Where would we be, though, if everything was as Private Eye wished? If my piece on semicolons simply ran: 'Aren't semi-colons great, and I'm really sad that no one's using them any more,' would readers have responded to it, with such passion and interest, in quite the same way? As Private Eye itself would say, shurely not. Experimenting with language; employing unusual vocabulary; working with extended metaphors; using academic terms to try to pin down concepts like 'queer space travel': these are good and necessary parts of a vital literary landscape. I mean, look, I think academics go too far sometimes – is space really queer and decolonial, as Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian suggests in the same column? – but they are usually trying to articulate concepts that haven't been articulated before. Which is to be encouraged. Aside from that, all of this, like the royal family, adds hugely to the gaiety of the nation. We don't want a Gradgrindian landscape where prose merely does the job. Boring! I'm very glad that Pseuds Corner exists – like everything in Private Eye, it serves a function, which is to remind writers that words must be used correctly. But I also must say: now gods, stand up for pseuds! Because if writers cease to be ludic; if duchesses start to read actual books; then Pseuds Corner would be redundant. And that would be a sad day indeed. Or perhaps that should be: the willows would weep; the stars would flicker out; and the melancholy gods would groan, pale-faced, on their silken couches.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Leão, Barcola, Williams? The latest on possible Sané replacements
Following reports that Leroy Sané is joining Galatasaray, FC Bayern is more than ever on the lookout for reinforcements on the wings, especially for the left wing position. We give you an overview of the current status of potential new signings for the record champions. Who is Bayern's top candidate? At the top of the list is said to be Nico Williams from Athletic Club in Bilbao. Max Eberl is said to have identified the Spaniard as the biggest transfer target for the Munich team, according to 'Bild'. Advertisement According to 'SportBild', there was already a meeting with the advisors of the 22-year-old during the Nations League Final Four tournament. Williams has a release clause in Bilbao and could leave Athletic Club for a fixed transfer fee of around 60 million euros. 📸 Ion Alcoba Beitia - 2025 Getty Images Another stumbling block in the transfer poker could be the striker's salary expectations, which are said to be between 15 and 20 million euros per year. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Williams would not accept a "normal salary". According to 'Sky', Bayern's competitors for the favor of the striker also include the financially strong Arsenal FC. In addition, Bilbao is fighting to keep its superstar. The Basques are offering their striker a premature extension of his contract, which runs until 2027, with significantly improved conditions. He could become the top earner of the Champions League participant with almost ten million euros. Furthermore, Athletic guarantees further reinforcements to be competitive in the Champions League. Are the rumors about Leão cold again? Another transfer candidate for Bayern is said to have been Milan's Rafael Leão. There have been numerous different reports regarding a possible transfer fee, ranging from "at least 100 million euros" to "70 million euros, which Milan would also accept". Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio even mentioned three potential players, Leon Goretzka, Kingsley Coman, or Minjae Kim, who could have been used in a kind of exchange deal. After the rumors about a possible move by the Portuguese to Munich had seemed hot in recent weeks, the contact with the offensive player from Milan is currently "cold", according to 'Bild'. Advertisement Conversations with the player's environment had led Bayern to put the efforts on hold for the time being. Also, because Leão, like Leroy Sané, lacks consistent good performances and the defensive work is internally considered not sufficient for Vincent Kompany's style of play. Who else was in the conversation? While Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, or Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad were said to have been in the conversation in recent weeks, there have been no reports in this direction in recent days. Instead, according to 'Sky' reporter Florian Plettenberg, Bradley Barcola from Champions League winner Paris-Saint-Germain is being looked at more closely. Advertisement The Frenchman would be in the same price range as Gakpo, Williams, or Leão with a market value of 70 million euros, but he still has a contract in Paris until 2028. This makes the situation extremely complicated. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images
Metro
18-05-2025
- Metro
Everything I ate during a weekend pintxos hopping in San Sebastián
San Sebastián is the crown jewel of the Basque region that runs along Spain's dazzling northern coast. It's a beach town turned Michelin hotspot with world-class cuisine — seriously, wear loose trousers. The city, known as Donostia in Basque, lies on the Bay of Biscay, its Old Town flanked by two sandy beaches, where you'll find streets filled with photogenic bars serving up mouthwatering local tapas and cider. San Sebastián started life as a fishing village in 1180, and enjoyed a revival as a seasonal holiday spot in the 19th-century, when Queen Isabel II chose it as her summer residence. This is a place rich in history and scenery, with sweeping views of La Concha beach best enjoyed from high atop Monte Igueldo. Its winding streets come alive each September for the San Sebastián International Film Festival, but its star quality is, undisputedly, the food. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. With the second-most Michelin stars per capita and an enviable claim to the title of most bars per person, this is a destination for people who eat differently. The Basques even have a name for it: pintxo , aka hopping from bar to bar and sampling bite-size bits of culinary art. Fresh from a flying visit to the place known as Europe's most beautiful bay, here's everywhere I ate, and alternative things to do, in fabulous San Sebastián. San Sebastián's status as a contemporary food stop can be traced to the late Anthony Bourdain, who visited the city three times for his shows A Cook's Tour, No Reservations, and Parts Unknown. He spoke of the deep connection between cuisine and community, emphasising that meals are less about food, more about bringing people together. Bourdain made several repeat visits to restaurants across the city, something he rarely did. All of that said, ordering at a pintxos bar is not for the meek. Not only will you struggle to find an English menu at more old-school spots, you'll need to claim your space at the counter — make yourself known when you want to order, just as Bourdain would have done. Etiquette is everything, so move along swiftly once you've hoovered down your grub. Otherwise, you're at risk of attracting a brusque 'vamos!' from over your shoulder. The bars are set up so you order a pintxos (pronounced 'peen-chos') or two alongside a drink, at just a few euros each. They're essentially a small snack, typically served on a piece of bread and skewered with a toothpick. From anchovies and olives to jamon and seafood, the variety is astounding. Each bar is generally known for one particular pintxos, be it the fois gras or urchin cream at Bar Sport, grilled mushrooms with egg yolk from Ganbara, or anchovies at Bar Txepetxa. More popular spots will be crowded with tourists and locals alike; be prepared for a lot of shouting and pointing. It's almost like a sport, and the best thing to do is lean in and resign yourself to the chaos. While pintxos is designed to be eaten quickly, some bars have seating and in the case of La Cuchara De San Telmo, it's worth planning ahead to nab one of its four tables for the evening session. Having seen a lot of recommendations for this place on TikTok and beyond, we knew it would be a fight for the bar. Arriving 20 minutes before doors opened for dinner, we scored ourselves a spot outside, where we could spend a little longer enjoying glasses of red at €2.80 (£2.30) a pop and trying its specialties without getting an elbow in the ribs from other diners. Runaway winners were the suckling pig (€19, £16.10), expertly seasoned steak (€17, £14.40), salty, oiled peppers (€9, £7.60) and oreja de cerdo aka pig's ear (€14, £11.80). Don't knock it, it's delicious and looks more like a folded omelette than animal anatomy. While most of the famous pintxos spots are confined to the walls of the Old Town, a short walk opens up another realm of amazing eats. To the east of the Old Town is the Gros neighbourhood, where you'll find local-approved spots such as the unpretentious Ricardo Taberna. Here you'll be joined by old, suntanned men yelling at TV screens and punters enjoying a drink outside. Two ciders, two croquettes and a slice of the most delicious cod tortilla set me back €11.30 (£9.50). A street away is Casa Galicia, where a plate of paprika-seasoned Octopus will relieve you of only €4 (£3.30). Get two. The region is known for its cider (or cidre ), and a 10-minute taxi from San Sebastián's centre will take you to Astigarraga, the home of the drink. Book a long lunch at one of these cider houses before you visit and you're guaranteed an incredible afternoon. We took a table at Astarbe Sagardotegia, a cider house that's been in operation since 1563, with the 15th-generation producing the latest bottles while the kitchen turns out velvety T-bone steaks and cod omelettes. Once you take your seat, you're handed a glass and, without invitation, you can make your way to a small room with several giant barrels filled with various ciders. There you'll be met by a trained txotxero (or cider master), who uses a key to open one of the barrels as a stream of golden liquid arcs out, ready to be caught by your outstretched glass. Don't be alarmed if you get more on the ground than in your glass on the first attempt. San Sebastián may be known for pintxos, but that doesn't mean you should sleep on its desserts. The creamed buns of Otaegui patisserie will set you back €2.25 (£1.90), so it's financially prudentto indulge. We walked along munching slabs of its hazelnut-laden milk and dark chocolate, snapped into sizes of your choosing and paid by the weight. Basque cheesecake is a speciality of the region, and La Vina's claim to fame is that it was the first to make it. Despite its newfound popularity on TikTok, it's well worth a visit, but there is no need to wait longer than 20 minutes. We went at 9pm when it was arguably at peak service, and were hastily ushered in to find any available space and force our way to the bar. Politely, of course. At a time when few things live up to expectation, a slice of this dessert truly is worth the hype. Each forkful delivers a masterpiece of creamy, soft wonder. It was so good it felt wrong to wolf it down in the hotel room, and I wanted to return several times over my few days in the city. One set me back €6.50 (£5.50). Fed, watered and bursting at the seams, a short funicular ride will bring you to Monte Igueldo, where you're rewarded with breathtaking views of the region. More Trending There's a hotel and a restaurant should you want a wine, but the fun is the small amusement fair which runs on the mountain. From a slightly questionable Casa Del Terror to the Mysterious River ride along a narrow waterway, there's plenty to entertain kids and big kids alike. While the Old Town is brimming with cultural history, the new town boasts a shopping district that will challenge you not to burn serious cash. From high street stores like Zara and Mango, to Sephora and a range of Spanish designers including Bimba Y Lola, there's something to suit every taste after a long day of eating. Getting to San Sebastián There are no direct flights from the UK to San Sebastián, but you can fly to nearby airports like Bilbao, then take a bus or train. From Bilbao, the bus is around 1.5 hours and will set you back anywhere from £7 to £17, depending on the operator. Vueling flies direct from London Gatwick to Bilbao with flights starting from £43. Where to stay Best value: Okako, located in Gros, is stylish in its simplicity and only a 15-minute walk from the Old Town and only 10 from Zurriola beach. Perfect for those who 'don't spend any time in the hotel room anyway' but still appreciate the touches of a coffee machine and a fruit bowl with muffins, single rooms start at €99 (£83.90) a night. Best splurge: If you want to splash out, Hotel Maria Cristina, located in between the old and new towns, was designed in 1912 by the same architect behind the Ritz in Paris. Now owned by the Marriott chain, expect total 5-star luxury. Of course, that comes at a cost, with lower rate rooms in June available for £641 per night. MORE: What's Cooking? I worked in cabin crew for 12 years — avoid these five foods on planes MORE: 'Lively' European city named world's most walkable and flights are just £66 MORE: Spain risks major fine from Eurovision Song Contest by persisting with political message
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal transfer target Zubimendi was seen as the new Busquets… Arteta will love him but he WON'T win Gunners games
He is no stranger to a yellow card, but he never oversteps the mark ZU BEAUTY Arsenal transfer target Zubimendi was seen as the new Busquets… Arteta will love him but he WON'T win Gunners games ARSENAL are on the brink of starting their summer splurge with a £50million deal for Martin Zubimendi. But what will the Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder bring to Mikel Arteta's side? Spanish-based journalist Andy West runs the rule over the 26-year-old. Advertisement 5 Martin Zubimendi is set to join Arsenal in a £50m deal Credit: Getty 5 Zubimendi protects the back four and can smoothly link defence and attack Credit: Getty 5 He has been compared to midfield great Sergio Busquets Credit: Getty Dynamic, composed, aggressive... it's long been inevitable Zubimendi's qualities would lead him to Europe's elite. When a young Zubimendi progressed from Real Sociedad's youth ranks to become a first-team regular five years ago, he was quickly touted as a target for Barcelona to replace the fading Sergio Busquets. That never materialised, mainly because of Barca's well-documented financial problems, but the comparison is largely accurate. Zubimendi occupies the same terrain as Busquets at the base of midfield, protecting the back four and smoothly linking defence with attack. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL ON THE MEND Arsenal 'agree to sign Zubimendi' but fans have big doubt about Sociedad star He is also press-resistant, capable of receiving and calmly retaining possession in tight spaces. But Zubimendi is physically more explosive than Busquets, able to evade pressure by driving with the ball into space. Zubimendi is an effective and efficient performer rather than flashy — much of his best work unfussily executed off the ball. He reads the game superbly, always popping up in the right place to receive possession from a team-mate or disrupt the opposition's rhythm. That includes game management. Advertisement JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 A central aspect of Real Sociedad's approach is preventing counter-attacks by physically pressing the first phase of possession, using fouls if necessary. Zubimendi's 47 career yellow cards — but no reds — show he is not averse to controlled aggression. Advertisement These WILD Liverpool stats spell Arsenal disaster | Experts' best bets More tellingly — just 11 goals and eight assists in nearly 250 appearances makes it clear Zubimendi is not a major presence in the opposition final third. That is not his game. Rather than chasing personal glory, Zubimendi makes his team better through positional discipline, distributing simply but quickly, and denying the opposition space. If there is one concern about the long-awaited move to Arsenal, it is whether he can adapt to a new team in a new league. Growing up in San Sebastian and joining his local club aged 12, Real Sociedad is all he has ever known. Advertisement The Basques boast one of football's best youth systems, with a clearly- defined style throughout the age groups allowing local talents to enjoy a seamless transition to senior football. Away from that comfort zone, Zubimendi has rarely been so effective for his country. Since his Spain debut in 2021 he has struggled to become a regular, mostly deputising for Manchester City's Rodri with just one start at last summer's triumphant Euros. Can Zubimendi thrive when he leaves the familiarity of his boyhood club? Advertisement Surely no coach could be better placed to help the transition than Arteta, his fellow San Sebastian native. The Arsenal boss knows exactly what he is getting, with the presence of former team-mate Mikel Merino another help. At 26, Zubimendi is in his prime. The step-up to a major title candidate like Arsenal has been brewing for years. As long he is expected to knit the team together rather than win games single-handedly, everything points towards Zubimendi quickly becoming a key piece for Arteta's Arsenal. Advertisement Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates
