Latest news with #nationalteam
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gattuso brings first Italy change after Spalletti
Gennaro Gattuso stated in his first press conference as Italy's coach that the players called up should remain at Coverciano, even with minor injuries, adopting a different approach than his predecessor, Luciano Spalletti. Gattuso was unveiled at a press conference in Rome on Thursday, and even if he admitted he would not have time to make 'big changes', he already announced a switch from his predecessor Spalletti. Advertisement Gattuso said that his first request to Italy Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina was to keep players at the Italy training centre in Coverciano, Florence, during international breaks, even if they have minor injuries. The new Italy boss insisted that the national team has an adequate staff to monitor and treat players dealing with minor injuries, so they should remain with the national team if called up. Gattuso's first Italy change SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Gennaro Gattuso of Valencia CF reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Valencia CF at Reale Arena on November 06, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel) 'The first thing I asked the President and Buffon was: Anyone coming to Coverciano must stay, even if they have a minor issue,' said Gattuso. Advertisement 'We have everything in place to treat them. To be credible and avoid excuses. If a player is called up, he stays in Coverciano, just like when I played. If we can't get them healthy, then they return to their club. What matters most is spending time together. Players usually sustain minor injuries when playing 50 or 60 games a year, but we can't start setting dangerous precedents.' Spalletti different approach REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy gestures during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta' del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by) Spalletti employed an entirely different approach, sending back to the clubs those who arrived at Coverciano in poor shape. One of the latest examples was this past March when Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui was forced to pull out of the team due to a muscle problem. Advertisement 'We sent Retegui back home because he would not recover, but we hope he returns for the next Atalanta game,' Spalletti said. 'The exact problem is not well defined, but he has [muscle] fatigue, and, as we've always done, we decided to release him.' Gattuso said he had spoken to Spalletti: 'I have enormous respect for him,' the new Italy boss said. 'He's a true football mind and innovates every year.'
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Singapore's top Muay Thai fighters target medal haul at continental showdown in Vietnam
SINGAPORE: Singapore's national Muay Thai team is eyeing a strong showing on the continental stage, as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Muay Thai Championship in Vietnam. Seven athletes will represent the country at the week-long competition, which kicks off on Friday (Jun 20). The annual championship, held in Vietnam for the first time, is expected to attract more than 300 fighters from around 30 countries and territories. They will compete for medals in 28 weight categories and eight performance classes. It also marks their last chance to qualify for December's SEA Games in Thailand. AIMING FOR GLORY Among the Singaporean Muay Thai athletes headed to Vietnam for the competition is rising star Wayne Low, who will be making his international debut. At just 20 years old, he has dedicated himself fully to the sport by training six days a week, up to seven hours a day. 'The sport, beyond its physical aspects, involves 'a lot of mental strength', said Low, who is looking forward to going against some of the best fighters in Asia 'Without any mental strength, I don't think any of us can get this far, we can just give up any time. With it, I feel (that it has made me) a much better person, more disciplined.' Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to represent Singapore, he said that he is hoping to snag at least a bronze medal at the competition. 'I'm really nervous and excited. I don't want to mess up this chance,' added Low, who is the youngest fighter in the seven-member squad headed for Vietnam. However, he noted that his age is not a disadvantage, saying the upcoming competition will give him valuable exposure and experience against high-level opponents. RAISING THE BAR National coach Amir Gani said adapting to the intensity and pace of international bouts has been a major focus in training, with former national athletes being involved as sparring partners. 'We do more training because of the pace of the fights. The bouts are different from what we have in Singapore,' he added. 'So we need to understand and make the athletes understand the pace, the power of these international games. They are not easy.' Amir said he believes his charges are capable of holding their own against Asia's best, and is aiming for at least four medals from the team at the championship — but medals are just part of the bigger picture. 'My goal for the Asian Championship is to win as many as we can as a nation, and I want as many Singapore athletes to be carded for SEA Games,' he added. 'That's what our main goal is, but for the main goal to happen, we have to have a successful event.' If their quest for December's SEA Games is successful, the athletes will have their work cut out for them. They could face fierce fights from powerhouse and host Thailand, as well as other teams such as Malaysia and the Philippines.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mexico name starting XI ahead of Suriname clash
Mexico look to go top of Group A as they face Suriname in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Here is how the Mexicans will lineup at AT&T Stadium. After securing a win in their Gold Cup opener, a victory against Suriname will propel Mexico into the knockout stage. 📸 2025 Getty Images
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Diego Luna, full of grit and hunger, is making an impression with USMNT
AUSTIN — Diego Luna looked as if he had just spent a few hours with a makeup artist for a horror film. Blood soaked his white jersey. Cotton plugs hung from his nostrils and a cut marked the point of impact by an opponent's elbow. Already with frosted hair and black-and-red neck tattoos and art up and down his arms and legs, the 21-year-old's head was now an amalgam of contour and color. It was January in Orlando, the first half of his second U.S. men's national soccer team appearance under new coach Mauricio Pochettino at a camp designed for prospects. A doctor confirmed the nose was fractured. Luna begged to stay in the friendly against Costa Rica. Pochettino consented. Within moments of returning, Luna delivered a killer pass setting up the first goal. With that, he quickly became a fan favorite — and, from all indications, a Pochettino favorite, who, in a postgame interview, said Luna's performance showed 'big balls.' It also showed the heart and character Pochettino has demanded in the long buildup to the 2026 World Cup. 'It gave me an opportunity to come back into more camps and show the type of grit and hunger I have to play and represent my country,' Luna said, reflecting on his breakthrough episode. 'It showcases what Mauricio really liked about me and I think shows other players what's needed in this team — to fight through everything.' Since then, Luna has taken a leading role among many young candidates vying for a permanent place in Pochettino's roster heading toward the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. On Sunday in San Jose, a dozen miles down the 101 from his hometown of Sunnyvale, California, Luna assisted on two goals as part of a 5-0 romp against Trinidad and Tobago in the Concacaf Gold Cup opener. With that, he made a strong case to start again Thursday against Saudi Arabia in Austin. Luna's emergence comes after the veteran core let down Pochettino at the Concacaf Nations League in March by finishing last among four teams. By both choice and circumstance, the Argentine-born coach opted for a less experienced squad in the Gold Cup. Luna is not, by any means, the answer to all of Pochettino's problems. For a stocky, 5-foot-8 midfielder in his fourth season with MLS's Real Salt Lake, there is a big difference between thriving against lightweight foes in a regional tournament and, say, Germany in the World Cup. But Luna has injected energy and desire — not to mention an above-average skill-set — into the lineup. 'What he's done is what I expect all younger players and new guys who come to camp to do, which is take the opportunity when you get it,' veteran defender Walker Zimmerman said. 'Diego is the perfect example of someone who's done that the first three camps this year. And now, as you start to get a little bit of a taste, it's about you want more.' Luna credits Pochettino with granting him the freedom to express himself on the field. 'I play my best when I'm happy, when I'm just enjoying it, free, having fun out there, you know?' he said. 'People get lost in it with the pressure, the stress, wanting to perform all the time. You've just got to relax and let it be. You work hard, you train on a daily basis to improve, so when it comes to those performance times, just let it happen and you have the quality to do it.' A large tattoo on his left calf epitomizes his ethos: It's of the Joker, from Batman films, saying, 'Why so serious?' He is running out of space for more art. 'I have room on my back,' he said, smiling. Among other tattoos are ones honoring his parents, Beto and Susana, and his 21-month-old son, Manolo. Luna is the youngest of four siblings. His parents emigrated from Mexico's Michoacán state. Before coaching youth players, including Diego, Beto was a pro with the San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave indoor teams and the San Jose Earthquakes, of the Western Soccer Alliance, in the years between the North American Soccer League's demise in 1985 and MLS's launch in '96. 'The grit and the hunger I have within me is just from my dad, growing up, always playing [in an older age group] against stronger, faster kids, getting knocked down all the time,' Luna said. 'Play with my older siblings, always being kind of bullied on the field. It's allowed me to build that strength and continue to fight and get mad and push through tough times when things aren't really going my way.' After competing in the Earthquakes academy, 15-year-old Luna moved on his own to Arizona to join a youth system sponsored by FC Barcelona. That led, at 17, to a contract with El Paso Locomotive in the second-division USL Championship. A tattoo on his right arm is a reminder of his solo journey: 'Loneliness is my worst enemy, but in the end, he's usually my only real friend.' Luna explained: 'I moved away at a young age. I never really had a lot of friends. So being alone all the time was something I had to get used to, something that was part of me. I liked being alone.' When his talents took him to Real Salt Lake three summers ago, Luna realized he needed to work on breaking out of his shell. Aside from therapy and church, he took a part-time job as a barista. A few days a week for eight or nine months, he left the training grounds and rotate between two coffee shops in Sandy, Utah, where RSL's stadium is located. 'I needed to meet new people and get out of my comfort zone,' he said. 'It was eye contact and conversation and bringing positive vibes. That was something I struggled with. I didn't know how to talk to people. It allowed me to express myself and communicate.' Word got around among RSL fans. He would ask their name for their order; they would request his autograph. Luna's popularity took off in 2024. He made his U.S. debut under then-coach Gregg Berhalter in a January friendly, then enjoyed an MLS season with eight goals and 12 assists. He was named an all-star and MLS's young player of the year. In the middle of the season, Olympic Coach Marko Mitrovic left him off the Paris-bound squad, which featured mostly players 23 and under. Hurt by the omission, Luna declined an offer to become an alternate. Days later, Luna posted a goal and three assists in an RSL match. At the time, RSL Coach Pablo Mastroeni said Mitrovic's decision was like 'poking the bear.' Reflecting this week, Luna said: 'It was a bump in the road. I thought I was doing everything right. It opened up a new level in me and to see maybe I wasn't doing enough.' For a spell, Luna explored the possibility of representing Mexico. 'I'm proud to be Mexican, of course, but to play with the U.S. is where I am right now,' he said, 'and I'm happy here.' Given his journey, Luna does not take the U.S. opportunity for granted. 'Just being in that national team pool is already crazy,' he said. 'Now it's about what I am doing every single day to make sure I'm at my best in the right mindset when I get the chance to perform.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Canada defeat Honduras 6-0 in Gold Cup opener
Vancouver Watch Canada opens the Gold Cup with a 6-0 victory over Honduras at Vancouver's B.C. Place.
