Thiago Alcantara has retired from football after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The former Spain midfielder, 33, was restricted to just one appearance during the 2023-24 season because of injury. Thiago had hip surgery towards the end of the 2022-23 season but was unable to return until February 2024, when he came on as a late substitute in a defeat at Arsenal and suffered another injury.
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Spain kept themselves on course to win a fourth European Championship as Mikel Merino’s 119th-minute goal sent them into the semi-finals and eliminated hosts Germany following a pulsating encounter at Stuttgart Arena. This was the most anticipated match of the tournament so far as it put together the resurgent home nation against arguably the best-performing side to date at Euro 2024 – and it certainly lived up to expectation.
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Spain set up a blockbuster quarter-final tie with Euro 2024 hosts Germany by surviving an early scare to ease past Georgia. Spain’s Robin le Normand poked Otar Kakabadze’s curling cross into his own net early on but drew level before the break through Rodri. A second half blitz saw further goals from Fabián Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo as the two time champions laid down a statement of intent on a wet night in Cologne.
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Spain maintained their 100% record at Euro 2024 as they defeated and eliminated Albania – a result that meant England, France and the Netherlands all secured last-16 places. Ferran Torres gave a much-changed Spain side the lead in the 13th minute, finishing low first time from Dani Olmo’s pass with the ball bouncing in off the post.
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Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal handed Spain a 1-0 victory over defending champions Italy as they booked their place in the last 16 at Euro 2024. The defender’s misfortune 10 minutes after the break ultimately settled the Group B contest in Gelsenkirchen, although had it not been for the heroics of keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a string of fine saves the Spaniards would have prevailed in some comfort.
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