The Spanish national team faces an important UEFA Nations League tie away to Croatia on Thursday as they look to assure that they finish top of their qualifying group.
Spain embarrassed
World Cup finalists Croatia with a stunning six-goal masterclass of spectacular
finishing last September.
Things looked to be progressing well for Spain coach Luis
Enrique after wins in his first three games, but a shock 3-2 defeat to England
in their last Nations League match has left them with work to do in Croatia.
The Spanish need a win to
assure they finish top of the group and the Croatians are likely to prove
tougher opposition than the team they beat 6-0 in September.
Two months ago, the beaten
World Cup finalists looked to be still suffering a hangover from their summer
achievements, but they should have recovered since then.
The defeat to England was a
dose of reality for the Spanish and perhaps one of the reasons why coach
Enrique decided to recall left back Jordi Alba after leaving the Barcelona
defender out of his first two squads.
Alba's absence was arguably
the talking point of those squads but both he and Enrique have been keen to
play down any talk of a bad relationship. Given the importance of Thursday's
game, Alba is likely to go into the starting XI.
Nacho Fernandez and Dani
Carvajal are out through injury, so Cesar Azpilicueta and Inigo Martinez look
likely to join Sergio Ramos in defence.
Meanwhile Saul, Sergio Busquets and Isco look
certainties in midfield, while Enrique will have to decide whether to keep
faith with Valencia's out of touch Rodrigo in attack, or to opt to give chances
to Iago Aspas and Alvaro Morata, who has recently started scoring again for
Chelsea.
Source: NDO
A total of 85 young players from across Hoa Binh province recently participated in the provincial Youth Table Tennis Tournament. Organised by the provincial Centre for Youth Activities, the event was part of activities to celebrate the 94th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 – 2025) and the 79th anniversary of Vietnam Sports Day (March 27, 1946 – 2025).
Hoa Binh province held a ceremony at Hoa Binh Square on the morning of March 23 to launch the "All People Exercise Following the Example of Great Uncle Ho" movement and the Olympic Run Day for public health 2025.
In 2 days, March 1-2, 2025, at the Provincial Gymnasium, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism organized the 2025 Provincial Youth Championship of Crossbow Shooting, Tug-of-War, and Stich Pushing. This annual event is hosted by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
On February 23, the Hoa Binh Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in collaboration with the General Department of Sports and Physical Training’s karate division and the provincial Karate federation, organised the 2025 national karate dan promotion exam at the provincial sports arena. The exam covered the first (Shodan), second (Nidan), and third (Sandan) dan levels, with no fourth (Yondan) or fifth (Godan) dan tests this year.
In the early days of the Year of the Snake, Hoa Binh province is filled with a lively and joyful atmosphere as various sports exchange and competition activities take place. These events have become a cherished tradition among local ethnic communities, strengthening their solidarity and fostering their close bonds. They contribute to the robust development of grassroots sports movements, enhancing the cultural and spiritual life of the people.
The Hoa Binh provincial Health sector trade union organized the 1st expanded Hoa Binh provincial Health sector Pickleball tournament in 2025.
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