The Spanish Football Federation announced that Paris Saint-Germain striker Ferran Torres has been excluded from the first team roster due to an ankle injury, and Real Madrid striker Carlos Espe has also been called up to be his replacement on the roster.
The Spanish national team will face its Czech counterpart tomorrow, Saturday, in the third round of the group stage of the European Nations League.
The Spanish Federation said in a statement on its official website: “Ferrán Torres left the Spanish national team camp, as the international player, who is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain, was suffering from pain in his left ankle. Although this problem did not initially prevent him from training and participating in matches, the persistence of symptoms prompted the technical staff to decide to exclude him from the list to give him the opportunity to fully recover.
The Spanish Federation's doctors remained in constant contact with the club's medical staff since the beginning of the camp, and the case and related procedures were followed up jointly.
The federation added: “Accordingly, Luis de la Fuente decided to summon Carlos Espe, an under-21 national team player, to join the first team camp and participate in the two scheduled confrontations against the Czech and Croatian national teams in the cities of Oviedo and Split.”
The Brazilian national football team received a warm reception from the fans in Kolkata, before the friendly match against India tomorrow, Saturday, and coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to entertain the fans and provide a performance that matches this celebration.
Brazil and its rival, Argentina, enjoy a large and loyal fan base in the city located in eastern India, which is passionate about the game, where the passion and love of fans for football in South America goes back decades.
Entire neighborhoods were decorated in the colors of Brazil and Argentina during the World Cup, and Salt Lake City Stadium was filled with more than 60,000 fans when Argentina played a friendly match in Kolkata in 2011, and Brazil participated in the Under-17 World Cup there six years later.
“We know how much this region loves the Brazilian national team,” Ancelotti told reporters on Friday, one day after crowds of fans received the team at the airport. We are happy to be here to face India.”
He added: “All these matches represent good preparation and a good opportunity to show what we can do.”
He continued: “I would like the players to have fun, and to play with pleasure in every match. “We always want to play with fun.”
India is ranked 138th in the world rankings, and is the lowest ranked opponent that Brazil, a five-time World Cup winner, has faced since 1998, when it played against Andorra, which was ranked 185th.
But captain Marquinhos said the match is also a way of thanking Brazil fans in India.
He added: “Of course, the focus is always on playing well and winning, but our presence here is also a way to thank the Indian people for their support and following the Brazilian team all these years, and throughout its history.”
He continued: “Also, this is the second largest group of national team fans outside Brazil, so this is a source of happiness and honor for us.”
The Brazilian national team, which drew 1-1 and won 4-2 in the two friendly matches it played against Australia, is taking steady steps to build a new generation of players with the aim of bringing the World Cup back to the country for the first time since 2002.
“The other teams have improved a lot,” Ancelotti said.
He added: “In my personal opinion, the talent that Brazil showed in 2002 was great. But football has changed. “There is more teamwork now.”
Ancelotti indicated that tomorrow's match will be another opportunity for him to involve new players.
“It is not a test, but an opportunity,” he said.
Dutchman Max Verstappen told Briton George Russell that he needs a “major shift” in his level to prevent his Italian colleague Kimi Antonelli from winning the Formula 1 world championship, before the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled to be held in Malaysia this weekend.
British news agency PA Media reported that Russell is entering the sixteenth race of the season, which is being held in Malaysia as an alternative to the Manama race, which was left from the championship calendar due to the conflict in the Middle East, 66 points behind Antonelli.
Russell (28 years old) was the most prominent candidate to win the world championship at the beginning of the season, but he faltered after winning the opening race in Australia, after he faced difficulties in dealing with a car that was more suited to the driving style of Antonelli (20 years old). Antonelli won 8 races, compared to 3 wins for Russell.
But Russell's dominant performance in Azerbaijan a week ago, where he led all laps of the race from pole position, after Antonelli crashed out of qualifying, gave him a glimmer of hope that the title race would remain open.
When evaluating Russell's chances of competing for the world championship, Verstappen told the British news agency (PA Media): "In some periods, it seemed as if - and I do not want to say that he (Russell) - had given up, but perhaps there were some question marks."
He added: “Maybe it was a little confusing, and this danger is always there when there are new regulations.”
He continued: “Kimi is also very talented, and last season was his first season, so I always knew that he would improve. "Earlier ground effect era cars were very difficult for novice drivers, because they were complex cars, and you couldn't drive with 100 percent commitment."
He continued: “Now, the driving style is completely different, and perhaps it suits more and naturally with Kimi, but on the other hand, this is not an excuse.”
He stressed: “Sometimes you have to accept that you are sitting next to an exceptional talent, right? "Then you need a lot of mental toughness, and it depends on what's going on in your head, and how you stay motivated."
He said: “George had a great weekend in Baku, but the difference is still huge. “Honestly, all Kimi needs to do is stay close to him, and that will be enough, even if he finishes the race directly next to him.”
He added: “It is not impossible for George to win the title, but he needs a major transformation, and when the conflict is between two teammates, it becomes more difficult, because they are driving the same car.”
The Mercedes team made major updates to its car in preparation for the first race in Malaysia in 9 years, which included 7 major modifications to the car’s floor, rear suspension system, and rear structure.
