Sports
‘Messi Is The Past’ — Larporta Says Only Referee Can Stop Yamal’s Spain In World Cup Final
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has backed Spain to defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final while subtly demanding strict officiating to counter the South Americans’ physical approach.
The club chief made the bold predictions during an impromptu interview with an El Partidazo de COPE reporter while strolling past the Tous store at the Rockefeller Centre in New York.
Laporta predicts Spanish glory
Spain are set to face the defending champions at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday in a clash that pits Barcelona’s past against its present.
Laporta left no room for ambiguity regarding where his loyalties lie ahead of the highly anticipated encounter.
“The Spanish national team will win,” Laporta stated. “We have a better team.”
Other than being a Spanish national himself, his unwavering support for manager Luis de la Fuente’s side is influenced by the fact that La Roja squad currently features eight Barcelona players.
However, Laporta also took the opportunity to issue a thinly veiled warning regarding Argentina’s famously robust defensive tactics.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have relied on an aggressive, physical approach to navigate their way to consecutive World Cup finals.
Laporta suggested that Spain’s technical style could be stifled if the match officials allow the defending champions to disrupt the flow with tactical fouls.
“If the referee is a referee who asserts himself, the national team will have more chances of winning the match,” he told the Spanish radio network.
The showpiece event presents a unique emotional dilemma for Barcelona supporters worldwide.
Argentina are captained by Lionel Messi, the undisputed greatest player in the Catalan club’s history following his legendary spell between 2004 and 2021.
Conversely, Spain’s attack is spearheaded by Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old sensation who currently wears Barcelona’s iconic number 10 shirt.
This generational dynamic has sparked intense debate across social media platforms, with Laporta stoking the sentiments by saying, “Messi is the past and present; Yamal is the present and future.
Many Barcelona fans have playfully expressed comfort with any potential outcome, while others continue to agonise over whether to support their historic idol or their current teenage talisman.
When the two nations take the pitch on Sunday, it will mark their first competitive meeting since the 1966 World Cup group stage, where Argentina secured a 2-1 victory over Spain at Villa Park in England.
Sports
Klopp: Tresoldi Hasn’t Decided Between Germany Or Italy
Brügge forward Tresoldi was not included in the latest Germany national team squad, and new Germany coach Klopp personally explained the reason.
Although Tresoldi was not selected this time, it does not mean he is excluded from the Germany national team.
Klopp said about the 22-year-old player. Tresoldi is also eligible to play for Italy but has not yet decided which national team to represent.
“For a young person, it’s really difficult. It’s not about which national anthem he wants to sing when he wakes up in the morning; it involves many things,” Klopp said.
“We don’t want to put any pressure on this player. We want to show him prospects. If there’s a chance to give him a little more time, that’s absolutely reasonable. This is the case with Nicolo (Tresoldi).”
Tresoldi has represented Germany since U19 but has not yet been called up to the senior national team.
Sports
Lampard Disappointed Awoniyi Will Miss Coventry’s Trip To Nottingham Forest
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Coventry City manager Frank Lampard addressed Taiwo Awoniyi’s unavailability for the Sky Blues’ Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Premier League has confirmed that the Nigeria international is suspended for gameweeks 5 and 6, ruling him out of Coventry City’s upcoming fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
Awoniyi also missed Coventry’s Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday after being sent off in last weekend’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The 29-year-old has been a regular in Coventry’s attack since joining the club, starting four of the five matches in which he has been available for selection.
Having spent four years at Nottingham Forest, Awoniyi would have been familiar with the club and the City Ground, making his absence particularly disappointing for both the player and Coventry.
Lampard acknowledged that the suspension is unfortunate, especially given Awoniyi’s strong connection with his former club.
He told reporters: “It’s not ideal for us. It’s not ideal for him, disappointing on that front.
“Taiwo has come in and played for us while he was still searching for real match fitness because of the protracted transfer. He came in quite late and hasn’t played pre-season games.
“He was getting better and will get better. Now he has to train and get fit.
“It’s a shame that he’s not going back to Forest, where he is obviously held in high regard personally, and also he’s an important player for us.”
Awoniyi has one goal and an assist for Coventry City following his summer move from Nottingham Forest.
Sports
Beckham: Messi Should Win Ballon d’Or, Not Harry Kane
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham believes Lionel Messi deserves to win his ninth Ballon d’Or this year after a “special” World Cup.
Harry Kane is the bookies’ favourite to win the award next month after scoring 73 goals in 61 games for Bayern Munich and England last season.
But rather than back his countryman, Beckham has pointed to Messi’s performances for Argentina this summer as the decisive factor.
The 39-year-old scored eight goals during the tournament, while he also led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title last year, and their first Campeones Cup on Wednesday.
“I think when you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had, it’s not luck that he’s being considered for the Ballon d’Or again,” Beckham, who earned 115 caps for England, said on Apple TV. “It’s not luck because he was probably the best player in the tournament. He had an incredible year last year.
“He came into that tournament in the World Cup, and like you’ve just said, 39 years old, to affect a World Cup and every game the way he did. That’s special. There’s no one at 39 that’s doing that and doing it at that level. So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. He, in my opinion, he should win it.
“You’ve got great players there like Harry Kane, like Kylian [Mbappé], like Jude Bellingham and other players there, but you know when you’re talking about Leo, I’m his biggest supporter.”
Messi, who joined Miami in 2023, scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Mexican outfit Cruz Azul on Wednesday.
Argentina were beaten in July’s World Cup final by Spain, with midfielder Rodri named player of the tournament after the game.
Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also seen as strong contenders for a wide open Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony taking place on Oct. 26 in London.
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