Santi Denia views Friday's Olympic gold medal match versus France as an opportunity for Spain to underline their status as European football's finest.
La Roja have enjoyed a terrific 2024 to date, with the country's senior and under-19 sides both claiming European Championship titles last month.
Those successes came on the heels of Luis de la Fuente leading the senior team to UEFA Nations League success in 2023, and his men overcame heavyweights Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England on their impressive run to Euro 2024 glory.
Olympic hosts France lie in wait in Friday's gold medal match at the Parc des Princes, where Denia is backing his team to bring more pride to their country.
"We are delighted that we are a benchmark in Europe and the world, it is a job that has been done for years," Denia said at Thursday's pre-match press conference.
"We have improved and continued to work, believing in a model of play and a profile of players that represent us.
"If we have been waiting for the gold medal for so many years, it is a challenge and an additional excitement."
Spain's only previous gold medal at the Olympics came on home soil at Barcelona 1992, when a team featuring the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique beat Poland 3-2 in a thrilling final.
Captain Abel Ruiz, who joined Girona in June, is keen to follow in the footsteps of that legendary side.
"We are motivated, we know that the gold is something very important for the country and for us," he said.
"It is something that could be historic and for which we have fought hard, we have been in the training camp for 40 days and it is a lot of effort. We are really looking forward to the final."
Maldon High makes history as daCosta Cup second round takes shape
Maldon High secured their first-ever spot in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Green Pond High on Saturday at the Granville Community Centre. The result marked a significant milestone for Maldon, who will now advance to the second round along with six other teams, leaving only the best third-placed teams to be decided on Monday.
In a thrilling conclusion to their Zone A return game, Garth-Dane Bromwell gave Green Pond the lead in the 85th minute, putting them on course for back-to-back wins and a place in the second round for the first time since 2019. However, Maldon struck late to level the game and secure their historic qualification.
Defending champions Clarendon College also advanced from Zone H despite a 1-2 loss to Denbigh High, who avenged their earlier defeat and joined Clarendon in the second round. Denbigh’s victory was only their second-ever win over the multiple-time champions, further shaking up the group standings. Central High took the lead in Zone H after a 3-2 win over Lennon High, with Clarendon College now in second and Denbigh following closely in third, all with one game remaining.
Former champions Frome Technical, Rusea’s High, and St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) also secured their places in the next round. Stevaughn Spence was the star for Frome, netting a hat-trick in their 3-0 win over Anchovy High, which moved them to 23 points in Zone B. Rusea’s joined them in advancing after a narrow 1-0 victory over Green Island High.
STETHS ended their Zone E campaign on a high note, defeating early qualifiers Munro College 2-1 at the STETHS Sports Complex to claim their spot in the round of 32.
Meanwhile, Glenmuir High, early qualifiers from Zone I who won their first eight games, stumbled with a second consecutive loss, falling 1-2 to Garvey Maceo High. This marked the first time in more than two seasons that Glenmuir has lost back-to-back matches.
In Zone D, Manning’s School continued their dominant form, winning their eighth straight game with a resounding 6-0 victory over Grange Hill High. Gregory Phillips led the way with four goals, while Keandre Ellis and Zachry Clarke added one each, completing a dominant performance.
As the daCosta Cup second round approaches, excitement continues to build, with several powerhouse teams and emerging contenders ready to battle it out for the coveted title.
Jamaica’s sports minister and JFF president express condolences on the passing of former football boss Heron Dale
Messages of condolence continue to pour in following the passing of Heron Dale, former president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who died on October 9. Dale, who served as JFF president from 1992 to 1994, is being remembered for his significant contributions to Jamaican football and the wider community.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, expressed her sadness at Dale’s passing, highlighting his leadership both in football and in the business community. “Heron Dale, whose firm, H.S. Dale and Company, gained a reputation for high-quality service in Port Antonio, gave equally distinguished service to football in Jamaica as president of the JFF,” Minister Grange said. She also acknowledged Dale's involvement in the Portland Chamber of Commerce, a further testament to his dedication to the development of his community.
Minister Grange extended her condolences to Dale’s family, friends, and associates, saying, “May his soul rest in peace.”
The Jamaica Football Federation also released a statement expressing deep sorrow over Dale's passing. Current JFF President Michael Ricketts noted the former president’s impact on the development of the organization. "Dale was an instrumental figure in shaping the JFF into the thriving organization it is today," Ricketts said. "His unwavering commitment to our sport and its community will be deeply missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace."
Sugar Boyz defeat BVI to stay on top in CONCACAF Nations League
The St. Kitts and Nevis Senior Men’s National team, known as the Sugar Boyz, solidified their position at the top of League C in the CONCACAF Nations League with a 3-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on Wednesday, October 9, at Warner Park.
Playing in front of a large home crowd, the Sugar Boyz took control early in the match. In the 25th minute, Malique Roberts opened the scoring with a powerful header, putting the hosts in the lead. Twelve minutes later, the advantage was doubled when Gvaune Amory unleashed a thunderous strike that rippled the back of the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Sugar Boyz went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.
BVI started the second half with renewed determination, pulling a goal back early on. However, despite their efforts, the Sugar Boyz put the game out of reach towards the end of the match, thanks to an own goal from BVI’s Ikyah Williams, sealing a 3-1 victory for the home side.
After the match, assistant coach Austin "Dico" Huggins praised the team for securing all three points but emphasized that there is still room for improvement. “We worked hard on possession, keeping the ball, and not making unnecessary turnovers. We have to be more patient. Today we saw them trying to pass the ball around, but we still need more movement going forward, breaking the lines, and attacking the goal,” Huggins said.
Team captain Julani Archibald echoed the sentiment, happy with the win but acknowledging that the team did not perform to their full potential. “I think we didn't play to the best of our ability. We could have played much better since we were at home. But nonetheless, we got the three points, and that's the most important,” Archibald said.
On the opposing side, BVI’s head coach Christopher Kiwomya and captain Troy Caesar expressed disappointment, feeling that their team could have taken more from the game.
With the victory, the Sugar Boyz remain in prime position to advance from their group. Their final group stage match will be against the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, October 15, at Warner Park. The match kicks off at 3:30 PM, with free admission as part of the SKNFA’s efforts to give back to football fans.
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