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• 'We have a wonderful future' - De la Fuente delighted by Spain's youngsters

  Luis de la Fuente has praised Spain's youngsters after they starred in the dramatic late win over Switzerland in the Nations League on Monday.

  Bryan Zaragoza sealed the 3-2 victory with a stoppage-time penalty after the visitors had twice come from behind to level after Yeremy Pino and Bryan Gil's goals in Tenerife.

  Spain dominated throughout the match, having 21 shots, 10 of which were on target, as they created 3.21 expected goals (xG) and rounded off an unbeaten group stage.

  Excluding friendlies, the European champions are unbeaten in their 13 matches in 2024 in all competitions (W12 D1), setting the record for their most competitive matches without defeat in a single year, as well as their most wins.

  La Roja will be one of the seeded teams in the Nations League quarter-finals in March after topping Group A4, and De la Fuente was particularly proud of how the next generation of players have performed in 2024.

  "We are very happy. It is football like that, and we know the high level and equality that exists. We must value so many victories and, above all, the victory over a great team like Switzerland," De la Fuente said.

   

  "Before, it was also a great team. The difference is that now we win, and we win everything. We are used to competing for the best and having great results. Without thinking about the past.

  "I don't worry about it. I have always said that we have a magnificent present and a wonderful future, thanks to the great footballers that there are in Spain. They are the best in the world.

  "They are very good. They are the best players. We know what they give, and we have to make them feel comfortable to show their football. The message gets through quickly, and we are privileged to have these players."

• Spain 3-2 Switzerland: Zaragoza penalty snatches dramatic late win

  Bryan Zaragoza snatched a late win for Spain, who had twice been pegged back, as they beat Switzerland 3-2 in the Nations League on Monday.

  Spain started the game strongly, with Alex Grimaldo forcing a good save from Yvon Mvogo before Alvaro Morata wasted a golden chance after racing in behind the Swiss defence.

  They got their reward just after the half-hour mark – Morata was bundled over in the box, and though Pedri saw the resulting spot-kick saved, Yeremy Pino fired in the rebound of Nico Williams' blocked follow-up shot.

  Joel Monteiro's half-time introduction changed the game, and after fizzing an early chance wide, he scored a stunning solo goal, weaving inside from the right before finishing from a tight angle in the 63rd minute.

  Bryan Gil restored Spain's lead five minutes later, jinking away from two defenders with some clever footwork and beating Mvogo with a pacy shot, before Zeqiri levelled the scoreline for a second time with a sweeping penalty.

  However, Zaragoza would have the final say in the 93rd minute after Vincent Sierro, who had won Switzerland's penalty at the other end, brought him down, and the substitute emphatically fired in the winner.

  Spain finish top of Group A4, going unbeaten across their six games, while Switzerland are relegated to League B after failing to win any of their matches. 

  Data Debrief: Spain extend unbeaten run

  The result on Monday would not have affected Spain's hold on top spot in the group, but Luis de la Fuente's side showed their mettle as they kept fighting to the end. 

  Excluding friendlies, La Roja have played 13 matches in 2024 in all competitions and have not lost a single one (W12 D1), setting the record for their most competitive matches without defeat in a single year, as well as their most wins.

  In fact, Spain are currently on a run of 21 competitive games without defeat in all competitions (W19 D2), their best run since June 2010-13 (29). 

• Michael Johnson optimistic about bright future for field events amid rise of track-centric meets

  Legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, the founder of the upcoming Grand Slam Track (GST) series, is confident that field events will not be sidelined despite the emergence of track-only competitions like GST and September's all-woman Athlos NY meet. Instead, Johnson envisions a future where field events flourish in their own right, buoyed by specialized leagues and platforms.

  Grand Slam Track recently announced its inaugural season for 2025, with meets scheduled in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. As excitement builds for the all-track format, concerns have surfaced about the potential marginalization of field events like the shot put, discus, javelin, and triple jump. However, responding to a query from Sportsmax.TV, Johnson dismissed these fears, offering a compelling case for optimism.

  “I think you will see quite the opposite,” Johnson said. “Ryan Crouser, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the shot put, is going to start his vision for a throws league that is specifically for the throws where the fans who actually appreciate those events and understand the great athleticism that is required for those events can actually be closer to the action. And so those events don’t fall secondary to what’s happening on the track, and I have offered my support to Ryan for that.”

  

  Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and former 200m and 400m world record holder, pointed to Crouser’s initiative as an example of how specialized leagues can elevate field events.

  “So I don’t think you will see those events continue to go away. I think it’s the exact opposite,” Johnson continued. “I think that there has been inspiration around how you now create leagues for those events as well, where you can make those events more prominent.”

  Field events have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with Caribbean athletes making significant strides on the global stage. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott and Grenada’s Anderson Peters have won Olympic and World Championship medals in the javelin. Jamaica's Roje Stona set an Olympic record to win gold in the discus, with compatriot Rajindra Campbell claiming shot put bronze. Dominica’s Thea LaFond made history by winning her country’s first Olympic medal, a gold in the triple jump, ahead of Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, a two-time World Championship silver medalist.

  Johnson believes specialized leagues and tailored events are key to ensuring that these athletes and their disciplines receive the recognition they deserve.

  “Right now, they’re getting lost in a huge stadium where fans far away can’t actually see and appreciate the athleticism,” Johnson explained. “So I think that this [Grand Slam Track] paves the way for a brighter future for the field events.”

  Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season promises to bring a fresh, dynamic format to track events, while Johnson’s endorsement of field-event-specific leagues highlights his broader vision for athletics as a sport. With initiatives like Crouser’s throws league on the horizon, Johnson’s optimism reflects a shift toward creating dedicated platforms for all disciplines to shine.

   The 2025 GST series, set to kick off with a meet in Kingston from April 4-, marks an exciting evolution for the sport. As Johnson’s vision takes shape, the future appears brighter not just for track athletes but for the field-event stars whose talents deserve a stage of their own.