TALES AZZONI
Barcelona's Gerard Pique leaves the field during the Europa League quarter final, first leg soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Barcelona at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
In leaked audio, Piqué asks for help to play at Olympics

By Tales Azzoni Apr. 20, 2022 07:59 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Gerard Piqué asked for help from the president of the Spanish soccer

FILE - Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, left, looks to a pass against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA basketball playoffs in Chicago, in this Saturday, April 18, 2015, file photo. Pau Gasol announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, ending a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain's national team. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Veteran Pau Gasol announces retirement from basketball

By Tales Azzoni Oct. 05, 2021 11:56 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Wishing his “older brother” Kobe Bryant could be there by his

FILE - In this July 23, 2021 file photo, Brazil's Rayssa Leal trains during a street skateboarding practice session at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan. Life has been nothing-but-normal for the Brazilian teenager who became an overnight sensation after winning a silver medal at the Olympics’ inaugural skateboarding competition. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)
Brazilian teen enjoying new life after skateboarding success

By Tales Azzoni Oct. 02, 2021 07:52 AM EDT
Like most 13-year-olds, Rayssa Leal woke up and began preparing for school. It

Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino vies for the ball with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Luis Enrique names Spain squad with 7 changes from Euro 2020

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 26, 2021 06:27 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — With three World Cup qualifying matches coming up, Spain coach

Players of Brazil pose with their gold medals after defeating Spain in the men's soccer final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Brazilian Olympic Committee criticizes national soccer team

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 08, 2021 09:49 AM EDT
The Brazilian Olympic Committee will take action against its men's soccer

Gold medalist Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela, center, silver medalist Patricia Mamona of Portugal, right, and bronze medalist Ana Peleteiro of Spain, celebrate on the track following the final of the women's triple jump at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Black athletes defend Spanish roots after winning in Tokyo

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 03, 2021 07:42 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Triple jumper Ana Peleteiro and gymnast Ray Zapata came out

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2016, file photo, Luisito Pie, of the Dominican Republic, left, and Jesus Tortosa, of Spain, compete in a men's Taekwondo bronze medal final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. One of the world's top-ranked taekwondo fighters is taking vacation in the Dominican Republic instead of competing at the Tokyo Olympics after being surprisingly excluded from the Games by the Spanish federation. Tortosa is among a few athletes worldwide who earned Olympic qualification but won’t be in Japan because in some sports the final decision on picking the teams is made by the local federations. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
All for nothing: Athletes qualify but end out of Olympics

By Tales Azzoni Jul. 22, 2021 07:16 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — As one of the top-ranked taekwondo fighters in the world, Jesús

Spain's Aymeric Laporte, left, comforts Spain's Pedri after the Euro 2020 soccer championship semifinal match between Italy and Spain at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, July 6, 2021. (Andy Rain/Pool via AP)
Spain has hopes of a bright future after Euro 2020 campaign

By Tales Azzoni Jul. 07, 2021 09:16 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Losing big matches inevitably leads to questions about the future

Spain's Ferran Torres, right, and Pedri celebrate a victory of their team after the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between Croatia and Spain, at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Monday, June 28, 2021. (Wolfgang Rattay, Pool via AP)
Spain taking 6 players from Euro 2020 to Tokyo Olympics

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 29, 2021 07:29 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Taking advantage of Spanish clubs' obligation to release players,

Spain's Bryan Gil runs with the ball during the Euro U21 semifinal soccer match between Spain and Portugal in Maribor, Slovenia, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Spain expands parallel squad after 2nd player tests positive

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 08, 2021 07:30 PM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Spain expanded its parallel squad on Wednesday after Diego

Real Madrid alternate players Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, right, watch from the stands during the Spanish La Liga last round soccer match between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Saturday, May 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Pablo Morano)
Injured Ramos not included in Spain's list for Euro 2020

By Tales Azzoni May. 24, 2021 06:50 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Sergio Ramos was left off Spain's squad for the European

PSG's Neymar celebrates at the end of the Champions League semifinal soccer match between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. PSG won the match 3-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Neymar gets his shot at glory in Champions League final

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 22, 2020 05:00 AM EDT
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Neymar is finally getting his big chance to shine.

Ronald Koeman holds up a soccer shirt with his name on it during his official presentation as coach for FC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Barcelona officially announced earlier on Wednesday a deal with Koeman to become their coach five days after the team's humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. Barcelona says the former defender's deal runs through June 2022. Koeman replaces the fired Quique Setien. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona hires Koeman, renews its links with Dutch soccer

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 19, 2020 08:07 AM EDT
Barcelona is rekindling its links with Dutch soccer. The

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 file photo, San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) shoots past New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8), forward Wesley Johnson (33) and guard Kenrich Williams (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio. Pau Gasol wants to return to the NBA but does not rule out going back to Europe for his retirement. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Gasol: Return to Lakers or Barcelona would be 'attractive'

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 09, 2020 05:22 PM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Pau Gasol wants to return to the NBA next season but hasn't ruled

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, file photo, Spain's Saul Craviotto Rivero celebrates after winning the silver medal in the men's kayak single 200m in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics. It wasn't long ago that Saul Craviotto was sitting in his kayak contemplating a much-anticipated announcement from the Spanish Olympic Committee but now he is among some of the Spanish athletes and sportspeople who have rejoined the police force to help the hard-hit southern European country during the pandemic. He was set to be named the country's flagbearer for the opening ceremonies in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Spanish athletes put on their police uniforms to fight virus

By Tales Azzoni May. 08, 2020 08:37 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — It wasn’t long ago that Saúl Craviotto was sitting in his kayak

FILE - In this Saturday, May 2, 2020 file photo, people exercise at Madrid Rio in Madrid, Spain after Spaniards were able to go outdoors to do exercise for the first time in seven weeks since the lockdown began to battle the coronavirus outbreak. High-performance athletes were allowed to resume training this week but some reported being harassed by local residents who thought they were breaking confinement rules. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
Athletes harassed in Spain while practicing amid confinement

By Tales Azzoni May. 05, 2020 08:59 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Some got jeered. Others were yelled at by people on their