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Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish national coach who won the Euro 2024, extended his contract on Monday until 2028, according to a statement from the Spanish football federation.

The 63-year-old has held the position since 2022, helping Spain win the Nations League title in 2023 and then defeat England in the Euro final last year.

His contract extension includes the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Euro 2028 in Britain and Ireland.

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“I’m the most self-critical and I’m not afraid to take the plunge if I’m convinced of something”, De la Fuente told a press conference.

“I’m trying to improve and grow,” I promise to continue on the same course that led us here.

De la Fuente previously coached Spain age-group teams, winning both the European under-19 and under-21 championships.

He took over the senior side from Luis Enrique following Spain’s last-16 exit from the 2022 World Cup against Morocco.

“I was persuaded of my desired destination.” I’m at home, with the RFEF, and very happy. We never thought of another option”, De la Fuente said.

“I thank the RFEF for their effort. Because I received such excellent care, I now feel even happier than I did before. We work from stability”.

Spain won all seven of their matches in Germany last year, helping them to win a record-breaking fourth European Championship title.

After the Nations League is finished, La Roja will officially begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in late 2018. In that competition, they face Netherlands in the quarter-finals in March.

With a young squad that includes Lamine Yamal, one of the favorites for the 2026 World Cup, Spain will be one of the favorites.

De la Fuente said, “If I let myself be carried away by euphoria, I could promise a lot.”

“But I only promise enthusiasm, effort and work to achieve our goals. Give everything to achieve something.

” We have a lot of football potential, but so do our rivals. “

If De la Fuente sees out his extended contract, he will become Spain’s longest-serving coach since Vicente del Bosque spent eight years in charge, during which they won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

The DFL, the German football league, announced on Monday that a pilot project allowing referees to communicate decisions to fans over loudspeakers in stadiums and on television during games.

The first tests will take place during the weekend’s matches between nine top-tier German clubs that have agreed to play.

According to DFL head of match operations Ansgar Schwenken, the announcements were intended to “improve the transparency of referee decisions and promote greater understanding among the fans.”

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Amorim Says His 63-Year-Old Coach Has Better Chance Of Playing Than Rashford

When a decision on the pitch-side monitor is reviewed, the referee will contact the fans.

Additionally, the official will provide an explanation of decisions that have changed since VAR’s intervention.

Similar to how fans are greeted during American football, the referee will use a microphone to make the announcement.

According to the DFL, the referee’s statement will also be broadcast on the game’s media.

Before restarting play, the referee will state the outcome of the review, identify the action that has been reviewed, and make the final decision.

This weekend will see the first of five matches in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 under the new procedure.

They include the Bundesliga match between Holstein Kiel and Bayern Munich on Saturday and Bayer Leverkusen’s match against Hoffenheim on Sunday.

Knut Kircher, the managing director of the German refereeing body DFB Schiri, said there had been “controversial discussions surrounding the video assistant” since its introduction.

According to Kircher, the new pilot represented “the first clear step toward more clarification,” adding that referees had practiced making announcements for fans.

Top-level match officials were committed to making decisions “more transparent” even if the in-game procedure would be “unfamiliar at first”, Kircher said.

Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, thinks the 63-year-old goalkeeper coach has a better chance of making his team than the underachieving striker Marcus Rashford.

Rashford, an England international, was once again left out of the United squad for the 1-0 win at Fulham on Sunday despite not playing for United since December 12.

Amorim argued that Jorge Vital would have been a better choice if United had been struggling to advance against Fulham.

“Today on the bench we missed a bit of pace to change the game but I prefer it like this, I will put (in) Vital before I put (in) a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day, so I will not change in that department”, said Amorim.

READ ALSO: Amorim In The Dark Over Rashford’s Man Utd Future

He added: “It’s always the same reason (why Rashford is not playing).

” The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day. If things don’t change, I will not change.

“It’s the same situation for every player. We can use every player if you make the best use of them.

Despite the impasse between club and player, the 27-year-old Rashford still took to social media to congratulate his team-mates for their 1-0 victory.

“Congratulations on the win lads”, he posted on Instagram.

In the 78th minute, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the only one who could have scored for United at Craven Cottage thanks to defender Lisandro Martinez’ long-range deflected effort.

Radja Nainggolan, a former Belgian international, was detained on Monday in Brussels, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Police arrested several suspects, including the footballer, after carrying out a series of morning raids across the country, the office told AFP.

“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium”, prosecutors added in a statement.

No more information was immediately made available.

Antwerp-born&nbsp, Nainggolan, 36, came out of retirement last week to join a lower-tier Belgian side — adding a final spell to a long career that saw him play 30 matches and score six goals for the national team.

Before signing with Belgian second-tier outfit Lokeren last week, he had been without a club since last summer having played for Italian clubs Cagliari, Inter Milan, and Roma.

He marked his debut with a goal at the weekend in Lokeren’s 1-1 home draw to K. Lierse.

In the summer of 2021, he had previously retreated from Italy to Belgium to take up Royal Antwerp.

He parted ways with Antwerp in early 2023, a tattooed midfielder known for his off-field antics.

With a 2-1 victory, Lewis Carroll extended Spurs’ miserable run, while Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Fulham eased the pressure on Ruben Amorim.

Tottenham lost their sixth of their last seven league games to a blow to their home turf.

With only one win in their last 11 top-flight matches, Postecoglou’s side are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the bottom three.

The beleaguered Australian, who has been receiving more and more demands for his dismissal throughout his turbulent second year in charge, had yet another disappointing outcome.

Although Postecoglou believes his injured squad is still fighting for him, Tottenham are dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation struggle.

“You can be very vulnerable and isolated when you are the manager of a football team. I don’t feel that”, said Postecoglou.

“I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that”.

Leicester ended its seven-game losing streak in the league with two goals in four minutes from Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss at the start of the second half.

Ruud van Nistelrooy can rest easier about his own future while Postecoglou fights to save his job.

Leicester are currently one place and one point above the relegation zone.

“It’s a massive win”, said Van Nistelrooy. The players are “buying into it,” they claim. This team deserves my absolute best wishes.

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Man Utd’s lucky break&nbsp,

After Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike gave the Red Devils a much-needed victory at Fulham, any notion of being dragged into a relegation battle now seems discredited.

Before the Argentinian’s effort swung past Sasa Lukic to loop over Bernd Leno, chances were slim for both sides.

Toby Collyer saw a header that Joachim Andersen had to clear off the line as the visitors fought for a victory that would lift United to 12th.

As an under-strength West Ham fought back to earn a 1-1 draw in Birmingham, Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season were dented.

Jacob Ramsey’s strike was just reward for a fast start by Unai Emery’s side.

Graham Potter was forced to name four full-backs in his starting line-up for the injury-hit Hammers, who were without captain Jarrod Bowen.

However, after Emerson Palmieri’s header levelled, the visitors rallied in the second half and were regrettable not to take all three points.

Lucas Paqueta hoped to have won the match in stoppage time, but Tomas Soucek veered offside before teeing up the Brazilian to quell Potter’s cheerleading celebration on the touchline.

Villa remain in eighth, four points off the top four, while West Ham sit 14th.

Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Selhurst Park thanks to penalty controversy.

Thomas Frank’s team earned a 66th minute spot-kick when Maxence Lacroix fouled Nathan Collins.

Bryan Mbeumo’s spot-kick hit the post, but Palace’s reprieve was short-lived as VAR ruled Marc Guehi had encroached before the shot.

For his 14th goal of the season, the Brentford forward thanked himself for his second chance by sending Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way.

Romain Esse scored with his first touch on his debut five minutes after Kevin Schade scored in the 80th minute for Brentford.