Spain and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta announces international retirement after Russia defeat

Spain's Andres Iniesta, left, leaves the pitch after the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. Russia eliminates Spain 4-2 on penalties after game ends 1-1. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
Updated 01 July 2018
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Spain and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta announces international retirement after Russia defeat

LONDON: Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from international football following Spain’s loss to Russia in a penalty shootout at the World Cup.
Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, played 131 times for Spain.
He was surprisingly benched to start the round of 16 game against Russia but went on in the second half with the score at 1-1.
The score remained 1-1 after extra time and Russia went on to win 4-3 on penalties to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
The 34-year-old midfielder has signed for Japanese club Vissel Kobe after spending his entire senior career at Barcelona.


Dubai Basketball hold off Bayern Munich with last-minute winner

Updated 5 sec ago
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Dubai Basketball hold off Bayern Munich with last-minute winner

  • 89-88 victory continues Dubai’s strong home performances in EuroLeague

 

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball continued their impressive home run in the EuroLeague with a dramatic 89-88 win over Bayern Munich in round 15, securing another victory built on late-game execution. It was the team’s sixth straight league win at the Coca-Cola Arena.

For most of the night, Dubai were forced to chase the game, struggling to find rhythm from the perimeter in the early stages and dealing with long stretches where the offense stalled.

Even when the deficit grew to 12 points in the fourth quarter, Dubai maintained composure, relying on depth and persistence to stay within striking distance.

The turning point came in the final minutes, when Dubai finally unlocked their outside shooting. American guard McKinley Wright and Awudu Abass fueled a late surge from beyond the arc, rapidly cutting into the gap and shifting the momentum with support from a charged 5,000-strong crowd.

Although the visitors briefly reclaimed control entering the last minute, the home team refused to let the game slip away.

“This was a very important victory, where we refused to surrender (at any point),” Dubai’s head coach Jurica Golemac said after the game.

“I think everybody in the arena thought that we could not win this game, but we found guys who were really fighting, who were giving everything for each other and for the club. In the end, this effort rewarded us,” he added.

Wright led Dubai’s scoring with 22 points and seven assists, delivering at critical moments.

Abass added 15 points and seven rebounds while Filip Petrušev and Mfiondu Kabengele each contributed 12. Justin Anderson and Kosta Kondić both finished with 11, rounding out a balanced team performance that highlighted Dubai’s unwavering determination.