As this year’s Six Nations proper drew to a close with drama for the British sides, the same cannot be said for Spain and Portugal, who play in the tournament’s second tier. Mustering only a single win between them, the Iberian sides’ performances were sorely disappointing, given that both countries have been aiming to move up a notch in the rugby world, inspired by the example of Italy. And for Spain, a global superpower in so many other sports, this season has been particularly deflating. Played over a two-year cycle (2013-14) alongside the showpiece event, the European Nations Cup Division 1A, to give it its full name, also doubles up as the qualifying rounds of the Rugby World Cup … [Read more...] about Spain’s rugby ambitions foiled in disastrous Six Nations
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La Liga: Deportivo fight back
Just three weeks ago, with only three liga wins all season to their name, Deportivo de La Coruña were staring down the barrel of relegation. Currently working with their third manager of the season, it’s a far cry from the glory days of a decade ago. League title winners in the 1999–2000 season and runners-up on five occasions, not so long ago the club was regularly finishing in the top half of the table and featuring in European competition. Depor played in the UEFA Champions League five seasons in a row, and reached the semi-finals in 2004 where they were eventually defeated by José Mourinho’s Porto side who would go on to lift the trophy. They have been relegated before, dropping … [Read more...] about La Liga: Deportivo fight back
Tales for Tapas: Money and mystique
The 19th-century British political economist Walter Bagehot noted that letting “daylight in upon the magic” of monarchy risks diminishing its mystique. A court summons, no doubt, represents a mystique-diminishing dose of daylight, and Princess Cristina’s scheduled April 27 appearance before a judge in Majorca may be dignified but is unlikely to be very edifying. Still, the royal families of Europe are not – and never have been – paragons of public virtue (as anyone who has spent time in Las Vegas recently may be able to testify). What makes the Nóos Affair so problematic is not simply that it is a royal scandal but that it is a royal financial scandal in the middle of a national financial … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Money and mystique
Resign? You must be kidding
When is it appropriate for a public figure to resign? After displaying gross incompetence? In the wake of evident policy failure? Being caught up in criminal acts? It’s not always clear-cut. Sometimes resignation is an option, but not necessarily the only one. An apology might be just as fitting, or a temporary withdrawal from front-line exposure to the limelight. But in the last few weeks in Spain, there have been several cases that would seem to offer strong candidates for the sack. The most recent is that of Alberto Núñez Feijóo. On Sunday, El País newspaper published photographs showing that the Partido Popular’s premier of Galicia had been a good friend of Marcial Dorado Baúlde, … [Read more...] about Resign? You must be kidding
La Liga: Despondent Benzema searches for form
Last week, Karim Benzema was booed by the home crowd as he departed the Stade de France during a World Cup qualifier against Spain. It was not the first time this season he has been heckled by his own fans. Whilst the same has not yet occurred at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Frenchman is struggling to score, with every passing week and every goalless game sending his confidence plummeting. Brought in to the club by President Florentino Pérez, who flew to Lyon to personally secure his signing in 2009, Benzema’s trajectory at Real Madrid has been up and down to say the least, going from a cat to a lion and perhaps now back to the cat again. It was coach José Mourinho who, in his first … [Read more...] about La Liga: Despondent Benzema searches for form
Farewell to ETA’s destroyer of peace
When Xabier López Peña was arrested in Bordeaux in 2008 on terrorism-related offences, he hardly looked like an archetypal leader of ETA. Portly, middle-aged and bespectacled, he didn’t even have the carefully sculptured mullet that so many Basque separatists insist on sporting. But as he was bundled away by French police, his wild shouts and screams at TV cameras hinted at the true nature of the man. López Peña, who died of a brain haemorrhage on Saturday, was held responsible by many for the collapse of the 2006 peace process that offered the hope of a lasting solution to the Basque conflict. As a result, many Basque separatists, as well as the mainstream politicians in Madrid, came … [Read more...] about Farewell to ETA’s destroyer of peace
Tales for Tapas: Management lessons
There had been gloomy predictions that Spain’s global soccer ascendancy might be coming to an end, but Tuesday evening’s victory over France was solid if not stellar. Coach Vicente Del Bosque, in characteristically imperturbable fashion, said the win “helps support the conviction we have in our ideas.” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy would no doubt love to bask in the same warm glow of vindication, but this week’s economic data suggest he has as much chance of doing that as Scotland have of going to Rio de Janeiro next summer. Perhaps the most surprising (and dispiriting) thing about the latest batch of figures is that they are no longer very surprising. There was more resignation than … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Management lessons
Tales for Tapas: Capital games
There are arguments for and against holding the Olympic Games in Madrid in 2020. During its four-day visit this week, a nine-member International Olympic Committee inspection team was regaled mostly with arguments for (though a Madrid Metro strike and an anti-Games demonstration helped make the case against). The positive arguments are persuasive. The nearly €2.5 billion required to run the Games will be paid for entirely from ticket sales and sponsorship (with the cheapest tickets to be kept under €40). The €1.67 billion budgeted for additional operating costs and infrastructure will be divided among the central government, the Madrid region and the city, representing, as Madrid Mayor … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Capital games
La Liga: Real Sociedad scale the heights
In 2002, Real Sociedad were runners up in La Liga, chasing Real Madrid until the penultimate week of the season when a loss 3-2 loss away to Celta Vigo effectively put an end to their title hopes. There has not been much to shout about since, with the Basque side spending several years in the second division. But as the table currently stands, Philippe Montanier’s men have found themselves in a coveted Champions League spot with their latest victory, a 4-1 drubbing of Real Valladolid on Saturday. Though they started brightly, it wasn't until just after the half-hour mark that La Real took the lead when Antoine Griezmann lashed a strike into the bottom corner. Six minutes later, Imanol … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Sociedad scale the heights
Tensions high ahead of Galician derby
The Galician derby between Deportivo la Coruna and Celta Vigo is usually one of La Liga’s most emotive occasions. Friday’s clash at Riazor should continue this tradition, for better or worse. A decade ago the game was a meeting of two of Spain’s top sides, with players like Mauro Silva, Alexander Mostovoi, Juan Carlos Valerón, Fran and Mazinho on show. Times have changed though. This year’s Riazor derby is the first in Primera Division for six seasons. Next season’s is likely to take place in La Segunda, as Depor are currently 20th in the table, Celta 19th, and both on the slide. Depor are really in trouble. Current coach Fernando Vázquez is their third boss this season, and he has … [Read more...] about Tensions high ahead of Galician derby