| London 2012 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | | | Athlete Biographies | | | Schedules | | | Medals | | | Teams | | | Results | ||||
Spain looks to stamp soccer authority at games
OLY_SOC Headlines
- Japan women's soccer team upgraded to business
- Mexico celebrating surprising soccer gold
- IOC withholds SKorean medal over political sign
- South Korean player not at Olympic medal ceremony
- Mexico beats Brazil to win 1st Olympic soccer gold
- Mexico's goal fastest in Olympics since 1976
- Slogan on South Korean flag probed at Olympics
- FIFA studies South Korea flag incident at Olympics
- Brazil looks to capture 1st Olympic soccer gold
- South Korea beats Japan to get Olympic bronze
By PAUL LOGOTHETIS,
Updated July 6, 2012
MADRID (AP) Spain wants to follow up its European Championship victory with soccer gold at the London Olympics.
The World Cup champions won an unprecedented third straight major title when they became the first team to retain the European Championship with a 4-0 victory over Italy on Sunday.
That triumph in Kiev, Ukraine is providing extra motivation for the Olympic squad.
Spain forward Iker Muniain says "it would be nice to (win the games) after all they have achieved. We're starting an adventure that we're very motivated to get started on and finish with a medal."
The Spanish federation says Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi will replace injured Barcelona player Thiago Alcantara for the games.
© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.