England vs Spain: Julen Lopetegui hails 'fantastic' Aritz Aduriz after unlikely run to first team

The 35-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker became Spain's oldest ever goalscorer on Saturday, and Lopetegui is thrilled by his contributions and so will start him against England on Tuesday.

Anyone who watched Spain storm to three consecutive major trophies remembers the cutting edge provided by David Villa and Fernando Torres up front, two players now coming to the end of their decorated careers. But Spain are likely to have a very different profile of centre-forward up front at Wembley on Tuesday night, a man who will be barely known to many English observers.

Aritz Aduriz is 35 years old and will be 36 in February. He is three years older than Torres and 10 months older than Villa. And yet now, in what should be the twilight of his career, he is making an unlikely run into Julen Lopetegui’s first team.

Aduriz has never been especially fast and is certainly not quick now. He is classical bustling Basque striker, in the manner of Julio Salinas, Ismael Urzaiz or Fernando Llorente. Like those three before him, his team is Athletic Bilbao, where he is in his third spell now. Since returning there four years ago he has scored goals at a better rate than he ever has done in his career to date. Aduriz has won the Zarra Trophy, for La Liga’s top Spanish goalscorer, in each of the last two seasons. What is most impressive about his remarkable Indian summer is that he is still improving, improving his La Liga goal tally in each of his last four seasons.

Many late-improving players miss the boat for international recognition but Aduriz has not. He made his international debut at 29 under Vicente del Bosque and was then forgotten about for six years. Del Bosque took him to Euro 2016 but he could not make an impression on a team which was running out of gas. It would have been easy to move on without him under new coach Julen Lopetegui, but he wanted to count on him too.  Aduriz has fired up this Spanish side and on Saturday he became their oldest ever goalscorer when he converted against Macedonia, at 35 years and 275 days.

Aduriz had always wanted to be a skier or a mountain-climber growing up, and was never especially keen on football, but his performances for Athletic and now for the national team have been one of the great stories in Spanish football in recent years. Lopetegui certainly loves him and broke into English for the only time in his press conference at Wembley last night to sing the praises of the veteran striker. “Aduriz is important to the rest of the group,” Lopetegui said, “because he is a fantastic professional.”

More games: friv

Atletico unhappy with Suarez's attitude

Once Filipe Luis had decided to spread the image of his damaged right foot via his social networks, his club were more incensed with Luis Suarez's reaction to that than to the fact he had committed the foul that caused the injury in the first place.

The Uruguayan was unmoved by Luis' on-pitch antics to the disbelief of his compatriot Diego Godin and also while the Brazilian was still on the pitch.

Atletico Madrid are wise enough to understand that such tackles form a part of the game, and indeed Filipe Luis himself metered out a crunching tackle on his former teammate Arda Turan during proceedings.

However, what neither club nor player understand is that instead of apologising, Suarez has been allowed to disrespect his fellow player.

The rojiblancos collectively have eluded the controversy and not one spoke of Juanfran, Gabi, Stefan Savic or Fernando Torres commented on it during the mixed zone interviews after the game.

Behind closed doors, however, they were seething.

What hurts the most is Atleti having suffered three red cards in the last three visits to the Camp Nou, including Filipe himself, whilst everyone turns a blind eye to the repeated indiscretions of Suarez.

In the first leg of last seasons Champions League quarterfinals, he attacked Juanfran without the ball, first swinging a kick and secondly hitting him with his arm.

Theoretically he could've seen red twice for those challenges.

In the return leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon shortly after, Diego Godin could barely see out of a black eye caused as a result of the elbow from Barcelona's No.9.

Vidic - Liverpool wanted me and I almost signed for Rafa

Nemanja Vidic has revealed how he nearly ended up at Liverpool instead of Manchester United.

The former Old Trafford favourite has spoken of how Rafa Benitez wanted him for the Reds and a deal was almost done.

The centre-back would go on to play 300 times for United, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League under Alex Ferguson after the Scot moved quickly to secure his man in 2006.

Vidic, now 34, retired in January after a spell at Inter Milan and told the September issue of FourFourTwo magazine he is now hoping to move into management.

But he also recalled how his career almost went in a very different path.

Vidic said: “Yes. Rafa Benitez called me and I nearly went there. I was interested in going but my English wasn’t good and I was struggling to communicate.

Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson

“Then Manchester United came. Fergie called me at my apartment and said: ‘I watched you play for Serbia against France - I want you here’. United were decisive. Everything was done very quickly, within two days.”

Liverpool became Vidic's nemesis while at Old Trafford, particularly struggling against Fernando Torres's pace, and the big defender was sent off four times against the Reds.

Read the full One-on-One interview with Nemanja Vidic in the September 2016 issue of FourFourTwo

The September 2016 issue of FourFourtwo,

Bruno Soriano: Italy should fear Spain

After finishing as runners up to Croatia in Group D at Euro 2016, Spain face a tough task against Italy in the round of 16, but midfielder Bruno Soriano claims it is the Azzurri who should be worried.

Defeat to the Croats in the final game has made the route to their European Championship title defence a lot tougher for La Roja, having now also been put in the same half of the draw as France, Germany and England.

But the Villarreal man is adamant that Vicente Del Bosque's side should be confident of progressing in a rerun of the last European Championship final.

"Italy should be worried about facing us," he said.

"They are a strong side and we respect them 100%, but if we do things our way, it is they who should be concerned."

Since David Villa and Fernando Torres disappeared from the international scene, Spain have struggled up front, but Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has stepped up, and Bruno hopes he can give some information on some of his club mates.

"Hopefully he can give us some information," he continued.

"You always have to think about the opposition when preparing and to know what to do against them."

After such an impressive campaign in La Liga, Bruno was rewarded with a place in the squad but has not featured much.

"This final is the biggest game of my life" - Fernando Torres

"I knew I was risking everything by coming back here to Atletico, but I knew this group were destined for somthing big and I wanted to be part of it".

Fernando Torres

Atletico Madrid's prodigal son spoke about his incredible journey that has come full circle and lead him along the yellow brick road to Saturday's Champions League final in Milan. He spoke to beIN SPORTS and the player tried to put into words what it would mean to triumph over Real Madrid and make history.

Torres discusses his departure as El Niño, his hero's return and why he thinks "this group is destined to do something momentous".

The return

"I knew I was risking everything by coming back here to Atletico Madrid, a lot of people thought it couldn't get better for me here, but I knew the group I was coming into. I knew this group were destined for somthing big and I wanted to be part of it".

The final in Milan

"This is the most important game of my life, a chance to write a page that has never been written in 113 years of Atlético's history. I have the chance to make my dream come true, a dream I had as a kid, to win this cup with this club".

Memories of Lisbon

"The past can only help you get better, we only think about Milan, which is the present".

El Niño the animated story

Torres was speaking at the launch of his official biography, told in cartoons that animate the biggest moments in a montous career.

Atletico looking to take title race into final weekend

Atletico Madrid travel to La Liga's basement club Levante for the penultimate game of the season on Sunday, looking to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona.

Los Rojiblancos, fresh from a Champions League semi-final victory over Bayern Munich which set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the final, are level on points with the Blaugrana and only behind on the head-to-head rule.

Real sit one point further back.

They face a side in crisis with Levante six points adrift at the bottom and all but mathematically relegated.

Atleti are in stunning form heading into the match, having won six straight games.

However, despite their ominous position, Levante find themselves in decent form themselves having only lost three of their last six league outings.

Injuries and suspensions

Atletico have a clean bill of health, with the exception of experienced Portuguese midfielder Tiago who is out injured.

Diego Simeone played a weakened side during their 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, but it almost backfired on him, meaning the likes of Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann should return to the starting eleven.

As for Levante, injured fullback Tono, and suspended midfielder Jose Mari are the only players likely to miss out, meaning both sides will be at near full strength for the clash at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia.

History

Atletico won the corresponding fixture 1-0 in January, and overall enjoy a good record over Sunday's opponents.

In 19 meetings, Diego Simeone's side have won eleven, drawn five and lost three.

Player to watch - Saul Niguez

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a bright spark in a great season for the mattress makers, netting seven times.

His superb solo goal in the first leg against Bayern grabbed the world's attention, but Saul has been a vital cog in Simeone's machine all year long.

He could be key in such a pressure cooker environment despite his youth.

In a period of transition for La Roja, Saul's ability on the ball and education in the never say die, tactically organised philosophy of Simeone, makes him one for the future of the Spanish national team.

Fernando Torres: "Benítez is not defensive"

Attending a publicity event for the Jack & Jones clothing company, Fernando Torres spoke to the press about last Sunday's derby at the Vicente Calderón.

Two points dropped: "The feeling is that we missed out on two points in the derby. 

Although I'm not sure if an extra 10 minutes would have been good or bad because they were coming up with some good counterattacks. The point we won keeps us up there and feeling positive. We forced Real Madrid into taking a backwards step".

The penalty: "I didn't take the penalty because that wasn't my job. I would have loved to score my 100th goal in a derby. Every goal is a gift. I never dreamed of reaching 100".

Rafa Benítez: "Benítez isn't defensive. He's a great coach and if he's given some time, the results will come".

On his future as a 'Rojiblanco': "It's no secret I want to stay at Atlético. If that's what they're thinking as well, everything will be easy. I'm where I want to be. My dream is to be able to celebrate winning a trophy as an Atlético player".

Spain: "I get just as excited about the national team as I did the first day. The coach is looking to other players right now and it's not really on my radar. My priority is doing a good job for my club. I don't see much chance of an opportunity there".

Simeone: "It's amazing to have the coach's trust regardless of the results. I have absolute respect for 'El Cholo'".

Jackson Martínez: "There are no concerns about Jackson".