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Spain World Cup team invited for night-out after ‘boredom’ claim

Spain's Women's World Cup team has been invited for a free night-out in the sleepy New Zealand city of Palmerston North after claims they quit their base there early out of boredom.

Spain World Cup team invited for night-out after 'boredom' claim
Spain's players react at the end of the 2023 Women's World Cup Group C football match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park in Auckland on July 26, 2023. Photo: Saeed KHAN/AFP.

Spain’s Women’s World Cup team has been invited for a free night-out in the sleepy New Zealand city of Palmerston North after claims they quit their base there early out of boredom.

The team denied that was the case and said they were moving to Wellington to prepare for their final group game against Japan on Monday and a potential last-16 match both in the New Zealand capital.

An earlier media report said the world’s sixth-ranked team had deserted the city because “the lack of things to do in the area has taken its toll” after two weeks in Palmerston North.

Spanish journalists following the team have made similar complaints about the city, which has a population of about 90,000 and an unfashionable reputation.

Palmerston North’s mayor Grant Smith was compelled to respond, telling news outlet Stuff: “I’d be quite happy to show the Spanish team a night-out in Palmy.”

Smith told The New Zealand Herald he appreciated that his city was no Barcelona or Madrid, before adding: “But we are comfortable in our own skin as a city.”

A spokeswoman for the team said they had enjoyed their stay in Palmerston North.

“We can’t speak highly enough of our stay there,” she told AFP.

“Moving to Wellington has nothing to do with being bored. We were treated very well and the players have had no complaints.”

It is the second time the Spanish have ruffled feathers in New Zealand.

They issued an apology before the tournament began after a video emerged of players making fun of the haka, a ceremonial dance considered sacred to indigenous Maori people.

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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Spain’s Nadal and Alcaraz to play tennis doubles together at Olympics

Spanish tennis legend Rafa Nadal (38) will join forces with his heir to the throne Carlos Alcaraz (21) in the tennis doubles tournament at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Spain's Nadal and Alcaraz to play tennis doubles together at Olympics

French Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have been named in the Spain team for the 2024 Olympic Games, the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) announced Wednesday. Even more exciting is the announcement that they will play together in the doubles tournament.

World number two Alcaraz last weekend won his first Roland Garros title on the clay in Paris, where the Olympic tournament will take place from July 27th to August 4th.

Nadal boasts 22 Grand Slam victories, including a record 14 French Open titles, but only returned to competition last April after missing the best part of 16 months through injury and is currently ranked 264 in the world.

The Spanish men’s squad is completed by world number 32 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Pablo Carreño and number two-ranked doubles player Marcel Granollers.

On the women’s side, Spanish number one Sara Sorribes and world number 67 Cristina Bucsa have been included in the team.

Injury-plagued former world number two Paula Badosa – now ranked 118 – will not be included in the squad for Paris.

“We have the chance of winning two or three medals (at the Olympics),” said RFET president Miguel Diaz Roman.

All national federations must produce their final list for the Games by June 19 at the latest.

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