News, September 2006

Sport roundup, 25th September

Spaniards help Europe to Ryder Cup victory, Spain beat italy in Davis cup, Barcelona leads League after 4 games on goals, 3 Spanish podium places at Japan Moto GP, while Vuelta runner up Valverde gets bronze in cycling World Cup, Spain won Basketball World Cup: read on!

Football (soccer): European Cup Spain beat Liechtenstein but lost to Northern Ireland in qualifiers - trainer Aragonés confirmed by federation; League has started again - Barcelona leads on goals after 4th round - Madrid and Valencia same points; Champions' League Barça drawn with Chelsea in first phase - in game 1 Barça beat Sofia, Valencia beat Olympiakos, Madrid lost to Lyon.
Motor: F1 Fernando Alonso continues to lead 2006 championship (just), but burnt out at Monza. Bikes: Alvaro Bautista proclaimed World Champion in 125, Dani Pedrosa, last year's 250 Champion, now struggling after accident in Malaysia (5th overall) in GP category, Jorge Lorenzo leads in 250; at Japan GP 3 Spaniards in top 10 in GP (Sete 4th, Elias 5th, Pedrosa 7th), Bautista 2nd and Simon 3rd in 125, Lorenzo 3rd in 250. Rally Dani Sordo 3rd in World championship after Japan.
Tennis Davis Cup Spain beat Italy thanks to Nadal; Wimbledon: Rafa Nadal was first male Spaniard for 40 years to reach the final.
Golf European victory helped by Spaniards García and Olazábal.
Basketball Spain won Japan World Cup. Now awarded Spain's prestigious Principe de Asturias sport prize.. Women's team lost to Russia in 1/4 finals of their World Championship, but showed great improvement.
Athletics, Gothenburg European championships: 11 medals won including 3 golds - overall 5th position, but only Russia got more medals.
Yachting Palma Copa del Rey (King's Cup): Siemens wins top 52' category with Infanta Elena on board for final race.
Cycling: World Cup now beginning; La Vuelta Alejandro Valverde just beaten by Vinokourov in final days; Tour Oscar Pereiro of Islas Baleares/ Credit Agricole ended 2nd with Carlos Sastre 4th. But now, with Floyd Landis shown to have a positive doping test, Pereiro may be declared winner; mountain bike: Margarita Fullana gold medal in European championship.
Swimming: Spanish girls win 4 silvers at Budapest European championships for synchronised swimming; otherwise, disappointing results with one 4th place; Euro Water polo bronze medal for Spain.
Lawn Hockey: Bronze for Spain in Germany World championships.