Spain’s Enrique goes full tilt down World Cup streamline
Spain manager Luis Enrique will step into the role of a Twitch streamer as he documents his team’s Qatar World Cup journey to offer fans a unique perspective of the tournament, the 52-year-old said yesterday.
The former Barcelona coach said he was arriving “all in” on the interactive streaming service and would begin his new off-pitch role when Spain arrive in the Middle Eastern country on Nov 18. “Streamers of the world, stand back, I’m going downhill and without brakes,” Luis Enrique said in a video posted on Twitter.
“My intention is to stream during the time we’re in Qatar... An idea that starts in a crazy way, the idea of establishing a direct relationship with fans told from my point of view and that of my staff. A direct and unfiltered communication, more spontaneous and more natural and interesting enough for everyone.”
The coach, who will lead the team in his first World Cup, said he was looking forward to the experience that awaits him despite teething trouble with technology. “The light is not right, the microphone is from the third division, the face is what it is, I can only improve,” joked the Spaniard.
Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica on Nov 23 as they look to improve on their run four years ago when they were knocked out by hosts Russia in the round of 16. They also play Germany and Japan in Group E.
SENEGAL’S MANE TO MISS FIRST GAMES OF WORLD CUP: REPORTS
Senegal forward Sadio Mane will miss the “first games” of the World Cup in Qatar due to injury, a Senegal soccer federation official was quoted as saying by local media. The 30-year-old striker was named last week in Senegal’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, which starts on Sunday, despite picking up an injury to his right fibula playing for Bayern Munich in the run-up to the tournament.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said Mane, whose decisive penalties secured the Africa Cup of Nations title and World Cup qualification for his country this year, did not require surgery but hopes of him lining up against the Netherlands on November 21 appear slim.
“We will have to rely on playing the first games without Sadio and win without Sadio because we have 25 players apart from Sadio,” official Abdoulaye Sow said. “No one would have wanted it, but that’s what’s happened to us.”
Senegal also face hosts Qatar on Nov 25 and Ecuador on Nov 29 in World Cup Group A.
GERMANY’S MUELLER, RUEDIGER TO BE FIT FOR OPENER: COACH
Germany’s defensive leader Antonio Ruediger and attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller will be fit for Germany’s opening World Cup Group E match against Japan next week, coach Hansi Flick said.
Both players are nursing injuries as Germany prepare for their World Cup opener and did not train with the squad in Oman yesterday.
They will also miss the final warmup match against Oman today.