Ramos and Monterrey stop European runners-up Inter Milan

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, p. a11

Monterrey resisted the idea of ​​becoming a punching bag for Inter Milan, a finalist in last year's Champions League. The significance of playing a Club World Cup at the centennial Rose Bowl, where thousands of Monterrey fans arrived en masse along the main streets of Pasadena, California, inspired Rayados to compete at a European level with Spaniard Sergio Ramos as their standard-bearer. About to turn 39, the legendary former Real Madrid defender waited for the right opportunity to compete, celebrate a goal, and maintain a 1-1 draw in a game of enormous stakes.

Ramos didn't want to miss an international tournament. Injuries and a year without playing raised some doubts, which were quickly dispelled. His athleticism is astonishing. Not only did he compete on par with the club's best youngsters, such as Víctor Guzmán and Gerardo Arteaga, but he even outperformed Inter's stars. If the World Cup winner's first few months in Mexico didn't go as he hoped, yesterday's match was a game that righted any wrongs. Over two twin towers in the penalty area—Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard—the Rayo captain's header had the crowd in the stands dreaming of a 1-0 lead (25).

Ramos caught a few Inter fans with their mouths open during his celebration. "If they only know one or two of us, so much the better, because they'll see the level and talent we have ," he warned on Monday about the lack of knowledge the Nerazzurri 's coaching staff and players had expressed about Monterrey. That lesson was evident in less than 45 minutes. Only a mistake could have prevented Monterrey's defeat, a breakdown in the approach of Spanish coach Doménec Torrent, who, like his colleague Cristian Chivu, was managing his first match in charge.

That small gap was capitalized on by the Argentine Lautaro Martínez, enabled in a free kick and with the goal open to beat goalkeeper Esteban Andrada (42). Since there is nothing that does more damage to the eyes of the own fans than a tie like this, without deserving the rival, Rayados went for more in the second half. To the rhythm of "Dale, dale, daleRaaayados!" , a cry with which the Monterrey fans encouraged from the stands, Ramos and company had at least three other opportunities in front of goal, but in all of them there was a detail for which they did not show the same forcefulness.

▲ The Spanish defender, who headed past Argentine Lautaro Martínez, was the star player for Rayados, scoring the Mexican team's goal. AP Photo

Torrent's next test in charge of Monterrey will be on Saturday against River Plate, while Inter, the Champions League runners-up, will face Japanese side Urawa Reds.

It was a very tough match against a tough opponent. We knew the difficulty they were facing, but we intended to play at their level. We're not happy with the draw. We needed a little more composure , Ramos summed up at the end of the match.

In light of the protests that have steadily spread across the United States due to immigration raids, the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis asked fans attending the Pachuca-RB Salzburg game this Wednesday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati to do so in a respectful and peaceful manner , following the instructions of the authorities.

In a message posted on social media, authorities recommended arriving early, respecting traffic laws, and maintaining constant communication with family and friends.

In case any attendee is detained or arrested, hospitalized and is a victim of any abuse or crime, the consulate shared an emergency number (317-213-0779) and noted that any citizen has the right to consular notification .

River complies; Fluminense forgives

River Plate delivered three headed goals, defeating Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in their debut at Lumen Field in Seattle. Facundo Colidio (12), Sebastián Driussi (48) and Maximiliano Meza (73) scored the goals that gave the Argentine side a winning start in Group E.

Winning the first game was essential for River Plate's hopes of advancing from a group stage in which more challenging matches against Inter and Monterrey await.

At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the other South American who played yesterday had a different fate, despite being much more than his opponent on the field and in the stands.

Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro, with an outstanding Jhon Arias, spared the life of Borussia Dortmund (0-0) in the opening game of Group F, in which the Germans had a guardian angel in their goalkeeper, the Swiss Gregor Kobel.

Finally, South Africa's Mamelodi Soundowns surprised everyone by winning 1-0 in their debut against South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai. Iqraam Rayners scored the winning goal (36).

(With information from AFP)

▲ The Spanish executive points out that this tournament undermines the sustainability of football. Photo @javier.tebas

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, p. a11

Madrid. Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish League, reiterated his opposition to the Club World Cup. "My goal is for there to be no more ," he declared yesterday at a press conference in Madrid.

When asked how FIFA could improve a tournament being held for the first time in the United States with the world's top 32 teams (June 14-July 13), he was blunt.

Eliminating it. My goal is to stop there being more Club World Cups. There are no more dates, and there's no need for another tournament , said Tebas, who believes it's a matter of financial balance.

There's no more money in the world of audiovisual rights. We have to maintain the sustainability of football; there's no way, neither based on dates nor on economics , he added.

The tournament started last Saturday, although the president of the Spanish league assured that he has barely followed it. "I'm not watching it. On Monday, I watched a bit of Chelsea (against Los Angeles FC) and it seemed like a summer friendly. I didn't see any intensity in the 25 minutes I watched of the match ," he criticized.

He also explained that the participation of two Spanish teams, Real Madrid and Atlético, in the tournament affects the championship, since if either team reaches the final, it is scheduled for July 14, just a month before the start of the league.

According to the collective bargaining agreement, there are three weeks of vacation (for players), and La Liga will honor it. "We'll see what happens ," Tebas said, admitting that both Real Madrid clubs have requested a postponement of the first matches of the season, although the management has not yet made a decision.

As far as I know, the Premier League teams that are playing (in the Club World Cup) are going to start on August 14; the Bundesliga teams too , he concluded.

▲ At this point, you start wondering if you'll ever make the Mexican national team, because you should at least be a world-class player , says Sebastián García, the Mexican compound bowman. Photo @bachan_13

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, p. a12

Maintaining a place on the archery team and making it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games is an increasingly difficult task for both the sport's leading figures and the new generations.

The rapid growth of practitioners of the specialty and its increased popularity following the Olympic medals makes the fight for a spot on the national team even more intense.

“There's so much talent in Mexico that sometimes you wonder if you'll ever make it to the national team. At this point, you need to be in the world's top ranks to make the team, and that speaks volumes about your skill level, but it also makes things more complicated,” shared Sebastián García, Mexico's compound bow representative and World Cup medalist.

In the run-up to Paris 2024, Olympic medalists Mariana Avitia, Aída Román, and Luis Álvarez were left out of the team; their places were taken by juniors Ángela Ruiz, Ana Paula Vázquez, and Matías Grande.

You have to find your best version. Right now, some of us are on the team, but next year, who knows, others will come after me who want to take my place. I feel very fortunate for the confidence they're showing us young people, because it motivates us not to let the country down.

World Archery Mexico, directed by Gabriel Ramos, is committed to the future of the sport by focusing on developing a new generation that will represent the country at both Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

Archery is a breeding ground that never stops bearing fruit. We have a wealth of talent in many states, as well as established athletes like Alejandra Valencia; she's the strength of the team, always supporting and sharing her experience with others , Ramos commented.

Work axes

Building new training centers, training more mentors, and organizing more national competitions are three of the main areas of work for the coming years.

"How can we get more archers shooting arrows? The idea is to build schools across the country, because the more athletes we have practicing archery, the more opportunities we'll have to find new champions ," Ramos shared.

To date, archery has earned Mexico four Olympic medals: two individual and two team.

Ramos' project seeks to expand our country's existing talent pool with the idea that a greater number of athletes to choose from will lead to a higher-quality team.

The work is evident at the National Championships, where the level is very high; dozens of archers are competing for medals in both recurve and compound archery, and that makes us proud.

Matías Grande, Valentina Vázquez, and Karime Montoya are talents in the spotlight for the recurve bow, while Carlos and Andrés, brothers of Maya Becerra, world number one, stand out for the compound bow.

Starting with Los Angeles 2028, Mexico will have new medal opportunities thanks to the inclusion of the compound bow category by the International Olympic Committee.

When I chose the compound bow, I already knew the Olympic dream wasn't for me; when I heard the news that an event would be included, I was thrilled, because no competition can compare to attending the Games; that's an experience that stays with you forever , García concluded.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, p. a12

London. Nine days after playing in the Roland Garros final, Carlos Alcaraz (champion) and Jannik Sinner made their debuts with victories at Queen's and Halle, respectively. The Murcian defeated Australian Adam Walton 6-4, 7-6, while the Italian defeated local Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-3.

After spending a few days resting in Ibiza, Alcaraz showed a quick and precise adaptation to the British turf of the ATP 500.

The player, coached by Juan Carlos Mosquito Ferrero, learned while at Queen's that his compatriot Alejandro Davidovich wouldn't be his first opponent: the Malaga native suffered a stomach ache the night before, and Walton took his place. Since there was no previous history between the Australian and the Spaniard, the latter had to inquire about his opponent's characteristics.

World number two Alcaraz won in one hour and 42 minutes after saving both break points generated by Walton. The Spaniard is looking to become the first player to win ATP titles on three different surfaces this season, having already won on hard courts (Rotterdam) and clay (Monte Carlo, Rome, and Roland Garros).

In the next round he will face Australian Jordan Thompson (37) or Spaniard Jaume Munar (59).

▲ The Murcian (pictured) won in his appearance at the Queen's Tournament in London, while the Italian won in Halle, Germany. Photo AFP

Australian Alex de Miñaur (12) and American Ben Shelton (10) suffered unexpected eliminations in the first round.

"I spent several sleepless nights after the Roland Garros final ," Sinner admitted at the ATP 500 in Halle, Germany, where he is defending his title.

The 23-year-old player made his debut on German grass with a victory and, in the next round, will face the unpredictable and talented Kazakh Alexander Bublik (45).

I'm satisfied with my performance. First matches on grass are never easy. We'll see what happens in the next round , said Sinner, who in an hour and a half hit 10 aces , didn't commit double faults, served 71 percent of his first serves, and won 84 percent of his first serve points.

In the next round, the world number one will face Bublik, an awkward opponent, but one he defeated in the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

"It's a match with a completely uncertain prognosis. He's a tremendous player with immense talent. We all know grass is his favorite surface. He beat me in this very tournament before. I remember he was champion here a couple of seasons ago ," Sinner recalled.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, p. a31

Canada's national team confirmed its status as a serious contender to win the Gold Cup alongside the United States and Mexico. The team coached by former soccer player Mauro Biello made a statement by defeating Honduras 6-0 in its debut in the tournament, which was played yesterday at BC Place Stadium.

Niko Sigur opened the scoring in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a poor defensive clearance and beating goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar with a powerful, low shot. Before the half ended, the Maple Leafs increased their lead with a left-footed shot into the top corner by Tani Oluwaseyi (45+2).

In the second half, the story of the match remained unchanged, with the Canadian side creating numerous dangerous plays thanks to the speed of their attacking players, despite the absence of their star player, Bayern Munich player Alphonso Davies, for this match.

Villarreal's Tajon Buchanan took advantage of his team's dominance to increase the lead with a brace (48th and 65th). In the final minutes, Canadian attacks continued, and in the 75th minute, Promise David finished alone in front of the opponent's goal in the six-yard box, and in the 90th, Nathan Saliba sealed the victory.

With this result, Canada moved into first place in Group B, where El Salvador drew 0-0 with Curaçao yesterday at PayPal Park in San José. In this match, Mexican Katia Itzel García became the first woman to referee a Gold Cup match.

The Caribbean team will face Canada in its next match on Saturday, while Honduras will play La Selecta that same day in the second round of the tournament.