Alfredo Relaño

Alfredo Relaño, editor of AS, analyses France's second World Cup triumph, after they beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.

France may not have invented football, but they were behind the first World Cup via Jules Rimet, the creator of this amazing event which wholeheartedly grabs our attention every four years.

England and Belgium, two teams who had the biggest prize of all in their sights, now face off today with as good as zilch up for grabs.

AS editor Alfredo Relaño says that the failures of Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar at the World Cup have allowed Griezmann and Modric to become front runners for the Ballon d'Or.

Yugoslavia failed to win any major footballing honour and neither subsequently have any of the nations that emerged after the break-up of the former federation.

Out of sight out of mind. This was the impression I was left with after the epistolary exchange between Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Luis Rubiales has gone with a risky choice for the Spain job. He's a fine coach, young and energetic; but he couldn't be more lacking in diplomacy.

A more direct style of football, lots of goals scored from set-pieces, basketball-style blocks from high balls into the box and less of an emphasis on ...

"Football's coming home" are the words on everyone's lips right now in England. The inventors of the game have come to this World Cup brimming with belief...

Following Cristiano and Messi's World Cup exit last weekend, Neymar is the latest big name player to see his side exit the Russia World Cup following Brazil's defeat to Belgium in Kazan last night.

It is maybe unsurprising that he crosses to pastures new before further harm is done, and for a low fee considering his attributes.

Although La Roja were knocked out of the World Cup in Russia, some Spaniards remain. The biggest name of those is Belgium coach Roberto Martínez, from Lleida, Catalonia.

The World Cup continues without Spain but still full of emotion...

Spain’s Tiqui-taca high-possession passing brand of football was never intended to be like this - the drawn-out, overbaked version we saw of it in Moscow on ...

AS Editor Alfredo Relaño analyses Spain’s defeat to Russia on penalty, with Hierro’s side crashing out at the last 16 stage of the World Cup 2018.

AS editor Alfredo Relaño gives his view on the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe's performance against Argentina, and Spain's chances against Russia.

AS editor Alfredo Relaño takes stock of VAR after 48 games at the World Cup, and says it has been more successful than he had expected it to be.

Having finished up with an identical record to Senegal in Group H, Japan go through to the last 16 by virtue of having picked up two bookings fewer.

I genuinely saw Germany as the favourites for this tournament, particularly because it is being played in Europe.

We're not without reasons to see our glass as half full. Spain have topped a group also containing Portugal, the reigning European champions...

AS editor Alfredo Relaño analyses Spain's game against Morocco, which saw Spain top their group by a pure mirable and head into the last 16 of the World Cup 2018 to play Russia.

We saw 14 goals on yesterday’s action, when the second round of group games were concluded

Germany were staring elimination in the face before Kroos’ pinpoint free-kick deep into the 'zona Cesarini', or ‘Fergie time’

Alfredo Relaño analyses Nigeria's victory over Iceland and what it means for Argentina, who now must win their last game against Nigeria to have any hope of progressing.

When Argentina were held by Iceland, there was scope to see it as a blip: a big team having a bad day at the office against a lesser light...