Spain captain, Sergio Ramos has equalled Gianluigi Buffon’s caps record after he turned out for the 176th time for La Furia Roja in Wednesday’s friendly against the Netherlands.
Ramos was was introduced in the 85th at the Johan Cruijff ArenA some 15 years after making his senior debut.
The Real Madrid captain will leapfrog Buffon and become Europe’s most-capped international footballer of he plays any part in Spain’s game against Switzerland in Basel on Saturday.
He is also within eight appearances of the worldwide caps record, which is currently held by former Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan.
Spain head coach Luis Enrique praised Ramos for matching Buffon’s tally.
“Sergio is unique. He is on a different level,” he said after the match. “The appearance record is only within the reach of those who are very gifted.”
Luis Enrique fielded an experimental XI that included debutant goalkeeper Unai Simon, plus returning quartet Koke, Alvaro Morata, Hector Bellerin and Marco Asensio.Morata set up Sergio Canales for Spain’s 18th-minute opener – the ninth goal the Juventus striker has been directly involved in in nine games for club and country this term.
“Alvaro has been very good but it is the same as we have seen these months at Juve,” Luis Enrique said. “We caused problems for them with him in attack.”
Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…
A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 visited Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra for…
An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…
Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…
Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…
Zimbabwean Collin Kanyimo and British athlete Catherine Williamson took the trail honours in the 44km…