Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has not given up hope of playing for Spain again.
The 26-year-old has not featured for La Roja since a 3-0 triumph over Australia in Spain’s final group game at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Mata, who played 34 times for his country, wrote on his blog: “Many of you are asking me these days about the Spanish national team. I am convinced that I’m in a perfect age in my football career and I look forward to keep contributing and achieving more success with my national team.
“So now I take these quiet days to keep working but I also switch off and rest a bit.”
Mata was voted as United’s player of the month for March.
Southampton audit
Southampton have announced after tax profits of £33.4m for the year ending June 30, 2014, their first full-year profit since the club went into administration in 2009.
St Mary’s Football Group Limited audited annual results showed a £33.4 million profit on ordinary activities compared to a £7.1 million loss in 2013.
Total revenue increased to £106m from £71.8m in 2013 while group wages, including players, increased from £41.4m in 2013 to £55.2m in 2014.
England line up top-end friendlies
England look set to play friendlies against France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands should they qualify for Euro 2016.
Provided England reach the European Championship they will have a window for two friendlies in November, when the third-placed teams will be involved in play-offs.
The FA is looking to give England a real test during that period by taking on France on Nov. 17 and it then hopes to set up a friendly in Spain later that month.
An FA spokesman confirmed England had agreed to play a friendly against Germany in March. The FA is also in discussions about facing the Dutch prior to Euro 2016 finals.
FA end plan for 2016 British team
The English FA have scrapped plans to send a combined British soccer team to compete at next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics because of opposition from other home nations.
The BBC said the FA had written to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations to inform them.
Britain fielded a unified team managed by the FA, after a 52-year absence, at the London 2012 Olympics although at the time it was seen as a one-off move to mark the home Games.
Debate has raged over a British team, with the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FAs concerned that agreeing to unite for the Olympics would jeopardise their independent status within FIFA.
Nainggolan future up in the air
Radja Nainggolan is unsure whether he will remain at Roma next season as the Giallorossi continue to negotiate with Cagliari over their share of the Belgium international.
Nainggolan has been a mainstay in Rudi Garcia’s midfield this season, making 36 appearances so far. Cagliari and Roma co-own the 26-year-old and the pair have yet to agree a fee to release him to the latter.
Nainggolan said: “Will I stay at Roma? At the moment there’s a 50 per cent chance. However, I’m not worried as there’s still time.
“I’m 100 per cent focused on Roma, it’s a great club, a great team and a beautiful city to live in.”
Esporte abandon World Cup stadium
Esporte Club Bahia, one of the biggest clubs in Salvador, said they were abandoning the stadium that was rebuilt for last year’s World Cup and returning to use the city’s old municipal ground.
The club said their fans had not been respected at the stadium and their 1-0 win over Campinense on Saturday would be their last match there.
“Bahia is still open to negotiations to play at the Fonte Nova arena if the (owners) consortium values and respects fans...and treats them well,” the club said in a statement announcing their return to the Pituaçu ground.
“It’s the fans of Esporte Club Bahia that give life to the stadium.”
The Fonte Nova was rebuilt at a cost of 600 million reais (around $200 million).
Match abandoned
Arsenal’s Argentine championship match at home to Aldosivi was abandoned after half an hour because of fighting among fans that spilled into clashes with police on Monday.
The score was 1-0 to the visitors after a 23rd-minute goal by midfielder Diego Lagos. The Argentine FA will set a new date for the remaining 60 minutes to be played.
Trouble started outside the Julio H Grondona ground in the suburb of Sarandi when rival factions of Arsenal fans fought each other then clashed with police trying to stop the violence, media reported.
Rubber bullets were fired and stones thrown in the surrounding streets and fans took their fight onto the terraces.