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Attention in the Madrid press is switching gradually now to Spain’s must-win clash with Chile tomorrow night. After their disastrous start to the defence of the trophy they won four years ago, Spain probably need big wins over the South Americans and Australia in their final group game to qualify.

In terms of Real Madrid though, we start with the news in El Confidencial and picked up by AS too that the club has run into problems over the financing of the new Bernabeu.

The club wanted to sell more than 200 million euros in bonds and share issues to pay for part of the project, but having spoken to various banks, they realise this is now not possible. The explanation behind it is that the club does not have the financial rating to go to the capital markets, meaning Madrid would have to pay a high interest placed in fixed income securities – as much as 10%.

One of the major problems is that Real Madrid is not considered sports society with shareholders, meaning the likes of Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s would have to assess it differently.

Elsewhere, former Los Blancos forward Hugo Sanchez has called on the club to sign Luis Suarez and says the Uruguay striker has all that it takes to be a success in the Spanish capital.

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Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso has called on his teammates in the national squad to put the defeat to Holland behind them and react against Chile on Wednesday night.

The World Cup holders were beaten 5-1 on Friday night, the first time they had conceded five goals in a match since a 6-3 defeat to Scotland back in 1963. Xabi Alonso scored Spain’s only goal on the night to put them ahead, but a blistering second half from Louis Van Gaal’s team blew them out of the water.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Alonso said his international colleagues have to put their bad start behind them and focus on winning against Chile. And he warned that the South American side wouldn’t be an easy game.

Chile always raises very brave games, they are very aggressive,” said Alonso. “Chile may have similar characteristics to the Netherlands, (but) we will be able to have better control against Chile.”

And he continued: “Chile knows us well, but we also know them. We know the style of play they have.

“We want to show that we have many things to say, that despite the bad result, we can compete. We can all go home, or we can keep fighting. It is the group that has to react.”

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Former Argentina forward Diego Maradona has said Iker Casillas’ performance in Spain’s 5-1 loss to Holland on Friday proved Jose Mourinho was right to drop him at Real Madrid.

In his last season in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Portuguese manager, who has gone two seasons without winning a trophy, decided to drop Los Blancos keeper Casillas in favour of Diego Lopez. The decision caused much debate in the media at the time, and divided the playing squad at the Santiago Bernabeu, with many siding with Casillas.

Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Lopez in goal in La Liga matches this season, although 32-year-old Casillas was the starting choice in the Copa del Rey and Champions League – both competitions that Los Blancos win this year.

But on Friday night, Casillas had one of the worst games of his career, being at fault for two of the Dutch goals.

Speaking to Telesur, Maradona said Mourinho was right to drop the keeper. He stated: “He had the worst game I’ve ever seen in my life…and it reminds me of what my friend Mourinho told everyone about him.

“He said Casillas wasn’t the right keeper and he paid for that. He had to leave, but in the end it turns out that Mourinho was right.”

He also criticized Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos for a lack of pace at the back, although Spain are unlikely to drop the defender for their crucial game against Chile next Wednesday.

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Real Madrid had three players in action on Sunday, with Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane representing France, and Angel di Maria playing for Argentina.

And it was forward Benzema who stole the headlines, grabbing two goals on his World Cup debut as Les Bleus defeated Honduras 3-0. It was the first time ever that a Real Madrid player has scored a double on their debut in the World Cup. The win also ensured a first for France since the quarter-final of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal, as they didn’t win a single match in their disastrous episode in South Africa four years ago.

Benzema gave the 1998 World Cup winners the lead from the penalty spot after Paul Pogba, a rumoured target for Los Blancos, was fouled in the area. The former Lyon man was also involved the key moment in the match – the first time ever goal line technology has been used  at a World Cup.

His sidefooted effort came off the post and rolled along the line before bouncing off Honduras’ keeper Valladares. The ball appeared to cross the line before the goalie could claw it away. The big screens inside the Port Alegre stadium initially said ‘No Goal’, but that referred to when the ball hit the post. When a second judgment was made, after it hit the keeper, the ball was shown clearly crossing the line. It was awarded as an own goal.

There was no doubt over France’s third goal though, Benzema riffling a vicious shot home in the closing minutes of the game, in which Varane had little to do at the other end.

Angel di Maria played the full 90 minutes as much fancied Argentina saw off Bosnia-Hercegovina 2-1 at the iconic Maracana Stadium. Barcelona’s Leo Messi stole the show though, scoring a brilliant second goal for the Argentinians, who started slowly but grew into the match. The assist was provided by former Real player Gonzalo Higuain.

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It was a good night for Real Madrid players last night as France beat Honduras 3-0 in their opening game of the World Cup – Karim Benzema becoming the first Los Blancos player ever to score a brace on his World Cup debut. Raphael Varane also impressed in the heart of the defence.

Tonight sees Germany take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, and ahead of the game, the 29-year-old forward has been talking to the press about his state of health.

Ronaldo, who netted 51 goals for his club this season, said: “I wanted to be at 110% but I’m at 100%, which is a good level to be at to help your team.”

He then went on to talk more about his problem with tendinitis in his knee and that he doesn’t remember a game of football in which he hasn’t felt some sort of pain.

Elsewhere, Portuguese paper A Bola has claimed Real want to sign Benfica goalkeeper Jan Oblak. With some doubt over the future of Iker Casillas at the club, Los Blancos are eying the 21-year-old as a long-term replacement for the World Cup winner and club captain.

Finally, former Los Blancos player Arjen Robben has said he will never forget his time at the club and looks back on his spell as a Real Madrid player fondly. He also revealed that at the end of the Spain vs Holland game on Friday he sought out Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos to congratulate them for winning the Champions League.

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The World Cup has finally kicked off, and Real Madrid have a number of representatives who will fight for the crown. Up to 12 of Carlo Ancelotti’s men are taking part in the tournament. Many of them will surely score goals, following the steps of Luis Regueiro, the first Madridista to have ever scored in a World Cup.

The first goal of a Real Madrid player in a World Cup did not arrive soon. In fact, in the first edition of the tournament –Uruguay 1930 – there were no Real Madrid players at all in the competition. The reason is that Los Blancos only had Spanish players in that year’s squad, and Spain didn’t take part in the first World Cup.

Things changed in the second edition of the tournament – Italy 1934. Spain did qualify this time and Real Madrid was finally represented in the most important football competition on the planet. Italy saw the first goal by a Real man at the World Cup.

Luis Regueiro scored on May 31st 1934, in the quarter-final match between Spain and Italy at Giovanni Berta Stadium, in Florence. Regueiro put the Spaniards ahead in the 30th minute, but the hosts managed to equalise before half-time thanks to Ferrari’s goal.

The final result of the game was a 1-1 draw.  Back then, there was no extra-time and no penalties, Spain and Italy had to play a second match to determine who would qualify for the semi-finals. Finally, the Azzurri moved into the next round after beating Spain 1-0, and they would go on to win the World Cup.

Luis Regueiro played for Real Madrid from 1931 to 1936 and scored 54 goals in 125 appearances for Los Blancos. As a Madridista, he won La Liga twice and also two Copas.

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Napoli manager Rafa Benitez is eying a move for Real Madrid full back Alvaro Arbeloa, according to reports.

El Mundo Deportivo says Bentinez wants to raid the Santiago Bernabeu again this summer, having already done plenty of business with Los Blancos 12 months ago when he took Gonzalo Higuain, Raul Albiol and Jose Callejon to Seria A.

And now he is said to be keen on 31-year-old right-back Arbeloa, who he has worked with in the past. Arbeloa played under Benitez at Liverpool before he made a switch to the Spanish capital in 2009.

Since his arrival at Los Blancos, the World Cup winner has made 126 appearances in La Liga, and picked up a league winners medal in 2012. The experienced defender was injured for a large part of this season, allowing Daniel Carvajal to overtake him in the pecking order at the club.

As a result of his injury problems and lack of playing time, he missed out on a call up for the Spain squad for the World Cup in Brazil, and is believed to be considering his options away from the 10-time European Cup winners.

Napoli need cover in both full back positions, which Arbeloa is comfortable with. He can also play in the centre of defence, and Benitez sees his versatility as a big advantage.

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France manager Didier Deschamps has called on Karim Benzema to replicate his Real Madrid form for his country at the World Cup.

Les Bleus take on Honduras in their first group game today, and the Los Blancos man should start up front for the 1998 World Cup winners.

But despite being one of the most feared forwards at club level, Benzema has often struggled to shine on the international stage, although he warmed up for the tournament with a brace in France’s 8-0 thrashing of Jamaica last weekend.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Deschamps said everyone knows how dangerous Benzema can be and how difficult he can be to play against. The striker helped Los Blancos to the Copa del Rey and Champions League titles this year and formed a lethal understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Deschamps said: “He has always played at a high level, although he has had some downs. But we have all seen what he has done for Real Madrid, how relaxed and concentrated he is. And that’s good.”

The France boss added that he has faith in all his players after a good build up in the friendlies.

“We have prepared the best way possible. With the friendlies we played, the training sessions, everything for this match. But it’s what we’ll do tomorrow that matters. We won’t change anything now, or get more anxious just because the match is just around the corner,” he stated.

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Spain is still in shock at their defeat to Holland and the newspapers are dissecting what happened to them.

But Marca and AS still have plenty of content about Real Madrid, and today we’ll start with a player not involved in the World Cup – Gareth Bale. The Welshman is currently enjoying his summer break as his country did not qualify for the tournament.

Having made a great impact in his first season with Los Blancos, the 24-year-old is looking forward to even greater things to come. Bale, a 91-million-euro signing from Tottenham Hotspur, scored a brilliant winner in the final of the Copa del Rey, and also grabbed the crucial second Los Blancos goal in the Champions League final, to become the third man in Real Madrid history to score goals in both finals in the same season.

Now, he is looking forward to winning every trophy possible with Madrid next season, as well as picking up the Ballon d’Or award.

AS quotes Bale saying: “This season I want to win the Ballon d’Or and win everything possible with Real Madrid. I want Madrid to be the best team in the world without debate.”

Elsewhere, Chelsea midfielder Ramires has gone on record with his admiration for Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, as Los Blancos eye a move for the Brazilian. Ancelotti signed Ramires for the west London club in his time as Chelsea boss but wants to be reunited with him now at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has penned an open letter to the Italy team urging them to be united and work for each other if they want to win the World Cup.

Italy take on England tonight in their opening match in Manaus, before games against Costa Rica and Uruguay.

And Los Blancos boss Ancelotti wants to see the squad united in their believe they can lift the trophy ahead of some of the favourites including Brazil and Argentina. In the letter, published by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ancelotti drew on his experience with Real Madrid after helping them secure the 10th Champions League crown following a 12-year wait.

“You can do it, lads. I’m telling you loud and clear. Prandelli’s Italy can deliver a dream, a wonderful adventure that we, we Italians, must all get behind. Taking part in a World Cup is exhilarating and tense and that’s why we need everyone’s help to achieve something big,” Ancelotti wrote.
And he went on to say: “When people talk about our chances, they are sceptical, they don’t believe. Well, I guarantee that if the team and the coaching staff are united and in tune with each other, if the environment is favourable, the results are more likely to go our way. That’s how Real Madrid won the Champions League.”
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