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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

World Cup 2010 Blog: “The Spanish Celebrations” plus 2 more

Link to International Football News - World Cup Blog

The Spanish Celebrations
Pepe Reina: Flight Attendant
Euro 2012: The Awards

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:06 PM PDT

In miniature snippets, anyway. Landing back in Madrid today, they got their parade. Which they can just begin scheduling ahead of time until they don’t win a trophy. Which might be awhile yet, since, well, the youth teams are as good as the senior side, relatively.

Plus Alvaro Arbeloa climbing off a bus.

(Any word if Sergio Ramos was allowed to touch the trophy?)

Pepe Reina: Flight Attendant

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 07:41 AM PDT

On their way back to the homeland from Polkraine, now officially one nation, Pepe Reina stopped to help out the overworked flight attendants of [insert airline name here]. Gerard Pique then recorded it on Shakira’s iPhone and posted it on the internets. Which is good for Pepe, because it’s the first meaningful employment he’s had for his country in awhile.

So there’s that.

Euro 2012: The Awards

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 07:20 AM PDT

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Andres Iniesta may not be able to tan, but the man can play some football. He is, of course, your Player of the Tournament, Spain’s predetermined choice for the award were they to emerge with the spoils (Andrea Pirlo being Italy’s choice). Oh, and it helps that he was brilliant in the final too.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Italy), Casillas (Spain), Neuer (Germany).

Defenders: Piqué (Spain), Coentrão (Portugal), Lahm (Germany), Pepe (Portugal), Ramos (Spain), Jordi Alba (Spain).

Midfielders: De Rossi (Italy), Gerrard (England), Xavi (Spain), Iniesta (Spain), Khedira (Germany), Busquets (Spain), Ozil (Germany), Pirlo (Italy), Xabi Alonso (Spain).

Forwards: Balotelli (Italy), Fábregas (Spain), Ronaldo (Portugal), Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Silva (Spain).

Cesc slots in at forward ahead of a certain teammate, which means Vicente Del Bosque slots in to a reality show where he predicts the lotto for a sizable paycheck.

Meanwhile that teammate, Fernando Torres, wins the tournament’s Golden Boot, one of six to score three, but tossing in a late assist as one tie-breaker and playing the fewest minutes (189) as the decider.

For a £50m bust, he’s sure collecting a lot of big trophies. Go figure.

Monday, July 2, 2012

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Spain: The Trophy Hoist” plus 2 more

Spain: The Trophy Hoist
Spain: Champions Of Everything
At The Half: Spain Leading

Spain: The Trophy Hoist

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 04:07 PM PDT

Attempting to wade through YouTube after UEFA’s team of fun police has taken stand is akin to grabbing the ball off Andres Iniesta. A few have snaked their way through – most look like they were produced on an Apple II.

But…Iker’s arms must be getting tired.

The celebrations should be rather good too – what with them having lots of practice and all.

Spain: Champions Of Everything

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 01:37 PM PDT

Pardon the familiarty: Spain’s brilliant.

There was a chance at the half, but that all ended when Italy’s third substitute, Thiago Motta, yanked his hammy four minutes after coming on, at the hour mark. Thirty minutes of catching up to a brilliant Spain’s two-goal margin while a man don just ain’t gonna happen, and the celebrations began. These celebrations included a third from Fernando Torres (Golden Boot winner, by the by) and a fourth from Juan Mata.

And now they can focus on becoming the second European side to win a World Cup outside of the continent in 2014. After Spain. Four years ago.

Has it been said they’re brilliant yet?

At The Half: Spain Leading

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 12:34 PM PDT

Well, it appears as though the final night is to be Spanish for the third time in three – unless Italy can get their act together quite quickly, that is. One brilliant pass-back and header from Cesc to Silva (obviously) and a brilliant ball onto the newly-minty Jordi Alba from one Xavi is enough for a 2-0 lead heading into the half. Giorgio Chiellini has also gone off with an injury. So once again: tis a Spanish eve.

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