World Cup 2010 Blog: Your Token Euro 2012 Wrap Video

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Your Token Euro 2012 Wrap Video Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT Because what is the internet without well-done mashes of major tournament highlights set to poppy sountracks with slo-mo focus and a light layer of editing? Nothin’.

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World Cup 2010 Blog: “France: Mo’ Problems, No Money” plus 1 more

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France: Mo’ Problems, No Money Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT There is just no end to the toxic storm which encircles the French national team. After seemingly breaking from the dysfunction which defined their World Cup 2010 campaign, Euro 2012 was to be their fresh new start under the fresh new Laurent Blanc regime. Yeah, didn’t happen. More in-fighting, more public drama, more of the same on the pitch as well. 2006 was a long time ago, wasn’t it? So, of course, the standard post-tournament move by the FFF: bonuses frozen. Plus a few who will need to ’splain themselves before the authorities. Bonuses owed to the France team for having made the quarter-finals of the recently-concluded European Championships have been frozen, the French football federation announced on Tuesday. Each member of the French team, which lost 2-0 in the quarters to eventual winners Spain, was eligible for a bonus of 100,000 euros. But in light of the in-fighting and ill-discipline that dogged the country’s Euro campaign, federation president Noel Le Graet said: “The whole of the bonuses of the France team at Euro 2012 are frozen. “It’s blocked money, which may be redistributed or maybe not.” “Four players will go before the disciplinary committee: (Hatem) Ben Arfa, (Yann) Mvila, (Samir) Nasri and (Jeremy) Menez,” Le Graet said after a meeting of the executive committee, a body he said was unable to impose sanctions. Bet M’Vila wishes he’d rolled his ankle just a little bit harder.

Becoming Andres Iniesta Posted: 03 Jul 2012 07:41 AM PDT Want to be like Andres Iniesta? Take a ball everywhere you go – including knocking one around deplaning after a major tournament victory. (Someone’s mumbling some nonsense about genetics in the back.) After the jump, something a bit more difficult to recreate: 7 minutes of YouTube highlights of the performance against Italy which sealed his Player of the Tournament award. [101gg]

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

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

The Spanish Celebrations 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 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.

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