la selección in El Mundo Magazine, part I

This weekend’s Magazine from El Mundo is their World Cup special.  As such, it features seven players from the national team, from head to toe, literally.  Each player’s interview (they are asked the same 20 questions) is accompanied by two pictures, one of their face and the other of their feet.  The feet pictures are a bit disgusting – Navas has the worst feet, and Silva and Llorente have the most normal looking feet.

There is also a one page article with thousands of words by Sara Carbonero, entitled “Why I Like This National Team.”  I can sum it up for her in two words:  Iker Casillas.

Since it feels like I’m spending all my waking time translating from Spanish to English, I’ll handle this in twos and threes, and in the order they came in in the magazine.  That means that David Villa, Gerard Piqué and Xabi Alonso will be the first ones!

It should come as no surprise that Xabi Alonso is the only one out of the seven that knows anything about Durban.

And for those keeping score because they know what it means, Llorente and Piqué have the biggest feet – both are size 45!

Interviews after the jump!

(Click on pictures for full-size versions!  You know you want to see David’s soul patch, Piqué’s luscious lips and Xabi’s beard up close!)

Update: Part II Part III

David Villa

1.  What is your first memory of a World Cup? I’m not sure if it’s the first, but the one that has stayed in my mind is the elbow Tassotti gave Luis Enrique in the World Cup in 1994.  I remember the image of his broken nose.

2.  And which goal do you remember the best? For sure, Maradona’s goal against England.  Not the one involving his hand, of course.

3.  What book or music will you bring along in your suitcase? A bit of everything, since we’ll be away for a long time, and you have to be prepared for that…

4.  Who will go with you? My family.

5.  What is your dream final? Any that we are in.  The important thing is to get there…

6.  We’ve come down to penalties and it’s your turn, how will you take it? With concentration!

7.  And if we win, what crazy thing will you do? I have no idea.  As I’ve said, I’m more worried about what we have to do in order to win and then be able to go crazy.

8.  What will cause you to cry more, winning or losing the final? Mmmm.  The truth is winning, that I’m sure of.

9.  And if we don’t go past the quarterfinals…? That’s something I’m not even thinking about.

10.  Which of the following will give us more indigestion: Swiss cheese, Chilean empanadas or Honduran yucca? Haha… I hope we digest all of the food well.

11.  Are you surprised that the multimillion football business brought the World Cup to South Africa? It means that football is a global phenomenon and that it’s everywhere.  That’s good for the country and the sport.

12.  What do you know about Durban? Not much…

13.  Before the debut, abstinence or going crazy? No… tranquility.

14.  Who or what would you give a red card to? That’s the job of the ref and the linesmen…

15.  When was the last time you felt uncomfortable, and why? Off the field, I don’t know what to say.

16.  Who or what would you like to score a goal against? Any goalkeeper.

17.  For who or what would you dive into the deep end for? (the same phrase means to dive on the field as well, in the penalty area) I don’t like to do that on the field.  Off the field, for more than one thing…

18.  You’ve taken the microphone from Reina.  “Camarero…” Haha… No, no, I would never even consider doing that.

19.  You have to dance, which type would you choose? Without a doubt, flamenco.

20.  Have you won the final on Playstation? No, no…

Gerard Piqué

1.  What is your first memory of a World Cup? When Luis Enrique’s nose was broken in the U.S. in 1994.

2.  And which goal do you remember the best? Zidane’s in the 1998 final in France, against Brazil.

3.  What book or music will you bring along in your suitcase? Neither music nor books.  I’ll bring my Playstation.

4.  Who will go with you? I hope my parents and my girlfriend.

5.  What is your dream final? It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, as long as we win.

6.  We’ve come down to penalties and it’s your turn, how will you take it? With concentration and trying to get over the pressure.

7.  And if we win, what crazy thing will you do? We’ll see… the celebration for the Eurocopa wasn’t bad.

8.  What will cause you to cry more, winning or losing the final? I’m not sure.  When we won the Champions I cried from happiness, but if we lose the final… I think I would also cry for that.

9.  And if we don’t go past the quarterfinals…? Well we tried, and there will be other World Cups.

10.  Which of the following will give us more indigestion: Swiss cheese, Chilean empanadas or Honduran yucca? Chilean food is the one that gives the most indigestion…

11.  Are you surprised that the multimillion football business brought the World Cup to South Africa? I think it’s good that it’s being held in Africa, and I know that it will be carried out with hope and desire.

12.  What do you know about Durban? I imagine it’s where we will make our debut, which is why you’re asking me about it.

13.  Before the debut, abstinence or going crazy? No, tranquility.

14.  Who or what would you give a red card to? I prefer to give green ones…

15.  When was the last time you felt uncomfortable, and why? For example, each time I go to the movies with my girlfriend.  I don’t know how to act when people talk to me.

16.  Who or what would you like to score a goal against? Against no one, I don’t like to criticize.

17.  For who or what would you dive into the deep end for? (the same phrase means to dive on the field as well, in the penalty area) For my friends, for my loved ones.

18.  You’ve taken the microphone from Reina.  “Camarero…” Haha… I’ll leave it to him, he’s a specialist.  I’m a rookie.

19.  You have to dance, which type would you choose? Tango.  It’s the most elegant.

20.  Have you won the final on Playstation? Yes!  In the training camp, I played a final with Arbeloa, Albiol and Busquets and we won!

Xabi Alonso

1.  What is your first memory of a World Cup? Italy ’90, Míchel’s hat trick.

2.  And which goal do you remember the best? The one I scored… noooo, that’s a joke.  One that Carlos Alberto scored with Brazil.

3.  What book or music will you bring along in your suitcase? Íñigo Gurruchaga’s Scunthorpe hasta la muerte.  And in my iPod, Calamaro and Sabina.

4.  Who will go with you? As of right now, no one except my teammates.

5.  What is your dream final? Against England, for my past experiences…

6.  We’ve come down to penalties and it’s your turn, how will you take it? Haha… I don’t know, I’ll decide when I’m in the center of the field.

7.  And if we win, what crazy thing will you do? I don’t have anything planned, but shaving my head or waxing wouldn’t be a problem…

8.  What will cause you to cry more, winning or losing the final? I don’t cry much, but probably losing…

9.  And if we don’t go past the quarterfinals…? We would be very sad, but this is not an option for us.

10.  Which of the following will give us more indigestion: Swiss cheese, Chilean empanadas or Honduran yucca? The cheese won’t be a problem, but I’m sure the rest won’t be so easy…

11.  Are you surprised that the multimillion football business brought the World Cup to South Africa? Well, it could be a boost for the country.

12.  What do you know about Durban? That it’s on the coast, in the south, and that everything will start there.

13.  Before the debut, abstinence or going crazy? Abstinence, since my wife is not coming!

14.  Who or what would you give a red card to? To violence and racism in football.

15.  When was the last time you felt uncomfortable, and why? On the field, in the last game of the Liga, I think.

16.  Who or what would you like to score a goal against? I don’t know, but better on the field and against a goalkeeper.

17.  For who or what would you dive into the deep end for? (the same phrase means to dive on the field as well, in the penalty area) For dialogue, and tolerance.

18.  You’ve taken the microphone from Reina.  “Camarero…” Noooo, I don’t know, Pepe does it very well!

19.  You have to dance, which type would you choose? The tango is very elegant, and flamenco, of course.

20.  Have you won the final on Playstation? No, I don’t usually play.  I want to win the final in South Africa!