day 41 – all set for Italy!

June 30, 2012.

¡Vamos España!  ¡Todos con La Roja!  After one month, it’s time to play the final of the Eurocopa!  Spain faces Italy at 20:45h tonight in Kiev, looking to further cement its place in history.  But no matter what happens, this is still the best team in the world.  As Iker said in an interview with El País (worth the read), “we’re like a game of Tetris, all of the pieces fit perfectly.”

Everyone looks so much younger, no?

in demand – Eurocopa edition

La Roja has many sponsors, and they’re allowed to “use” the players for their advertisements and spots.  Here’s a look at some of them that have been published or aired during this Eurocopa.

Cruzcampo.

The Spanish beer company filmed a great little ad with five of our boys, but the highlight has to be the fantastic time they had shooting the video.  We can see how fun it was, and we get a glimpse of Sergio and Xabi’s party tricks!  They’d be super fun and interesting guests, no?

day 38 – to the final (I)!

June 27, 2012.

We are through to the final!  It took more than two hours and quite a few heart pounding moments, but Spain will be playing in the final of the 2012 Eurocopa against Italy.

ONE.  Prior to the game, we had the players all listening to music through huge headphones (especially Fernando Llorente), texting or both simultaneously.  Meanwhile, Xabi had to have his coffee and Pepe his beer.

day 33 – all set for France!

June 22, 2012.

Well, the Eurocopa quarterfinal game between Spain and France is upon us, and hopefully it will be as epic as it was four years ago, although not as nerve-wracking!  This game will also be Xabi Alonso’s 100th game with La Roja (since I think we can safely assume that he will start the game).  He played his first game with the Spanish national team on April 30, 2003, in Madrid and against Ecuador; Spain won that game 4-0.

Love the positioning!

three and a half minutes with… Fernando Torres

“El Niño smiles and his freckles sparkle.  He warns about how little he likes these things.  And he lied when he said, ‘I’ll say many stupid things.’  There weren’t that many.”  That’s the introduction to this Q&A with Fernando Torres.  I love his wild guesses!

1.  What makes you angry?  Uf, many things. 

2. How much are chickens these days?  2000.

3.  Do you have good handwriting?  Yes.

4.  Do you like croquetas?  I love croquetas.

5.  Does your cousin carry a risk?  Of course.

6.  How many goals has Villa scored for Spain?  200.

7.  Where is the Antiguo neighborhood?  In Cornellà.

8.  Have you tried Iniesta’s wine?  No. 

9.  What position did Mata’s father play?  As a winger.

10.  What is the purpose of a crankshaft?  So that storks can perch.

day 30 – rest & relaxation

June 19, 2012.

On Tuesday, the team had a closed training session in the morning, and received the afternoon off.  At the training session, the starters did recovery work and put themselves in the capable hands of the fisios, while the rest of the players partook in a normal training session.

Via twitter, we found out that Javi (!!!) spent the afternoon with his mother: “in the end, the best plan, Mamá!!!”  (yes, he did use three exclamation marks!!!).  And since Fortu is his mother, she’s more than worthy of it!!!

day 29 – to the quarterfinals!

June 18, 2012.

It’s time to break with the past!  France will be our next rival in the Eurocopa quarterfinals, and in the six official games played between Spain and France, Spain doesn’t have a single victory (one tie and five losses).  Out of the 30 games played, Spain’s balance is 13-6-11.  I still remember how painful it was when France eliminated us in the 2000 Eurocopa and the 2006 World Cup, so hopefully this time Spain will break with the precedence.  There’s no time like now!

As for the game that brought us into the quarterfinals, well, we had the “Parador Nacional” (“parador nacional” can mean this or someone who makes stops), who also happens to be a saint.

day 28 – all set for Croatia!

June 17, 2012.

We are all set for our last game in the group stage (20:45h vs. Croatia)!  Hopefully Juanín will have a chance to show just how strong he is, no?  And that expression on Fernando Torres’ face… they’re adorable.

Spain will end up first in the group if it wins; if it ties Croatia and Italy does not win; if it ties Croatia and scores at least two goals; or if the result is 1-1 and Italy does not beat Ireland 5-1 or more.  Spain will be second if it ties Croatia 0-0 and Italy beats Ireland, or if it loses and Italy does not win.  Spain will be eliminated only if it loses and Italy beats Ireland.  Bottom line: we’re going for a win.