¡campeones! – la resaca

The day ended at Mesón Txistu, where the players had dinner with their friends and family.  And then it was on to the nearby New Garamond club for a private celebration with friends and family.  According to this interview, there were also a lot of Z-list people there as well.  What a strange combination!

And with that, the 2010 World Cup for Spain came to an end.  I would say it was successful, no?

Anyway, here are the rest of the things the resulted from the victory in South Africa.

Awards, honors and statistics

– Sergio Ramos was the king of South Africa, according to the Castrol Index.  That means he was the “most influential and effective player” out there during the tournament.

– FIFA awards: Iker received the adidas Golden Glove, Spain the Fair Play award, and David Villa took home the adidas Bronze Ball and the adidas Silver Boot.

– Spain became the World Cup champion with the least number of goals scored, with eight goals in seven games.

– Six Spanish players – Iker, Sergio, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa – were named to FIFA’s All Star team.  Vicente del Bosque was chosen as the best coach.

– Spain is once again tops FIFA’s world rankings, returning to the number one spot.

– And to eat with all the Cruzcampo beer they’re going to get, each player will get a jamón ibérico BEHER.

Hometown tributes

– Iker: Iker has been named a favorite son of his hometown, Móstoles.  He will become the first-ever person to receive that title.  The mayor of the town said that Iker “represents the values of Móstoles:  strength, professionalism, youth and peace.”  Iker is already the owner of the gold medal of Móstoles (another recipient is King JCI).

Iker’s current home, Boadilla del Monte, announced that they will name a street after the Spanish victory in South Africa.

As for summer plans, he’s been seen hanging out with Sara.  I wonder if he’ll make a charity trip this summer?

– Albiol: Raúl Albiol received a homage in his hometown of Vilamarxant (Valencia) on Tuesday.  He was honored in the town hall, where he got to set off some firecrackers and received a chocolate replica of the World Cup.  He’s also been nominated to receive the favorite son and gold medal awards of his pueblo.  Raúl said that the celebration in Madrid was impressive, but being at home gave him goosebumps.  Albiol didn’t want to say what he had promised to do should Spain win the World Cup, but said the worst thing was that Juan Mata needs to return from South Africa by Vespa.

Raúl was also honored by the government of Valencia on Wednesday with the “Cruz de Honor de Jaume I El Conqueridor” award, one of the highest distinctions offered by the Generalitat.  Albiol said that it was an honor and a pleasure to be there, and “viva España y vixca Valencia.”

– Pedro: on Friday, the government of Tenerife will honor Pedrito by named him an illustrious son of Tenerife.  He’ll get the chance to go out on the balcony of the town hall to greet his fellow tinerfeños.

– Pepe Reina: Pepe was received by the mayor of Córdoba (Pepe’s dad was born there), who congratulated him for the victory and thanked him for his support of the city.  Pepe has expressed his support for Córdoba’s bid to become the European cultural capital in 2016 [it is a fantastic city!].  The government has also proposed that he be named as an adopted son of Córdoba.

– Navas: Jesús Navas’ first stop on Tuesday was Sevilla, where he presented (the club) Sevilla’s president José María del Nido with the shirt in which he had won the World Cup.  He said that he had dreamed of winning the World Cup since he was a kid, and had always fought to make that dream come true.  The shirt will be displayed at Sevilla’s museum.

Then it was on to his pueblo, Los Palacios y Villafranca, where he received a homage on Tuesday.  Some 5,000 residents, including his parents, siblings, grandparents and friends, surrounded the plaza where the town hall was to welcome back one of their own (Jesús was born there and still live there with his family).  He was welcomed by the mayor and other government officials, who revealed that Jesús will soon receive the town’s golden coat of arms award.  After that, Jesús made an offering in the form of a wreath of flowers to the Virgin of the Snow, of which he is a devotee, to thank her for her help during the World Cup.

– Xabi Alonso: the mayor of San Sebastián congratulated Xabi Alonso and said that he has become “el único guipuzcoano y donostiarra txuriurdin txapeldun mundial.”

– Busquets: Sergio Busquets returned to Badía del Vallés, spoke to the townspeople from the balcony of the town hall, and helped to inaugurate a summer campus named after him.

– Marchena: Carlos Marchena received a homage in Las Cabezas de San Juan, where he was driven through the town in a convertible while wearing a shirt from local club Club Deportivo Cabecense, with some 1,000 people lining the streets.  A sports center will also be named after him.  He could hardly speak, and presented a shirt of the team to the town.

– Iniesta: Andrés returned to Barcelona and had to attend a Nike promotional act.  He revealed that his Dani Jarque tribute was something he had been thinking about for a long time.  Andrés will also be honored by Fuentealbilla, his hometown.

– Capdevila: Joan Capdevila’s peña organized a parade for him in Tàrrega, and some 2,000 people came out to cheer him on as he rode by in a convertible.  The destination was the town hall, where he was met by the mayor, and signed the book of honor of the town.

– Javi Martínez: Javi was invited by the city of Pamplona to the town hall to watch from the balcony the closing of the San Fermín festival, with the Comparsa de Gigantes and Cabezudos.  Javi received a red San Fermín kerchief and a painting of the saint and caravinagre (Javi revealed that he had asked the saint for protection).  Wearing the typical outfit of Sanfermínes, he signed a shirt and posed for photos, saying that for him, debuting would have been sufficient, but that winning was the best.  He added that he got emotional upon seeing how full of people the Plaza del Castillo was, and that Madrid was spectacular, but this touched him more.  In Aiegi, Javi’s hometown, he received a homage and a football field was named after him.

Javi revealed that the promise he made, to dye his hair pink, will have to wait because he has to return to Athletic on Aug. 2 and he doesn’t believe it appropriate to show up like that.

– Llorente: accompanied by his parents and brother, Fernando Llorente was honored by the government of La Rioja in Logroño, as well as by his hometown, Rincón de Soto.  A sports center there will be named after him, and a plaque with his name revealed.

– Sergio Ramos: Sergio will receive a homage in Camas, which will take place after he returns from Senegal, where he’ll be for the next four days with UNICEF.  Sergio, Jesús and Carlos Marchena will all also receive an award from Sevilla on the day of the province on May 23, 2011.

– Arbeloa: Álvaro returned to Zaragoza, where he has lived since he was four.  He said he would be spending his vacation on the beach with his wife and daughter.

– Villa: David Villa returned to his hometown of Tuilla (Asturias).  He thanked the people of Tuilla for their love and support, saying that he knew what was going on there because friends sent him photos, and he also talked with them on the phone after games.  He added that his intention now is to spend time with his family.  David will also receive a tribute in Langreo.

– Carles Puyol: La Pobla de Segur has contacted Carles’ mother to talk to her about organizing a homage.  The date is yet to be confirmed, because it’s not know when he will return.  And of course, Carles will be making a decision as to whether he’ll continue with the national team or not.

– Xavi: Terrassa also has a tribute in mind, but doesn’t know when or how to do it.  The town already presented Xavi with their gold medal last February.

– Cesc: the situation is the same in Arenys de Mar.

– Valdés: Víctor is already on vacation, and Gavà is trying to plan some kind of homage when he returns.

– Piqué: Barcelona has no plans to receive Gerard or hold any kind of event in his honor.  However, Sant Guim de Freixenet, where Geri’s father was born, will honor him on July 30, at the same time that the Penya Barcelonista Gerard Piqué is inaugurated.

– Vicente del Bosque: VDB will be named as a favorite son of Salamanca, his hometown in September.

Other news

– David Silva: David Silva wrote a letter to the fans of Valencia, thanking them for their support and telling them that he considers the club to be his home.  He described his time there as “extraordinary” and ended with an ¡Amunot Valenica!

– Torres: Fernando Torres injured himself in the last minute of the game and received a checkup before he started his vacation.  According to the national team doctors, he has a small tear to his left thigh.  He’ll be out for about 20 days.

– Juan Mata: Juanín started his vacations in Madrid (destination was the Caribbean) and it’s unknown when he will return to Asturias.