the FIFA gala – the moments

Even if the result was unexpected, yesterday’s gala wasn’t without its moments.  So here is a summary of what happened last night at the FIFA awards gala, which had six of our players – Iker Casillas, David Villa, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué in attendance, as well as the my favorite coach, the one and only Vicente del Bosque.

The Ballon d’Or

Leo Messi beat Andrés Iniesta and Xavi to take home the Ballon d’Or last night in Zürich during the FIFA awards gala.  He received 22.65% of the votes to Andresito’s 17.36% and Xavi’s 16.48%.  As stated previously, I was quite surprised by the result, because I really wanted a Spaniard to win it (not that Messi didn’t deserve it for his merits).  The disillusionment was compounded by the fact that Vicente del Bosque lost out on the coach of the year award to José Mourinho (Mou received 35.92% to VDB’s 33.08% and Pep Guardiola’s 8%).  Really, what else can Spain do to get some recognition?  They won the World Cup!!!!

I think part of the reason we went hope empty-handed is because La Roja is a team, where no individual shines brightly enough to eclipse all others.  And since this is an award for individuals, it can’t take that team intangible into consideration.

As for the actual Ballon d’Or voting, Iker gave his points to Arjen Robben, Wesley “Welly” Sneijder and Cristiano Ronaldo.  Vicente del Bosque parceled his out among Leo Messi, Cristiano and Schweinsteiger.  Meanwhile, in terms of coaches, Iker’s first place vote was invalid.  I’m going to assume that’s because he voted for VDB.  Other interesting notes:  neither Zlatan Ibrahimovic nor Samuel Eto’o, as captains of their respective national teams, voted for either Leo Messi or Pep Guardiola.  They did vote for Iniesta and Xavi.

As stated before, Andrés finished second and Xavi third.  Three others placed in the top 10:  Iker was seventh, Villa eighth and Xabi tenth,  Puyol finished in 11th place.

Reactions

Iker spoke with his heart on his sleeve, saying that he saw the result as a “deception”:  “I would have liked a Spaniard to win it.  It’s a pity because we had a lot of hopes pinned on this important award.  But fortune wasn’t with us and no one was able to accompany Luis Suárez (the only Spaniard to win the award, in 1960).  The World Cup had to mean more, but it’s not up to me.”

Leo had the nice gesture of offering to share the award with Iniesta and Xavi and said they deserved it as much as he did.  Xavi, for his part, said that Messi deserved it, and that “we’ll see what happens next year, you never know what’s going to happen… My life wouldn’t have changed with the award.  I would have continued with the same hopes.”  Meanwhile, Andrés remarked that “Messi was a deserved winner, and we’re content with that.  We were just happy to be here.”

VDB told the press that Messi is a great player and deserves the Ballon’Or, but that his two players are “extraordinary” and that no one was a loser that night.  And once again showing his class, he said that Mourinho was deserving of his award.  Meanwhile, José Mourinho said he felt bad for Sneijder, Cristiano, Casillas, Iniesta and especially Xavi, “whom I have known since he was a kid and who deserved the award for his career.”

The ideal starting XI

We did slightly better with the naming of the FIFA/FIFPro ideal starting XI of 2010, with six players from La Roja:  Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa and Iker.  During the ceremony, Iker, Puyol and Piqué were seen whispering with each other (they were all in a row), and at one point Puyol dropped his award.

Several of the players were interviewed at that point, including Iker and Piqué.  Iker spoke in Spanish, while Piqué spoke in English, and VDB watched them with a proud smile on his face.  Iker was asked what he felt when they won the Cup.  His response was “an immense happiness for all Spaniards, and for the group, who is very well represented here.  The victory ended all uncertainties about Spanish football.”  Meanwhile, Geri was queried as to what La Roja’s secret of success is: “I think that one of the most important things is the atmosphere in the dressing room, no?   When you play in the pitch you can see the good relation that we have, and I think that it’s really important for a team, no, that wants to win titles.”

The tweets

Cesc – (self-explanatory).

Sergio – I also want to congratulate all my friends and teammates that formed part of the ideal starting XI.  Congratulations to all of them.

Puyol – Andrés and Xavi also deserved it, they’re great!

Piqué – Congratulations to Leo!  In my opinion, he’s already the greatest (here, grande means great) of all time!

Puyol – (To Piqué) You are also the más grande (here, grande means big) but in terms of height…

Other notes

Xavi and Iniesta sat in the front, with Messi between them.  Puyol sat next to Piqué (huge surprise there), and Iker sat next to David Villa.

VDB also had presenting duties, handing out the women’s coach of the year award.

There was also a tribute to the World Cup, ending with the World Cup winners, and that made me get all emotional again, seeing Iniesta’s goal and Iker raising up the trophy.

To end:

Carles Puyol dethrones Iker Casillas as the resident saint of the national team.