ICYMI – Spain vs. Venezuela

In case you missed it – Spain vs. Venezuela [2012-02-09, international friendly, 5-0].

Did this game satisfy your craving for La Roja?  Were you happy with the result?  Are you excited about Euro 2012?  For me, the answers are yes and no (great game, but no Javi (!!!), yes, and yes!!

all set for Venezuela!

The last time Spain played in Málaga was a little over four years ago, on Feb. 5, 2008, and now they’re back, to take on Venezuela in a friendly (21:30h), which is also the team’s last game before preparations begin on this summer’s Eurocopa.

con las rojas

Perhaps I should change the name of this blog to “con las rojas” because the U-20 team provided the win yesterday, while the “maldición de los amistosos” continued for the senior team.

making the most out of the trip

After the game on Saturday, several of the boys enjoyed themselves at the Roxy club in Providence.  Borja Valero, Álvaro Negredo, Andoni Iraola, Manu del Moral, David Villa, Fernando Llorente, Pepe Reina, Pedro Rodríguez, David Silva, Bruno Soriano, Dr. Celada, and fisios Fernando Galán and Raúl Martínez were all spotted at the club.  The pictures posted by Roxy on their Facebook are (perhaps inadvertently) funny to me, some for the outfits (it’s great to see the boys in normal clothes) and others for the posing, and you know I always have a lot to say about those things, so…

lots more reasons to love this team

A Marca headline in today’s edition said, “¿Estados Unidos o Estamos unidos?” (The United States, or we are united?).  Judging from the past few days, I’d have to say both!  And this picture below is proof – Iker posted this shot of him, David Villa, Fernando Llorente, Andoni Iraola and Pepe Reina on his FB, saying, “a game of pocha is never bad.”  As Fernando Llorente said, “somos una piña.”  I see Joan is continuing his strike, and why is Pepe wearing normal clothes?

Keep reading for all the news from yesterday…

to Boston/Providence we go!

One more moment from yesterday’s training session, although I don’t know if we can really call it that, considering that our team just looks like a bunch of cute little schoolboys during recess.  But I suppose Javi Miñano knows what he’s doing…

And now, onto the United States…

reunited (and it feels so good?) Plus, the fashion review!

The 23 players called up to play for Spain in the upcoming friendlies against the U.S and Venezuela gathered at Las Rozas this afternoon, with 13h as the deadline.  The first to show up was newlywed Andoni Iraola, who arrived at noon, followed by Joan Capdevila and David Silva.  All of the Barcelona players arrived about an hour late, as their flight was delayed, with the exception of David Villa, as he was already in Madrid to film a commercial.  Vicente del Bosque greeted his boys with a vuvuzela…

Was he trying to remind them of the good times they had in South Africa?  In any case, it’s adorable!  The team will train at 19h today, before flying to Boston tomorrow afternoon.  Read on for declarations at the Ciudad de Fútbol, as well as fashion observations!!

the U-21 list, Manu del Moral, Javi (!!!) & more!

The list: Luis Milla has announced the list of 23 players called up for next month’s U-21 Euro, and they are…

Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Rubén Miño, Diego Mariño.

Defenders: Mikel San José, Álvaro Domínguez, Martín Montoya, Dídac Vilà, Alberto Botia, Víctor Ruiz, César Azpilicueta, José Ángel Valdés.

Midfielders: Thiago Alcántara, Rubén Pérez, Dani Parejo, Diego Capel, Ander Herrera, Emilio Nsue, Juan Mata, Javi Martínez (!!!).

Forwards: Iker Muniain, Bojan Krkic, Adrián López Álvarez, Jeffrén Suárez.