For many it felt like a necessary game too, one that not only closed a unique cycle, of Euros-World Cup-Euros, but closed the debate too. Amid the criticism and accusation, the final felt like the kind of performance Spain needed.
XA: No, no, no. We were secure and calm, confident in what we were doing, confident that we were doing things the right way. I thought a lot of [the criticism] was demagogic. I laughed at a lot of what I read.
You read it? Footballers always say they don't read the papers
XA: No, I read things. I read things, but I don't change my mind because of them. I am very clear in my own mind. I knew what was being written in 'X' country or the other country. I laughed a lot. A lot.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/03/spain-euro-2012-xabi-alonso
― dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link
awes quotes
― deems irreverent (darraghmac), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:17 (eleven years ago) link
I'm watching the final now. I was in a pub with a non-football-liking person on Sunday night and saw bits out the corner of my eye, knew the score etc. but didn't get to fully appreciate it. At half time now. I think Jordi Alba's goal is gott if only because the run he made was oh so very spectacular in a way you never really see. It is things like that which should make Spain a lovable team and it is a shame they were much more reserved in the France and Portugal games.
This Spain isn't the best international team of all time. The Spain of 2008 is imo. If only because 2012 Spain have two positions not playing to ABSOLUTELY-PERFECT-STANDINGS as Cesc just isn't a v good false 9 and they do not, now or ever, actually need XA AND SB when they could have someone provide width. But these seem like such minute details regarding what is 9/10ths of the same team. Oh and I've obviously not seen those Hungary or Uruguay or Brazil teams to compare.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:21 (eleven years ago) link
Spain 08-12 basically counts as the same team. Villa and Puyol would have been in there had they not been injured.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:53 (eleven years ago) link
Marcos Senna, how quickly we forget
― Number None, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:55 (eleven years ago) link
Capdevilla and Torres rip
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:17 (eleven years ago) link
This sort of thread is why I Love Football exists. It is ILX's version of the pub where endless footie conversations take place every single day and night of the week.
***---> Endless! Footie! Conversations! <---***
When such a heaven exists, why would anyone not want to go to heaven?
― Aimless, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:29 (eleven years ago) link
One day, eventually, we will run out
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:32 (eleven years ago) link
one day we will tog out, you mean
― deems irreverent (darraghmac), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:46 (eleven years ago) link
'Only' the one nine, isn't it? (v Ipswich in 95)Ipswich totally deserved that stuffing after the misery of the 6-0 defeat they dished out to Man Utd in 1980 iirc.― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, July 4, 2012 1:31 PM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Ipswich totally deserved that stuffing after the misery of the 6-0 defeat they dished out to Man Utd in 1980 iirc.
― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, July 4, 2012 1:31 PM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
totally deserved. as an ipswich fan living in manchester i'm not sure where to start with that sort of one-eyed nonsense.
― For bodies we are ready to build pyramids (whatever), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 21:07 (eleven years ago) link
haha. reading about that cruyff testimonial. pretty funny in a cruel kind of way.
― kid steel (cajunsunday), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:32 (eleven years ago) link
Actually the real best thing about the Cruyff testimonial is Cruyff unashamedly having a fag in the middle of the game.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:38 (eleven years ago) link
are there any good articles on it
― kid steel (cajunsunday), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:50 (eleven years ago) link
Is that real, Matt?! Awesome.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:50 (eleven years ago) link
Tiny bit in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/22/least-successful-testimonial-match-ever):
And take Johan Cruyff's farewell fixture for Ajax against Bayern Munich. You might think the result doesn't matter in a testimonial and, by and large, you'd be right, but what about when the team you invite turn up and give you a proper shoeing?
"The German champions wanted to show their Dutch counterparts something after earlier defeats and not being welcomed at Schiphol Airport," writes Dave G Boham. "They even had to sleep at a sub-par hotel. After jeers from the crowd, they showed their hosts something. Three goals were disallowed during the 8-0 hammering dished out by the Bavarians. The Ajax players just wanted to have a good time. In 2006, Bayern apologised."
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:51 (eleven years ago) link
I didn't get to watch much of the tournament (combo of working when games were on/not actually being fussed about it at all), but did I get any predictions right? http://noisey.vice.com/blog/euro-2012s-most-predictable-soundtrack--cliches
― Blue Collar Retail Assistant (Dwight Yorke), Thursday, 5 July 2012 12:10 (eleven years ago) link
The Song They'll Probably Use: "Sexy And I Know It" by LMFAO. It works on two levels, one for the actual sexy shots of buxom Swedish girls picked out by pervy camermen (no doubt on the behest of Lineker) and for ironic purposes when juxtaposed against some beer-bellied brute from Dagenham doing the Macarena.
I feel like this was done at some point.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 12:43 (eleven years ago) link
The song at least; I can't remember the setting.
England's exit got a cover of 'In The End' by Linkin Park. I don't think anyone could summon the enthusiasm for a Torres montage, but his kids were cute.
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 5 July 2012 13:50 (eleven years ago) link
who did the horrible cover of "thriller" after the final?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 5 July 2012 15:28 (eleven years ago) link
Imogen Heap.
― Chris, Thursday, 5 July 2012 15:56 (eleven years ago) link
Zonal Marking's TOTT http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/07/04/zms-team-of-euro-2012/
---------------------------Casillas----------------------------Pereira-----------Pepe----------Ramos-------------Alba--------------------------------Pirlo-------------------------------------------------Khedira-------Mountinho-------------------------Jiracek-------------------------------Iniesta------------------------------------Fabregas--------------------------
― pandemic, Friday, 6 July 2012 07:17 (eleven years ago) link
Jiracek?
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 6 July 2012 07:30 (eleven years ago) link
where did rooney go?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Friday, 6 July 2012 12:21 (eleven years ago) link
went to grab lunch
― from the desk of mr. and mrs. eazy and sheila e (m bison), Friday, 6 July 2012 14:21 (eleven years ago) link