chau angeles del madrid

Real's first born and black sheep say goodbye this week, Jose Maria Gutierrez Hernandez, simply known as "Guti," and the Real's golden child Raul Gonzalez Blanco are leaving the true giant of Europe, Real Madrid. Both have a combined fifty years of duty wearing the famous white kit, winning everything that was placed in front of them, La Liga tittles, Spanish Super Cups, Intercontinental Cups and of course the prestigious Champions League Cup.

Guti; what can you say about the brash number "14" that had so many highs and lows during his tenure with the merengues? being apart of the youth development program as a youngster he fought his way to the first team showing elegqnce qnd pure genius as a creative midfielder. As a socio of Madrid I always found myself in the midst of a lo e - hate relationship with him, always knowing that he had the class and technique to become a true legend, he was many times shadowed by the likes of the Luis Fifo's and Zidane' of the footbalp world and really only came to shine late in his career as an all white but, like all fine wines, his aging process released the aromas and complexities of his genius. That magic left foot gave us some of the best footballing memories. Guti will be sorely
missed. To sum up a career that started at the age of 15 is hard to do, so many flashes of the streaking blonde mad
man has forever been eched in my mind and heart. ¡Mucha Suerte! Estas con nosotros hasta siempre...

What a cup we are witnessing, the sketchy J'abulani has never looked so good in these new-classic matches that Uruguay, Holland, Spain and Germany have provided. Being a fan of futbol first makes these matches very enjoyable to watch. Uruguay's raw talents and fortune got them to the semi's in heroic fashion but, this should come to no surprise to us. Yes, they were the last to qualify from conmebol and had to have a playoff with Cost Rica to qualify for the copa but, this is what gave them the team confidence and the "high pressure" match experience that is needed for this intense global prize. They would never back down and always stuck around, showing their identity throughout the entire match, and when you thought they had no more, they scored knowng that if time really existed they would have put another one in to kill off the game in extra time, and they probably would have to. The last place team in South America is know considered to be top four in the WORLD, wow.. vaya. 

I said after the Argentina match that Germany never saw a lethal team on their best day, and its true, I also new that they had peaked as well, I think the same thing about Holland too. Tactically no one is superior than Spain, Del Bosque the mustache that boasts two Champions League titles with Real Madrid and knows each and everyone of is players inside out. Masia, is the youth academy of F.C. Barcelona, and the reason why the Spanish are playing this immaculate futbol. The majestic elfs Xavi and Iniesta are testament to how much the Spanish fubol has evolved, once considered a national disgrace La Furia Roja is set a blaze with this generation of footballers and I firmly believe that they will dismantle the Dutch. Ajax v. Masia and Iker Casillas, Sunday will become one of those classic matches, two great nations never to win the copa, Spain is in the final for the first time, and the Dutch are the best team never to touch glory, everything is set up to be a fairytale ending, vamos Espana...

the anti-futbol

"But referee,Sir, if the entire ball goes over the line, it's a gol. Isn't it? Phantom gols, fouls and offsides have been the hot topic of debate as of late and all of their consequences fatal. The FIFA head Sepp Blatter, should have put more thought to into this leading up to the tournament, does TiTi's gol not scream for attention. In the Europa League, there are a fifth and sixth assistant behind the gol line aiding the flagsmen, this would have been an ideal solution to the problem. It would have not stalled the match, each would have radio's for rapid communication. I'm not found at all of video technology, for me it slows the game down, and would distract in a high intensity game like a copa match. As for this guys to my left, I think there should be fines, and suspensions from the international scene. It's only fair that such criminal acts should be justified.