In other Spanish hottie news, Iker Casillas had an interesting moment during this weekend’s match against Sporting Gijon. (As you can see above.) The “read” and the restraint are the little things that make this man charming.
P.S. The overall contest was pretty spicy! Check out the match highlights!
Sad day.
Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Ruben de la Red has been forced to retire, due to a persisting heart condition. That suuuuuuuuuux!
The player became aware of the problem when he collapsed during a Copa del Rey match back in October 2008, almost two years ago exactly. He immediately went into treatment and ended up deciding to spend the 2009-10 season recuperating.
Still showing the effects of the condition, de la Red’s physicians have strongly recommended that he remain off of the pitch permanently. This came as a huge blow to the 25-yr old, whose best days were surely still to come.
The silver lining, though, is that he has been offered a coaching position in the youth ranks of Real Madrid’s organization. So, he will not be walking away from the game completely, thankfully.
Condolences, Ruben! Yours is a truly unfortunate circumstance.
Below are his tearful retirement announcement and his spectacular goal against Greece in Euro 2008.
It’s reassuring to know that warmth and kindness still exist in a sport that seems chock-full of money-grubbing divas and dirtbags.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has always seemed like a class act, and this little story furthers that belief. El Niño took this picture alongside his website’s photographer, J.A. Sirvent, just after having won the FIFA World Cup 2010 with his country, Spain. Below are some of Sirvent’s heartwarming words recalling his emotional moment with Torres:
“It was a dream occasion. A World Cup final at the Soccer City in Johannesburg. Spain had just won the World Cup and all of us there covering the event felt privileged to be there… but after 31 days in South Africa, we were exhausted.
“I spot Fernando heading my way wearing a big smile from ear to ear. The World Cup triumph, the post-match battle with my colleagues, and the tiredness are all forgotten for an instant. My eyes well up with tears and I start to cry. The tears are not just because Spain have won, or that after 12 years as a photographer my dreams have come true.
“The tears were because I remembered Torres as that blonde haired 15 year old. I remembered watching him grow up, and now aged 27, ‘El Niño’ is a World Cup winner.
“It was a magical and moving moment to see a World Cup winner, a European Championship winner and an idol at Liverpool look so emotionally vulnerable as the next person. Fernando Torres hasn’t changed and he is still that great person he always has been. It makes me feel proud to know him and to have been able to share this moment with him.“
<<READ MORE>> Click here to read J.A. Sirvent’s full post describing “the best photo of (his) life.”
Filed under: 2) USA! USA!, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain
FIFA, the world’s soccer governing body, released it’s monthly world rankings yesterday. Though there was little movement in the ranks in comparison to July’s list, US Soccer took a significant tumble downward. This might come as a surprise after a respectable showing in South Africa, but FIFA provides explanation on its website:
“Only two international matches have been taken into account for the new edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which is hardly surprising for the period immediately after the FIFA World Cup™. Consequently, virtually all of the moves of note – whether up or down the ranking – are due to points won in previous years dropping in value. USA … are the biggest victims this month as their four victories at the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009, which were valuable in terms of points, have now been devalued.”
One word: Boo.
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Aug 2010:
1. 
Spain
2. 
Netherlands
3. 
Brazil
4. 
Germany
5. 
Argentina
6. 
Uruguay
7. 
England
8. 
Portugal
9. 
Egypt
10. 
Chile
KEEP GOING — Click here to see how far the USA and Mexico each fell.
Raul, the leading goal scorer of both Real Madrid and the UEFA Champions League, announced today that he is leaving the Spanish giants after 16 years of memorable and dedicated service.
In an emotional press conference, the long-time captain revealed:
“Today is a day of intense feeling for me, I want to thank everyone… I would like to tell the fans that in every run, every tackle, I’ve always given everything. I’ve always given 100% for this club.
“Schalke is interested in me and I have had very deep discussions with them… In a few days I will know whether I’ll be going to the Bundesliga, but there are other teams that are also interested. What is clear is that my future lies in Germany or England.
“Today is a new start for me. 16 years ago I pulled on the white shirt for the first time. My heart will always be with Madrid. Real Madrid is my life and my home.“
A tribute to Raul:
(Update – Paul found dead! – 10/26/10)
July 8th: Rather than blame their national team for a lackluster performance against Spain in yesterday’s World Cup semifinal match, Germans are calling for Paul the psychic octupus’ head!
As reported on FANunited earlier in the tournament, Paul had previously predicted all of Germany’s World Cup results with perfection.
Many of the Bavarians lived in disbelief in the hours between Tuesday’s prediction that Spain would win and Wednesday’s result… and once Paul was again proven to be an oracle, fans were in an outrage. Convinced that his prediction itself had brought on the defeat, mobs on Facebook want the invertebrate thrown onto the grill and barbecued!
Paul, you’re 6 for 6. Impressive!
Watch the prediction:
*** Update – VIDEO: Paul found dead! (Oct. 26) ***
Despite coming into the tournament as co-favorites with Brazil, Spain have generally failed to impress throughout the FIFA World Cup 2010. All of that changed in today’s rematch of the Euro 2008 Final against Germany, however. A Carlos Puyol header sent La Furia Roja soaring into the Final match against the Netherlands.
The final game of this dazzling tournament is set up to be played quite aesthetically, amongst two sides who take pride in playing the Beautiful Way.
Check out match highlights:
WATCH MORE — Click here to watch highlights from the Euro 2008 Final.
France beat out the bids from Italy and Turkey to host the European Football Championship in 2016. That means Euro soccer fans will have the opportunity to enjoy baguettes, vin, et fromage four years after stuffing their faces with kielbasa and pierogi in Poland/Ukraine in 2012!
