Iker Casillas

What? I'm writing a blog about a Real Madrid player? How could I? Well here is the fact, Iker Casillas is my favorite goal keeper like ever! Coming up from the Real Madrid youth system and staying with them ever since (which is very rare for Real Madrid players), Iker Casillas is probably considered the best goal keeper in the world right now. He's won numerous trophies with Real Madrid and some of the most important with his country Spain. Just recently he won the Euro 2012. He also won Euro 2008 and the World Cup 2010 and he was the captain in all three tournaments.


One reason I like him is because he's a really good captain. He has class and knows how to keep his head. After the 4-0 win over Italy for the Euro 2012 final a video of Casillas trying to convince the ref to not have injury time by saying "Respect for Italy" shows his class. Italy were already down to 10 men and they weren't gonna make 4 goals in probably two or three minutes. Let's be honest the game was going nowhere for the Italians so it was best to end it. If you want to see the video for yourself click on the link below.

CLICK HERE TO SEE CASILLAS WITH CLASS 

Not only is Casillas a great example for a captain, he's of course a very talented goalkeeper. By watching him play, his positioning and how fast he reacts shows he's world class. Just watching him during the final of Euro 2012 and watching him make incredible saves during the World Cup 2010 makes me think "Wow he's BA". I know there is no comparison, but as a Barcelona fan I'm sorry to say but I would choose Casillas over Valdes any day and I think that Del Bosque has shown that and shown why. You know as wine ages, the better it gets. Apparently that's what happens with goalkeepers. The older they get the better they are and Casillas has proven that. He's 31 and he's still beasting. 

I absolutely love this picture. Even if they are rivals,
They can still be friends. 

A while back I wrote a blog about Xavi Hernandez, the midfield maestro who plays for FC Barcelona, Real Madrid's rival. If you want to check it out here's the link (LINK TO XAVI BLOG POST). ANYWHO, even though they both for play teams that have the tensest rivalry in football, they are actually very good friends. They have been very  friends ever since they were teenagers and their friendship has lasted for 15 years even if Barcelona and Real Madrid are the definition of rivalries. I think that this is respectable from both sides. This shows that just because you come from places where you're told to hate the other side, doesn't mean you have to. Casillas and Xavi have shown that their friendship is important even with the outside tension of their club rivalries. If you didn't hear, during the most recent season, Casillas and Mourinho had a little spat and apparently the reason was because of Casillas's and Xavi's friendship. Casillas's was defending his friendship while Mourinho didn't approve. I remember that little incident between the two and I'm not sure if I should believe that is the reason for the incident, but if it is I'm proud of Casillas. Also during this interview (INTERVIEW WITH XAVI) it's in Spanish sorry, he said:

"We talk, we talk a lot, Iker and I. We do. And now now because of the Barca-Madrid fight. no, no. We have talked all our lives, our friendship is at least 15 years strong, since we met at the Sub-17. We put our friendship before everything else." 

I respect these two individuals, especially Casillas, even though he plays for the rival team, I still consider him amazing and love watching him play! 

Summer full of Soccer...I mean Football

What a summer that has been filled with football. Usually the summer is when the clubs and players are able to rest, but no this year was the Euro 2012! And what do you know, SPAIN WON IT! WOOOHOOOO!!!! Yes I was rooting for Spain the WHOLE TIME. I had the fear that Germany were going to win the title, but Spain has proven they are the powerhouse of football winning the Euro 2008, World Cup 2012, and Euro 2012 back to back to back.

The Euro Cup surprised me and scared me. What surprised me first was that the Netherlands got kicked out at the group stages. It's kind of shocking to expect that from a team who had gone all the way to the World Cup 2010 finals. Second what surprised me was that Italy beat Germany 2-1 so they could move on to the finals. I expected a Spain vs. Germany final, but the Cup may pull of a few tricks.

The things that scared me the most was the penalty shoot-out with Spain vs. Portugal. I couldn't watch it, but in the end Cesc Fabregas sealed the deal and Spain were able to go off to the finals. I was also scared that Spain had to play Italy. The two teams had to play each other during the group stages and they tied 1-1. I did not want the final to end like that (you know go into overtime then PKs). BUT it didn't. It was quite the opposite actually! Spain thrashed Italy 4-0. Goals from Silva, Alba, Torres, and Mata. So far it's been a good summer. Now it's time for pre-season games and then the actual season to begin!

Euro 2012

 

The next big thing football this this summer is the Euro 2012. Held by UEFA and also know as the European Football Championship, this tournament takes the top European countries and they compete for final say of "We are the best European football country in the world!" (for now). Different powerhouse/favorites for tournaments are Spain (current champions), Germany and the Netherlands.

Here are some fun facts about the UEFA Euro Championship

DID YOU KNOW...?

• Germany is the country who holds the most trophies, with 3
• France and Spain are tied for second place of most trophies. Each country holds 2
• Other winners include Italy, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Denmark and Greece (all with 1 trophy).
• This tournament is held every 4 years on the even number that is between World Cups
• Last tournament was held in Switzerland and Austria in 2008 where Spain beat Germany 1-0 and were crowned champions 
• The winners are able to compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup, but are not forced to play in it. 
• The trophy is made out of sterling silver. The names of the winning countries are inscribed on the back of the trophy 
• Henri Delaunay was the man who came up with the tournament. He passed away before the first tournament was ever played. His son became in charge of it. The trophy is named after Henri Delaunay. 

Who are you going to root for? I'm probably going to root for Spain because a lot of my favorite players play for Spain, and I just like watching the Spanish league, etc. etc. But we're just going to have to wait and see what happens.