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!

Chelsea are Champions League Winners!

It's quite unbelievable actually. Chelsea are the UEFA Champions League Winners and this is their first. (I bet you no one expected this at all this season). After a really tough season, Chelsea were able to tough it out and win both the FA Cup and Champions League. That means they qualify for next years Champions League and Tottenham, who are in fourth place in the Premier League, are kicked out.

The game was a brutal game. Bayern were at home and hoping everything would just go their way. It was at first when Mueller put a goal in, but at the 88' Drogba equalized and the game had to go into overtime and eventually penalty kicks. In the end, Drogba put the last penalty kick in and finalized the win for Chelsea. This was definitely a blow to the German side and I am really, really sad because I was rooting for them, but it sometimes luck really is the deciding factor on who wins or lose. In a way I really don't think Chelsea should have won. I just don't. It could be because I was rooting for Bayern Munich or Bayern Munich did a better job. Chelsea has luck. That have an ass load of it. 

Well we're going to have to wait till next year to see what happens. Anything can change. The status of whether Di Matteo will finally become Chelsea's head coach has still been undecided. Roman make a smart choice for once and appoint him as head coach. He brought this Chelsea team, who was falling apart, to be winners of the FA Cup and champions of Europe. What more could you possibly want? 

I couldn't watch the whole game through. I get really, really anxious and it can get really ugly at times. I could only watch parts of it. But I did see the end, and well that's it. Chelsea are winners. Congratulations Chelsea for becoming champions of Europe, sorry for the loss Bayern Munich, but good job! 

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. 

UCL Final: Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea

Well what do you know the two teams that were expected to move on, Real Madrid and Barcelona, did NOT make it to the UCL final. I have got to say this is one heck of a surprise to me and I'm pretty sure to the whole footballing community. Real Madrid's game was a little more intense because the game had to go to penalty shoot out. Ronaldo and Kaka were both denied by Neuer and Sergio Ramos just BLASTED it over the crossbar. I honestly do not know what Ramos was thinking. It's kind of sad that Ozil and Benzema did not get to kick. Schweinsteiger, the German, sealed the deal for Bayern Munich sending them off to the final in MUNICH (how nice).  

I'm pretty sure no one expected the UEFA Champions League final to end up like this. Everyone pretty much expected FC Barcelona or Real Madrid to be in the finals, but noooooo. If anything, I'm very very glad that Real Madrid did not move on. If FC Barcelona aren't able to move one, Real Madrid shouldn't either. Both Spanish giants are out of the tournament and the final which is going to be on May 19th is going to be Chelsea vs Bayern Munich. 

Who am I going to root for? I wasn't sure about it, but I think I'm going to root for Bayern Munch. My reasons why I'm going to root for them? 1.) They beat Real Madrid, the rival team to Barcelona 2.) Chelsea beat Barcelona and kicked FCB out of the tournament 3.) I think that Munich will benefit due to the losses from Chelsea's squad 4.) Bayern Munich is not Barcelona, so parking the bus won't work on them 5.) Munich are at home, so they have the home advantage