SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM | VICENTE DEL BOSQUE STEPS ASIDE

Vicente Del Bosque has announced officially that he is stepping aside as Spanish National Team Selector & Coach. The early exit of Spain from the Euro 2016 was the decisive moment for Del Bosque to make the move.

Del Bosque leaves as one of the Great Spanish Football Coaches in History along side the now departed Coach & ex-National Team Selector Luis Aragones. The now ex-coach has told the Spanish Football Federation that he wishes to however remain as part of the organization involved with other Football activities.

Some statistics:

-114 games, con 87 victories, 10 draws & losses
-254 goals in favour, 79 goals against
-World Cup Champion (South Africa, 2010)

-European Champion (Poland - Ukraine, 2012)
-IFFHS World’s Best National Coach (3): 2009, 2010, 2012
-World Manager of the Year: 2012

-FIFA World Coach of the Year: 2012

In coming weeks we will soon know who the new Spanish Team Selector & Coach will be. Stay tuned!

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SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM | THE WOUNDS REOPEN

Spanish International midfielder Xabi Alonso has always been a "no bullshit man". Characterised by his straight to the grain views & opinions his post Chile comments has caused bad feeling within the Spanish Team Camp.

When Xabi Alonso was asked by media, before leaving the "Maracana Stadium" after losing its second Group match 0 - 2 to Chile & thus being eliminated, to why he thought Spain sank & played so badly, the player said that basically the Spanish squad had lost its "hunger" & "motivation" apart from being physically under prepared.  Nothing controversial if you watched both the Holland & Chile games, it was obvious that Xabi said some honest truths.

Straight after his press appearance team-mates Iniesta & Torres came out to say the "contrary" claiming that the hunger "to win" was always present. Today in press Conference Santi Cazorla joined them to claim that the "motivation to win" is present.  

Spanish Sports journalists, who are following the Spain Football Team & have close access to players & staff, go further in their press stories to say that Xabi Alonso is isolated & that he practically has a non-existent relationship with Xavi Hernandez, Busquets, Pique , VIlla & Iker Casillas. One source claims a "player" made the comment that "Alonso has always gone his own particular way". Selector & Coach Del Bosque - as seen in the above picture - had some words with Alonso at training were we assume he too voiced his "disappointment" with his post-Chile comments & for perhaps not following the "team line". Saying the team is not in form & not motivated obviously affects the job of Del Bosque.

Already the there are direct (outside) effects & ripples, as Real Madrid team-mate & personal friend Alvaro Arbeloa place a tweet that said, the the truth hurts while lies are more useful to save admiration. Remember Arbeloa was dropped from the Spanish National Football Team for this World Cup , & insiders claim it was because players from the "Barça clan" had "black-banned" the player. 

Harsh accusations but there is nothing like losing & a Football disaster to undo the glue & make the shit explode. The crap within the Spanish Football Team has been smelling for sometime, while the RP experts of the team - Del Bosque included - worked hard to perfume the atmosphere & make us all believe it was all roses. 

It all goes back to the fierce Real Madrid-FC Barcelona clashes two-three years back under Coach Mourinho were the games were "on field battles". The FC Barcelona players & the Barça Spanish Internationals have never forgiven Xabi Alonso (nor Arbeloa) for the fierce tackling & defence of José Mourinho. The relationship between the mentioned players turned to ice,  while in the Spanish Football Team it was "for the good of the team", a practical rational. At the Club level, Real Madrid, Alonso (& Arbeloa) also defended Mourinho & his decision to sit Iker Casillas, & the later has never forgiven them for this. In fact, Arbeloa does not talk with Casillas & Xabi looks at Casillas as a "professional" obligation.

The truth is the Xabi Alonso detractors have very little arguments as they themselves played horrendously & are totally out of form. Xabi Alonso was not to good either & made his own crucial mistakes, but the events & the circumstances has reopened wounds & bad vibes with the shit flying around once again.

The remaining days at the Spanish Team HQ in Curitiba will be a "nightmare" for the squad. There is little motivation or desire to play their last match against Australia with most wanting to leave asap to fly back home & leave this World Cup behind. The fact is that profound changes within the Spain Football Team will came, & many of those wounded by the Xabi Alonso truths should perhaps do their service to the squad & leave their place to more ambitious & hungrier young Spanish Football Talents. Xabi Alonso is included in that list, but all that he voiced was what the Football World saw for themselves on the TV.

Selector & Coach Del Bosque perhaps should consider moving aside as he was a silent witness & "a sweeper" that placed all the shit under the carpet for so long. His management has not been enough & his motivational skills has not been on show.

Stay tuned for more flying shit coming out of the Spain Football Team in coming days & weeks. We will be surprised.

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WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT IS NEXT? | SPAIN ELIMINATED FROM 2014 WORLD CUP

What happened? What now? We here in Spain along with the rest of the World has witnessed the debacle of the reigning World Champions which has dominated World Soccer for the pass 6 years. The end of a "cycle" was predictable as players age & along with that their physical powers, but what has shocked us is the way, the manner & the exhibition shown in the elimination of the Spanish National Football Team from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 1 - 5 hammering by Holland in the first of the Group B games was thought of as being some kind of anomaly or perhaps a Football "accident". But the 0 - 2 defeat yesterday at the hands of Chile washed clean those thoughts & gave evidence that Spain arrived at this competition not at a level that is required from a National Team to defend title.

As expected the disappoint & the frustration mixed with the emotion of the Spanish population & Spanish Sports media has given birth to a barrage of criticisms, some totally out of hand, that now looks for logical explanations. 

Before giving some humble points of view, it is worth remembering that theses players have captivated World Football in ways Football lovers dreamt about, managing to gather European Nations Title (2008), FIFA World Cup Champion (2010) & European Nations Title (2012) again, apart from staying Nº1 on the FIFA Ranking from 2008. Respect & admiration is called for independently of recent circumstances or events. Historically its the greatest Spanish Team in its History & in World Football it will be remembered as one of the finest ever.

Said all this, some deep analysis is needed, if for no other reasons than to learn, rectify & work to return to the Football levels that everyone knows can be achieved once again. Here every piece & element of the Spanish Team puzzle has to accept their part of the failure & responsibility; the Spanish Football Authorities, the Spanish Selector & Coach & the players. I have my opinions,  & will feed off the many other opinions being expressed by qualified local Sports & Football experts:

• The Spanish Football Team preparation was lacking. The priority on local & European competition at Club level gave only 2-3 weeks to concentrate on this tournament,

• The heavy burden of Liga & European competition exhausted the players & most came into the World Cup physically hammered & carrying injury. Both games between Holland & Chile saw an exhausted Spanish Team in the second halves that limited any attempts of recovery under match conditions,

• Bad management by Spanish Football Authorities perhaps with over emphasis on commercial obligations locally, & bad adaptation to the Brazilian weather conditions. The "Spain HQ" was in a region with temperatures of 15 degrees while games were played in locations with 25-30 degrees & humidity of 85% & above. Flying over from HQ the day before with players already limited psychically perhaps was not the best idea,  

• Selector & Coach Del Bosque did not take the best possible Spanish players over to Brazil. Better in form players like Fernando Llorente, Carvajal, Isco, Gabi, Raul Garcia...etc & etc. were dismissed or not even contemplated. Del Bosque decided to "please" the old guard & reward players that were out of form &/or carrying injuries. Said differently, Del Bosque succumb to "interests" & preferred to be "politically correct",

• The "Diego Costa" experiment failed. The player did not have time to adapt to the Spanish Team "way" nor the squad to the way Costa plays. The Spanish Team had to "change" its usual methods to fit in Costa. It is worth reminding that Costa is a player that suits the counter-attack with long passing, not the "tiki-taka" close touch Football. Surprising that the technical team did not factor all this in,

• The players were not motivated. Coach Del Bosque commented weeks before the World Cup that he did not see "the fire in the eyes" of his players, while Xabi Alonso
  post-Chile game said that they lacked the inner will, 

• Iker Casillas was terrible. Understandable if your the second choice goalkeeper in your Club & only play 25-30% of the Clubs seasons game. The player came in without form & worst, without confidence. Pique went into the World Cup  recently recovered from a serious injury, as with Jordi Alba & Busquets. Xavi Hernandez was sadly out of form & physically out,

• Spain failed to solve their recent Football problem: the lack of goal, the inability to score goals &/or convert their opportunities. Coach Del Bosque took to Brazil forwards who have spent more time on the bench with their Clubs than playing, like Villa & Torres, & Diego Costa was always a risk,

• Bad tactical & line-up decisions. Players like Javi Martinez, Koke & Cesc Fabregas ( to mention just three) should have been used from day one. Plus locally some observers add that Juanfran was perhaps better than Azpilicueta & should have started,

• Lastly, Holland & Chile were simply better. Deserved winners who did their homework & executed their strategy to perfection. They were better in all the aspects: more motivation, more hunger & physically superior. Six years of World Football domination by Spain gave plenty of time & examples to other to "study in depth" the Spanish ways which allowed rivals to figure & adapt effective antidotes. The Spanish sin was not innovating, not discovering & adapting more "surprise factors" in their game. Simply said, Spain become predicable. 

Naturally all this is very easily to say after the fact. Criticism is always easy. I agree, as mentioned I just express my humble observations & the more vocal opinions from local Football experts. What is unanimous is that this Spanish Football Team has ended a glorious period & that the "old guard" has to give way to the new talents. The great news that the new talents are many & are very, very good players. I am sure we will all be seeing more of Koke, Isco, Carvajal, Alberto Moreno, Javi Martinez, Thiago, Ander Herrera, David De Gea ...etc.

Lastly the style of play has been questioned. The so called "tiki-taka" or touch Football has caused doubts. Naturally, to execute this perfectly you need exceptionally talented Football players in maximum form. Here too, perhaps,  we all need reminding that it was this precise style that gave Spain its Football titles & glory. The current style is more organic & natural for Spain than the other styles & I my opinion, should be maintained & simply bettered. This last is a challenge, here is were the Selector & Coach along with the technical team has to be creative & brave in the needed decisions. 

To finish, locally calls are being heard that Selector & Coach Del Bosque should stand down & allow new ideas. The latest news is that Del Bosque is considering continuing. But the more immediate event for Spain is their last Group B game against Australia were they can at least attempt to exit with a better exhibition & image. Perhaps the upcoming "revolution" can begin here with a more youth & fresh line-up that include some of the players left on the bench up till now, & more importantly win back some - even if minimal - lost pride.

The weeks & months ahead will be full of criticisms, varied opinions & news concerning the Spanish National Team. But there is enough new talent on hand to return to were Spain has fought so hard over decades to be in World Football, the future is more optimistic than negative.

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SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM LIST OF 30 PRELIMINARY PLAYERS | WORLD CUP 2014

Spanish Football National Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque has handed in a Preliminary list of 30 players for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The final & definitive list of 23 players will be handed in on the 25th of May, day after both Spanish Football Clubs Real Madrid - Atletico de Madrid play the UEFA Champions League. There will be 7 eliminated & disappointed players but Coach Del Bosque has had to be careful because there could be injury in the Champions League Final to a Spanish international that would have caused problems.

Novelties are young Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal & Athletic Club Bilbao midfielder Iturraspe. Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea takes the spot of injured Victor Valdes, while there are notable absences (elimination) with Real Madrid & Spanish Team veteran Alvaro Arbeloa & surprisingly Real Madrid midfielder Isco not being included.

Spanish Football National Squad: Full Preliminary list of 30 players:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Nápoles) & David de Gea (Manchester United).

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raúl Albiol (Napoles), Javier Martinez (Bayern de Múnich), Juanfran Torres (Atlético), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), César Azpiliciueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) & Alberto Moreno (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Thiago Alcántara (Bayern de Munich), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Silva (Manchester City), Pedro Rodríguez (Barcelona) & Jesús Navas (Manchester City).

Forwards: Diego Costa (Atletico), David Villa (Atlético), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) & Fernando Llorente (Juventus).

Who will be dropped from this list on the 25th May? Speculation is already on the way & they are surprises. Observers predict that barring last minute injuries names like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Iturrespe, Alberto Moreno, Raul Albiol & perhaps Negredo may be dumped. Remember no one knows expect Vicente del Bosque. Stay tuned!

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DEL BOSQUE ANNOUNCES SPANISH TEAM LIST FOR THE ITALY FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL

Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente de Bosque handed in this midday his list of players for the upcoming Friendly International match against Italy on the 5th of March in Madrid. This list this basically the last before the definite list that will make up the Spanish Team for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. On May the 13th Del Bosque will announce a pre-World Cup list of 30 players with the definite & final list of 23 players to be given on the 23rd of May. Thus, this list announced today has great significance as it leads one to believe that the Spanish Selector is profiling his World Cup squad around those players announced today.

The big novelty, but not surprise, is the inclusion of Atletico de Madrid Spanish-Brazilian player Diego Costa who is having a "blinder" of a season with more the 20 Liga goals so far. The inclusion has stirred controversy as some believe the player has chosen Spain over Brazil because the latter has not given Costa options of representing them. However, as Selector Del Bosque pointed out Costa has qualities that can better Spain, especially upfront in the goal area & can add "new options" to the team. Del Bosque has decided to be practical over allowing perhaps "nationalistic sentiments" enter in his calculation. 

Aother inclusions are Thiago from Bayern Munich & Azpilicueta of Chelsea FC. But this list resonates more due to the names not on the list. Regulars like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Alvaro Arbeloa, Monreal, Fernando Llorente, Roberto Soldado & Alberto Moreno. A warning signal to some that they must lift their form if they wish to travel to Brazil.

Full list of players:
Goalkeepers: Victor Valdés (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) & Reina (Napoles).

Defenders: Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), & Albiol (Nápoles).

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Bayern), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico de Madrid), Thiago (Bayern), Cazorla (Arsenal) ( Pedro (Barcelona), Jesus Navas (Manchester City), Cesc (Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City) & Iniesta (Barcelona).

Forwards: Negredo (Manchester City) & Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid).

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IFFHS ANNOUNCES VICENTE DEL BOSQUE BEST NATIONAL COACH 2013

The FIFA backed "IFFHS" ( International Federation of Football History & Statistics ) has announced their list of the "Best National Team Selectors-Coaches" for 2013. The winner in the Nº1 positon with 161 pts is Spanish Football Team Coach Vicente Del Bosque, followed by German Coach Joachim Low in second position with 101 points.

Vicente Del Bosque has been leading the Spanish National Football Team since 2008 & has won two European Nations Cups ( 2008 & 2012 ) & the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

Best National Team Selector-Coach for 2013 according to IFFHS:

1.- Vicente Del Bosque (Spain) 161 pts.
2.- Joachim Löw (Germany) 101
3.- Luis Felipe Scolari (Brazil) 74
4.- Marc Wilmonts (Belgium) 54
5.- José Pekerman (Colombia) 40
6.- Alejandro Sabella (Argentina) 23
7.- Óscar Tabarez (Uruguay) 11
8.- Cesare Prandelli (Italy) 9

9.- Jürgen Klinsmann (EE.UU) 8.

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TOP PAID FOOTBALL - SOCCER COACHES MANAGERS IN WORLD FOOTBALL

A Brazilian Consultancy "Pluri" has released the list of top World Football - Soccer Coaches ( Managers ) & their salary before taxes ( that is, Gross ). Spanish Coach Josep Guardiola currently training German Club Bayern Munich is the highest paid Coach in the World with 17.000.000€. The second placed Coach is Chelsea FC Manager Jose Mourinho with 10.030.000€. Another Spanish Coach on the list & working overseas - Napoles - Rafael Benitez is 15th & earns 3.500.000€.

Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti is sixth position with 7.500.000€ with FC Barcelona Coach Gerardo Martino 8th with 5.400.000€. Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente del Bosque is 30th with a salary of 2.350.000€.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM | PRE-LIST FOR THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque has handed in this midday his pre-list of 26 players that will make up the Spanish Team squad for the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup Finals to be held in Brazil next month. I say pre-list because three names will fall off next week to keep it to 23 players before flying off to the Friendly games scheduled & to Brazil.

Novelty, if you can call it, is keeping Iker Casillas as goalkeeper when he hasn't played for the past months, plus the call ups of Beñat, Soldado & Javi Garcia. Fernando Torres returns as well after a good run of goals with Chelsea FC in the final part of the season. An absence to mention is Sevilla FC forward Negredo,  & in my opinion Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez who has been superb & above Pepe Reina in form & performances. But here I suppose that Del Bosque wishes to avoid dressing room distractions & media "pressure & questions".

Full pre-list of 26 players:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Liverpool) & Valdés (Barcelona).

Defenders: Monreal (Arsenal), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Albiol (Real Madrid), Piqué (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Azpilicueta (Chelsea) & Arbeloa (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Iniesta (Barcelona), Cazorla (Arsenal), Busquets (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona) y Javi Martínez (Bayern de Múnich), Javi García (Manchester City) & Beñat (Betis).

Forwards: Mata (Chelsea), Silva (Manchester City), Cesc Fábregas (Barcelona), Pedro (Barcelona), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Villa (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Chelsea) & Soldado (Valencia).

Three players will fall off this list next week. 

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM LIST FOR FINLAND - FRANCE

Spanish National Football Team Coach & Selector Vicente Del Bosque has handed in this mid-day his list of 24 Football Players that will make up the Spanish Football Team for the upcoming World Cup Group qualifiers against Finland & France. 

There are 24 players named with notable absences in Carles Puyol, Fernando Torres & Javi Martinez. The novelty is the call up of Manchester United & Spanish International U-21 goalkeeper David De Gea, plus Azpilicueta & Isco repeat.

David De Gea

Below is the full list of 24 players called up:

Goalkeepers: Valdes (Barcelona), Reina (Liverpool) & De Gea (Manchester United).

Defenders: Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Piqué (Barcelona), Ramos (Real Madrid), Albiol (Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) & Monreal (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Javi Garcia (Manchester City), Busquets (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Iniesta (Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City), Cazorla (Arsenal), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Isco (Málaga) & Jesus Navas (Sevilla).

Forwards: Pedro (Barcelona), Mata (Chelsea), Negredo (Sevilla FC) & Villa (Barcelona).

From my personal point of view I see a short list of forwards. Seems odd. 

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REAL MADRID | WILL IKER CASILLAS REGAIN HIS GOALKEEPING PLACE ?

Diego Lopez is the current goalkeeper of Real Madrid CF. Born & raised in the "White House" the keeper had to find our pastures to gaze ( ...Villareal, Malaga FC ) in order to practice his profession. One of the reasons for his departure is due to the man that he is now replacing Iker Casillas,  Spanish National Team & Real Madrid Captain. 

The hand injury to the latter which required surgery has sidelined Casillas for up to 8 weeks. With this situation Real Madrid signed a another goalkeeper to fill the position knowing that important & vital Spanish Cup & Champions League matches were on the upcoming schedule.

The Club restored to Diego Lopez, also Spanish International & at Malaga FC where he was not getting the playing time one would expect for a player of his caliber. The Club needed a profile that would adapt quickly to the team & the Club as an institution, who better that Diego Lopez under the circumstances.

After the initial games, Lopez has shown again his abilities & skills being pivotal in the FC Barcelona games ( Spanish Cup & Liga ) & Manchester United clashes. In fact only 4 goals had gone through his "hands" in said encounters, but with more than half a dozen match winning saves. His Coach Jose Mourinho poured praises over his goalkeeper after the Manchester United Champions League match & this signals that Lopez has lived up to/ his expectations. 

This raises the question, a "serious" question. What happens when Iker Casillas recovers?

At this point there is no justifiable reason to replace Diego Lopez, that is, Iker Casillas would be the second goalkeeper. This is exactly what Coach José Mourinho wanted to create, serious competition for the goalkeeping spot as he felt that Iker Casillas was "unconsciously" resting on his "laurels" . This season Casillas has received more criticism than usual for lapses, fixed play mistakes & perhaps not following the Mourinho line of thought. The relationship between the Real Madrid Captain & José Mourinho is said to be strained-tense & that Casillas was a suspected  "supergrass" of the press on dressing-room matters. What now?

I personally think that if Diego Lopez continues this line & in growing form that it will be difficult to see Iker Casillas win back his place this season barring injury to Lopez. The last Tuesday night exhibition by Diego Lopez against Manchester United not only consolidated his position as Real Madrid goalkeeper it has also lifted him psychologically & given him a push in self-esteem perhaps lacking before due to his few minutes at Malaga FC. Diego Lopez has already won his place with his saves & efforts for the Spanish Cup Final & if Real Madrid continue onto the Final of the Champions League objectively & morally Lopez will have solid arguments.

This raises another issue, can Spanish Football National Team Coach Del Bosque justify calling up & placing as goalkeeper Iker Casillas if he isn´t playing? If this does occur we will have another debate, intense in itself & with some possible ramifications for Iker Casillas.

Interesting & changing times ahead  as always at Real Madrid & Spanish Football.

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MARIO SUAREZ REPLACES XABI ALONSO IN SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM LIST

REAL MADRID & Spanish International XABI ALONSO will not attend the upcoming SPAIN vs URUGUAY International Friendly in Qatar. Xabi Alonso suffers pains in his pubis & Coach Spanish National Coach Vicente Del Bosque has decided to leave the player out so he can recover. Real Madrid surely solicited the exemption as they would want Xabi fit for the upcoming Spanish cup semi-final 2º leg against FC Barcelona.  

ATLETICO DE MADRID midfielder MARIO SUAREZ has been called up to take his place. This is a personal prize for the midfielder for his continued good performance foe his team were he is a regular & important element in the team set up.

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SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM LIST FOR URUGUAY

Spanish National Football Team Manager-Coach Vicente Del Bosque has handed in his list of Spanish Football Players that will make up the squad that plays URUGUAY in a Friendly International match in Qatar next Wednesday. 

There are novelties. First the most obvious is the absence of Real Madrid goalkeeper & Spanish Team Captain Iker Casillas due to a hand injury that will have him sidelined 8 weeks. The other news is the call up of MALAGA FC midfielder ISCO which was expected & CHELSEA FC defender AZPILICUETA.
 

Regular player & forward FERNANDO TORRES has been dropped which is in line with his drop in form with his Club Chelsea. This also applies to Sevilla FC winger JESUS NAVAS who find himself in the same boat. There may be some disappointed players like forwards Castro ( Betis ) & Michu ( Swansea ) but their "opponents" have all the arguments to keep them out for the time being.

ISCO

Here is the full list of players:

Goalkeepers Reina (Liverpool) & Víctor Valdés (Barcelona)

Defenders

Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Piqué (Barcelona), Puyol (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) &Monreal (Arsenal)

Midfielders

Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc (Barcelona), Iniesta (Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City), Cazorla (Arsenal), Xavi (Barcelona),Pedro (Barcelona) & Isco (Málaga)

Forwards

Mata (Chelsea), Negredo (Sevilla) & Villa (Barcelona)

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FIFA GOLDEN BALL AWARD 2012 | MESSI WINS FOURTH

It was a FIFA GOLDEN BALL 2012 ceremony with Spanish flavour. The city of Zurich hosted the Grand Gala to announce & award the Best Players & Coaches in World Football for 2012 along with special prizes that FIFA hands in every year.

The big prize went for a 4th consecutive year to LIONEL MESSI who was awarded a historical FIFA GOLDEN BALL 2012. The FC BARCELONA player finished ahead of Real Madrid Player Cristiano Ronaldo & his Club team-mate Andres Iniesta who finished third. This 4th straight Golden Ball puts the player in the Olympus of World Football & gives him a place in history as possibly the "Greatest of all Players", plus the man has still years of Football ahead to continue breaking marks.

SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Selector VICENTE DEL BOSQUE won the FIFA Coach of  The Year 2012 ahead of Real Madrid Coach José Mourinho & ex-FC Barcelona Coach Josep Guardiola. The Coach gave a emotive gratitude speech that thanked all his peers, Spanish players, coaches during his playing years plus remembered the importance of ethics in the Sport.  

The FIFA WORLD TEAM XI ( Ideal 11 ) 2012 was totally Spanish in that 5 players were from FC BARCELONA, 5 players from REAL MADRID & the one from ATLETICO DE MADRID. A clear tribute to the "Golden Age & Era" of Spanish Football & of an exceptional generation of players. The awarded players are Casillas; Dani Alves, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Xavi Hernández, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta; Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo & Falcao.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM LIST | FINAL 23 PLAYERS FOR EURO 2012

SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Coach & Selector Vicente Del Bosque has handed in his final list of 23 players that will make up the 2012 EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP squad.


The National Selector had to make some harsh & difficult decisions as he incorporated the absent FC Barcelona & Athletic Club Bilbao Internationals which obviously could only come into the squad with departures. Some of the youngsters like De Gea & Isco returned home to incorporate themselves in the Spanish U-21 squad, but others will directly begin their holidays & watch the Euro 2012 competition at home.

The big surprise was the NO inclusion of ADRIAN who starred yesterday against Serbia,  & the absences of Roberto Soldado, both will be bitterly disappointed. In their place Del Bosque called up PEDRO ( FC Barcelona ) who put in a "blinder" in the Spanish Cup Final with two goals, plus FERNANDO TORRES remains which - in my case - baffles me as his season as been weak & is substitute with Chelsea FC.

The new "kid" in the squad is JUANFRAN ( Atletico de Madrid) who comes in after Iroala ( At.Bilbao) has a injury cloud over him which caused doubts. CESC FABREGAS is called up as well even though he is injured but with doctors optimistic of a speedy recovery.

Having said this, the decision of Del Bosque has to be respected & he not be saved from criticism as it is the "Spanish Sport" to criticise & remember today's decisions tomorrow if things go badly. It is clear that Del Bosque has put importance in the GROUP over individual talents & places faith in players that contributed to win European & World Cup titles.

Vicente del Bosque

The list of 23 players are as follows:


Goalkeepers: Casillas, Valdes & Reina

Defenders: Arbeloa, Juanfran, Ramos, Pique, Albiol, Javi Martínez & Jordi Alba

Midfielders: Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Cazorla, Mata, Silva & Cesc

Forwards: Navas, Pedro, Llorente, Torres & Negredo.


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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM | EXCESS OF FORWARDS

The SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Selector Vicente del Bosque has a dilemma, a glorious problem that most National squads would enjoy having , an excess of top class forwards. Del Bosque only wishes to take 3 forwards that will be finally named in the upcoming final definite EURO 2012 list.

Apart, the announcement by DAVID VILLA that he has failed to get to his playing peak physically after breaking his tibia bone, opens the door to a lucky player, but also puts a strain on Del Bosque & Spain which loses a vital element of the squad.

In a nutshell, SPAIN has an excess of forwards & candidates eligible be part of the SPANISH FOOTBALL Team for the upcoming EURO NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS:

• Fernando Llorente ( Athletic Bilbao ) - not in the below photo, but looks a certain for one of the spots
• Pedro (FC Barcelona ) - World Champ in South Africa but will need a "blinder" performance in this Fridays Spanish Cup Final. Slim.
• Fernando Torres (Chelsea FC) - surprisingly called up after winning his Champions League medal. 
• Roberto Soldado ( Valencia FC ) - started strong in the Liga but went to less as the season came to its end. Scored 4 goals for Spain in his debut & last friendly International match.
• Alvaro Negredo ( Sevilla FC ) - in form but an unknown element.
• Adrian ( At.Madrid) - top season with Atletico, full Spanish International in lower ranks, is well placed.
• Muniain ( At.Bilbao) - young promise who has been called up for the U/21 Squad which may indicate not this time.

Spanish Football Players

In any case, May the 27th is "D-Day" when Del Bosque gives his definite & final list. Some players will be disappointed, thats what occurs when a Football Nation like Spain is lucky & blessed to have so much current talent.


Stay tuned!

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM | FIVE FORWARDS FOR TWO POSITIONS

Roberto Soldado ( Valencia CF ), David Villa ( FC Barcelona ), Fernando Llorente ( Athletic Club), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla FC ) & Fernando Torres ( Chelsea FC) all have things in common. One, they are all "Centre Fowards", or Number Nines in the traditional Football position, & second, they are all competing for the prized two positions on the final List of Spanish National Football Team Selector-Coach Vicente Del Bosque.

Spanish Football Fowrads

Spanish Sports daily "Marca" has brought up this "healthy" competition between the mentioned forwards in today's issue. It is more than likely that Spanish Coach Del Bosque will include two players for the Number Nine - striker - position. With five candidates now on show three are going to be left out & will unfortunately be unhappy. The National Selector will hand in his "Final List" of players for the upcoming Euro 2012 competition the 15th of May & he has to make some difficult choices & decision.

Right now, Roberto Soldado is "hot", especially after getting a HAT-TRICK against Venezuela in the last International Friendly & a HAT-TRICK this weekend in Liga against Bilbao. The other "in form" player is Fernando Llorente of Bilbao, who is scoring in European competitions & has the added advantage of being possibly the "best header" in European Football at this moment which gives the Spanish Coach options upfront.

However, this are getting quiet competitive as Alvaro Negredo of Sevilla is back from injury & will fight to win back his form & candidacy. David Villa of Barcelona, the fixed forward of the National side, is progressing at an incredible pace in his recovery from a broken tibia bone, & Fernando Torres came alive this weekend scoring two goals for Chelsea FC after a 5 month dry spell.

Difficult choices for Del Bosque, excellent situation for the Spanish Football Team as those chosen will be theoretically the "Best" & "in form" goalscorers at the moment. Who are your choices?

Stay tuned!
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IFFHS TOP COACH LIST | VICENTE DEL BOSQUE TOP SPANIARD

The FIFA backed "International Federation of Football History & Statistics" (IFFHS) has released its Top 10 list of World Football Coaches & Managers,  with Scotsman & Manchester United Coach/Manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the Top placed (Nº 1) so far this 21st Century. Ferguson leads by just 1 point Arsenal Coach/Manager Arsene Wenger with Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho in 3rd place.

The Top Spanish Coach is National Selector VICENTE DEL BOSQUE in 7th place with another Spaniard RAFAEL BENITEZ ( ex Liverpool ) in 10th place. FC Barcelona Coach, Josep Guardiola is placed in the 22nd place.

Vicente Del Bosque

Here is the Top 10 list as released by the IFFHS:


.1. Sir Alex Ferguson (SCO) 166 puntos
.2. Arsène Wenger (FRA) 165
.3. Jose Mourinho (POR) 154
.4. Fabio Capello (ITA) 135
.5. Guus Hiddink (HOL) 112
.6. Carlo Ancelotti (ITA) 108
.7. Vicente del Bosque (SP) 104
.8. Marcelo Bielsa (ARG) 101
.+. Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRA) 101
10. Rafael Benítez (SP) 97.

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REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA CLASHES TEARING APART THE SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM?

The below photo is the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM that made history & won the FIFA World Cup 2010 with great play, but more importantly,  with a solid friendship base, team mentality & solidarity. The picture shows only 11 of the 23 Squad members, but one can clearly see a divide: most are either REAL MADRID or FC BARCELONA players. Missing from this picture are Albiol & Arbeloa (Real Madrid) plus Victor Valdes & Pedro (FC Barcelona) players.

Spain Football Team

The intense & very competitive Real Madrid - FC Barcelona clashes this season has contributed in intensifying rivalries & putting on edge "friendships" on & off the field. Spanish National Football Coach Vicente del Bosque has already voiced certain concern that the intensity of the Club clashes is breaking the fabric of the National Squad & the "inner harmony". Spanish online paper "elconfidencial" has written an article that has "sounded the alarms". The Spanish National Team has broken up into two blocks, the Real Madrid players & the FC Barcelona players, with elements in both camps more "radical" than others with the latter looking for a more balanced & calming attitude.

The first signs of "friction" occurred in South Africa during the World Cup in a leisure "poker game" that did not go to more thanks to Coach Del Bosque & Squad Director Fernando Hierro, plus the fact that the World Cup title was up for grabs was also the solidifying glue. 




This video of Spain celebrating their World Cup victory in Madrid shows Pique making faces of Ramos behind his back, to which press insiders already spoke about friction between theses two heavyweights.

The local Club competition this season has added fire to the already hot coals, as the 5-0 FC Barcelona drubbing of Real Madrid showed last November with very aggressive play, tackles & even violence ( verbal & physically) as shown when Ramos was sent off not before "brushing aside" Spanish squad team-mates Puyol, Pique & Xavi. Barça defender Pique then added fire with his uplifting hand of 5 fingers ( 5 goals) to stick the finger into the Real wounds.

The Pique - Ramos relations worsened in a Spanish Team press conference when Ramos "exploded" to a press person when speaking in Catalan to Pique & he advising that he did not understand. This incident was "cover" with a Twitter photo together & smiling. However, as later episodes would prove this is just make-up.

The return Real Madrid - FC Barcelona Liga match weeks back would open more wounds after finishing 1-1, when Pique in the dressing room tunnel shouted that they had already won their "little" Spanish Liga title ( negative comment from a Catalan angle), that they would win their (disrespectful) Kings Cup as well...causing all sorts of verbal abuse between all players. Pique denies this totally as false, but Real Madrid player & Spanish Team Captain Iker Casillas confirmed it indirectly as true in an interview dismissing it as a "heated moment".

The frictions continued in the Final of the Spanish Cup, this time with other Spanish National Team members showing signs of strains. Arbeloa & David Villa had a serious encounter which naturally brought in all the others.

Iker Casillas, Xavi, Xabi Alonso & to some extent Carles Puyol attempt to maintain the balance as much as possible with diplomacy & professionalism. Some already mentioned are life long friends from junior levels & this situation is complicated.

The Spanish press is now talking about the Pique - Ramos parting, the breaking up of the Spanish team in two blocks, the worries of National Coach Vicente del Bosque & the possible effects mid to long term to the National Team.

Tonight the first of two head to head clashes between Real Madrid - FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals takes place. The atmosphere is highly tense as both Coach Mourinho & Coach Guardiola have already had a heated exchange of harsh words that can only be transferred to there respective players & on the field.

The winner will obviously one - either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona - but the big loser could be Spanish Football & its National Team. Lets hope this is all part of competition, healthy rivalry & that common sense prevail in the long run.

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ITALIAN SPORTS PAPER GIVES SPANISH COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE 2010 FIFA "BEST COACH" AWARD

Italian Sports daily “La Gazzetta dello Sport” picked beforehand & rightly the three candidates of the FIFA Golden Ball (Iniesta, Xavi & Messi) announcing that Wesley Sneijder would be left out. They have even published that due to “inside” information the winner of the 2010 FIFA Golden Ball would be Andres Iniesta.


Today the same Italian Sports paper publishes via their “inside” informer that the Winner of the 2010 “Best Coach” will be Spanish National Team Football Selector VICENTE DEL BOSQUE. He would take the title from the two other candidates who are José Mourinho (Real Madrid) & Josep Guardiola (FC Barcelona)

Vicente Del Bosque

The winners will be officially announced & prized on the 10th of January of 2011 in Zurich (FIFA HQ). Until then all news is speculation, even if “La Gazzetta dello Sport” does have a good track record in “scoops”. Tweet

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM COACH VOTES FOR MESSI, RONALDO, SCHWEINSTEIGER FOR 2010 FIFA GOLDEN BALL

Hi punters! I thought you may find interesting to know the three votes given by Spanish National Football Team Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque for the 2010 FIFA Golden Ball Award. As you may already know, a Selector cannot vote for a player of his same country, thus Del Bosque had to pick from outside the Spanish Football Team

Spain Football Team Coach Vicente Del Bosque

His three votes were in this order:

1º - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona/ Argentina)
2º - Cristiano Ronaldo ( Real Madrid / Portugal)
3º - Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich / Germany) Tweet

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