Fútbolita

So the exciting UEFA Football Awards (aka the Oscars of European futbol… duh) takes place in the glam city of Monaco tonight. In other words, glitter will be falling from the sky as idiots like Michel Platini continuously insist on everyone to watch really bad Opera performances. Here are the nominees – and our picks are in green!

Club Goalkeeper of the Year
Julio Cesar (FC Internazionale Milano)
Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais)
Victor Valdés (FC Barcelona)

Club Defender of the Year
Lucio (FC Internazionale Milano)
Maicon (FC Internazionale Milano)
Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona)

Club Midfielder of the Year
Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München)
Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano)

Club Forward of the Year
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Diego Milito (FC Internazionale Milano)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)?

Young kid on Platini’s right has every reason to be afraid!

via Gettyimages, UEFA

So our French friends are not the happiest people in the world (and neither is Zizou) but when they face South Africa tomorrow, the pain may just be over for them. It’s time to start over, start drawing new blood and stop playing uncle’s chess with Domenech Dude! lui donner un biscuit…

Anyway, Steve Pienaar has admitted that South Africa needs a miracle to go through – even though Domenech obviously sent Carlos Alberto Parreira a flowery card which read : “AIDE!” in his nighties last night. Said Pienaar and his locks :

“It’s not been the best of times. You have to understand as well that sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the team and that’s what I’ve done. But a lot of people don’t understand that. If the coach asks you to do something for the team, you have to do it, and I think that is what I’ve done.”

If anybody wants to talk to us about Kakito’s red card yesterday, Kader Keita is currently being pursued by Saltimbanco from Cirque du Soleil for his fantastic antics last night. It was pretty nauseating watching Keita act like a 1-year-old child. For the love of God, there was absolutely no need to play like it was World War III. I’m sorry, but Ivory Coast deserve to be eliminated for their unprofessionalism and we will be asking Kaka about it at the end of the year! In the meantime… he said :

“I have to look at the positive side,” Kaka said. “I’ll use this time to continue working on my physical fitness. It’s going to be important to get myself ready and return in top form for the next round.”

Well, he’ll be missing his BFF ~4eva~ over here in the next game…

And lastly, one of our favourite Brazilian TV shows, Panico na TV went on a rampage all over South Africa prior to their kick-off against North Korea earlier last week. Vesgo and Alfinete, as usual, are muito loucooooo… Enjoy!

via Reuters, Gettyimages

So nobody wanted to pass the ball to le charmant Gourcuff and GuapoVela simply couldn’t get a hold of Miss Jabulani (the ball), on Friday. Meanwhile, Pipita had several missed chances of his own against the Nigerians on Saturday while the selecao caras are training hard to prepare for North Korea tomorrow (kkkk, dejar de bromear sobre su oponente).

Oh dear, only Serious Fabregas knows the amount of sacrifice these guys are going through (this does not refer to Serbia’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic) and the possible nerves and emotions that can take over you when the Copa del Mundo comes round. With that said, here’s a starter (and a toast) to all the Futbolitas and Futbolitos from all over the world during this World Cup! Let’s make this one memorable for many years to come. Enjoy the guapos and… vamos!

PS : if you’ve got something to share, you can catch us at worldcup @ futbolita.com.

The D-Day is coming, the excitement is definitely here and it’s time for me to give you some updates on my team.

French National Team trained for the last time Thursday in Knysna (see picture below), on the “Field Of Dreams” before leaving for Cape Town, where they will play their first 2010 World Cup game against Uruguay.  Today’s work was mainly dedicated to tactical implementation, as well as to free kicks and corners. Looks like the last details are being finalized ahead of our big entry.  A lot of French journalists waited for them at the airport and they finally arrived in Cape Town at 5.30pm GMT.

We all can’t wait for tomorrow because we know the first game is the opportunity to show what we are made of.

Everyone knows where they will watch the game tomorrow night. Like every four years, France will start to live football. Giant screens, special events in bars…You cannot ignore it is coming! The famous Trocadéro gardens in Paris are welcoming the FIFA Fan Fest (at the Eiffel Tower), with not only big screens with every single game of the competition, but also many activities, such as concerts and video games tournaments. Paris is among the nine South-African cities and the five international capitals (Berlin, Rome, Sydney, Mexico and Rio) to participate in the FIFA Fan Fest. The Charléty stadium, multi-use stadium in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, will welcome the supporters for a special exhibition called Ces bleus venus des quatre coins du monde (These Bleus coming from every corner of the world), going back over the story of the French National team. A nice way to combine football and culture, and a wonderful way to gather and to share the passion!

Many other French cities have organized the same kind of things, and along with live broadcasts of the matches, activities for children in Lyon, special workshops to discover all the participating countries’ cultures in Lille.

As you can see, the party is about to start! I look forward to unforgettable moments.

Patrice Evra may be in South Africa but I ran into him this afternoon! Our players are everywhere!

Stay tuned for the Uruguay-France preview in a few hours from now!

Signing off,

Your French Fútbolita

By now, we’ve all accepted the fact that Zizou will never be satisfied solely with pain au chocolat from Didier Deschamps’ wife. After winning almost all there is to win in world futbol, he wants more out of life! What a charming go getter.. nous sommes ravis!

You see, Zizou has gone ahead to produce and participate in a TV show called “Football Cracks” with his idol, former Uruguayan player Enzo Francescoli (whom he named his own son after... quelle belle!) The program is open to “all children who want to try out” and the prize is to be a part of pre-season training with a Spanish team. Casting will be done outside of Spain too…. so if you know anyone between 16 and 18, keep them in mind and round those niños up, aussitôt!

“Football Cracks is an academy that consists of two things: discovering new talents and teaching values. Enzo and I are the godparents of the academy. We will not train, but to be there, close to the players, to try to give advice and value for all… The camaraderie, teamwork and effort,” said Zizou.

As always, you know how much you love blasts from the past. So meet Zizirella, the Blushing Bride!

via Reuters/Angeli

• You and I know that 2010 will be a bloody exciting year for futbol - so if you aren’t counting down to the symphony of vuvuzelas in South Africa already, you’d better start inmediatamente! Happy New Year’s Day, futbolitas.

• Guess who desperately needs to start the year on a clean slate? It’s none other than… Luca Toni! After complaining about  being underused and mistreated by Mistress van Gaal at Bayern, Italy’s Most Awkward striker has now officially joined AS Roma on loan until June 30. Obviously, he’s banking on that transfer to help him get into Lippi’s World Cup squad. Oh for the love of Ranieri, is this man deluded? Someone will have to air courier us a live cactus if Luca gets called up!

• Lookey! Another Brazilian has joined Arsenal on a long-term deal. It’s the U-17 meninho, Wellington and the Gunners have bought him from Fluminense for a cool $10 million. Of course, Wellington is still considered a fetus (much like Coutinho) so he’ll remain in Brazil until he turns 18. And as they say, experience is key so he’ll have to win as much as he can with Fluminense (cue the collective snorts!) before officially becoming Denilson’s BFF in London.

• Yes, you’re looking at specially-commissioned stamps of Zizou in aid of the ELA – a European foundation against Leukodystrophy (a genetic disease which attacks the nervous system). We must say that Zizi resembles the handsome French actor types in these portraits and no, we’re not referring to Gerard Depardieu…. how dare you! Oui, des amis, Zizi’s more like the type who murders the heroine and gets away scot-free in a movie because he’s just so suave. Ah, when did it all come to this, you say? Je ne sais pas!
  



• The man who is capable of causing a fire alarm to set off at a fertility clinic aka Senhor Mourinho has declared that he’s fighting a “lost war” with Italian journalists. Awww, cari colleghi (dear colleagues) – what have you done now?! “I do not feel uncomfortable in this country. When I say I am (not loved) here, I am referring to my relationship with the media. For me, it is the fault of journalists (but) for them, it’s my fault,” he said.”In that sense, I know it is a lost war from the beginning, because journalists are many and I am only one. I lose this war, but not my independence, my way of being politically correct and always saying what I think. But I think with a little more respect we can move on.”
  

via AFP, Abola, Reuters

Thanks Alexia for the photo!

So he’s not exactly the world’s favourite man right now, but Titipo Henry has officially joined The Dona’s recreational volleyball club after his handball against Ireland. Ok, instead of calling him a hypocrite like everyone, let’s sit down and have a drink. Yes… Détendez-vous, nos chers amis!

Tony Cascarino, a former striker whose national career with Ireland spanned fourteen years (dating from 1985) was one of the first to declare that the Frenchman’s act has singlehandedly tarnished his reputation.

“I am not an angel, but I would never have done what he did. Henry can say what he wants, but for me it was a well calculated deception. He put his hand (there) so as to not to lose control of the ball and then the ball landed on his right foot,” said Cascarino.

Time to go old school, futbolitas!

Via Alejandro Gonzalez for Real Madrid

We have no words for this epic pose, unfortunately. Part time childrens’ party entertainer Karim Benzzzzema is the next in line to join the Let’s Hit The NightClub y Douche gang owned by Sergio Ramos. That pose just earned him brownie points and they will now welcome him to Madrid and Greaseano’s tanning salon with open arms.

Anyway, he claims that he turned down United and Barca for Madrid. “Real Madrid are an excellent club. I’ve dreamt about playing here since I was 15 years old,” he said.

Yeah, Benzema has every reason to turn up at Potter Perez’s garden parties for his grandchildren’s birthdays now (“Abuelo, the clown is here.”)

No, you’re not looking at a pouting fish. It’s David Trezeguet! Word is he’s unhappy at Juventus and wants out! He’s not getting along with Raneiri aka Mrs Doubtfire and his agent has warned that he will be glad to move to another side.

“We are not talking about a 38-year-old at the end of his career. His 161 goals for Juve speak volumes,” said his agent. “I was sitting in the stands and I saw him on the bench and my heart was crying.”

The striker who looks like David Blaine and Craig David rolled into one, has a contract with Juventus until 2011. But with the way things are going, he’ll probably need to find a career in tango or magic. What do you think?

Ederson is quickly learning from Pato eh? They probably had a phone convo the previous night about the heart celebration (“Make sure your thumbs are adjacent to one another, pal” Pato warned, seriously)

Well, the celebratory gesture was actually directed at Ederson’s wife who was watching the game in the stands on Valentine’s Day. Sweet!

Anyway, the striker who scored three goals in his last four games for Lyon has said that teammate Farmer Fred’s possible departure to Fluminense may hurt the team.

“He’s a great player and has great presence in the team. He is always in (good) shape and makes a difference. He brings joy to us. I do not know how far the negotiations (with Fluminense) are going but in recent months, it hurts a little (to know that they are taking place.”

The Argentineans defeated France in Marseille yesterday and it was Maradona’s 100th day on the job as the team’s coach.

Goals from Jonas Gutiérrez (courtesy of a sleek Aguero cross) and Messi (of course he had to score!) ensured a 2-0 victory in front of the packed stadium yesterday.

“My guys played well,” Maradona told TF1 in an interview at the end of the game. “I am very glad. I am happy with their performance.”

Why is Kun walking away from Maradona in the second photo below? Listen to dad!

We know Karim Benzema is good, etc, but there’s something about him that reminds us of a children’s party mascot.

Anyway, the French striker has come out to say that he wants to play for Real Madrid. He told “Le Buteur” magazine that it is his dream to play for Juande Ramos’ team. Come on! I’m sure he didn’t say “I would like to play for Juande Ramos one day.” Anyone who says that needs to stand by the window immediately.

“It’s my secret dream and I believe that I am close to achieving that dream. I like the white shirt and the environment of the Santiago Bernabéu. I promised my mother that one day, I would play for Real,” Benzema said.

Do you hear papers shuffling furiously? That’s president Calderon throwing his 104th file at Pedja Mijatovic screaming, “GET HIM NOW!”