"There are 4 or 5 countries better than Spain" says Spain manager Aragones! July 6th

I know this blog is about the Portugal national team. I couldn't help it. When I saw this headline from Record.pt on my Google reader. I had to share it with you.

Aragonés: «Há 4 ou 5 países superiores à Espanha»
(There are 4 or 5 countries better than Spain)

Wow. He just won the Euro 2008. I couldn't believe it so I went to Spanish daily Marca to see if there was an article about this. You bet.
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In an interview to daily "Perfil", Aragones said that Spain "had a brilliant competition" in the Euro 2008 but that "there are 4 or 5 countries" that are at a superior level. He believes "Brazil like Argentina" have great potential

"Technically [Spain] has important players and during the competition solved the small weakness of defending. The attack was better than that of any other team."

About not calling up Raul: "Probably would have been the best Spanish player but I thought that others would deliver more."

"There can be players 'mediaticos' which the press and the fans can talk about. However, one has to be mentally strong to always call up the best."

Source: www.Marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/internacional/es/desarrollo/1142929.html.
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First off- bad timing. Even managers don't esteem the FIFA ranking. Why does FIFA even keep it?

Almost a week after winning the Euro 2008.

- What do you think of Aragones saying this?

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Domenech in. I can't believe it- you?

Raymond Domenech, couldn't make France beat Italy in Euro 2008.

He didn't have impressive performances in the Euro 2008 matches. He's a little like Donadoni. He won't admit that not going far enough in euro 2008 is a failure.

Domenech had said in the press conference the day after their last euro 2008 match, that the tournament was part of the process to go to the 2010 world cup.

Donadoni- said 'because of a penalty.'

This morning I was watching the sports news online from L'Equipe.fr. I subscribed to the feed of L'Equipe video on my google reader. Here's the video about Domenech staying in French: Foot - EdF : Le sélectionneur confirmé dans ses fonctions

English translation:
9am, this Thursday. The president [FPF], Jean-Pierre Escalette. The big day for the manager. Three hours of discussion. A vote that was almost unanimous. There was one abstention, and 18 votes in favor of keeping Domenech as manager. Escalette: 'Federal conseil' maintains that Domenech can keep his position to prepare the team for the 2010 world cup.


Portugal manager- Meanwhile, it looks like Queiroz might be confirmed as the next Portugal manager. Nothing's official yet.

- Were you surprised the French FA decided to not sack Raymond Domenech?

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A Por Ellos! Cover of Marca, AS, Spanish papers June 29th- Day of Euro 2008 final

Today's the Euro 2008 final. Where will you watch it?Looking at the covers of these Spanish papers. All red, simply "A Por Ellos." Let me know which one you liked!AS:Spain might get the title 44 years laterLuis: "I told the players that nobody remembers the second one"Clock tickingAnd A Por Ellos!

Mundo DeportivoTo win!I like the picture of the team. No player singled out.

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Favorites! cover of AS June 28th, Euro 2008 final Germany-Spain

Tomorrow is the big day. The final. Let's see the Spanish press, the 2 covers of Spanish papers, AS and Marca the day before.

I don't read AS often. Once a week I'll go on their site to see the cover. My favorite paper to read about La Liga is Marca.com . It's obvious their Real Madrid bias, as a fan it doesn't bother me much. Not to mention their radio shows, stimulating talk radio.

What Spanish paper do you read online for some La Liga news?

AS-

Low: Spain is the team that played the best in this tournament. The bets see the National team as winner of the final

FAVORITES!------------------

This one's nice with the picture of the team after the semi-final. No single player alone on the cover. I can't see Iker Casillas.

Marca:

Here they picked 1 player, Cesc Fabregas. Interesting to put the 2 jerseys, Spain and Germany. Let's see how he does now in the starting lineup.

------Exclusive interview with Cesc."My heart says We're going to win."-------

I would have preferred more players on the cover. At least "San Iker." I'm going for Spain tomorrow. Who are you going for, Germany or Spain?

- Which cover did you like?

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What's your prediction for the Euro 2008 final score? Germany-Spain

What's your prediction for the final score, euro 2008?
Germany - Spain

I say Germany 2 - 3 Spain

Spain- I hope Fernando Torres scores 2 times. The most important player for Spain will be "San Iker" and Xavi. Spain made the cover of the Sports section of my hometown newspaper "La Opinion." Check it out!

subheadline: "The Spain national team scores against Russia with authority and arrives to the final of the Eurocup after 44 years."

Do you agree with the first line? "Spain gave a soccer clinic/lesson and goals to Russia by thrashing it yesterday by 3 goals to 0 in the semi-final.?"

In the end Guiza is the surprise player for the Spanish team, don't you think? It hought Torres was going to impress with his goals. Of the forwards that was David Villa. Guiza scored 2 goals Torres only 1 and coming in as a substitute!

About the yellow shirt bringing bad luck, and Aragones admitting he was superstitious about it. In your face! It got them to a euro 2008 final. If you're going for Spain in the final, enjoy the picture:

Photo: www.record.pt/fotogaleria_imagemEuro2008.asp?id=793081

Germany- I was reading today's La Opinion, spanish-language newspaper in Los Angeles, CA. On page 7C, the Headline: "Germany creates doubts."

Beckenbauer says that the team's future is a cause for concern. Great thing to say before the euro 2008 final! What's wrong with him? Here's a picture of it:

He was asked about Germany's quarterfinal game against Turkey. "We needed an individual effort to win and thank god Philipp Lahm did it."

The day after the game, German paper "Bild" reflects this pessimistic headline "With this luck and effort, we'll be champions of Europe. It was beautiful but cruel at the same time."

- What are your thoughts before the final Germany-Spain? Crucial players for each side?

Ideal starting lineup?

I'm going for Spain on this one. For a Portugal fan it's unheard of. I'm not Portuguese and Germany eliminated Portugal anyway.

Personal fotos, Nuno Gomes in a Fiorentina jersey in his Official website www.nunogomes.com

Out of curiosity I looked for Nuno Gomes info and found his official website. I wanted to see what photos he has on the site, and career bio. So I went on http://www.nunogomes.com/novo.asp

I even left a message in the "mensagens" section. It's on www.nunogomes.com/site/frames.asp?pag=mensagens:

Monica 08 em 15-06-2008 às 07h06
Hi Nuno Gomes,
I'm an American in California and a big fan of the Portugal national team. I hope you get to score in the Euro 2008- hopefully in the final on June 29th.


I also saw some 'personal' fotos in the gallerias, Fotos pessoais section. 2 of them with his wife and daughter. Another one with Rui Costa.

Do you remember Nuno Gomes playing in the Fiorentina? In the pictures you see Francesco Toldo as goalkeeper, and Rui Costa, as captain in the Fotos ao serviço da Fiorentina

See more posts with "Nuno Gomes"

Elegant Portugal players in black tie!

Obviously, he who wants to be in the starting 11 has to work for it" said Nuno Gomes. Will he be in starting in Portugal-Turkey in EURO 2008?

30 second commercial of TMN- Nuno Gomes cheering for Quaresma's "tribela" goal

Photo of Nuno Gomes in Portugal 2-0 Turkey Euro 2008 match, June 7th

Personal fotos, Nuno Gomes in a Fiorentina jersey in his Official website www.nunogomes.com

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Do you speak Portuguese?

When I started this blog, I thought most of the visits would be from people in the U.S. like me. After almost 3 weeks, I was surprised that most visits are from Canada, UK, France, and Belgium. It's amazing how one can communicate with the world with just a blog. When I started watching RTP news online 2 years ago it would get on my nerves when I'd see Joao Moutinho and Carvalho speak and not understand what they were saying. So I started learning the soccer terms then the grammar. I was curious:

- Do you speak other languages?

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Today, Friday the 13th- Will the bad luck follow the top 2 euro 2008 favorites win today? France and Italy?

Today the top 2 euro 2008 favorites play.

Italy, I expect them to win by at least a 2 goal difference. After looking at the 1st half- looks improbably because Romania had 3 clear shots on target all blocked by Buffon. Toni only had 2 off target. I was going to hear it on the Italian radio 'radio rai' but it turns out that it's only available to people IN Italy. That's not fair. French radio RTL.fr lets me hear the game live online.

It's halftime and it's already 1-1. Oh boy, Italy's in big trouble.
prediction: Italy win by a 2 goal difference.

France- I'm curious to see what players Domenech puts on the bench. L'equipe online has said that of the 2 defenders, only Eric Abidal will go to the bench. Willy Sagnol will stay on as right-back. It also looks like Benzema will have to pay for not being decisive in the match agaisnt Romania. So he goes to the bench.
prediction: France win by a 2 goal difference.


- What's your prediction for the 2 games today?

Portugal home jersey, would you buy an original or replica?

I wanted to see how much an original Portugal jersey cost. Last weekend I went to a soccer store in Granada Hills, CA called "SoccerStores."

All the Euro 2008 jerseys cost $70. They had the red home, and the white away Portugal jersey. I didn't buy it yet. They only had 1 with the Ronaldo name left. The rest were with no names. www.soccerstoresinc.com/granada_hills

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"Eh, Sveglia Francese" Luca Toni to Ribery in this video

Have you seen this yet? Let me know what you thought of the video!!

My favorite part when Luca Toni says "Sveglia Francese" and pulls his "Campeoni del mondo" shirt to show it to Ribery on 1:29.

Some French were in denial after the 2006 World Cup final. I don't blame them. Losing in such a unlucky way with penalties. Not wanting to give credit where credit is due- Italy won. Period.

Your thoughts:

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UEFA EURO 2008: Group A: Winner: Portugal. Runner-Up: Czech Republic. Do you agree?

Group A. This is the group I'll be looking at closely because Portugal is in it. Then, Group C to see if Italy gets to the final of again. I'm still surprised Inzaghi is out of Donadoni's final squad list. Here's Group A:

• Czech Republic
• Portugal
• Switzerland
• Turkey

I think, actually, I expect Portugal to be the winner of Group A and Czech Republic, the runner up. Check out the Czech Republic jersey:

Then what?
The Group A winner plays on June 19th, against Group B's runner up.
The Group A runner up plays against Group B's winner.

Who will be the winner of Group A?
Who will be the runner-up of Group A?

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