Euro 2012 Group Stage - Match schedule

Euro 2012 Group Stage - Match schedule

All kick-offs CET

Friday 8 June 2012
Poland v Greece, 18.00CET, Warsaw
Russia v Czech Republic, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

Saturday 9 June 2012
Netherlands v Denmark, 18.00CET, Kharkiv
Germany v Portugal, 20.45CET, Lviv

Sunday 10 June 2012
Spain v Italy, 18.00CET, Gdansk
Ireland v Croatia, 20.45CET, Poznan

Monday 11 June 2012
France v England, 18.00CET, Donetsk
Ukraine v Sweden, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Tuesday 12 June 2012
Greece v Czech Republic, 18.00CET, Wroclaw
Poland v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Wednesday 13 June 2012
Denmark v Portugal, 18.00CET, Lviv
Netherlands v Germany, 20.45CET, Kharkiv

Thursday 14 June 2012
Italy v Croatia, 18.00CET, Poznan
Spain v Ireland, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Friday 15 June 2012
Sweden v England, 20.45CET, Kyiv
Ukraine v France, 18.00CET, Donetsk

Saturday 16 June 2012
Czech Republic v Poland, 20.45CET, Wroclaw
Greece v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Sunday 17 June 2012
Portugal v Netherlands, 20.45CET, Kharkiv
Denmark v Germany, 20.45CET, Lviv

Monday 18 June 2012
Croatia v Spain, 20.45CET, Gdansk
Italy v Ireland, 20.45CET, Poznan

Tuesday 19 June 2012
England v Ukraine, 20.45CET, Donetsk
Sweden v France, 20.45CET, Kyiv

info via uefa.com

HD Extended Highlights: Barcelona 2-2 Milan (12:11 mins) Sept 13, 2011 - UEFA Champions League gsm#1

via Dailymotion

HD Extended Highlights: BATE Borisov 0-5 Barcelona (12:26 mins) Sept 28th, 2011 - UEFA Champions League gsm#2

via Dailymotion

HD Extended Highlights: Barcelona 5-0 Atletico Madrid (13:53 mins) Sept 24, 2011 - La Liga

via Dailymotion

HD Extended Highlights: Sporting Gijon 0-1 Barcelona (8:34 mins) Oct 2, 2011 - La Liga

via Dailymotion

HD Extended Highlights: Barcelona 8-0 Osasuna (22:02 mins) Sept 17, 2011 - La Liga

via Dailymotion.com

Cesctistics 101

A lot of speculation occurred over the summer on whether Barça would transfer for or even need Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal originally wanted 60m in transfer fees for the sensational, world-class Spanish midfielder. Barcelona thought their prodigal son should return home for free. In any case, such as these, they found a common median and on August 15th, the transfer deal became complete for around 29m plus extra variables and Cesc flew home in a private jet crying tears of happiness and depression, all at once.

[getty]

Of course, the majority of you know all these details as this was the most drawn-out transfer story that I can ever remember. I'm not going to bore you with a history lesson because this is Cesctistics 101. You are here to be educated about Barça's new #4. Some of you will inevitable find holes in my lecture but let me say this first, you are wrong and I am right. Good, glad you agree. Now since that's out of the way we can resume. Stats don't tell the entire story of a player's skill and contribution but some figures just can't be ignored. Let's start with Cesc's debut in the blaugrana versus their arch-rival on:

Aug 17: Spanish Super Cup 2nd Leg vs Real Madrid (at Camp Nou):

Subbed In ~ 81st minute after Benzema levels the aggregate score at 4-4
Minutes Played ~ 16
Player Impact ~ Involved in the team passing build up to the final decisive goal.
Cesc's Goal Differential(+/-)  ~  +1
Barcelona win 3-2


Aug 22: Gamper Trophy match vs Napoli (at Camp Nou):
In the Starting XI
Minutes Played ~ 57
Player Impact ~ 1 goal, 25'
Cesc's Goal Differential(+/-)  ~  +2
Barcelona win 5-0


Aug 26: UEFA Super Cup vs Porto (at Stade Louis II, Monaco):
Subbed In ~ 80th minute
Minutes Played ~ 10
Player Impact ~ 1 goal, 87'
Cesc's Goal Differential(+/-)  ~  +1
Barcelona win 2-0


Aug 29: La Liga opener vs Villarreal (at Camp Nou):
In the Starting XI
Minutes Played ~ 70
Player Impact ~ 1 goal, 1 assist
Cesc's Goal Differential(+/-)  ~  +4
Barcelona win 5-0


Sept 2: International Friendly - Spain vs Chile (at AFG Arena):
Subbed In ~ 64th minute
Minutes Played ~ 30
Player Impact ~ 2 goals, 71' & 90+1'
Cesc's Goal Differential(+/-)  ~  +2
Spain win 3-2


{background music (on repeat): Kings of Leon - Cesc on Fire}


Let's review. Since being transferred to Barcelona, Cesc has competed in 5 matches, played 183 minutes (a little over two 90 minute games), scored 5 goals, along with 1 assist. He has an other-worldly goal/minute ratio of 1 goal every 36.6 minutes played! Yes, that is better than either Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo right now. When Cesc is out on the pitch, his teams have scored 10 and allowed zero goals in those 5 matches and won all 5. People questioned whether he would even see the pitch for Barcelona and I just laughed at all that nonsense. And I'm laughing even more because. . . . .


"THIISSSSSS CESCCCC ISSS ONN FIIIRE!"

Guest Post: The Spanish Super Copa

By Dev (Twitter: @d3vrath)


Last season ended bitterly when the two football giants played 4 intense matches in 17 days. People were hoping for some great football in 2 weeks but sadly there were more controversies than footballing action. You can compare it to a battle field without weapons to be precise.
The Spanish 2011/2012 season started out with 2 Clasicos in 4 days. People expected controversy, fighting and abuses but it came out quite clean (except the last 20 seconds, It’s a Clasico there has to be some).


Being a Barcelona supporter, I will be not be proud to say this but in the first leg Real Madrid were the better team and we were saved of any sort of embarrassment thanks to Victor Valdes(VV) and our defenders, especially Mascherano.


After the last season this was the first time I actually saw Barcelona playing under pressure. But we did great. We could not get our ‘style’ on but we never lost hope and kept on fighting. We were a goal down by 12 mins(could have been more but we showed that we can defend too). We took the lead with what I call a spectacular and top class goal from Villa (our first shot on target) and a typical Messi action(Our second shot) by half time. They also scored after half time.It ended in 2-2 which was fantastic. We had the so called away goal ‘advantage’(With Madrid there is no advantage till the match has been ended).


Fans may be thinking that this year Barca won’t be able to live up to the standard they have set. But look at it from a different angle. Pep (Our Main Man) put his players on rest .The pre-season included players mostly from the B Team. This is no excuse but we had a fantastic season last year and all of them deserved rest. I doubt Messi might have trained the players for more than 2 or 3 days. As a Barca fan I'm used to Barca not playing 'their' game at the start, freaking their fans out. But then when you see some creative passing between Messi,Iniesta and Xavi you are just waiting for a Goal to come. This system is different. No one can tell who plays where till when. Messi is all around the place, Xavi and Iniesta passing the ball in the oppositions half, David Villa and Pedro excahnging sides, Dani alves in the attacking side when there is possession and in the defensive half when the ball is lost. Mascherano plays either CB,CDM. Abidal LB or CB, Pique a dummy attacker when needed. The system changes but the game remains the same. It feels as if they all are in their natural positions. For this we need practice and exercise which we lacked and which Madrid had a lot due to their fantastic pre-season.With Fabregas in now we have variety as well as talent. Now I think I’m diverting from the topic. The Fabregas Saga next time maybe. Back to Super Copa.


17th August 11 pm Spanish Time , 2:30 am Indian time, fingers crossed. We were in our fortress now. The Squad looked strong. Fabregas included equals more excitement. From the first leg experience I was sure not to underestimate Real Madrid. 40 secs and Ronaldo had a shot. VV our Savior. This time our strategy was different. We were actually defending. When the ball came in possession the Messi , Xavi and Iniesta passing slowly started and our wingers (Villa and Pedro) started to move ahead slowly. Real Madrid started going in their half (Villa's goal still in their minds). This went on. Both the teams looked even. No one dominated.


Then it’s our typical Messi who had to take the initiative, dodged a few players and sent out a killer pass to Iniesta (who had changed his position).GOALLLLL!!!!. A small flick over Casillas. A sigh of relief. But still there was time left. Barcelona in full form and so was Madrid. Ronaldo equalized(not sure if it was offside or not but we are Barca, we never complain, we fight back).Now they had 1 away goal and needed only one more. After that it anything would be their advantage. Again Messi with his killer instincts took a shot and 2-1 at half time. Till 60 mins i felt like we would keep it that way. Pep subbed Adriano for Villa, Kieta for Busquets (Villa went for Adriano, now tensed). Kaka came on for Madrid. With a bad corner by Kaka and a poor clearance , they somehow equalized(2-2). Now Fabregas in(in doubtful emotions now). My thought process had stopped woking. The only things that ran in my mind were in a form of a slide show. No Pedro and Villa. Fingers crossed. 3 mins left. Praying for extra time and suddenly GOALLLLLL!!!!! Messi charging in , Adriano with a low cross, and Fabregas starting the move. It was ours. We had to hang on now (for 7 mins more including ET). 93:50 there was a commotion which i consider as an integral part of the Clasico. I dont want to write about it. Being a Barca fan, I have learnt one thing. Pictures will speak for themselves and we will show what we are on the pitch, not off it.

Photo via Sport.es

We won the Super Copa. The first out of the 5 cups. The thing which I will never forget is Villa dancing like a kid after his first goal. Hes rightly named El Guage. 
#InPepWeTrust..Visca el Barca..

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Draw - European Zone

Group A
Croatia
Serbia
Belgium
Scotland
Macedonia
Wales

Group B
Italy
Denmark
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Armenia 
Malta

Group C
Germany
Sweden
Republic of Ireland
Austria
Kazakhstan
Faroe Islands

Group D
Netherlands
Turkey
Hungary
Romania
Estonia
Andorra

Group E
Norway
Slovenia
Switzerland
Albania
Iceland
Cyprus

Group F
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg

Group G
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia and Herzegivina 
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein

Group H
England
Montenegro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino

Group I

SPAIN

France

Belarus

Georgia

Finland


This European Zone will send 13 teams to Brazil in 2014. The winner of each Group will automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup Finals. Runner-ups in each Group will face in a play-off format to determine which teams fill the remaining 4 places for the World Cup Finals.

Audi Cup: Barcelona vs Internacional - Extended Highlights (HD)

Barcelona '11/'12 Training Kit

The training jersey that will be worn by Barcelona

during 2011-2012 season.

June 21, 2010 - Spain vs Honduras - FIFA World Cup - Group Stage Match #2

Exactly 1 year ago, after previously losing their 1st Group Stage match to Switzerland 5 days ago, Spain couldn't of had a bigger hole to climb out of. Their 2nd match versus Honduras, highlighted by David Villa's 2 goals, propelled Espana to win 6 matches in a row and be crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup Champions. Enjoy!

A Day In Pictures - USA vs SPAIN - June 4th, 2011

Some pictures I took before, during and after the USA-SPAIN match. Had to deal with pretty bad glare in the 2nd half. Enjoy :)

So excited for kick-off!

 

American Outlaw's section (USA's support section)

I think that might be Iniesta's uncle ha

@Jme229 in front of the stadium

stretching and some piggy-in-the-middle

Little Spaniards enjoying pre-match

National anthem/hymn

warming up

One of the first glimpses of David Villa just getting into the stadium

3 Panoramic Photos

Corner Kick

Kick-off

The FIFA World Cup Trophy

Villa & Silva

Espana's #9, El Nino

Pique

Casillas

Torres being interviewed after the match

David Villa & David Silva

The 3 Barcelona starters
Pique (upper left) ; Busquets (upper right) ; Villa (bottom)

Pepe Reina & Iker Casillas

Spain Manager Vicente del Bosque 

STAY TUNED.. Very soon I'll have videos posted on Youtube!! :)

Iceland's Volcano - The Proverbial Thorn of 2010's FC Barcelona

The following pictures are of the Iceland volcano eruption in 2010 which resulted in the formation of an ash cloud and severely affected Barcelona's travel during the Champions League last year.

All these photos are genuine and taken by Terje Sorgjerd, TSO Photography. 'Like' his page on Facebook to see his other work at http://www.facebook.com/TSOPhotography or Follow him on Twitter: @TSOphotography