Animo España

Guess my first post to break my spell of lack of blog posts is going to be about the Spain National Team's exit in this year's World Cup.

Whenever it comes to major tournaments, especially the World Cup, 90% of the tweets on my Twitter timeline will be about the matches. Weirdly enough, almost half of these tweets are by my female friends whose football tweets only appear once every four years. Hahaha okay I am exaggerating.

It's always difficult to explain to non-football fans why I am so passionate about the teams I support because I literally go on an emotional journey with them. But, I'm super glad I have ze best friend - hehe hi Stef! - who has been watching the sport longer than I have (albeit supporting a different club in the EPL), and is genuinely interested in every aspect of football that I wish to tell her about. Like, I can actually discuss matches that we're currently watching with her and that is really awesome. I mean of course we keep a lookout for the good-looking players and all too but we ain't that superficial... Hahaha.

One team that both of us support is the Spain National Team and I think I speak for the both of us when I say that the matches against Netherlands and Chile in the group stages of this World Cup were the hardest matches we ever had to watch with Spain playing. And even though I don't like pointing fingers, I think the biggest fault belongs to the traditional mindset of manager Vicente del Bosque who does not want to change with the times.

The squad of 2008, 2010 and 2012 are getting old.

I absolutely love this squad and they have given me so many reasons to smile. And I appreciate it so much that Vincente del Bosque is so attached and dependent on the squad and he is such a father figure to them. But the fact is that age has inevitably caught up with them and the generation we are familiar with looked exhausted and unmotivated. Young Spanish players bursting with potential are not being utilized, and they should, because they are the future of the country's football team after all. So I was absolutely bummed from the start that players like Isco who have been doing so well in the youth team didn't go get into the squad.

Putting hopes on a striker who is not fully fit.

... And who is a Brazilian as well. I don't even wanna say his name LOL but that was one of the most horrible decisions ever. Playing Villa would have been great - even if you put Torres on there I think it'd sit well with more people.

My heart goes out to Casillas, Ramos, Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso and co. the most and I thank them for the past 6 years. My Real Madrid players in particular have had a great season and them winning the Copa Del Rey and Champions League have given me more than enough reason to be happy. Even the best fall down sometimes, and I believe the newly revamped Spain will be back stronger to defend their UEFA Euro title.

Just hoping that their last match in this year's World Cup will not be catastrophic. Please just get the striker who has been playing the last 2 games out, and get Xavi and Villa in. Viva España!

Upsets and Downfalls

For those who know me, you'd know that I'm a huge fan of Spanish football team Real Madrid. They had a rough start to the season but picked themselves up and did really well for the rest of the season but last month's Champions League semi-final first leg 4-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund was a really devastating one.

I believed my team could make a comeback on home ground though. It actually seemed pretty possible but I guess it was not to be, even with goals from Benzema and Ramos. Yesterday's (or rather this morning's) match never made me feel so much for the team before. It's funny how a loss evokes more feelings that a win. And Real Madrid's undying spirit throughout the whole match (they played brilliantly) made me feel absolutely proud to call myself a Madridista.

Then I browsed through Tumblr and a bunch of heartbreaking pictures came out on my dash. Including photos of my dear vice-captain Ramos crying. I was tearing when I saw them. :(

Ramos being comforted by Iker Casillas and Marcelo.

Xabi Alonso comforting Ramos.

From a captain to another.

But the most heartbreaking picture has to be the last one of captain Iker Casillas kneeling on the sidelines. After he broke his pinky, he has not played a single match (even after he has recovered) and this is the only thing I don't like coach Jose Mourinho for. Iker Casillas is a far better goalkeeper than Diego Lopez, and he is even hailed as the world's best goalkeeper. And you just leave him on the bench the whole time?! He is the captain, yet he can't do anything but watch, and this thoroughly breaks my heart. But he understands how it feels, this being his third consecutive Champion's League semi-final elimination. And for this I believe that he was the most suitable to comfort vice-captain Ramos. I'm sure Ramos felt that way too.

And Ramos, my dear dear Ramos. He was in tears (as seen from the pictures above) so you know how much the match, the team and the fans mean to him. He had a great match so I believe that he feels worse because of that. Also, because of Casillas' absence, he has been captaining the matches so I'm sure he feels bad, thinking that he hasn't done his part properly.

But here's to you, my favourite footballer: You have put in all your effort and I'm sure the fans see it. You might be the player with the most yellow cards in the team, but you have a strong sense of righteousness and don't condone cheating and diving. You know when you have made a wrong move, and you apologize for that. And when you play, it's a 101%, or more. For that, I'm so proud and thankful for you. For yesterday's match, for the whole season, for being a great vice-captain, and for being in Real Madrid. My love for you is indescribable.

There's still the Copa Del Rey finals coming up against Atletico Madrid on homeground, so I hope the boys pick themselves up again and win it. And Mourinho, please let Casillas play.

I just want to see their happy faces. Sobs.