Monthly Archives: June 2014

Luis Suarez y el Barca

Cualquiera que sea el resultado de la debacle de Luis Suárez, una cosa es cierta. Es muy poco probable que quiera quedarse en Inglaterra y, de hecho los ingleses no le quieren  . También es mas que probable que su valor comercial puede haber disminuido en los últimos días ya que los propietarios estadounidenses  de Liverpool y sus patrocinadores corren a esconderse. Así que deja la pregunta, ¿qué futuro para Suarez? En el supuesto de que no va a montarse en  un avión a las Cataratas del Iguazú  para lanzarse …

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Suarez and FC Barcelona

Whatever might be the outcome of the Luis Suarez debacle, one thing is certain. He is very unlikely to want to stay in England and indeed he is less than wanted there now anyway.One can also presume that his asset value may have declined in recent days as the US owners of Liverpool and his sponsors run for cover making him a target for non-English clubs. So that leaves the question , what next for Suarez? On the assumption that he will not next catch a plane to the Iguazu …

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Messi y la memoria de Dallas

Hace diez años la carrera  internacional de Maradona terminó de repente y de manera espectacular en la Copa Mundial de EE.UU. cuando dio positivo a una prueba de drogas en un partido del grupo inicial jugando  Argentina contra Nigeria. Hoya Messi  saltara al campo en Port Alegre con Argentina para jugar contra el mismo país, un jugador decidido a demostrar en esta Copa del Mundo del gran rival Brasil que él no solamente es el mejor, pero es mejor que Maradona. Brasil ha sido invadido por los hinchas argentinos  que …

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Can Messi banish the ghost of Dallas ?

  Twenty years ago, Maradona’s international ended suddenly and dramatically in the World Cup USA when he tested positive to a drugs test in an early  group match played by Argentina against Nigeria. Later today Messi will lead out Argentina to play against the same country, a player determined to prove in this World Cup in the great rival Brazil that he is not the only best, but better than Maradona. Brazil has been invaded by Argentine fans dreaming of a World Cup held up by Messi. It was Pep …

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La Roja en Brasil: Una historia anunciada?

Nada quizá resumió con más intensidad  la tragedia de la salida de España de los Mundiales en Brasil que la instantánea de David Villa y Xavi Hernández, juzgados por Del Bosque  excedentes  a sus  requisitos , en el banco de suplentes. Villa ha marcado más goles en la Selección de España que cualquier otro jugador en la historia, mientras que Xavi Hernández ha sido la columna vertebral  de y de hecho ha definido  un estilo de fluido juego de ataque basado en la posesión y pases rápidos que pocos equipos …

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La Roja in Brazil: A story foretold ?

  Nothing perhaps summed up more acutely the tragedy of Spain’s exit  from the World  Cup  in Brazil than the  snapshot  of  David Villa  and Xavi Hernandez , judged by their manager surplus to requirements,   on the substitutes bench. Villa has scored more goals for Spain’s  national team than any other in history, while Xavi Hernandez has been the backbone and indeed defined a style of  fluid attacking play based on possession and quick passing which few teams have managed to emulate with such success, either club or national …

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Spain’s La Roja needs to get back in touch with its best

  Watching Brazil’s last two games, helped me focus in thinking what a tragedy it would be were Vicente del Bosque’s team  to be knocked out in the early stages of this World Cup. For all the media hype surrounding the host nation in the run up to the tournament, this Brazil team has yet to convince me that they are worthy pretenders to the crown.  My scepticism is provoked  in large measure by Neymar, whose reputation has been fuelled less by any enduring evidence of his exceptionality than by …

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La Roja- Its not over yet

Just days after Rafa Nadal lifted the Roland Garros trophy in Paris, declaring Prefiero morir siendo valiente( ‘ I would rather die being brave’) , Spain’s national football team –the defending World  Champions- capitulated  without passion or glory to a Dutch team that played with fury and style. Nothing perhaps summed up the sheer humiliation of Friday’s game  than the utterly dejected, almost haunted face of Iker Casillas after letting through the fifth Dutch goal in the most crushing defeat suffered by La Roja since breaking with decades of underachievement …

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El Casteller aun por construir

  Pocos actos colectivos de actividad humana son tan impresionantes y de hecho tan conmovedores como la realizada por los Castellers catalanes (constructores del castillo). La actuación consiste en un gran grupo de hombres fuertes que construyen una torre humana. La base, que se  puede aumentar con aliados si es necesario, se forma en una llamada Piña, una relativamente gran anillo que lleva el peso de las capas por encima y por tanto estabiliza la carga y actúa como una red de seguridad. Capas-conocido como el tronc (Catalán de tronco …

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The human castle yet to be built in Spain

    Few acts of human endeavour are as impressive and indeed moving as that performed by Catalan Castellers (Castle builders). The performance involves a large group of able-bodied men building a human tower. The base, which can draw on helpers if needed, is formed in a so-called Pinya, a relatively large ring which carries the weight of layers above and both stabilises the load and acts as a security net.  Additional layers-known as the tronc (Catalan for tree trunk) vary in numbers and according to how many are involved, …

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