31 responses so far ↓

• Joe Henry // May 17, 2008 at 12:08

  I will cheer for Spain in Europe !!! YAY ! Victor said it in 2006 Nic I wont sit a sub to Casillas. I really remember him saying it

• Tony // May 17, 2008 at 12:19

  It’s curious, but looking at the squad named by Luis Aragones is it any surprise that apart from the three FC Barcelona players there are another five ex-Barca (in all categories) players that have been called up; these being: Cesc, Reina, Fernando Navarro, Sergio García and Güisa. This confirms my firm belief that FC Barcelona are the top team in Spain with the best football academy based in La Masia which produces so much talent! VISCA BARCA!!!

• voonte // May 17, 2008 at 12:55

  2008-06-14: Sweden vs. Spain will be awesome. Spain are the favorites with all the pressure, but I believe we (Sweden) will put up a good fight. Go Sweden!

  This tournament will be a good break from all the negativity in barca. Already looking forward to the next season.

• Siim // May 17, 2008 at 12:58

  How big support there is for Spanish national team in Catalonia? I will be supporting them during the tournament.

• hamza // May 17, 2008 at 13:40

  i never understood why bojan asked for rest ? he is only 17 and players like Xavi, Puyol And Iniesta played more games than him !! i just don’t get it .. shouldn’t he be great full to be selected in a national team in one of the most challenging tournaments in the world ?

• dnzi // May 17, 2008 at 14:02

  @hamza, the kid is just 17! I don’t think you know how it feels to play on such a high level, while being just 17!!! I’m happy he’s listening to his body instead of all the people who say that he should go, play, break records etc. He’ll get his chance.
  I just hope Spain finishes first in group D! ’cause I’ll see them play live then! (attheQuarterfinal)

• Barca 4 lyf // May 17, 2008 at 14:05

  I’m surprised that Joaquin and Vicente weren’t in the squad but anyway good luck to Barca’s trio!!!

• Joe Henry // May 17, 2008 at 15:57

  RAUL is not on the list. Odd don’t you think. Bojan over Raul huh really really odd. Not that Bojan shouldn’t have a place in the Spain’s National team, It’s that after he said no he still didn’t pick Raul. Really strange. I wanted Bojan to go, but i think its more than just fitness and rest. I think he is afraid. It is big and it is his national team. That is what I think. And if he is tired well, I have to say ” WELL DONE ” for not over doing it which will make injured for the next season.

• pablo // May 17, 2008 at 16:26

  I am glad Raul is not in the Spain squad.
  I am sick and tired especially from the Madrid fans keep going on about how Raul should be in the team.
  Just because he has had one good season, whereas in the last 5 years he has done nothing, does not mean he should be recalled.
  The Spain team now are doing great and it does not need Raul.

• Joe Henry // May 17, 2008 at 16:43

  I agree with you Pablo. Spain doesn’t need him. But its a very courages move from the Spanish coach to said My squad is for the best ! If this was any other coach he would have add him for the sack of respect, He was the captain of the team ! And he is most favored from Madrid fans. I’m just saying it is a strange move.

• Taras // May 17, 2008 at 17:09

  I hope Russia can beat Spain in Euro 2008! No, just joking, that is almost impossible for our team. Actually, I don’t like Russian national team. I don’t like their style. So I hope Spain can reach the title.

• Jay // May 17, 2008 at 17:30

  Yeah…let’s hope Spain win.

• blaugranaboy // May 17, 2008 at 17:32

  im not even going to be kind about this. are some people here idiots? of course you take raul. he may not start over torres and villa but injuries do happen in tournaments. your going to take sergio garcia over raul. garcia is crap. a barca boy that has minimal talent and plays in a minimal team about to get relegated. raul is spain ALL time leading goal scrorer and you dont take him to major international tournament. he had 3 bad years before, prev to that he was great and this year he was great again. but as u people clearly dont know raul wasnt taken for personal reasons between him and aragones. its common knowledge in spain they hate each other and aragones has said a lot of shit about raul. he is too old and stubborn to admit he is wrong. the spanish fa wanted to sack him to allow del bosque to take over during january main reason was the exclusion of guit and raul for non-football reasons. but they gave the senile old man another chance. guti not going either is a odd, but i can admit there are many many center midfielders. albelda??? he just played his first games in months recently.

• morzzan // May 17, 2008 at 17:33

  Yeah, But Raul is an inspirational leader. Being a Madrid fan myself, watching him in the last 2 seasons, his work rate is phenomenal, he plays his heart and soul out for every match. 28 odd goals this season and he is still not called. Luis is just one arrogant fool, putting his bias in front of the national team’s interests. This is pretty sad, considering that he played so well this season.I mean who does that, he shows his bloody arrogance when he puts a 17 year old boy over one of the most prolific strikers of all times. How many games has Bojan played? 20? What a joke, really, frustrating. No coach who thinks he can take out the best and still win anything, never does!! Look at Mclaren, took out Beckham, didn’t even qualify. Van Basten, took out Van Nistelrooy, won nothing. The Indian cricket team coach, took out the captain, won nothing. Its the rule, you try to be bigger than the team, you dont win anything. I do support Spain but this is just unbelievable. I just can’t wait for Del Bosque to take over the national team, then I feel, it will be fun!!

  Anyways, Russia will be hard considering Gus Hiddink is at the helm and he is one tough nut to crack. Spain do stand a good chance this year, considering that a lot of players are mature and are at the peak of their form. And Nic, can u tell me if the Catalans support the spanish national team or how does it work??? Just curious..

• Nic // May 17, 2008 at 18:43

  Some Catalans support the Spanish team but it really depends on the level of their nationalism. A lot of them want Spain to lose, others are indifferent.

• Joe Henry // May 17, 2008 at 19:16

  Look I say add Raul. He is the captain. And he is good. I am a Barca Fan but Raul is a good inspirational leader. although Morzzan, He cant be a sub. I was pointed today that Bojan is a good sub Raul Can’t be a sub. He must play. If Bojan didn’t play the hole thing no one will care. But if Raul the captain didn’t get a chance to play wow, bad for his image. I think its not quiet simple as it sounds. And Also Bojan is an outstanding player giving the fact that he is only 17. Some times you need a youth player that could run. To bring out when the team is dead. But when he said NO I really expected Raul to be added.

  Wow never knew this Catalan and Spanish issue where a big deal.

• FCB // May 17, 2008 at 23:00

  it doesnt matter, no1 here is aragones .

• Shahenshah // May 17, 2008 at 23:17

  anybody realize there is a major difference between international and club play?

  I dont understand why everyone is “omg! Raul didnt get selected! Blasphemy!”. He has proved himself time and time again on the club level but has failed to achieve the same type of success in international tournaments. You could say him not being selected is undeserved but so what? There are other players who deserved to be selected but were looked over.
  Joaquin is one fellow that comes to mind. He is actually a decent player but I am guessing he was not chosen because Valencia had a crap season. In order to fill in that void on the right wing, Aragones went with Sergio Garcia who in most games looked like a sharp player in an otherwise dull zaragoza team this season. Besides Raul is 31 years old. He can dish out a few more years on the club level but internationally, I dont think I can say the same. Around his age, most players retire or begin to consider retiring from the international level. Even if a player that age tries to get into the squad, the coach will usually opt for younger talent. It happens all the time. Romario was a victim of this as well and that fellow was phenomenal, much better than Raul in my opinion.

  All of you riding Raul’s tail, I ask you one question. Would you start Raul over Villa or Torres?

• morzzan // May 18, 2008 at 0:12

  What if Villa or Torres gets injured?? Would you want a 17 year old to play on the highest level of football? No. If one thinks like you do Shahenshah, then even Puyol is 30 years old and should be thinking of retiring. Guti and Raul were phenomenal this season. Did you not watch the game against Barcelona in Madrid. Did you see the spot kick taken scored by Robben? How many in the present Spanish team can do that? Did you not see the one touch play between Guti? Guti’s influential thro balls from last season? You might say Fabregas can do that, but have you seen him play in the recent months? Its been mostly Flamini who has been doing the job of main play maker. Young talent counts, but so does experience. Everyone in this world know that Aragonnes kept the 2 captains of madrid out for reasons other than football. If they were not playing well, then yes, without a doubt they deserve to be out of the selection, but this is not even the case.
  Would I start Villa or Torres? Can they play the entire 500 odd minutes? No they can’t. Over exertion leads to injuries. Atleast, for the last 20 odd minutes for some games, he should have given Raul and Guti a chance.
  I think you would feel the same way I would if Iniesta and Bojan were done the same injustice….

• Shahenshah // May 18, 2008 at 0:37

  Actually defenders usually tend to go on a few more years than strikers.

  Anyways, ofcourse I know what kind of player Guti is. I am not an ignorant fool who mouths off anything that comes to mind. If I seem ignorant at times then my bad.

  In anycase, Guti is a phenomenal player and there is no denying that. In fact if you look at the games where Madrid has played attacking and connective football this season, stringing exquisite passes together and scoring quite a few goals to show for their grade A football, you will notice that they all have Guti’s influence in common. He is your textbook example of a creative midfielder. Him and Sneijder were dominating the midfield against Barcelona in the bernabeau. Remember the game against valladolid. My word. All the goals (except the penalty) were directly because of Guti. 2 goals and 4 assists. I shat my pants when I saw that. Whenever Guti is having his A game, Madrid looks like the most amazing team in the world.

  I dont really know the whole deal between Aragones and the two captains from Madrid. When I said that coaches usually opt for younger players I definitely did not mean Bojan. I wouldnt even call Bojan young. Id call him a baby. What I meant when I said younger players was someone like Guiza who is relatively younger than Raul. Yes, Aragones is prepared in case Torres or Villa get injured, which is why he also has Guiza on the team just in case that fellow has to fill in for either one of them. And lets be real here, despite being the top scorer in league playing for a not so top team Guiza still doesnt come close to the talent of Villa and Torres.

• morzzan // May 18, 2008 at 5:43

  yep, agree with you totally shahenshah (emperor ) on the Guiza part. But I still feel Aragonnes is a prick. And if I said you were being ignorant by any means, I totally apologize, really sorry.
  I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation with you by the way.

• blaugranaboy // May 18, 2008 at 8:55

  shahenshah u claim not to be ignorant but u write:
  “He has proved himself time and time again on the club level but has failed to achieve the same type of success in international tournaments”
  that is THE most stupid, ignorant comment i have ever seen in my life. he is spain’s ALL TIME leading goal scorer. great commentary bud. and morzzan is right, though i know he is a madrid fan. guti should have def been there, de la red. come on! and of course raul should go, thats whats amazin about him, he is such a great person and team player. he will happy sit the bench just to be there get subbed on and lead players that grew up idiolizing him. u take him anyday to play even if villa and torres start. guiza has had one good season, he isnt that fabulous. that pt doesnt even matter about guiza. the fact is raul and guti would have been there under ANY other coach but aragones, its due to personal reasons, plain and simple.

• Shahenshah // May 18, 2008 at 16:00

  what the f*ck?

  listen man, as a captain he has lead madrid to many championships but how many championships has he lead spain to victory internationally? World Cup? Euro? Exactly! I said international TOURNAMENTS. Major emphasis on “tournament” in that statement you claim ignorant. Tournaments like these is where it all counts right? That is when you face the cream of the crop. We all know he is the leading goal scorer of the national team and has been the captain for a long time but none of that resulted in spain winning a title at all. Did it?

  Before you bash somebody you gotta completely read their posts. I dont want to say it but you look like the fucking idiot here. You cant just come in here and call people idiots in the first place, which is why I had to speak up. Who the f*ck do you think you are?

  I am not saying Raul should not be selected at all. I am trying to make sense of what Aragones has done. Del Piero is on the same boat as well. He wants to play but donadoni might go with someone younger despite Del Piero having a very good season with juventus and a long history with the national team. Perhaps Aragones wants to give the younger blood a chance and see if they can bring a much awaited title to Spain. Is it something personal between Raul and Aragones? I already said I dont really know. However, whether it be personal or footballing reasons, you can come in here and mouth off as much as you like and Aragones still wont change his mind so get the f*ck over it.

• Liam // May 18, 2008 at 18:22

  Raul should be there, football is about streaks and form and the kid is on fire, simple as that.

  Sergio Garcia…. ffs, all he can do is run like a mad man!
  Machena…. worst CB ive ever seen.

  To all the ones who have been asking about Vicente and Joaquin, those 2 are the most over-rated players in spanish football, they have done nothing in the past 3 years yet u guys complain about people wanting Raul in the squad? like, wtf?

  GK: looks solid, Casillas is the best keeper in the world, Reina did well this season… Palop… he is there just in case, cant really c him playing.

  DF: Albiol, Ramos and Puyol are world class, the rest… not so sure.
  MID: Prolly one of the best in the world, looks extremely good.
  FW: Villa and Torres guarantee goals.

  MANAGER: SUCKS, dont expect him to solve anything if things go wrong, and perhaps, this is why I cant c Spain winning the cup.

• Nic // May 18, 2008 at 18:33

  To Blaugranaboy and Shahenshah - That’s enough thank you. There’s no need to get personal.

• Joe Henry // May 18, 2008 at 18:49

  I feel guilty Nic I started this topic :D.

• blaugranaboy // May 18, 2008 at 20:58

  i wasnt getting personal and dont like arguing with barca ppl. but when people, not only one, say raul being there is smart decision, what choice do i have.

  honestly, how many has raul led spain to winning? better question, how many has spain won at all? spain are the classic underachievers, not him. and im aware i cant change what aragones does, but im just saying people who dont think raul should go to the Euro and dont think he will positively influnece the squad have NO football knowledge or understanding whatsoever. taking sergio garcia, give me a break. raul, top spanish goal scorer, top CL goal scorer, madrid 2nd top scorer EVER, will have scored more goals in one liftime than garcia could in 100.

  im local and want spain to win for once. so its importnat to me who aragones selects. and del piero is totally different. he has been a massive villian for italy over the years. he has been one of the most loved but bitterly hated players in italian history. he is few years older too. and italy actually have great young options instead. its fair enough to want to bring up the young, but would sergio garcia really be called the ‘up and coming’ spanish striker to replace raul.

  thats it.

  and yes it is personal reasons for his not being selected, said in many times before. thats well known in spain.

• blaugranaboy // May 18, 2008 at 20:59

  my main point is u cannot excuse aragones for his decisons, so everyone please dont. he is a senile old idiot. but i still pray that spain can win under this senile fool. that would be ironic

• Shahenshah // May 18, 2008 at 23:32

  Where exactly did I say Raul not being there is a smart decision? Where exactly did I say Raul should not be selected at all? I reiterate, I am only trying to make sense of what Aragones has done. I am not applauding that fellow for his decisions.

  You say you werent being personal and interestingly enough you resort to personal attacks in your rebuttal. Raul was the captain of Spain so it was partly his responsibility that Spain do well in these tournaments. Thus, being the captain of the team he should take some of the blame for Spain being underachievers as well. Shouldnt he? Especially considering the fact that he has played a major role in Spanish football: Internationally and club wise.

  Raul Garcia is clearly not an up and coming striker. He is more of a winger. The only reason he was chosen was to replace Joaquin not Raul. Without Joaquin who is going to play on the right wing? Raul Garcia. Why? I guess it has to be due to his performance on the right wing for Zaragoza this season. He has actually done quite well this year. He was the fellow who made confident runs towards defenders and trying to create something. Remember Olivera’s goal against Barcelona in La Romereda this season? Look it up and see who set him up with that goal.

  Garcia is not a goal scoring “up and coming” striker. He is a right winger who is going to replace Joaquin in the Euro. The “up and coming” striker who replaced Raul is Fernando Torres.

• Shahenshah // May 19, 2008 at 5:24

  yeah thats actually supposed to be sergio. my bad. Raul Garcia is a different fellow up in atletico. Eitherway you know who i was talking about.

• Diatus // May 21, 2008 at 11:45

  Blaugrana and Shahensha…truce?

  what the hell…I was enjoying this!…Come on guys, this one is still a draw.Great points on both sides and this is one of those on which I am a bit neutral since the team really qualified without him. How fair would it be to the core players to inject such a huge persona in the mix at this point…not so sure that It will great for team dynamic.

  Hey Nic,

  Geat job with the report on the Laporta interview and forgive my silence of late. I read everyday but I am simply still recovering from hearing RM fans sing ´Da me una manita´ (you know what I mean…that one still hurts deeply and for some reason I am still in Spain: It must be the Jamon Serano).Anyway, keep up the good work.

  From Badajoz this time!

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