Por Eduard Gygax / @egygax

Para FOX Deportes

Como la mayoría sabrá, el torneo de fútbol olímpico se juega con selecciones sub 23, y cada entrenador puede llamar a tres jugadores mayores de esa edad. El hecho que no sean las selecciones mayores le quita algo de mérito a dicha disciplina (ante los ojos de algunos, no en mi caso), pero hay algo que no se está tomando en cuenta: la mayoría de jugadores ya son profesionales y muchos son titulares indiscutibles en sus clubes.

Analicemos el caso de Jordi Alba: el joven lateral izquierdo jugó toda la temporada en España, que incluyó la Liga, la Champions (luego Europa League) y la Copa del Rey. Su gran rendimiento le sirvió para ganarse un espacio en la selección española que disputó la Euro, en la que jugó todos los partidos y fue clave en la final.

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By Eduardo Maisonet, III / @edthesportsfan

For FOX Deportes

For a team that is as flashy as Spain is, some have labeled them boring. A captivating statement indeed, especially since I felt myself nodding a bit during the final between Spain and Italy. All the possession in the world along with the French Toast I ate for breakfast caused me to nod off for a few seconds. When I closed my eyes the score was 2-0, when I awoke it was 4-0. I rewinded my DVR and watched the mastery displayed again on my big screen. Beautifully boring, stunningly simple.

Over an 8-hour workshift gone without giving up a goal to close Euro 2012, Spain completed their championship journey with the biggest margin of victory in a Euro final ever. Spain are now winners of three consecutive major international tournaments and have put the rest of the world to bed. Wake up.

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Por Juan Carlos Agüero / @juankaguerom

Para FOX Deportes

La Eurocopa 2012 se acerca a su fin, y como todo torneo importante nos deja, decepciones, sorpresas y jugadores destacados.

Antes de que ruede la pelota y se decida el campeón de este torneo les daré el que para mí ha sido el once ideal de la Eurocopa 2012, recordando siempre que para gustos los colores y que cada uno podrá tener a sus favoritos.

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By Eduardo Maisonet, III / @edthesportsfan

For FOX Deportes

It wasn’t just the fact that Germany lost to Italy.

It wasn’t just the fact that Germany looked out of sync for the first time in the entire tournament.

It wasn’t just the fact that Germany once again lost to an Italian side again for the seventh consecutive time, that the Germans were on a 15-match winning streak in international competitions, and that they were in their fourth straight semifinals match at a major tournament. Nope, it was even more than that.

It was the fact that the one person they couldn’t afford to beat them, and he beat them twice. He pulled off his shirt in utter defiance, and single-handedly took ownership over the “man of the tournament” title with two sweeps of the leg.

That man, is Mario Barwuah Balotelli, and his team is one more win away from being on top of the European football mountaintop.

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Por Juan Carlos Agüero / @juankaguerom

Para FOX Deportes 

Mientras el mundo tiene sus ojos en la Eurocopa y lo que puedan hacer grandes jugadores como Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi o Balotelli en América se vive una fiesta grande en uno de los torneos que  todo amante del fútbol debería tener apuntado en su lista de cosas a realizar antes de partir.

El sueño de los equipos del continente se ha ido rompiendo conforme pasaban las fechas, al final solo dos quedan con vida,  los representantes de dos países que han dado grandeza a América a nivel de clubes y selecciones, Brasil se ve las caras ante Argentina, es decir, Corinthians enfrenta a Boca Juniors.

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By Eduardo Maisonet, III / @edthesportsfan

For FOX Deportes

The matchups have been set in the semifinal round of Euro 2012 and if you picked Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal in your bracket, then I’ve got a bag full of $20’s here for you. Okay, I lied. While three of the four teams were popular picks of getting the the semifinal stage, seeing Portugal here seems as unfamiliar as it does seem right on time. This current cast of characters haven’t had as much success as their predecessors, but their ultimate test lays in front of them with Spain. Spain, being the defending European Cup champs, come in undefeated and laying waste to all comers thus far in the tournament. If Portugal are to win on Wednesday, they’ll need a heroic effort from a player most likely to succeed, or the player most likely to…

The Player Most Likely To Do Stepovers In Front Of Your Girl, Cristiano Ronaldo: Ronaldo seems like the type that if he saw your woman, and coveted her, he would try to do things to try and impress her. Personally, I’d envision him pulling out a soccer ball and doing stepovers in front of your chick. It would mesmerize her, make her hesitate, and in a moment’s notice your woman would be gone forever.

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By Eduardo Maisonet, III ./ @edthesportsfan

For FOX Deportes

The microscope that has been on the Portugese footballing side has been in place for two reasons. One, arguably one of the best players in the world plays for them. Two, the squad doesn’t ever seem to win squat.

So when Portugal advanced to the knockout round of Euro 2012 on Sunday by defeating the Netherlands convincingly with an awesome showing of counterattacking and poise in a 2-1 win, the microscope only became fined tuned in its focus. Portugal could be a legitimate rabble rouser in a tournament that seems up for grabs and the best player in the tournament put on a show that only Cristiano Ronaldo could.

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Por Juan Carlos Agüero / @juankaguerom

Para FOX Deportes 

No han ganado un título mundial pero su legado al fútbol siempre será recordado, desde el 74 con su famoso fútbol total Holanda ha sido un país de grandes propuestas y espectáculos uno que parecen haber dejado en casa en esta Eurocopa 2012.

La naranja fue exprimida y fracasó en un torneo al que llegaban más favoritas que nunca, los cambios tácticos de Van Marwijk no funcionaron bien en el equipo tulipán.

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Por Eduard Gygax / @egygax

Para FOX Deportes

Se cerró la segunda fecha de la fase de grupos de la Euro y no hemos visto ningún 0-0. Genial, ¿no?

Los que vieron de punta a punta el Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010, recordarán que los primeros partidos de la fase de grupos fueron aburridos, hubo pocos goles y no muchas emociones.

En esta Euro, todo eso quedó atrás. Tal vez el duelo que más ha decepcionado hasta ahora (por la expectativa que generó) fue el Alemana vs Portugal, pero ambas selecciones dejaron atrás los malos momentos y jugaron grandes partidos ante Holanda y Dinamarca, respectivamente.

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