the international break is finally over!

A brief summary of the international results involving our boys from yesterday, along with some other news.  The best thing was that there were no injuries, and some of the players were even rested.

Spain U-21 Euro 2011 qualification: the best one (from a Real Madrid perspective) was the 0-1 between La Rojita and Poland, with Sergio Canales scoring the only – and game winning – goal of the game.  It was quite an ingenious goal – watch it here – but certainly nothing new because Sergio C. and Thiago had already collaborated and put it to good use during their time with the U-19 team.  With the victory, Spain enters the draw for the U-21 Euro 2011 and keeps its hopes alive of competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Spain-Argentina friendly: whatever the result, some madridistas were going to come out on top.  Yesterday, it was Gonzalo Higuaín and Ángel di María, as their Argentina beat Spain 4-1.  Pipita scored one of the four goals.  On Spain’s side, Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa started the game, with the former carrying out captain duties and the latter playing the entire game.  Iker and Sergio watched the game from the bench.  By the way, Esteban Cambiasso and Gaby Heinze also played for Argentina, and Iker exchanged his shirt – despite not playing – with Cambiasso.  He also shared a moment with his “protectee” Pipita.

France-Bosnia Euro 2012 qualification: France best Bosnia 0-2, with Benzema scoring the first goal for the bleus.

Germany-Azerbaijan Euro 2012 qualification: Germany beat Azerbaijan 6-0.  Sami and Mesut played the entire game.

Portugal-Norway Euro 2012 qualification: Portugal lost 0-1 to Norway with Ricardo Carvalho playing the entire game.

And of course, the game I would have loved to write about – the Netherlands-Finland Euro 2012 qualification: the Netherlands beat Finland 2-1, with Rafa van der Vaart playing 64 minutes.  Also playing were Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored both goals before being relieved by Ruud van Nistelrooy.  Can you tell I’m a bit bitter?  Not seeing Rafa with Madrid once training resumes will take some getting used to.

Meanwhile, Kaká is ADECE’s (Alianza de Escritores y Comunicadores Evangélicos or Alliance of Evangelist Writers and Communicators) personality of the year, an award given to evangelists who have stood out in the press for their testimonies as believers.  If that doesn’t make too much sense, it’s because I just translated it directly from the Spanish because I got bored while I was doing it, even though it’s just one sentence long.

And Guti told Onda Madrid that he already has a house in Istanbul and that it is furnished (did he stress this to provide contrast with Benzema?).  He has problems with the language, hates the traffic and is getting used to his new life, where he’s a very popular figure, to the extent that “you can’t leave your house.”  He also said that Sergio C. resembles him physically.  Well, minus the tattoos, the fashion hairstyles and the outlandish clothing, right Guti?

During the international break, Jerzy Dudek took part in Jamie Carragher’s Testimonial game, helping the Liverpool eleven beat Everton’s lineup 4-1.  And Marcelo, who was originally scheduled to join the Brazilian national team for their friendly against Barcelona B, stayed behind in Madrid due to ankle discomfort and a tummyache.

And Fernando Gago spent the day in Madrid watching girlfriend Gise at the U.S. Open, Argentina at the basketball world championships (Argentina beat Brazil 93-89 in the round of 16), and also the Argentina-Spain game.  And there I was beginning to think that only Gisela used the twitter account…

There will be a training session today at 17h, in which all of the international players are expected to train, alongside the rest of the squad.  Finally, league football!!!!  And the debut of the new Madrid at the Bernabéu!  Can’t wait!