the news round-up

Training sessions resume today!

One. Due to the international break, the Crackòvia episode yesterday was a compilation of the best Leo Messi moments, to celebrate his 10 years with Barcelona.  So, no mirrors, sequins or chats yesterday!

Two. International games scheduled for today: Iker and co. will play Scotland, Sergio C. takes on Croatia, the Portuguese face Iceland, the Germans square off against Kazakhstan and the French match up against Luxembourg.  Diarrá, Di María and Higuaín are all back in Madrid already.

Sergio Ramos and Mesut Özil are expected back in action, after ending their previous games with injuries to their ankles.  Xabi Alonso is also expected to suit up after recovering from the cold that kept him out of the first game.

Three. According an interview published by the German football federation, Sami Khedira had this to say about Zizou: “I saw Zidane for the first time two weeks ago.  My childhood dream was to meet him since he was my idol.  To me, Zidane is the best and most complete player in history… I would love to have him working with us, and receiving his advice makes me feel proud.”

As for life in Real Madrid, Sami said that both he and Mesut were surprised by how familial the atmosphere was: “the locker room is full of international superstars but everyone treats each other well and helps out, and there’s no envy.”  He also denied that he and his compatriot were isolated from the rest of their teammates: “that’s false.  If two players that have known each other for a while both go to a new club, it’s completely normal for them to spend a lot of time together.”

Four. Here is the full Mou sound bite on Iker from his interview with Gol TV: “players make themselves untouchable.  For example, Casillas is.  But he’s not going to play all the games because he’s the world champion and the captain of Madrid.  He’s untouchable because he works a lot, he wants to improve, he takes care of himself, he has a social life that is optimal for a football player.  He’s a leader, but a laid back leader.  He doesn’t make mistakes.  I didn’t make him untouchable.  He did that himself.  That’s why I say, yes, there are untouchable players, but I’m not the one that makes them like that.”

Five. In a little more than two weeks time, when Madrid takes on Hércules, Royston Drenthe won’t be playing, because there is a clause in his loan contract that prohibits him from facing his old team.  According to Marca, Hércules will have to pay a penalty of €2 million if they use Drenthe in that game.

Madrid has done this for the majority of the players they have sold/loaned out since 2004, because they’ve been burned in the past by former players turning in brilliant performances against them and/or kicking them out of competitions.  Remember Eto’o?  Munitis?  Morientes?  (Ooh, bad memories).

Hércules, by the way, says they’re very happy with how Drenthe is playing.