NOTE : We've been having issues with our web servers lately, so if you were unable to access this website for a period of time, sorry! We're working on it hair straighteners don't always do the job. Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where it's all about the Wacky World of the Football WAGS!

Spain name Euro 2012 squad: Torres in, Soldado out - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Vicente del Bosque has the task of bringing home a third straight international tournament success this summer, with the triumphs at Euro 2008 and in the 2010 World Cup meaning Spain are favourites for this year's Euro 2012.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we deliver the gossipy side of football to your doorstep! This week, read about Irina Shayk's Valentine's Day, Alvaro Arbeloa's interesting choice of undergarments, Footballer's Valentine's Gifts and Harper Beckham's New Handbag!

The future Mrs.

Lahm, Dani Alves, Marcelo, Assou-Ekotto... A Statistical Analysis of Europe's Attacking Full-Backs is a post from: Just Football

In the past, a full-back's traditional role was to defend from wide positions, track opposition wingers and prevent crosses coming into the box. However over recent years the role has evolved to be almost more an attacking position than a defensive one.

Real Madrid's flight back from Bilbao on Wednesday night was understandably raucous after they secured the league title. The in-flight celebrations were led by full-back Alvaro Arbeloa who showed off his dance moves, which are largely restricted to the moonwalk. All the action was captured by depressive drunk cameraman Iker Casillas, who occasionally likes to [.

Spain head coach Vicente Del Bosque has made a number of surprise inclusions in his preliminary 21-man squad for Euro 2012.

Included in the squad are Benat Etxebarria from Real Betis, Isco of Malaga and Javi Garcia of Benfica, however many of these players can expect to be dropped after players from Chelsea, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao have played in their upcoming finals.

Manchester City 0
Liverpool 1 Steven Gerrard 13′ (pk)

A week after falling 3-0 to Manchester City in the league, a Liverpool side without two of their top players returned to face a City side missing three of their best for the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals.

By Alan Duffy

Once the blonde-haired, blue-eyed prince of Spanish football, Fernando Torres has, in the space of a year, turned into a £50million flop.

Since moving to Chelsea from Liverpool, the attacker has seriously lost his mojo and now his impotence in the Premier League has seen him fall out of favour with World Champions Spain.

In excellent news, the upcoming Clasico has been bumped up one day. Which means less time waiting on Pepe v Busquets: The World Dreams of Long-term Injuries.

Pepe is getting warmed up nicely with some of his standard antics, although going studs out on the shins of a teammate is probably new.

Los 23 elegidos para disputar la Eurocopa 2012 son:

- PORTEROS: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (Liverpool/ING), Víctor Valdés (Barcelona).

As all squad rosters for Euro 2012 have been made official to UEFA, so have Italy's Group C adversaries: SPAIN, IRELAND, and CROATIA. If you want to find out who Del Bosque, Trapattoni, and Bilic have selected to feature in this Summer's tournament, look no further!

As all squad rosters for Euro 2012 have been made official to UEFA, so have Italy's Group C adversaries: SPAIN, IRELAND, and CROATIA. If you want to find out who Del Bosque, Trapattoni, and Bilic have selected to feature in this Summer's tournament, look no further!

Spanish football daily, 'Marca', recently published a series of adorable childhood photos featuring some of Spain's most prominent players to date. It's a nostalgic glimpse into the beginning of Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta's friendship, which started out when they both played for Basque amateur youth side, Antiguoko, in San Sebastian and has remained strong till today.

Below is the Spanish squad for the upcoming 2012 UEFA European Championships. The list is dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid players.

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Victor Valdes (Barcelona), Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Valencia), Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos (all Real Madrid), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao)

Midfielders: Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas (all Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Chelsea)

Forwards: Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Pedro (Barcelona)

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