Hola Carlitos! Spain's squad received a royal visitor in their changing room shortly after the semi-final victory over Spain. Queen Sofia paid her nation's most successful national team of all time a quick visit to congratulate them Most of the team were still in their kit as the Queen wanders around and everyone enjoys some mutual applause.

It's Pearl Harbor Day, a day that will live in infamy of course and a day that changed the lives of many young men a bit younger than I sixty-nine years ago. Like so many young American men, my late grandfather enlisted as an officer's candidate at Georgia State University in Atlanta hours after the attacks hit the newsreels and the war and Army Air Corps took him to the Pacific for the next three years of his young life, where he battled to preserve.

Even though Arsene Wenger has totally refused to countenance any discussion of the Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas moving to Barcelona, it hasn't stopped his international team-mates spouting their mouths off to the press. Today it is the turn of the Barcelona captain Carlos Puyol, who reckons that Cesc "and his family" are "desperate" to move back [.

Even though Arsene Wenger has totally refused to countenance any discussion of the Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas moving to Barcelona, it hasn't stopped his international team-mates spouting their mouths off to the press. Today it is the turn of the Barcelona captain Carlos Puyol, who reckons that Cesc "and his family" are "desperate" to move back [.

This man looks prissy

Yahoo Sports soccer hack Eric Wynalda would rather watch " a reality show" than the first 60 minutes of Spain vs Portugal. The match was all about preening for the camera and pouting.

There was too much artistry, too much passing. Much too much for the manly, chest thumping, knuckle dragging Wynalda.

A Top Eleven may be good enough for some people. We here at World Club Rankings, however, aren't happy until we've beat the horse well beyond death. We don't have a Top XI. Well, we do, but we have more. We have a Top XXXIII. We will also have a World Cup MVP, but you'll have more to say about that than we do.

Carlos Puyol, a Barcelona player (just to be clear) has told the media that the only person who can take his place at Barcelona is none other than Real Madrid's very own Sergio Ramos. Wonder why would he say that? Don't think Real Madrid are as dumb as Barcelona to let go of their star [...]

Michael Steele - Getty Images

Referee Howard Webb tosses Netherlands center back John Heitinga. Yes, Spain's Carlos Puyol should have been sent off, too ... but it's not Webb's fault that Arjen Robben tried to play through the challenge .

I happened to come across this story on Goonertalk this afternoon. Basically Carlos Puyol has come out to deny some quotes attributed to him in the English media:"Hi everyone, these past days a British news media outlet has published some statements supposedly mine that are totally false, I just saw them and I can guarantee that I have not said anything nor talked to anybody about this

Bald gent bears the brunt of Barca's snack-time Pipas (sunflower seeds to you or me if we even knew what they looked like) are as much a part of the Spanish footballing experience as ridiculous dives and over-exuberant hand gestures. A large proportion of fans sit picking at the seeds for the full 90 [.

Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer; 16-Philipp Lahm, 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 20-Jerome Boateng, 15-Piotr Trochowski, 6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 10-Lukas Podolski, 8-Mesut Ozil, 11-Miroslav Klose.

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carlos Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 18-Pedro, 7-David Villa.

It may be hard to believe but Spain have booked their first trip to the World Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday. Of course the man to do it was none other than the heart and soul of the team, Carlos Puyol.

Puyol headed home Xavi's 73rd-minute corner after a Spanish onslaught to break a frustrating tactical deadlock and set up a final with Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg when new world champions will be crowned.

FIFA World Cup semi-final - Spain 1:0 Germany
So in the end the Germans were human after all.
After a double demolition of England and Argentina which sent shockwaves throughout the soccer world, Joachim Low's lions were mown down by raging Spanish bulls.
Yogi was lost in the woods as Spain revived their Euro 2008 glory to hand him a sobering football lesson in Durban.

Arsenal star caught out by Catalan pranksters Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas' transfer saga was stirred up by his World Cup-winning team-mates when they forced him to wear a Barcelona shirt. Fabregas was at the front of the celebrations in Madrid being 'introduced' to the crowd by Pepe Reina when his would-be new skipper forced him into the [.

I don't mind banter. In fact I indulge in a friendly bit of banter daily.
What Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique did to Cesc Fabregas was not banter.
What they did was cuntish and showed a distinct lack of respect to Arsenal Football Club, Fabregas personally and the rest of the Spanish squad who do not play for Barcelona.

James Headed To Championship

England goalkeeper David James has secured a move to Championship side Bristol City on a free transfer.

James, who started three of England's World Cup matches in South Africa, inked a one-year deal with the option of an additional year after the 39-year-old successfully passed a physical on Thursday.

I don't know if it was Bolton fans being sarcastic or irritated United supporters, but the cries of "Where's Rio?" and chants of "Evans is rubbish!" boomed out loud and clear at half-time on Sunday. It's one thing to be humiliated by Fernando Torres Nemanja Vidic, Fabio Cannavaro, Rafa Marquez and Carlos Puyol can all take a number on that one but Bobby Zamora and Kevin Davies?

Carlos Puyol is hanging out with Malena Costa and friends in these pictures via twitter. Malena is a Spanish model and I have to say, a great pick up for Puyol. I mean he is an outstanding defender but not the greatest looking guy in the world. Anyway, good job Puyol and let's work on that beer belly buddy.

Barcelona endured a frustrating return to action in La Liga as they were held at Camp Nou by Villareal yesterday evening. The hosts enjoyed a wonderful 2009, culminating in Leo Messi's extra-time winner in Abu Dhabi which disposed of Estudiantes and secured the World Club Championship, but their first match of 2010 was muted by comparison.

El canal deportivo Ese Pene, mejor conocido como ESPN, lanzara su nuevo canal de tercera dimension con el Mundial Africano este verano. Son momentos como estos donde me alegro que Rene Higuita ya no juega futbol pero igual tenemos que tener cuidado con jugadores como Ribery, Tevez, Puyol y como siempre Ronaldinho.

Perhaps the most prolific and finest exporter of footballing talent in the world will always be Brazil. No country that has managed to remain a bastion for footballing excellence for over 50 years deserves to be considered anything less.

Yet, if Brazil have the tradition to deserve such an accolade, make no mistake that at the moment the quality of talent being produced from the academies of Spain deserve to push them mighty close, as they continue to produce prodigious talents and at a quite prolific rate.

Never will have an away draw in the Champions League tasted so bitter. The first half of this match was men against boys. Barcelona battered Arsenals goal, and only a mixture of Manuel Almunia, goal line clearances and poor finishing stopped Barca going in at the break 4 or 5 to the good.

Henry & Campbell: Friends Turn Foes!

Arsenal v Barcelona is without doubt the biggest draw of the Champion's League quarter finals, commencing later this month. Henry vs Campbell, Messi vs Clichy, Fabregas vs Xavi, Arshavin vs Puyol, Wenger vs Guardiola, and we can go on & on & on.

Theo Walcott's introduction to the fray switched Arsenal's flow to the dynamic and the direct to give the Gunners hope in the second leg at the Nou Camp.
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Barely twenty minutes had registered on the clock but those watching the game were in unified agreement that already, they were witnessing something spectacular.

- It's about 10 weeks until summer officially starts and Sporting's Grimi Damian reminds us that even sunscreen application is essential for protecting skin from harmful rays and avoiding public embarrassment.

- For the record, we have come to terms with the whole Frank Lampard/Christine Bleakley thing.

- It's about 10 weeks until summer officially starts and Sporting's Grimi Damian reminds us that even sunscreen application is essential for protecting skin from harmful rays and avoiding public embarrassment.

- For the record, we have come to terms with the whole Frank Lampard/Christine Bleakley thing.

Jose Mourinho has labelled Barcelona's effort of retaining the coveted European Cup as an obsession, and not a dream. The Internazionale boss spoke ahead of the vital second leg tie at the Camp Nou where his side take in a 3-1 aggregate lead after goals from Sneijder, Maicon and Milito in Milan a week prior has set up a tantalising return in Spain.

Leo Messi scored his 30th and 31st goal and then set up Pedro for his goal. Bojan rounded off the tally as Barca missed no step towards the Liga title. Xavi seemed to show no ill effects of his torn soleus. Which must come as a great relief for both Barca and Spain supporters.

Tenerife were able to equalize after Carlos Puyol's mistake let in Roman but thereafter it was Barca playing its free flowing brand taking over the game.

The biggest Arsenal transfer news since Thierry Henry moved to Barcelona is this high profile poaching of Cesc Fabregas by the same club, and his Spanish team-mates are starting to see the pressure get to him. Carlos Puyol, who has been a stalwart at the Nou Camp for many years, is worried about the effect that [.

The biggest Arsenal transfer news since Thierry Henry moved to Barcelona is this high profile poaching of Cesc Fabregas by the same club, and his Spanish team-mates are starting to see the pressure get to him. Carlos Puyol, who has been a stalwart at the Nou Camp for many years, is worried about the effect that [.

BY JOSE M. ROMERO

Blaise Nkufo's play Wednesday in Switzerland's 1-0 stunning World Cup upset of Spain should have Seattle Sounders fans encouraged, even if the Swiss didn't have the ball often.

His settling of a goal kick and subsequent pass ahead help set up Switzerland's goal, and he was dangerous on the counter when Spain was pressing for an equalizer.

Germany 0-1 Spain
2010 FIFA World Cup
7 July 2010

Spain would move into their first ever FIFA World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Germany. The score was the same as the 2008 Euro Final but this time it was Carlos Puyol who would score the winning goal.

The opening match didn't have many chances for either side as the Germans were compact and Spain couldn't convert their possession into any goals.

Carlos Puyol gets the game winner with a monsterous header off a corner kick by Xavi.

Spain began the World Cup as everybody's favourites for the trophy. Since 2008 their football was expansive, fluent, charismatic and effective. The team had a coherent collective strategy supplemented with individual brilliance. Reliable and organised in defence, confident and capable in midfield and efficient and occasionally brilliant in attack, Spain had it all.

With Spain looking forward to their first ever world cup final on Sunday, Peter Jackson asks: are they really nice to watch?

Spain celebrate their solitary goal

Yes they're through, yes it was convincing but really... did you enjoy it? Spain beat Germany in the Moses Mabhida stadium after a header by Carlos Puyol but at times you questioned whether the Euro 2008 champions could score.

Fernando Torres hasn't been having that much of an impact for Spain in the World Cup and it hasn't made it easy for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque as he still can't decide if he should start or bench Torres in the World Cup final match against Netherlands.

Del Bosque already sat Torres in the semi-finals match against Germany in which Spain were able to pull of a 1-0 win over the Germans, thanks to a header from Carlos Puyol off a corner-kick, and with the next match coming up being the most important match ever for Spain, del Bosque has a tough choice ahead of him.

So ... who wants to talk Hapsburg Dynasty?Windmills?Phillip II?Polders?Treaty of Westphalia?... Paul the Octopus?In short, Sunday's 2010 World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain left me scratching my head a little bit, searching for some kind of inspiration. Naturally, if the Netherlands were playing Germany we could all dig up some World War II references, fire up that chapter of "Band

"Let's make this a celebration," intones ITV commentator Peter Drury, before kick-off, and millions of people, all at once, think, "yeah, lose your voice." Uruguay's national anthem is what Billy Connolly had in mind all those years ago when he suggested replacing ‘God Save the Queen' with the theme tune to ‘The Archers.

What can you say after that last week and a half? Spain are 2010 World Champions! Spain won the World Cup! After that corker of a game against Portugal we had Paraguay. A heart attack of a game. Spain were average by their own standards but they were made to look poor (I say that relatively speaking!

Off the back of Spain's heroics in South Africa the feel good factor is certainly going to last in the Mediterranean for the next four years at least as their national team marvelled us all with their beautiful football during the course of a month.

Over the last three and half years they had the eyes of the world fixated on their every performance as their dazzling ways with a ball at their feet has mesmerised us all.