Flashback Friday - Happy Holidays from Francesco Totti

aka, Il Capitano!

This ad from 2009 cracked me up.

Buon weekend!

I have a feeling there are quite a few people in Holland who want to eat some grilled octopus

Dang. Paul the octopus was 7 for 7. Congrats to Spain.

I can't believe the World Cup is over. I will miss this past month of meeting up with friends to watch the games, cheering for my teams (all of them lost) and, I'm not going to lie, appreciating the beautiful men who play the beautiful game. The after game shirt swap was a highlight.

Will Pedro Pinto cover other sports for CNN International? He knows his stuff.

Kudo to South Africa. There was a lot of negative press about the WC before it started. Now many journalists admit those fears were over the top. The Cup went well.

As far as the short term impact, the better infrastructure and tourism dollars will help the local economy. I was watching CNN Int'l and one of local journalists was saying you can't put a price tag on what this cup meant emotionally for South Africans and the continent in general.

Living in Europe I see a much broader coverage of Africa then I did in the States. I wonder why that is. Is it because it's closer? There isn't a great deal of international news coverage in America in general so that could be the reason right there.

The next WC will be in Brazil. There's going to be a lot of pressure on Brazil to win at home.

It's Spain vs. Holland in the World Cup finals

So interesting. During the early rounds the European teams (other than Germany) were not looking good at all.

Now an European team will win a World Cup title outside of Europe for the first time.

I will miss Germany's style of play.

I think the Spain/Holland game will be a good match. I wish I could watch the game in St. Maarten. It's going to be so fun.

Any predictions?

I hope Holland puts a shellacking on Uruguay in the semi-finals

Okay so I get that rules are rules. Strange things happen in sports all the time. It's one thing that makes them fun to play and to watch.

However, after listening to Luis Suarez's post game interviews, I'm hoping his team goes down.

Perhaps he should have kept his mouth shut and let people think it was just instinct that made him touch that ball.

No, he keeps running his mouth and it's as if he's proud of cheating. Really? Talk about poor sportsmanship. He's not hero but a freaking cheater. The goal was in. He was standing behind the goal line. Is he a goalie? No, so he should have keep his damn hands off the ball.

Now he's acting like getting a red card is as bad as being eliminated from the tournament? Is he serious?

The World Cup - the upsets keep coming

Brazil is out?!

The last minutes of the Uruguay vs. Ghana game were too hard to watch. I felt so bad for the Ghanaian team.

Flasback Friday - Italia 2006

What the heck happened? I was watching CNN International and one sportscaster said Lippi was slammed for the players he picked. Some felt he left some very talented but inexperience Italian players at home.

Here's a pic from the last WC. Have a great weekend.

photo:calciofreestyle

Many surprises this World Cup

What the heck happened to the French? The finalists from the last World Cup completely imploded. Things were so bad, President Sarkozy wants some answers.

The USA won their group for the first time since 1930. They play Ghana next. Ghana is the only African team to make it to the round of 16.

The match everyone is talking is England vs Germany on Sunday. After a rough start England (who along with America, has the most fans traveling to South Africa) avoided elimination.

The South American teams are kicking butt. Will Argentina go all the way?

Italy plays later today. Nobody is giving them a chance to retain their title. Poverino.

Flashback Friday - Interview with Idris Elba

This World Cup has me thinking a lot about zee menz. I'm overwhelmed. I need to focus on work, not athletic attractive men.

That said, I love hearing Idris speak with his real accent.

Have a great weekend!

World Cup 2010....I would hate to be Robert Green

The British press (and fans) are ripping him a new one for his goalie mistake in the England vs. USA game. His error is considered one of the worst in World Cup history. I have a feeling he's going to be replaced. I don't think England or USA played particular well. What the heck is up with USA uniforms? Me no like.

Germany...who knew? They spanked Australia 4-0

Ghana was the first African team to win a match and Cameroon is considered one of the strongest teams from the continent. They also have one of the best nicknames in the tournament...The Indomitable Lions.

The defending champs, Italy, are so under the radar it's hilarious. I was watching CNN International and of of the French players said people really need to stop underestimating Italy. Many say the squad is too old and with Pirlo out it's going to be ugly. We'll see, the Azzuri play tonight.

I'm glad I didn't get the SKY package for the tournament. I have to work and can't spend all afternoon and evening watching football/calcio/soccer. I have to pick which games to watch at my local bar.

And it goes without saying some of the player are fiiiiiione, oh mio Dio! That isn't the reason I watch the "beautiful game" of course, just an added bonus.

I was watching African Voices on CNN Int'l. They've been running specials on the World Cup for the last year. I got chocked up during the interviews with locals about what hosting the Cup meant to them. I'm glad to see some good news for a change. While the continent has its problems, there's more to the Motherland than war, disease and famine.

Flashback Friday - Italian National Football Team 2006 - Dolce & Gabbana Ad

Yes there's a new series of ads for the 2010 team but Gattuso and Canavaro are not included. I have an issue with that.

Have a great weekend!

Just one day left!!

Before the World Cup starts. USA vs England is on Saturday. Should be a very good match.

Love this ad directed by Alejandro Inarritu featuring my boyfriend Cannavaro. Amores Perros is one my favorite films.



Who do you think will win the World Cup?

Sigh...Inter wins the Serie A Italian League, again

Of course my friend G, a hard core Inter fan, is in a very good mood.

It's still a miracle that Roma was only two points behind given how terrible Roma's season stared.

This is the fourth year in a row Inter has won the Scudetto. If they beat Bayern Munich in next weeks Champions league, they will have won the tremble: The Coppia Italia, the Scudetto and Serie A. Barcelona won the tremble last year.

We'll see what happens next season. Roma played with a lot of heart.

Yesterday, after Roma won their last game of the season, I heard the song below over and over again. Some of the lyrics are in Roman dialect, right?

It's the end of the season but the biggest sporting event on the planet starts next month...The World Cup!!

Oh snap! Roma takes the lead over Inter in Serie A.

I'm not even going to call my friend G. He's a hard core Inter fan.

Yesterday people were honking horns, cheering and all the bars were packed.

To tell you the truth, I'm in shock.

Roma started out terribly this year. So much so, their coach was fired.

That they are actually in the lead for Serie A is unbelievable. Inter (one of the Milan teams. AC Milan is the other and they are in third place) has had Serie A on lockdown the last couple of years.

I have already been warned that if Roma wins the Scudetto (Serie A Championship), it's going to be bananas. Roma is still the underdog and their lead is only one point.

We'll see what happens with the last few games of the season. It's so exciting...well maybe not for Inter fans. Poor G.

World Cup Trophy in Rome today

Piazza del Popolo might be a little hectic today.




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Flashback Friday – Santa, Gennaro Gattuso & Francesco Totti

This year's holiday ads feature only Totti as he transformed into Babbo Natale (Father Christmas).

The commercial below always puts a smile on my face. Hello, you've got Santa and two well-dressed men looking fioooooone!

Have a great weekend.

Roma's coach steps down

Oh snap. After back-to-back defeats, Luciano Spalletti resigned.

Not many men can rock a "soul patch" like Spalletti (i.e. Billy Ray Cyrus).

Claudio Ranieri has been hired. Next up for Roma is Siena on the 13th. We'll see what happens.

Here is more info (in English) from ESPN Europe.

Peace out August...

It's like someone pressed a massive button and pow, the Italians are back.

I'm glad. While I didn't miss the insanity that is Rome traffic, I missed my friends and the energy of the city.

The two expats friends who were still in town, were over the whole Ferragosto situation by August 16th. Ha.

Last week I went to lovely Piemonte for my birthday. I have to go though a billion photos before I can post about it.

It was a great birthday, thanks to some very special people.

I'm excited about the fall.

Perhaps it's something left over from our back-to-school days but I always feel recharged going into fall. Not to mention I'm so sick of this hot weather.

I can't wait to start cooking again. When it's 103 F outside and you have no AC, the last thing you want to do is turn on an oven.

The Serie A season has started. Let's hope Roma has a better year than last year. They have lost their first two games. Zero points in the rankings! Mamma mia. This is no way to start the season.

Barcelona Wins...A Major Upset!

Remember how I asked where the Barcelona fans were the other day? Well they were at the Stadium and in my neighborhood.

The energy here was incredible. Was it just me or did it seem like most of the Italian fans were also rooting for Barcelona? If so, why?

Here is a great article and fantastic photo in the New York Times.

I noticed that most of the Barcelona fans were comprised of families. I saw many children sightseeing with their parents while wearing flags/team shirts.

I'm glad my "boyfriend" Mr. Henry was so happy. I forgot he was traded to Barcelona.

Manchester United fans have to be disappointed. All week I was reading/hearing how Manchester was going to kick Barcelona's butt. This surprised win caps a great year for Barcelona who also won the Spanish League.

The headline following headline from Reuter's made me chuckle:

Rome Confounds Critics With Smooth Champions League Final

Photo inside my local supermercato. The city banned selling of alcohol for 24 hours. Other then a few arrests, things went well.


Barcelona fans start to arrive early at Aristocampo, Campo dei Fiori.

The Champions League Final in Rome - God help us.

Ha. Tomorrow is the final between Manchester United and Barcelona.

Where are all the Barcelona fans? Man U. is definitely in the house. I see their fans everywhere.

There are thousands of fans coming who don't have tickets to the game. I'm thinking I should avoid Campo dei Fiori and any other places where the hard core fans hang out. It's going to be crazy.

Manchester United is heavily favored to win.

AS Roma vs Arsenal

The game that wouldn't end.

SKY is running a special where all subscribers get SKY SPORT and SKY CINEMA for free for three months. I have to admit I've enjoyed watching NCAA basketball and other sports on the American channel ESPN. Of course my soccer watching has increased.

Roma outplayed Arsenal and won the game but penalty kicks decided who would go to the next round. Roma lost the penalty round. Grrrr.

I didn't realize at first there was a penalty round. When the game finally ended I was excited Roma won then noticed they were setting up for kicks. What the heck? The teams had each won one game. Got it.

All the players were exhausted. Poverina Roma, maybe next year they will win the European Champion League.



photo Corriere dello Sport.