Second Euro win for Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc
The three Barça players repeated their success in the Euro 2008 tournament and won their second winners medal in Europe’s top competition.
Spain made footballing history with their win over Italy tonight, chalking up their third tournament win in succession, following success in the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and 2010’s World Cup win in South Africa. For three Barça players – Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc – the win represents their second European Championship title.
After their success four years ago, the Barça players were again key to Spain’s win in this summer’s competition.
First Euro wins for the others
For four of the Barça players at the tournament, the win means a first European title, with Víctor Valdés, Pedro Rodríguez, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets adding their winners medal to the ones they won in the World Cup two years ago, whilst for the Club’s new signing Jordi Alba, this is a first international title.
Messi in the running for ESPN Best Athlete award
The North American sports media giant has included Leo Messi together with Cristiano Ronaldo, Novak Djokovic and golfer Yani Tseng in an on-line vote for best international athlete of the year
The competition has 33 categories and the winners will be announced on 11th July during the ESPYS awards ceremony. These awards are made annually by ESPN to the most outstanding sports people and teams in world sport.
Recognition for Leo Messi’s extraordinary performances continues to pour in. North American media organisation ESPN has included the Barça number 10 on the shortlist for the ESPYS award for best international athlete. The other three candidates are footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis player Novak Djokovic and Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng.
Messi has been nominated for “his quickness, agility and artistry with the ball”, which makes him “one of the most dominant players in soccer today”, as the text accompanying his candidacy describes him. It continues, "He became the first player in history to score five goals in a single Champions League match and scored 50 goals in 36 games for Barcelona in La Liga".
Spain playmaker Xavi has given a strong indication that he will take part in the 2014 World Cup if he feels fit.
The 32-year-old, who had two assists for Spain in the 4-0 victory against Italy in the Euro 2012 final, had claimed on Saturday the was unsure about his future in the national team.
"If I feel fine, I will be there," he is quoted as saying by Marca. "I will speak with coach Vicente del Bosque but in principle, yes I will be there."
Xavi admitted that he had been lacking his incisive touch during Euro 2012, but returned to his best with an impressive display against Italy with two assists.
"Today [Sunday] I felt I was more decisive, yes," he added. "I was missing making that final pass and in the final I made two."
Iniesta named Euro 2012 Player of the Tournament
UEFA has announced that Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has been named the best player of Euro 2012.
The 28-year-old started in each of Spain's six matches at the Euros and played a leading role in La Roja's campaign in Poland and Ukraine - which culminated with a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final.
Iniesta, who was chosen by the 11-man technical team of UEFA, grabbed one assist in the 551 minutes he was on the pitch at the Euros.
He is also part of UEFA's 23-man Team of the Tournament, which contains 10 players from Spain and four from Italy.
Spain made footballing history with their win over Italy tonight, chalking up their third tournament win in succession, following success in the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and 2010’s World Cup win in South Africa. For three Barça players – Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc – the win represents their second European Championship title.
After their success four years ago, the Barça players were again key to Spain’s win in this summer’s competition.
First Euro wins for the others
For four of the Barça players at the tournament, the win means a first European title, with Víctor Valdés, Pedro Rodríguez, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets adding their winners medal to the ones they won in the World Cup two years ago, whilst for the Club’s new signing Jordi Alba, this is a first international title.
Messi in the running for ESPN Best Athlete award
The competition has 33 categories and the winners will be announced on 11th July during the ESPYS awards ceremony. These awards are made annually by ESPN to the most outstanding sports people and teams in world sport.
Recognition for Leo Messi’s extraordinary performances continues to pour in. North American media organisation ESPN has included the Barça number 10 on the shortlist for the ESPYS award for best international athlete. The other three candidates are footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis player Novak Djokovic and Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng.
Messi has been nominated for “his quickness, agility and artistry with the ball”, which makes him “one of the most dominant players in soccer today”, as the text accompanying his candidacy describes him. It continues, "He became the first player in history to score five goals in a single Champions League match and scored 50 goals in 36 games for Barcelona in La Liga".
Xavi: I could play at 2014 World Cup
The 32-year-old, who had two assists for Spain in the 4-0 victory against Italy in the Euro 2012 final, had claimed on Saturday the was unsure about his future in the national team.
"If I feel fine, I will be there," he is quoted as saying by Marca. "I will speak with coach Vicente del Bosque but in principle, yes I will be there."
Xavi admitted that he had been lacking his incisive touch during Euro 2012, but returned to his best with an impressive display against Italy with two assists.
"Today [Sunday] I felt I was more decisive, yes," he added. "I was missing making that final pass and in the final I made two."
Iniesta named Euro 2012 Player of the Tournament
The 28-year-old started in each of Spain's six matches at the Euros and played a leading role in La Roja's campaign in Poland and Ukraine - which culminated with a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final.
Iniesta, who was chosen by the 11-man technical team of UEFA, grabbed one assist in the 551 minutes he was on the pitch at the Euros.
He is also part of UEFA's 23-man Team of the Tournament, which contains 10 players from Spain and four from Italy.
Alba cannot wait for his Barca bow after shining for Spain at Euro 2012
"It is the best team in the world that has a very good football philosophy. Now I know many players [at Barcelona]. We understood each other and we will understand each other even better," Alba said.
"I don't think of myself as the surprise of the tournament, the coach has given me all the confidence in the world, both him and my teammates in fact," Alba said. "The consequence was a good tournament, both individually and collectively and this is the result, we are champions, and deservedly so."
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