Serie A @ the Euros: Day 3
(Is one allowed to say "Nnnnngh" when Lilian Thuram is involved?)
If she can get over her depression, Marie will bring you the sad reality of the Netherlands-Italy match later. Meanwhile, here's the happier stuff.
Mutu may be depressed, but he's still a gangsta.
While Mutu was walking around with his sweatpants all screwed up, Paddy was rocking the coutour, and treating the field like a runway.
"Hello, ladies."
There are two Serie A boys among Romania's regulars: Captain Hobo Chivu, and Adrian "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" Mutu. (Siena's Paul Codrea also played, but cleverly evaded photographers.)
I love this awful, grainy picture both because of the passion of the anthem-singing and the utter chaos of the mascots -- notice that Mutu's has escaped entirely.
You all know Chivu bugs the hell out of me with his Inter identity, but man was he good today.
He's not fancy, but he does everything that's needed, and there's this air of calm whenever he's on the ball.
(He's also totally innocent -- of every charge -- as if there was ever any question.)
His deadball service was poopy, but everything else he did was so reassuring, that can be forgiven.
I mean, he was so good he even took flight, on occasion. /Romania fangirling
He also spent a LOT of time with Franck Ribery.
(Franck Ribery who, in case you were wondering, was well and truly controlled by the combined forces of Chivu, Chivu's hair, and Razavan Rat.)
And then, there was this tackle.
Which, if memory serves, was entirely clean and uncarded. Because, when he plays for his country, Chivu is just that good.
He also hung out a bit with Ligue 1 baby!superstar, Karim Benzema.
(Again, totally without ever fouling. If you wondered.)
Despite being pretty sure Karim was faking (Chivu plays with Mutu, he knows a faker when he sees one), he was a big enough man to help the lad up when needed it.
Speaking of Mutu, they plotted over the odd free kick.
(That Mutu is awfully pretty, isn't he?)
When he wasn't bonding with Chivu, Mutu tried to make himself useful.
And he was periodically successful -- he gets to the corner well, and creates out of limited space down there.
Plus, he's always been good at this: Getting fouled.
And, you know, getting fouled.
Mostly, though, he seemed exasperated, and in short-tempered mode.
I mean, he was good, like he always is, but not Special, which is what he is at his best.
No matter how he exasperated he was, though, Romanian were darn well going to keep playing those long balls over the top.
And Adi was going to be expected to win them, dammit!
To his credit, he was getting up unusually well. (And from many different angles.)
(Sometimes, though, he just fell over.)
These are the moments when he really misses Bobo.
(Speaking of Bobo, tell me he didn't inspire that hair.)
When he wasn't fighting for headballs, Mutu was battling with Willy Sangol.
Or, rather, Willy Sagnol was battling him.
And Mutu was totally winning. Well, at least this one time.
When he did get beat, he pulled out the old, reliable puppy face to seduce the referee.
And, when that stopped working, Piturca (wisely, probably) took him off.
All this meant, really, was that he had his shoes off when it was time to thank the supporters for their support during the glorious, scoreless draw.
At which point his homies were around, to look after his depressed ass.
(As were others. &hearts &hearts &hearts)
Chivu, also, was pleased.
("Nice try, Franck.")
Hmm, interesting.
So, basically, anyone applauding while wearing an armband looks hot. Disturbing, but good to know.
Paddy, trying not to look worried.
Paddy and his newest bff seba, both trying not to look worried. Good luck against the rampant Dutch, Frenchies.
Best. Face. Ever.
Notice the absence of ice on the knee. Look out, Greece!
Tape, yes. Ice, no.
If you can see beyond Olof, please notice that Zlatan is always, always playing around with the ball while everyone else is getting drinks, or staring off in to space, or busy smoldering. &hearts
Jankulovski has stalkers. Who knew?
Oh, Ujfi. Why have you foresaken us?!
And: Alex freaking Manninger RULES. That is all.