Serie A @ the Euros: Day 4
(Admit it. You're welling up a little.)
What with Zlatan scoring the goal of the tournament and the Romanians getting all kinds of photog love (take a point off France and everyone loves you!), we've got lots and lots of pictures of the Serie A crowd today.
I woke up from a sound sleep last night with the realization that there are two Serie A players in Sweden's starting lineup: There is Zlatan, of course, but we've also got the magnificent Olof Mellberg, who will be joining Juve next season. Welcome, Olof -- our ovaries are happy to have you. So to speak.
Because Sweden were playing Greece and Olof is a CB, he spent a lot of time with little to do.
When called upon, however, he rose to the occasion (geddit?) and made Moggi proud. *shudder*
And then, of course, there was Zlatan.
(RAWK! RAAAAAWK!)
He didn't do much until his goal, but holy crap was he working.
Which was great for us, because all the working meant his shirt was riding up a lot.
Mmmm ... Zlatan belly.
I'm sorry, what was I talking about?
There was definitely no hiding, something he's been known to do during big games for Inter.
He was getting really annoyed at the fact that the ref didn't blow the whistle every time there was a battle in the air -- clearly not Italian, that referee.
Greece were playing with literally five defenders, so he had a lot of fighting to do to even get hold of the ball.
He and his hair were doing what they could but, really, since when has a ball in the air been the best way to get a Zlatan!goal?
The Greeks have some beasts in central defense, and he wasn't having a lot of success with the long balls over the top.
On the ground was definitely the way to go.
Zlatan needs the ball on the ground in order to hypnotize opponents with his thighs skills.
(Did someone say thighs?)
Reassuringly, even playing for country, he's still not above a stiffarm or an eye poke if it means getting the ball.
Also reassuringly, he still looks completely ridiculous on occasion, no matter what kit he's wearing.
*tries uselessly not to ogle the torso*
At one point, Freddie got just clattered by two Greeks -- at the same time.
When it happened, Zlatan wanted to make sure the referee knew how many people were involved.
After he was done spreading the news, though, he totally lost interest -- Freddie suffered alone.
Shortly thereafter, though, Zlatan suffered some pain of his own.
At first, it was only the pain of a miss -- his pride was seriously hurting.
"Get up, dude. Shit happens."
Later, though, it was a pain in something much more intimate.
Yeah. That's gotta hurt.
"What? I did nothing! He threw his junk in front of my foot!"
Eventually, however, he would have his revenge: An absolutely stunning goal, his first for Sweden in over 142 years.
Oh, there was prancing -- so much prancing.
He was sort of running away, but also just sort of exploding with joy. &hearts
Oh god, here goes comes the Mancio-killing gallop, look out everyone.
You have to love him for his utter lack of cool when he's really, really happy.
Keeper: "What do I do when he's like this? Guys? Do I hug? Leave him alone? I DON'T REMEMBER!
"What you do, kid, is just grab hold and not let go -- watch us."
(Hansson really, really likes Zlatan.)
So. Much. Love.
But then, so do Chippen,
... and Henke,
... and oh, god, Olof.
And Zlatan loves all of them (and all of us, of course).
When it was over, there was even more love, and more Zlatan!joy.
Including, most importantly, the moment we've all been waiting for since the moment it was announced that Larsson was back.
Please notice that, despite the fact that everyone else who was on the bench is wearing a bib, Zlatan's in his kit.
Even though he was taken off right after his goal, and spending the last 15 minutes on the bench.
That's because only Zlatan took off his bib before he went out to celebrate -- can't be hiding his identity behind that shit!
"Heeeee. Mascots are silly."
Nnnnnnnnngh.
Oh yeah, definitely happy to have Olof in Serie A.
Look, happy!Mutu! Hurrah!
*resists saying that Chivu thinks writing is hard, because that's both mean and unfair*
There were allegedly 12,000 Romania supporters @ the France match, and they all seem to have turned up @ training today to love on their boys.
Mutu really, really does look better. Doesn't he? It seems adoration cheers a person up.
(Yay for love!)
Sadly, they couldn't sign autographs all day -- there was training to be done.
Look, Serie A-boy cameos -- Radu and Codrea in the hizzay! (Yes, I just said "hizzay.")
*sigh*
It looks like Chivu's hair needs more help than just a nice band.
Training, it seems, is HILARIOUS.
Oh my god, the dorks. &hearts &hearts &hearts (That other guy is the keeper, Bogdan Lobont. He played @ Fiorentina briefly and, if we're lucky, will move to Catania this summer, and we'll be able to talk about him ALL THE TIME.)
If we believe the tabloids, Adi was SO HAPPY after training that he went out on the balcony of his hotel room wearing nothing but sunglasses, flipflops, and a cell phone.
Totally real. Right? I mean, isn't that what you'd do after drawing with France and getting adored by the masses?
Oh, Ujfi.
*sigh*
Have I mentioned missing him already?
Yeah, that's right -- Paddy's back in training. Holland, you're officially DOOMED. (Or at least destined for some kicking.)
Fit or not, Paddy and Seb have been inseparable lately -- it's nice to know they both have such good taste.
And, alright, I know he's not at the Euros. But, look -- Vargas!
His teammate-kissing pretty is in the Peru camp right now, getting ready for the next round of WC qualifiers.