THE former international footballer Gianluca Vialli, working as a pundit for BBC TV, described Spain as “awesome” and nobody can really argue with that expert assessment, especially coming from an Italian.
Spain's success at Euro 2012 and their 4-0 thrashing of Italy in Sunday's final was the icing on the cake for a tournament which produced plenty of great football and few examples of ill-discipline either on or off the field. A great way to finally end the 2011-12 season.
OH dear! It was all going so well with the country and more importantly the national media behaving responsibly and not getting carried away with England's progress in Euro 2012.
But now that the Three Lions have won their group to clinch a quarter-final tie against Italy, everybody seems to think that this England team is better than it really is.
Football Diary
by Patrick O'Connor
THERE can be no denying that the Premier League finale was a fantastic affair, a footballing feast of excitement and thrills as Manchester City tore the title away from neighbours and arch-rivals Manchester United with two injury time goals.
But the result was dreadful news for football in general. A rich man's plaything has suddenly become even more attractive and appealing which means more millions of pounds will be splashed out next season, causing untold damage to the structure and ethos of the game.
Football Diary
by Patrick O'Connor
COULD football be set to get its first female manager?
The subject cropped up following a BBC TV documentary entitled Sexism In Football which looked at the role of women in the game.
Football Diary
by Patrick O'Connor
THE financial storm clouds gathering over the world of professional football seem to be growing by the day.
Scottish giants Rangers and Championship team Portsmouth recently went into administration and last week League Two club Port Vale were served with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs over an unpaid tax bill.
Football Diary
by Patrick O'Connor
INTERESTING comments to come from Celtic last week after their Glasgow neighbours and arch-rivals Rangers went into administration.
The club launched an attack on Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond after he reportedly claimed Celtic needed Rangers to prosper.