Rural Olympics in Los Pedroches

Nadal thrashes Ferrer and regains fourth spot in Mexico final

Rafa Nadal steamrollered fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-0, 6-2 in the final of the Mexican Open in Acapulco to win his second trophy in only his third tournament since returning from seven months out with a left-knee injury.
It was the first time the Mallorcan had faced a top-10 player since his comeback and the result at the ATP 500 clay-court competition also allowed him to steal back the number four spot in the world ranking from the Valencian.
“Today I played as if these seven months hadn’t existed, but they did exist and you have to keep them in mind, and that all the negative stuff could turn into something positive if everything progresses well,” explained Nadal.
“I didn’t do anything badly; I had an almost perfect match. Perfection doesn’t exist, but for me it was almost perfect. I could never have imagined playing at the level I played today.” (El País in English)

Djokovic beats Federer to win ATP World Tour Finals

Novak Djokovic showed why he's the tennis world number one by beating Roger Federer in a tense match at the ATP World Tour Finals.

 

The Serb won 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 to add the ATP title to his Australian Open victory earlier this year.
It's the second time Djokovic has won at the ATP World Tour Finals, which sees the world's top 8 tennis players face eachother.
The champ dedicated his win to his dad, who's seriously ill at the moment.
He needed two hours and 14 minutes to take two sets in a match full of dramatic moments at London's O2 Arena.

'Thrilled'

"I was just trying to hang in there," said Djokovic.

"It's not the first time that Roger started so well against me. I've experienced before his aggression, really trying to put his mark on the match."
He added: "Whenever I needed to come up with some really good shots - really focus myself and get every ball back in the court - I did that, so I cannot be more thrilled than now." (CBBC Newsround)

Lance Armstrong: Usada report labels him 'a serial cheat'

Lance Armstrong's reputation lies in tatters after the United States Anti-Doping Agency labelled him a "serial" cheat who led "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

Usada has already banned the 41-year-old American for life and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles.
But now it has detailed why it took such action, using evidence from 11 of Armstrong's former team-mates.
Armstrong has always denied doping.
(BBC Sport)

Spain King Welcomes Soccer Heroes Home

Tens of thousands of jubilant fans turned out in the streets of the Spanish capital Madrid on Monday to welcome home the national football team after their record-breaking victory at the Euro 2012 tournament. Spain's King Juan Carlos greeted the team at Madrid's Zarzuela Palace. He told them: "Each of you is a good player, but as a team you are formidable…You know how to play together, how to combine your own skills with those of your teammates." The team then headed off through the streets on an open-top bus for their victory parade. It seemed as though the city had been turned red and yellow as the bus made its way through the capital. Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas said: "It's one of the best days of my life."

Spain's 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final in Kiev on Sunday made them the first ever team to win three successive major international tournaments. They won the World Cup in 2010 and have now become the first nation to successfully defend a European Championship. Their winning margin on Sunday was the biggest ever for a Euro final. Spain became the first team to win 15 straight competitive fixtures and matched Brazil's record 35-game unbeaten run from the 1990s. They also qualified for the last two major tournaments, winning every game they played. Many soccer analysts are now saying the team is the greatest ever and they could win the 2014 World Cup, for four in a row. (Breking News)

Rural Olympics

Spain 4 - Italy 0

Spain made football history by achieving their third international title in a row, beating Italy 4-0 to win Euro 2012.

Goals from Silva, Alba, Torres and Mata sealed Spain's victory against an Italy side who just couldn't match them.
Many now say it makes Spain the greatest football team in the world, ever!
To complete the success, Fernando Torres got the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals at Euro 2012.

Italy were devastated at their loss, and star striker Mario Balotelli left the pitch in an angry outburst.

Spain's 4-0 victory was the biggest ever win in a Euros final, with their style of football also a winner.
Their passing game between midfielders, without a striker, had been criticised by Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger as "boring".
But their technique has now given them three international victories - Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and now Euro 2012.

Torres' immediate impact

Spain dominated the first half in front of goal even though Italy had large amounts of possession. By half time Spain were two goals up.
But in the second half Italy had the agony of going down to 10 men after third substitute Motta went off injured - only 10 minutes after he came on.
In the 75th minute Torres was brought on to replace Fabregas, and he had an immediate impact.
He steered home Spain's third goal and then gave an assist for his Chelsea team-mate Mata.
(CBBC Newsround)

Euro 2012 kicks-off in Poland and Ukraine

After months of waiting, Euro 2012 has finally kicked-off with co-hosts Poland taking on Greece.

Over the next three weeks, 16 of Europe's best national football sides will fight it out to be crowned Euro 2012 champion.
Spain currently hold the trophy after winning the tournament four years ago.
Spain and Germany are the favourites to win this year's competition, with Netherlands and France also thought to be title contenders.
Eight stadiums across Poland and Ukraine are being used for the matches.
England are the only team from the UK to qualify for the tournament.
They've never won the European Championship, their best result was a semi-final defeat by Germany at Wembley in 1996.
The run-up to the tournament this time hasn't been great for England with the side's top players being hit by a string of injuries and suspensions. (CBBC Newsround)

Olympic Games in Añora, Cordoba, Spain

Different, but amazing!
It is worth visiting Añora in July.

Mourinho gets behind Chelsea

Portuguese boss will support former club in final

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho hopes Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League after seeing his side knocked out by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

The Spanish giants, trailing 2-1 from the first leg, raced into to 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes at the Bernabeu thanks to a double from Cristiano Ronaldo, but Bayern levelled the tie through Arjen Robben's penalty just before the half hour mark.
Neither side could then break the deadlock as the game drifted into extra-time and finally penalties and after Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos had all missed for the hosts, Bastian Schweinsteiger rattled home his spot-kick which means Bayern will become the first side to host a Champions League final on their own ground when they face Chelsea on May 19th.
With his side out of the running, Mourinho hopes the Blues can conquer Europe for the first time, having previously spent three seasons in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese boss praised his former club for their stout defensive performance against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday and was scathing of those who criticised their tactics. (Sky Sports)

Barcelona versus Chelsea

Fabregas - Result was unfair / Barca ace insists they should have won

Cesc Fabregas congratulated Chelsea for making the UEFA Champions League final, but insisted Barcelona should have won.

The English side came from behind at the Camp Nou to draw their semi-final second leg 2-2 and send them into the final.
Fabregas and his team-mates toiled against ten-men for the whole of the second half after John Terry was sent-off - but they could not find another goal.
The former Arsenal star insists that Barca should have gone through.
"First of all we congratulate them, they are in other final and we wish them all the best," he told Sky Sports News.
"If we had to lose we wanted to lose like this, we played our style of football."
"We created a lot of chances and we deserved to go through but football sometimes is not fair and on this occasion Chelsea went through and we will see what happens." (Sky Sports)