#Euro2012 - Meanwhile, in part owing to both history and karma, Ireland psyches itself up for Euro 2012 in ways that are slightly different than most other countries...

Euro 2012: Ireland - an animated history - The Guardian
http://youtu.be/wqHkQOzrC5U


#Euro2012 - Meanwhile, in part because of history and karma, Ireland psyches itself up for Euro 2012 in ways that are slightly different than most other countries...



Sunday's matches on ESPN, DirecTV Channel 206: 
11:45 a.m Eastern Spain vs. Italy
2:30 p.m. Croatia vs. Ireland




It's Time - Ireland Euro 2012 Promo video
http://youtu.be/LOW1HAHoA9w



JEDWARD - Put The Green Cape On - EURO 2012
http://youtu.be/0eParXVjkPI


Sunday's matches on ESPN, DirecTV Channel 206: 
11:45 a.m Eastern Spain vs. Italy
2:30 p.m. Croatia vs. Ireland

Trending at Hallandale Beach Blog: Swedish star forward Josefine Öqvist and the Swedish National Soccer Team

Aftonbladet Web TV's Sports Channel had this humorous video of a German TV channel showing Josefine Öqvist exchanging shirts with a fan in the stands after the game.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/sport/article13271214.ab

All screenshots below of Swedish star striker Josefine Öqvist by South Beach Hoosier, July 6, 2011.

Above, Josefine on Wednesday just seconds before the start of the U.S. game and likely 'visualizing' the ball in the goal. She had no goals on Wednesday but had several excellent chances thanks to her skill and great speed to beat defenders to the ball, esp. on long passes.

Maybe she'll do it today against Australia in the third Quarterfinal game of the 2011 Womens World Cup.

Would you believe that as recently as about April, the Locatel health/drugstore here in Hallandale Beach, on Hallandale Beach Blvd. near Panera Bread, STILL wanted the full retail price on the dozens of official 2010 Mens World Cup soccer balls that they had, at about $120-plus each!

Seriously, who pays that price so long after the tourney ended?

Reminded me of the Publix here in town charging full retail price for some of the Colts and Bears Super Bowl t-shirts more than a year after that game was played down here.

Yes, you can't sell them at that price because after the game is history, you can buy it elsewhere for $5, so why would you think customers would STILL pay $20-25?

TV4 video: Following Sweden's 2-1 victory on Wednesday over the U.S. National Team at the Womens World Cup match in Wolfsburg, TV4's Anna Brolin evaluates Swedish group play in the World Cup directly from Hannover Germany and speaks with, yes, Swedish star forward Josefine Öqvist.

http://www.tv4play.se/nyheter_och_debatt/nyhetsmorgon?title=sverige_tog_historisk_seger_mot_usa&videoid=1761836&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=permalink&utm_campaign=tv4play.se

Sportsbladet has a 15-image photo gallery of Josefine the other day:

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/landslagsfotboll/damvm2011/article13300631.ab

"Oslagbara Sverige" -Unbeaten Sweden- says the Sports page of Sveriges TV (SVT) website, July 6, 2011 screenshot by South Beach Hoosier.

Meanwhile, in other news of the coming musical apocalypse, Ireland's 2011 Eurovision entry, Jedward, the subject of a previous post here, played on TV4's ”Sommarkrysset” and nearly caused a riot among the crowd, with several girls fainting -like it was Obama 2008.

Below, the Brothers Grime singing their official Eurovision entry, "Lipstick."

http://www.tv4.se/1.2201794/2011/07/09/ett_energiskt_framtradande

Insert your own punchline here!

2011 Swedish Womens National Soccer Team homepage, with roster, photos and stats: http://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/vm-truppen-2011/
Team photo: http://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/

The Tv4 homepage for the show is at http://www.tv4.se/sommarkrysset

http://www.aftonbladet.se/