The beautiful game, some sweet graphics

Bosnian artist Zoran Lucic created a really rad set of poster images featuring current and old-school soccer greats titled "Sucker for Soccer." Some of the graphics look like magazine or game program covers, and the rest are just cool.

Sadly, it doesn't look like these are for sale as prints yet. Lucic will be getting some of my money when they are, though. See a bunch more of his soccer designs here. [via WITC]

Arsenal victorious

Arsenal might have had a brutal loss to Tottenham yesterday, but it will always win this commercial for EA's FIFA 11, if you know what I mean.

The above is the Euro version of the long-form commercial, a slightly different cut than the U.S. version. I guess the U.S. audience was deemed too sensitive to view the BetClic sponsorship on the Juventus uniforms.

Good to see my boy Mesut Ozil, playing for Germany here, getting some props. And funny to see Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech without his trademark noggin protector — I actually missed him the first few times I watched it.

The commercial was directed by Johnny Green for Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam.

If the McGlynns can keep from passing out by 9:30 p.m. (I kid, but not really), I may be checking this game out with Tim soon.

[Previously]

Cesc Fabregas is pissed!

Nike's new "Write the Future" World Cup commercial it rolled out during the Champions League final. It was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu for Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam.

Pretty sweet commercial (though I could have used more love for The Netherlands). I especially liked bearded Wayne Rooney living in a caravan.

Hmm, I guess Nike expected Ronaldinho to make the Brazilian squad. Oops?

Cool Uniform Props: Barcelona MES jerseys

I watched the above pictured Zlatan Ibrahimovic score his first La Liga goal for Barcelona today in a dominating win over Sporting Gijon, and remembered this one-off uniform Barca wore against Manchester City a couple weeks back.

Pretty sweet (though the colors are a bit faded in this pic; see the next link for a better look). Some more details here on the MES jersey, sold in limited numbers to raise funds for the UN Refugee Agency.

Owen for oddness

This doesn't look right at all — Michael Owen, playing for Manchester United, wearing number 7. Weird.

Should be interesting though. Hopefully he stays healthy.

Absolutely Fabregas Part II

My boy Cesc Fabregas was clutch again for Spain in their Euro semifinal against Russia, making skilled passes on two goals after entering the game for injured striker David Villa. If Villa is out for today's final against Germany, Fabregas would likely get the start, which is pretty convenient for the Spanish coach even if Villa was the tournament's best player up to this point.

Should be a good game, but I'm pulling for Fabregas and Spain.

I'm also going to give some Cool Uniform Props to the goldish-yellow Spanish uniforms. They were supposed to bad luck for the team that's worn red for the rest of their games, but they didn't look like bad luck in the 3-0 win over Russia. I liked the dark blue (but not navy like the shorts and socks) used for the numbers too.

Schweinsteiger!!!

Despite the fact they weren't wearing their cooler white and blue uniforms, I was rooting for Turkey as the underdog against Germany yesterday. They lost in a great game (the parts I could see uninterrupted by Swiss lightning!), but I can't be mad at Germany or midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, whose play I've been very impressed with.

Plus, his name is fun to scream in a German accent. And he pulls his socks up higher than anyone else, so there's that.

Germany's uniforms are tight as always, but they may have garnered Cool Uniform Props had they donned these bold-ass red and black duds. Pretty crazy looking, in a good way. They've only wore the whites so far, so maybe these are their alternate colored jersey. Probably will never know as I expect Spain will be in red and Germany white for Sunday's final.

Absolutely Fabregas

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas netted the winning goal for Spain in penalty kicks against Italy Sunday, setting up today's semifinal against Russia. These penalty kick situations can be nervous, but with one goal needed for the win I was hoping my boy from Arsenal would be called upon to take the kick. He was, and that was that.

I should also note the clutch saves by Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (below) on two PKs that set up the win.

I wasn't really rooting for either side going into the game, but when you combined Fabregas' presence with the annoying play of Italy, Italy's annoying players and Luca Toni's mustache, well, rooting for Spain became pretty easy.

Not so brilliant

Well, so much for playing great in the group stage.

Russia outplayed The Netherlands by a large margin in a Euro 2008 quarterfinal Saturday. The 1-1 score at the end of regulation was only reflective of Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's great play, because it may well have been 6-1 otherwise. Unfortunately for the Dutch, a two-goal deficit in the overtime period was rather reflective of Russia's dominance.

Despite the fact my squad lost, I was "well impressed" (as the announcers might say) with the play of the young Russians. In support of their Cool Uniform Props status, I'd probably be inclined to root for Turkey at this point, but this Russian squad is fun to watch too.

Oh, speaking of uniforms, Holland should have stuck with the white shorts and blue socks. All orange will always be appreciated here at Orange Whip, but the other look was on point.

Totally dude

Commenting on Holland's "total football" in the 1970s during Friday's Netherlands/France game, an ESPN announcer Andy Gray said it was difficult to identify just what the system was, aside from a bunch of great players.

If that's all it takes than the "total" is back, because the Dutch side is chock-full of talent and they're all displaying it. To wit — 3-0 against Italy, followed by Friday's 4-1 defeat of France.

This Dutch were again entertaining as hell, but this game was a bit crazier. After going up 1-0 early off a header by my boy and Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt, France seemed to take over. Despite their great offense the Dutch defense has been loose at best (aside from great goalkeeping from Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar), and French goals seemed imminent.

But while most coaches would start bolstering the defense and push for conservative play at this point, the Netherlands' Marco Van Basten instead substituted the offensive-minded midfielder Arjen Robben and forward Robin van Persie so as to put the pressure back on the French (while holding a 1-0 lead mind you), and the duo quickly teamed on a van Persie goal. Amazing stuff.

The Netherlands went all out for the win, and my brother commented that's what everyone should be doing. Indeed.

Cool Uniform Props: Turkey

I don't know if light blue has some traditional significance in Turkey, or if they just wanted to stand out from all the other red and white teams competing in Euro 2008, but I like the deep cyan and white duds they're sporting — the only red being the little flag on the chest. Very simple design overall, but with some stylized numbers. Nice.

I must say Nike has had the clear upper hand in the uniform department for Euro, though Adidas and Puma have been solid.

Goallllllllllll!

Ruud van Nistelrooy started the scoring off with his controversial goal, but Wesley Sneijder's leaping volley was the dagger in Holland's 3-0 win over Italy. It's already being called one of the greatest Dutch goals ever. While I'm not an authority on that, it was pretty damn good. Check the highlights from the game.

Orange brilliance

One of the announcers kept referencing the "brilliant orange" colors of the Netherlands supporters and the team's uniforms during the first-round Euro 2008 match between Holland and Italy Monday. Well, there was definitely some brilliance on display by the guys in orange as Holland whipped Italy 3-0, employing some of the most entertaining offensive soccer you'll see.

Most entertaining were the second and third goals by Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst — which started as defensive stops in their own box and turned into swift counter attacks. The Sneijder goal especially was a bit if brilliance.

Fun game to watch, especially if you were rooting for Nederland, which I was.

It should also go without saying that the Dutch qualify for Cool Uniform Props. I like the new blocky numbers and light blue socks.

Cool Uniform Props: Fenerbahce road whites

Usually I prefer simple and classic over busy and modern, but I like the yellow striping with navy on Turkish side Fenerbahce's road uniforms, worn in defeat to Chelsea in the recent second leg of the Champions League semis. The numbers look kind of digital, and the striping cleverly does not run behind the numbers on the back of the jersey. The blue socks work better than the former white socks, too.

Cool Uniform Props: Barcelona road oranges

I was surprised to see Barcelona wearing these orange uniforms against German squad Schalke 04 in a Champions League quarterfinal win this week. Don't know if they've had them a while, or if they're brand new, but we at Orange Whip appreciate the all-orange look. It helps that Barca's my team in La Liga, even if Patrick Kluivert's long gone.

Cool Uniform Props: Arsenal road whites

Cesc Fabregas lines up a kick against AC Milan in the second round of the Champions League last week. Like these, with the maroon, white and gold, much better than home red jerseys. Good socks too.

Hair don't

Beckham wisely averts gaze. I've never understood how guys play soccer with hairdos like this and expect to know where the ball will go on headers. For more laughs do a Google image search for Abel Xavier. Via.