Postcard Wars

From an article about Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo's inability to keep his cool:

In the build-up to Euro 2004, Scolari substituted him in a warm-up match and said he did not want players who were 'doi-doi' – a phrase which has no exact translation but seemed to be referring to the player's tendency to produce stepovers and tricks for show at inappropriate moments.

Separately, I'd like to say here and now that the Czech Republic is my favorite — other than Brazil — for winning the whole thing. This could be significantly biased owing to the time I spent in Prague, but damn, they're good. They deserved to win Euro 2004 and with Koller the Great and Nedved back from retirement — and what I guess will be a major fan following — this post could turn prophetic yet.

Cesi do toho?

Finally, an interview with the mayor of Cologne, focusing a lot of the rather small cathedral city's odd status as home of the big Brazilian fan contingent.