Beautiful Bride: Silvia Nistal Calvo

Brazilian footballer Julio Baptista wed longtime girlfriend

Silvia Nistal Calvo (Miss Leon 2003) in Madrid. 

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What do you think of this bridal look?

Beautiful Brides: Footballers' Wives

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With the World Cup now over vacation looms for the world's soccer players, and you know what footballers do during summer vacation--they hit the beach and get married. Either or.

 

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Now I love Wesley Sneijder. The man has had a banner year to say the least. Winning the treble with Inter and making it all the way to the final with the Netherlands (and being the best man crier at the World Cup), but why end it like this? A shiny blue suit?! W.T.F.

 

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And what about Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen? A girl with that much nice hair should really have better style. I'm not getting this Maria Karin gown at all, although I do think her veil is nice and they did choose a beautiful place to get married (Castelnuovo Berardenga). Despite their dubious fashion choices, and the ugly scandal that was the beginning of their relationship, I do wish the newlyweds all the best (even if it's been reported that they originally secretly married in April). Let's hope they turn it around like Tori and Dean.

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Onwards and upwards. Lorena Bernal, a former Miss Spain,

 and Mikel Arteta (Everton) were much prettier and less blinding.

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 Johnny Heitinga, a teammate of both Sneijder (Netherlands) and

 Arteta (Everton) married his longtime girlfriend Charlotte-Sophie

 Zenden in Ibiza in understated fashion.

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The couple with their cutie pie daughter Jezebel.

I like the one-shouldered gown.

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Sol Campbell married Fiona Barratt, his girlfriend of five years, at St. Andrew's Church in Corbridge, Northumberland. I like this flowy belted dress, although for some reason I think it's prettier in the first photo rather than the second. Go figure.

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What's your take on these bridal looks?

Viva Espana!

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¡Viva España! Congrats to Spain for pulling off the first World Cup win in their history! It wasn't the best final I've ever seen--there were a ton of missed chances (although some great saves, too, particularly by Casillas) and neither team seemed to be playing at the top of their game. Nerves, I guess. It was also unfortunate for the Dutch that the winning goal came about from a sketchy decision (the free kick taken by Holland's Sneijder only moments before clearly went off a Spanish player, but a goal kick was awarded rather than a corner), but all in all a thrilling win for the Spanish nonetheless. And nice to see good ol' Sepp Blatter shows up to present some teams with their trophy.

The Scene in Madrid - via

My big hope is that one day soon these big tournaments start utilizing goal-line video technology. It's way overdue.

A common sight during the game - Howard Webb, who also refereed the Champions League final that Robben and Sneijder played in, wielding a card. (What is it with these Holland games and tons of yellows?)

Wesley Sneijder's gorgeous girlfriend Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen (who was born on Ibiza and is Spanish on her father's side), wearing an unfortunate hat that does nothing to hide her magnificent mane.

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Iniesta scored the winning goal which, according to his undershirt was dedicated to Daniel Jarque, the 26-year-old soccer player who died last August.

 

Ecstasy for La Furia Roja

Iker Casillas, voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament, spontaneously kissing his girlfriend TV presenter Sara Carbonero, during a post-game interview.

Despite not pulling off this win Sneijder is still my pick for the Ballon d'Or.

Awww. We were debating, but I think there is such a thing as manly tears and then there is OTT unattractive sobbing that should only occur at the death of a relative or puppy. - via

I feel horribly for the Dutch who have now had to suffer this fate three times.

And congrats to Diego Forlán for winning the Golden Ball, he really had an unbelievable tournament, and also to Germany's Thomas Müller for winning the Golden Boot (he also won for best young player.)

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And, seriously, I'm starting to believe in that psychic octopus...

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend and
don't forget to enter the Dear Colleen giveaway!

Photos via gazzetta.it, unless otherwise noted.

Super Femininity

Natalia, Karen and Christy for LV Fall 2010: Perfection.

These ladies--in their 20s, 30s and 40s--were photographed by Steven Meisel and styled by Karl Templer.

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I just wanted to add an arrivederci to the Italian national team who crashed and burned yesterday at the World Cup. I'll always be an Azzurri fan (no matter how terribly they play), but I unfortunately never had much faith in this particular team. Frankly the whole thing is embarrassing. I think when it comes down to it we were missing a good playmaker (with Pirlo being injured and having no one to replace him), were lacking in goal (not sure that would have been fixed even if Buffon hadn't been hurt) and were, well, arrogant. I'm looking forward to some great games coming up and I know next time will be better, because, really, how can it be any worse?

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A clear "WTF just happened?!!?" face

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The Champions

Yesterday Inter Milan beat a talented Bayern Munich team 2-0 to win the European Champions League title -- a huge deal in the football world, an event watched by hundreds of millions of people. It was the culmination of an amazing season where Inter pulled off a tripletta or treble, winning their domestic league (Serie A), domestic cup (Coppa Italia) and the Champions League. Looking back to when I watched the team in Boston last summer (Diego Milito, the hero last night, also scored the two goals in that game against AC Milan) it's amazing to think of all they have accomplished since. Few things seem to rouse passion like sport and, needless to say, it was a proud day for Interisti everywhere yesterday.

Unfortunately for my husband he's an AC Milan fan. It was not such a proud day for him.

Il Bernabéu, Madrid

The Captain - Javier Zanetti 

Zanetti with an emotional Jose Murinho (coach)

Samuel Eto'o

Francesco Toldo

Il Principe - Diego Milito

And in Milano...

Piazza Duomo, Milano

Stadio San Siro, Milano

Thiago Motta and Mario Balotelli

Grazie Ragazzi!

Check out this Nike ad, I thought it was pretty cool:

And now I am munching on bombe calde made with Nutella, one of God's great gifts to mankind, while anxiously awaiting the LOST finale. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and we'll talk when it's over!