Word: xavi
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...Although Chirac has been the subject of multiple investigations relating to his 1977-1995 tenure as mayor, the inquiry headed by magistrate Xavière Simeoni is the first to come even close to prosecution. The conclusion of Simeoni's nearly decade-long inquiry marks a dramatic moment for the nation - if the case does go to court, Chirac would be the first former head of state to stand trial since collaborationist leader Phillipe Pétain after World War II. He would also be the first ever to face a corruption trial. (See pictures of World War II movies...
...Spanish footballer: being boring. In its semifinal against Russia, Spain had sat back for the first half, maybe to see if the Russians had anything new to offer since Spain destroyed them 4-1 in a group game earlier in the tournament. Nope. So five minutes after the interval, Xavi Hernadez breached the Russian line for a goal, and soon after everyone in the once-unlucky yellow shirts poured through. Spain waltzed home 3-0, leaving the Russians clueless and out of breath...
...That was a message to Germany: Be prepared to play our game. Be prepared to chase the ball all over the pitch while the spectacular Spanish midfield led by Xavi and Andrés Iniesta played one-touch, or took a rest while the fullbacks Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila pressed the attack. The Germans were very well prepared - when aren't they? - but the men in the white shirts were not up to the task of stopping Torres, who torched Philipp Lahm for the Spanish goal, and had Germany's back four dreading the thought of defending...
...disinterested Greece in the third game of the first round. Then, in a monumentally awful game with Italy, Spain unloaded 80 years of futility against the Italians by outlasting them on penalties. The flowing attacks of David Villa and Fernando Torres, the nearly choreographed ball possession of Inesta and Xavi Hernandez were missing. But Spain no longer carried history on its back like a refrigerator...
...What happened to that Russian team? Instead, the semifinal was a cat and mouse game, at least for the first half, with neither team holding much of an advantage or showing much initiative in going forward. Then, five minutes into the second half, Xavi speared a goal for Spain, redirecting Iniesta's cross/shot past Igor Akinfeev. You could sense the panic on the Russian side. The roles were now very clear: Russia was the mouse and Spain was toying with it. Russian coach Guus Hiddink knew that his team's lack of depth and a big-game resume...