The return of Team Vallgatan (Stallarna Wars)

Dear and lovely followers, welcome to another boring and weird chapter of my life in the nice city of Växjö.

Vallgatan's cookies (by Jinny)

This time the topic will be football (surprise!). Well, more than football, the article narrates the story of a great group of friends and terrific party-animals.

Vallgatan Team: Stallarna our life, football and Vallgatan our passion.

The last Tuesday was the prestigious Campus World Cup organized by the VIS (Växjö International Students) and Vallgatan Team was there to conquer the trophy. It was a hard task: an irregular field, good opponents and the agressive Swedish soccer culture.

For this tournament we had new Vallgataners: Jesco (a competitive German 'Krieger'), Hikaru (the Japanese bullet, incredible fast and skilled), Fernando (the Almendrón Colt) and Guillermo (as known as 'Captain Morcilla', the new Castilian hero).

We finished leaders the first phase, but it wasn't easy. The first match we played against a Swedish football whose players were a bit 'crazy' (being polite, hehe) but they were really good people. They used flares at the beginning of the match but it didn't matter (we wasn't afraid, we are Vallgataners) we won 2-1 after playing quite good.

The best football team introduction ever!

The feelings were good but, unluckily, we lost the next match 0-1. We were nervous an we didn't play fine. Maybe too much pressure for a friendly tournament. It was a turning point for us because we realized that only working hard and confiding each other we could make a good performance.

The third match we only won 1-0 but we made a really good match. The opponent didn't have any choice and we finished like leaders the group phase.

Voting what beer is better: Sofiero or Spendrups?

We were in the quarter-finals and, thanks to the great VIS hot dogs we felt stronger and more powerful. Our opponent was another Swedish football team. It was a really nice match. My mates fought like 'inglorious basterds' and we won 2-0. Big part of this victory is merit of a big number of exchange students and VIS board member that never stopped supporting us. It is obvious that is not a serious tournament but is really grateful feeling the support of your friends and fellas.

So, the semi-final was waiting for us. The opponent was really aggressive and experienced. The Swedish football culture is quite different of Spanish football. They love pushing you (they made the same in the pubs, hehe), they are really good tackling, and they have a good condition. But we weren't scared; Vallgatan Team never surrenders!.

Spanish hoolings: be careful!

Our rival scored at the beginning a nice goal and then it decided to defend. We fought all that we could, but they were experienced and the referee was, being truthful, a bit unfair with us. But I want to be positive, the most of the attendance supported us and I have to say that winning is good, but being supported for friends from whole Europe is better.

Watch out: somebody is buying the last VIS' hot dog!

At least we won the match for the third position. But we paid a high price: Michael dislocated his shoulder (thanks, you saved a goal!). Our prize was a huge range of snacks and a nice diploma. We can´t complain!

El Dorado, Willy's and exchange students: the perfect threesome!

We had the supporters, we had a really good team and a great captain (Yeray, our 'Canary Shark') but we couldn't win. But we have the proud and the satisfaction that we did the best that we could. Otherwise, we celebrated our performance in Stallarna, as usual, hehe.

So I can only say a huge 'thank you' to my fellas for this awesome experience. It was an honour for me that they let me being their keeper. I'll be Vallgataner my whole life!

Fellas, see you in the pubs! New chapters and misadventures are coming!

PS. I can't forget to thank, on behalf of my team-mates, Jinny, a charming Korean girl, for being not only a greatest photographer but being a incredible friend and supporter too.

 Jinny: a legen...wait for it!...dary Vallgataner.