The Group H Pre-WC Awards

We are just hours away from the opening of the World Cup. Typically, the awards are given out after the Cup, but I’ve made some pre-World Cup honors specific to Group H.

Worst hair: Fernando Torres of Spain. The faux-hawk mullet is the ugliest hair style I’ve seen so far this June. Is there anyone else out there?

Best facial hair: Mohamed Kathran of Saudi Arabia. So THIS is what Pau Gasol was going for.

Best name: Riadh Bouazizi of Tunisia, if only for the following chant: Bouazizi, Bouazizi, oi oi oi! Wait a minute, look at that hair.. I think we have ourselves an honorable mention for worst hair in Group H.

Best jersey: Ukraine. All this talk about brand wars between Nike, Adidas and Puma must stop. I wonder how much Lotto pays Ukraine if they win the Cup?

Best slogan: Spain. It’s simple and to the point: One country. One goal. As one blog commenter pointed out though, “one goal” is all Spain might score in this Cup.

Best story: Mariano Pernia. He obtained Spanish citizenship only days before the announcement of the final World Cup squad was announced. To his dismay — and to Getafe coach Bernd Schuster’s dismay — Pernia was left out of the squad. But an injury to Asier Del Horno opened the door for Pernia and he was picked to the squad shortly after. Pernia had planned to get married during the World Cup, but now has to postpone the ceremony. On top of that, almost 30 years after his father was left out of Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winning squad, Pernia had his first cap this week against Croatia. He scored a goal off a free kick.

Anyone else have a pre-WC award to hand out?