Gerard Pique – Reigning FC Barcelona Poker Champion

Spain cruised into the semi-finals of this year’s Euro 2012 tournament and were left relatively un-fazed by their feeble French opponents in their 2-0 win over Les Bleus last weekend. With a tough encounter against neighbors Portugal and perhaps an even tougher game following that should they go through to the final as expected, the hard-work is certainly not over for Vicente del Bosque’s men. However, in the run up to these important games, how do the Spanish startlets such as Andres Iniesta and co relax when they’re not busting a gut on the training pitch?

Well many of FC Barcelona’s contingent have certainly got the right idea and reportedly have been participating in regular ‘Barcelona-only’ sit and go poker tournaments at their Polish Euro 2012 base in Gniewino this week. And rumour has it that FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has proved himself to be quite the card shark.

Team mate Xavi spoke to the Spanish press this morning and said, “when there’s so much pressure on you and your country to perform at major tournaments, it’s nice to be able to get away for a while and hang out with your friends. My Barcelona team-mates and I regularly sit down to a game of poker and Gerard (Pique) seems to be finding the most luck at the moment. I can only hope his lucky streak continues on the pitch as you definitely need good fortune to win football matches.”

Head coach Vicente del Bosque has not let his team get too carried away however and has banned his Spanish squad from using their hard-earned cash to visit poker sites such as Bwin and Bet365 to play online poker.