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Post by Terry on Jun 9, 2008 22:49:03 GMT -5
Slick Dutch stun world champions by Kevin Ashby from Stade de Suisse The Netherlands ended a 30-year wait for a victory over Italy in emphatic fashion as they began their Group C campaign with a rousing 3-0 win against the world champions in Berne. Worst EURO defeat Ruud van Nistelrooy side-footed the Oranje ahead in the 26th minute, a lead doubled superbly by his Real Madrid CF colleague Wesley Sneijder soon after. Edwin van der Sar, becoming only the third player to appear in four UEFA European Championships, then kept the advantage intact, leaving Giovanni van Bronckhorst to complete the scoring with a headed third in the 79th minute. The Netherlands can now look forward with confidence to Friday's meeting with France, while Italy must pick themselves up from a worst-ever EURO defeat when they face Romania. Dutch dominant The early skirmishes gave scant indication of what was to come. Andrea Pirlo dispossessed Van Bronckhorst with an exquisite tackle and freed Antonio Di Natale but his pass lacked the precision to pick out Luca Toni. The FC Bayern München striker did get a glimpse of goal in the 12th minute, rising to flick a header wide from an equally promising position, yet that was about as close as the world champions got in a first half subsequently dominated by Marco van Basten's side. Dirk Kuyt, ever willing on the right flank, outmuscled Gianluca Zambrotta in the 18th minute and slipped a delicious low ball to Van Nistelrooy who touched it beyond the outrushing Gianluigi Buffon but stayed on his feet after making contact with the Italy captain. That was the last act of charity from the Dutch, as Roberto Donadoni's team paid for the concession of a number of free-kicks on the periphery of their area. Opening goal Sneijder first fizzed one set-piece in from the left which Marco Materazzi headed clear. Then Rafael van der Vaart did likewise from the right, the scrambling Buffon's punched clearance eventually reaching birthday boy Sneijder whose powerful drive from the corner of the box was side-footed in by Van Nistelrooy as the Azzurri defence appealed for offside. Italy went close to levelling from an inswinging corner five minutes later yet were caught flat-footed in the 31st minute when Van Bronckhorst, who had cleared off the line, was able to charge half the length of the field unchallenged. Probing Sneijder The Feyenoord man made the most of the time afforded him, pinging a perfect crossfield ball to Kuyt whose cushioned header was spectacularly hooked inside Buffon's near post by the leaping Sneijder. Italy's three-man midfield of Gennaro Gattuso, Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini could not contain Sneijder as he probed the left side, creating space for Van Bronckhorst. The full-back was able all too easily to dissect an Azzurri back line missing injured captain Fabio Cannavaro with a pass that released Van Nistelrooy on goal. Buffon stood tall, however, clipping the shot over with his feet. Van der Sar saves Italy sought a way back into the match after the break. Substitute Alessandro Del Piero failed to profit from two half-chances before Toni lofted a shot over when free on the penalty spot on 76 minutes. Van der Sar then foiled Fabio Grosso at close range before diving at full stretch to keep out a Pirlo free-kick, leaving Van Bronckhorst to wrap things up at the other end following smart work by Kuyt. The last time the Netherlands beat Italy they went on to reach the 1978 FIFA World Cup final – a lucky omen as they look to claim a first European crown since their coach volleyed them to glory in 1988. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300686/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 9, 2008 22:51:57 GMT -5
Canny Romania leave France frustrated by Matt Spiro from Letzigrund Stadion Romania made a promising start to their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign, holding one of the tournament favourites, France, to a goalless draw at the Letzigrund Stadion in Group C. Anelka chance Victor Piţurcă's side, appearing in their first major finals for eight years, restricted Les Bleus to a handful of half-chances as the two-time European champions struggled to impose their quality on proceedings. Nicolas Anelka was guilty of missing the game's clearest opportunity when he headed Franck Ribéry's cross over in the first half, but with Thierry Henry confined to the substitutes' bench, Raymond Domenech's men lacked a cutting edge and rarely put the well-organised Romanians in serious difficulty. Cagey start These teams boasted two of the meanest defensive records in qualifying and from the opening exchanges it was obvious the contest would be tight. France monopolised possession early on yet rarely threatened Bogdan Lobonţ's goal as Mirel Rădoi, Răzvan Cociş and Cristian Chivu tenaciously closed down space in front of their back four. With Henry still not fully fit, Anelka and Karim Benzema started in attack for the first time, and both fired in wayward shots during a cagey first ten minutes. Instant response Daniel Niculae had been given the task of leading Romania's front line on his own and succeeded in posing problems to Lilian Thuram and William Gallas. In the 16th minute, the striker, who plays in France with AJ Auxerre, might have done better than drag his shot wide after Adrian Mutu's deft knockdown. The French response was instant, though, Claude Makelele releasing Florent Malouda through the middle, only for Lobonţ to sprint off his line and deny the Chelsea FC winger. Frustration That would prove the only time the pacy France forwards got in behind Romania's canny defenders. Ribéry and Benzema began interchanging positions without much joy, although the FC Bayern München playmaker did lay on a golden chance for Anelka on 33 minutes. After playing a corner short, Ribéry's cross found the Chelsea striker unmarked but he headed over. Anelka vented his frustration four minutes later by blasting into the side-netting from an impossible angle, as Benzema's calls for a cross went unanswered. Mutu free-kick Both sides began the second period in more attack-minded fashion. Malouda was the first to threaten, bursting past Cosmin Contra but shooting over the crossbar, before Romania enjoyed their best spell. Chivu's influence was growing and when his slide-rule pass found Mutu, the ACF Fiorentina player was felled by Willy Sagnol on the edge of the box. But as the France fans held their breath, Mutu directed his free-kick disappointingly into the wall. Vocal fans Despite the attempts of the vocal Romanian supporters to suck the ball towards Grégory Coupet's goal, Les Bleus finished in the ascendancy. Ribéry's low centre from the right reached Benzema unmarked just inside the penalty area but his first-time shot was straight at Lobonţ on 57 minutes. The Lyon youngster then miscued another right-footed attempt after latching on to Anelka's header. Bafétimbi Gomis and Samir Nasri were introduced for the closing stages, yet neither succeeded in making inroads, as Romania held firm until the very end. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300687/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 9, 2008 22:56:13 GMT -5
Rehhagel rallies team for Sweden test by Graham Wood from Salzburg Otto Rehhagel has urged his Greece players to "seize their opportunities" as the European champions begin the defence of their title against Sweden in Salzburg on Tuesday. Tension mounting The German coach, known as 'King Otto' in Greece after guiding the side to UEFA EURO 2004™ glory, has been in positive mood before the Group D encounter at the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim – where the rest of the competition will be eager to see how the holders shape up. "We have concluded our preparations and the tension is mounting. We are really looking forward to kicking off," the 69-year-old said. "The first couple of matches in the tournament have shown that this will be a great event because the teams appear to be in it with all their hearts." Record-breaker Much of the pre-match focus has centred around whether Rehhagel, Greece's longest-serving coach, can become the first trainer to retain the Henri Delaunay trophy. But the former Werder Bremen stalwart refused to be taken down hypothetical avenues. "Well, this summer I will have been Greece coach for seven years and this is already a record which I think will be difficult for anyone else to achieve," Rehhagel said. "But I know what my team are capable of, what opportunities we have – and what we must do now is seize these opportunities." Rehhagel happily reported that all of his players are fit, saying that in theory "any of them could be fielded" in the starting XI. Lagerbäck realistic Lars Lagerbäck's Sweden are also aiming to get off to a flying start and, ahead of what is their first competitive meeting with Tuesday's opponents, the 59-year-old is well aware of the threat posed by the Greeks. "I think it's going to be a very even match," he said. "We know Greece pretty well and I'm sure they know us too. They are very strong physically, have good variation in attack and, above all, they are good at set-pieces." Swedish expectations Sweden's best performance in a UEFA European Championship came in 1992 when they reached the semi-finals on home soil, and since then expectations of success in major finals have been high. They were quarter-finalists at UEFA EURO 2004™ – losing on penalties against the Netherlands – before contesting the Round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where they fell to hosts Germany. "It's quite natural for expectations to grow for us, because we want to have better results than we've had in the past, but of course it's important to be realistic as well," added Lagerbäck, who also confirmed that striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has recovered from a knee injury and is available to play. "I think it's going to be a tight group but we feel we have a good chance to progress." en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300688/report=pr.htmlGRE - SWE 5 Played 5 2 Won 0 0 Lost 2 3 Drawn 3 8 Goals For 6 6 Goals Conceded 8 Match officials Referee Massimo Busacca (SUI) Assistant referee 1 Matthias Arnet (SUI) Assistant referee 2 Stéphane Cuhat (SUI) Fourth official Ivan Bebek (CRO) Reserve assistant referee Volker Wezel (GER) UEFA Referee observer Marc Batta (FRA)
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Post by Terry on Jun 9, 2008 22:58:46 GMT -5
Hiddink sets a high bar for Russia by Graham Hunter from Innsbruck Despite vast experience and having coached both Korea Republic and the Netherlands to FIFA World Cup semi-finals, Guus Hiddink believes the Group D opener between Spain and Russia is the beginning of a tantalising journey of discovery for him. No fear The 61-year-old Dutchman is so entranced by the potential of his young Russia team that he wants them to fly at group favourites Spain in an attempt to rock the confidence of Luis Aragonés's elegant but stubborn side. Previewing the fascinating contest, Hiddink, who adds Australia to the list of squads he has made greater than the sum of their parts, admits he is "curious" to see whether Russia can meet his ambitious demands. "I want them to go out and play good football, I want them to make Spain's life very complicated," he said. "I don't want the frightened and timid performances of some previous tournaments." Immense test His tactics present a big challenge to Russia's defensive pairing of Roman Shirokov and Denis Kolodin. Shirokov made his debut in March, having switched from midfield, and the latter has never played European football with FC Dinamo Moskva. Now they face the power and guile of Fernando Torres and David Villa, and Hiddink accepts that: "Very few of my players have top-level tournament experience but they've reacted to the hard work I've set them. Our intention is to break the pattern so far where the favourites have always won." With captain Andrei Arshavin suspended and Pavel Pogrebnyak ruled out of the finals by injury, striker Roman Pavlyuchenko carries much responsibility. Hiddink both praised and criticised the 26-year-old from FC Spartak Moskva, saying: "He wasn't in great shape when he joined us but he's made tremendous progress." Old rivals Aragonés, meanwhile, looked and sounded equally ebullient as he anticipated recommencing a long-established rivalry. The two men have often done battle at club level and the Spaniard succeeded Hiddink at Valencia CF. Aragonés holds his colleague in high esteem. "Dutch coaches always demand good football but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he plans a tactic to try and shut down Xavi [Hernández] in our midfield," the 69-year-old said. "But this Russia team is very quick on the counterattack so that's why I've emphasised so strongly to my defenders that they must regroup quickly and intelligently when we lose the ball." World class Aragonés also revealed that he has one or two surprises planned for his opposite number – "just in case they do manage to man-mark Xavi" – but he also stressed his faith in the FC Barcelona midfielder. "Xavi is in the top three players in the world at what he does," argued Spain's trainer. "He's been phenomenal for me and I have total confidence in him. Xavi can change the tempo and the result of a game all on his own." Aragonés already knows his starting eleven but teased journalists who tried to guess it. "Yes, Villa will take the penalties," he said. "But only if he's picked in the first place! It has been a long wait to start the tournament but we are totally ready and feel no fear." en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300689/report=pr.htmlESP - RUS 3 Played 3 2 Won 0 0 Lost 2 1 Drawn 1 2 Goals For 0 0 Goals Conceded 2 Match officials Referee Konrad Plautz (AUT) Assistant referee 1 Egon Bereuter (AUT) Assistant referee 2 Markus Mayr (AUT) Fourth official Grzegorz Gilewski (POL) Reserve assistant referee Carsten Kadach (GER) UEFA Referee observer Jozef Marko (SVK)
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Post by Terry on Jun 10, 2008 23:34:05 GMT -5
Villa stars as Spain signal their intent by Graham Hunter from Stadion Tivoli Neu A scintillating hat-trick from David Villa gave Spain a clear-cut 4-1 victory over Russia in their first outing at UEFA EURO 2008™ and confirmed the immense power of the Valencia CF striker's partnership with Fernando Torres. Thrilling match In a high-quality Group D encounter, Russia provided moments to indicate that Luis Aragonés's side may still be vulnerable at the back and gained consolation with Roman Pavlyuchenko's 86th-minute header. But Villa's second goal in particular was a stunning team move which may already be one of the goals of the tournament. Only the seventh player in finals history to score three in a game, the 26-year-old's treble was the first in a EURO since Patrick Kluivert's against Yugoslavia eight years ago. Villa then utterly stamped his class on the match, crossing for Xavi Hernández to volley and substitute Cesc Fàbregas to head in the fourth in stoppage time. Unerring finish Torres has always asked for a quick supply of the ball at international level and in the 20th minute he got it. Courtesy of a Joan Capdevila interception and a notable right-footed pass from the left-back, the Liverpool FC forward was left one on one with his marker. Torres used good upper body strength to put Denis Kolodin under immense pressure and when the Spaniard skipped clear he allowed goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to try and dive at his feet before slipping the ball to the right, into the path of Villa who finished unerringly. Such was the drama of the contest that within seconds Russia nearly equalised. Their love of overlapping full-back play had already caused havoc in the jumpy Spain back line, but instead of Aleksandr Anyukov this time it was Dmitri Sychev whose right-wing cross drifted, agonisingly, across Carles Puyol, Marcos Senna and even Andrés Iniesta before Konstantin Zyryanov cracked the ball off the post. Second goal Instead of daunting Spain, it seemed as if the players in red took their luck as an indication that this was their night. Within six minutes of Villa's first goal, he and Torres had created three outstanding opportunities – two of which needed smart blocks by Akinfeev. Russia, for their part, were fighting like terriers to impose themselves, repeatedly catching Iniesta in possession, and Pavlyuchenko even hit the bar with a left-footed shot though referee Konrad Plautz had already called a foul. Villa closed a sparkling 45 minutes with Spain's second, however, following a brilliant move. Zyryanov attempted an ambitious pass across the Spain box and David Silva ran to retrieve it, sparking a lightning-quick passing movement through Silva, Capdevila and Iniesta which left Villa sprinting into the box where he slipped the ball between Akinfeev's legs. End to end The introduction of Vladimir Bystrov for Sychev made an impact as Russia sought a way back. Guus Hiddink's men pushed forward relentlessly and Bystrov's header from Zyryanov's cross in the 51st minute brought Iker Casillas into action before Diniyar Bilyaletdinov shot narrowly wide eight minutes later. However, Spain were irrepressible. Fàbregas came on for Torres as Aragonés chose to rest his striker and give the Arsenal FC man a taste of the action. Villa almost had his hat-trick in the 66th minute but was prevented by a superb Anyukov tackle, yet the forward did not have to wait much longer. With 15 minutes left, he turned Roman Shirokov inside out and finished expertly with his right foot. It was just that Russia's commitment to attack eventually won some reward in the final minutes. Zyryanov, culpable for the second goal but Hiddink's best player, took a corner which Shirokov nodded on and Pavlyuchenko headed in at the back post. Even then Villa had the last word, though, creating Spain's fourth and Fàbregas's first for his country. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300689/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 10, 2008 23:36:15 GMT -5
Sweden hand holders reality check by Andrew Haslam from Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim Holders Greece already have a fight on their hands to maintain their grip on the trophy they won so memorably four years ago after second-half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Petter Hansson gave Sweden all three points in their opening Group D match in Salzburg. On the back foot Otto Rehhagel's side were always on the back foot as they relied on the tactics that had served them so well in Portugal, defending deeply and looking for opportunities to threaten on the counterattack. For all their territorial dominance, however, Sweden were unable to pick a way through a characteristically displined Greece defence, until a moment of inspiration from Ibrahimović who – with his first international goal since October 2005 – broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. Hansson added a second five minutes later to leave Greece with plenty to ponder before Saturday's meeting with Russia. Set-pieces Sweden coach Lars Lagerbäck had warned repeatedly in the build-up of the danger posed by Greece from set-pieces, yet within three minutes his own team had proved they were not to be underestimated in that department either – Hansson heading across goal from a right-wing corner. Ibrahimović and Fredrik Ljungberg, back after knee and rib injuries respectively, then nearly combined to good effect before Anders Svensson thumped a first-time left-foot volley just past the post from 25 metres. Larsson involved Having again reversed his decision to retire from national-team football for this tournament, Henrik Larsson produced an unusually quiet opening half-hour, but burst into life by unselfishly passing up two shooting opportunities by trying to find Ibrahimović. On each occasion the menace was snuffed out, although the FC Internazionale Milano forward then landed an improvised header on the roof of Antonis Nikopolidis's net. Greece had barely threatened their opponents' goal with the notable exception of a fine early run past three defenders from the 2004 final match-winner, Angelos Charisteas. His burst ended disappointingly with a low shot straight at Andreas Isaksson, who then reacted smartly to keep out an Angelos Basinas effort from distance on the stroke of half-time. Greeks sit back The pattern remained much the same in the second period, with Greece largely content to sit back and soak up pressure. That plan might have come undone within three minutes of the restart, Niclas Alexandersson lifting a pass over the defence for Christian Wilhelmsson on the right after Greece had half-cleared a corner. The midfielder beat Nikopolidis to the ball but his shot was too high. While happy to let their opponents make the running, the set-piece delivery of Greece's Giorgos Karagounis prompted several uncomfortable moments and the midfielder wasted a presentable opening himself just past the hour, twice firing straight at defenders with Sweden exposed. Ibrahimović inspiration There was soon more discomfort for the Scandinavians as Hansson inadvertently headed a Traianos Dellas cross just past his own post – yet within seconds Sweden were ahead. Ibrahimović, without a goal for his country in his 13 previous games, exchanged passes with Larsson and thumped an unstoppable drive beyond Nikopolidis from the edge of the box. That was the first time Greece's defence had been breached in 425 minutes of EURO finals action but they soon conceded a messy second. Nikopolidis saved from Ljungberg but the ball looped into the air for Hansson to scramble it in at the far post. Sweden were always in control thereafter, although the night ended on a note of concern as Wilhelmsson limped off with a heavily strapped left thigh. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300688/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 10, 2008 23:39:05 GMT -5
Brückner tells Czechs to step up by Pete Sanderson from Geneva Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner admits his side will have to raise their game if they are to tame Portugal when the Group A pacesetters come face to face at the Stade de Genève on Wednesday. Brückner's team may have begun their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign with a victory over Switzerland but his side have received criticism from some sections of the Czech media for putting pragmatism over pizzazz. Team ethic "I think it's a bit unfair that we are coming in for criticism after starting off the tournament with a win," Brückner told journalists at Tuesday's news conference in Geneva. "On Saturday, we focused our efforts on getting three points rather than the manner of victory. However, I think if we are realistic we need to improve our game in every area because Portugal are one of the favourites to win this tournament and it will take a great side to beat them. I admit we are not as strong as them offensively but that does not mean we are a weaker team. We are strong defensively, play well as a unit and are clever tactically, so it has the makings of a very close game." Creative edge Brückner has the luxury of being able to select from a full squad going into the match and is expected to name an unchanged side, keeping faith with forward Jan Koller in attack and, for the moment at least, leaving Milan Baroš – top scorer in the last edition of the EURO – kicking his heels on the bench. The coach laughed off suggestions Portugal's front line would have too much energy for his players. "Portugal have excellent forwards but we are ready for them after our rest," he said. "They are not a difficult team to prepare for from a tactical perspective because they are quite predictable. Perhaps we have to be more creative to win this game but I have faith in my team." Physical quality Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is also likely to pick the same lineup as his charges attempt to move clear at the top of Group A with a win. The Brazilian was delighted with his team's opening-day success and considers swift counterattacking football the key to unlocking the Czechs. "We have to make the most of our technical qualities," he said. "It will be the same team as the one that beat Turkey but we always know we have quality on the bench in the likes of Fernando Meira. His physical presence could be important later in the game because the average height of the Czech team is 1.84m." Revenge mission Scolari predicts that the Czech Republic will provide stern opposition and added: "They are a very physical side but all my squad are in good condition and just because they are physical does not mean we will change our style. They have done well in previous tournaments and it will be a very balanced game." The Portuguese remember with some regret their defeat by the Czechs at the quarter-final stage of EURO '96™, when Karel Poborský's extravagant lob secured a 1-0 victory. Wednesday evening is the perfect opportunity to exact revenge. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300691/report=pr.htmlCZE - POR 1 Played 1 1 Won 0 0 Lost 1 0 Drawn 0 1 Goals For 0 0 Goals Conceded 1 Match officials Referee Kyros Vassaras (GRE) Assistant referee 1 Dimitris Bozatzidis (GRE) Assistant referee 2 Dimitris Saraidaris (GRE) Fourth official Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL) Reserve assistant referee Adriaan Inia (NED)
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Post by Terry on Jun 10, 2008 23:41:09 GMT -5
Swiss gear up for game of their lives by Paul Saffer from Basel Switzerland and Turkey are playing for their UEFA EURO 2008™ lives at St. Jakob-Park on Wednesday and both must do so without their inspirational captains. Important injuries The co-hosts were robbed of all-time leading scorer Alexander Frei during the first half of Saturday's 1-0 Group A loss to the Czech Republic and, although he remains with the squad, his knee ligament damage has ended his tournament. Then, as Turkey trained on Monday to recover from the 2-0 defeat by Geneva, midfielder Emre Belözoğlu felt pain in his hamstring; a scan showed a build-up of fluid which rules him out against Switzerland and maybe even for the rest of the group stage. Frei inspiration Home coach Köbi Kuhn has had longer to come to terms with the absence of his captain but said the forward's personal presence in the camp is still helpful. "This is an unfortunate situation for him, of course, but he will be a great support for us and he will come back, that is his promise," Kuhn said. Frei's place will most likely go to his weekend replacement Hakan Yakin, Basel-born of Turkish origin. Swiss wish Kuhn is well aware that, unless the Czech Republic beat Portugal in the earlier game in Geneva, a second loss would curtail Switzerland's campaign. He said: "You never consider the possibility of a defeat, that is obvious, but we are clearly aware that a defeat would mean that our tournament would consist of just one more match against Portugal and nothing else. That's why we want to win, This is a young team with a future, and that is obvious as well." Emre blow Terim is still taking in the news of Emre Belözoğlu's absence. "We are not happy but there is nothing we can do about it. I don't know if he will play in the following match, the medical team don't think so, but they will try," the coach said. "But not having him here is not just a question of having one player out and one player in – the role he plays is not that simple." Defensive confern Hamit Altıntop could step out of defence to fill the skipper's midfield role, with Ayhan Akman another candidate. Terim may also be forced to change both starting centre-backs from Saturday: Gökhan Zan is likely to be out with the knee injury suffered during that match while Servet Çetin is awaiting a final examination on a similar problem. Emre Aşık and Emre Güngör are standing by, with Terim hanging on until Wednesday afternoon for a medical report. Hope from history Despite all this, Terim – who sent his best wishes both to Frei and to Kuhn's ill wife – is taking heart from history as Turkey bounced back from losing their UEFA EURO 2000™ and 2002 FIFA World Cup openers to progress past the group stage. "Turkey teams have lost their first match in the past and gone through so there is no reason why we cannot do it again," Terim said. "It seems the [UEFA] European Championship will have to start for us with the Switzerland game." en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300690/report=pr.htmlSUI - TUR 14 Played 14 4 Won 7 7 Lost 4 3 Drawn 3 19 Goals For 19 19 Goals Conceded 19 Match officials Referee Ľuboš Michĕl (SVK) Assistant referee 1 Roman Slyško (SVK) Assistant referee 2 Martin Balko (SVK) Fourth official Damir Skomina (SVN) Reserve assistant referee Hans ten Hoove (NED)
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Post by Terry on Jun 11, 2008 22:47:59 GMT -5
Ronaldo show seals Portugal progress by Pete Sanderson from Stade de Genève Sublime finish Deco had given Portugal an eighth-minute lead after good work from Ronaldo before Libor Sionko's thumping header levelled proceedings. However, Ronaldo turned on the style in the second half, providing a sublime finish from the edge of the area in the 63rd minute before supplying Ricardo Quaresma to round things off in added time. The win left Portugal top of Group A with six points and their last-eight place was confirmed by Turkey's last-gasp victory over Switzerland later in the evening – a result that leaves the Czechs tied in second with Fatih Terim's side on three points ahead of their decisive meeting on Sunday, which if it is drawn will go to penalties. Baroš return While Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari kept faith with the same XI that served him so well in the opener against Turkey, his Czech counterpart, Karel Brückner, dropped Jan Koller in favour of Milan Baroš, top scorer at UEFA EURO 2004™, and elected not to give Václav Svěrkoš the chance to shine from the start despite his winning strike against the Swiss. The Czechs may have registered the first shot on goal after Sionko's mazy run, but it was the Portuguese who delivered the first telling blow with just eight minutes on the clock. The ever-menacing Ronaldo escaped the clutches of his marker down the left side before a swift one-two with Nuno Gomes left the Manchester United FC winger with just Petr Čech to beat. The Czech goalkeeper somehow foiled Ronaldo's attempt to waltz around him but the ball fell invitingly for Deco to slot home at the second attempt from close range, giving Scolari's men the perfect start. Thunderous header The Czechs, who had clearly targeted Paulo Ferreira as Portugal's weak link down the right, sought an instant response through Marek Jankulovski but, after cleverly making space for himself, he could only send his long-range effort wide of Ricardo's post. The game was developing into an absorbing contest played at a breathtaking pace and it came as no surprise when the Czechs restored parity in the 18th minute. Jaroslav Plašil was the architect, swinging in a vicious corner and Sionko, who had been at the heart of almost every Czech attack, powered a diving header beyond the despairing dive of Ricardo. Renewed vigour The merits of hard work and a deft touch were apparent in both midfields with Petit always assured on the ball and the Czech trio working tirelessly to close down Portugal's wing quartet whenever they looked threatening. Although Ronaldo had three efforts on goal before the interval, Portugal evidently emerged from their half-time team talk with renewed vigour. First Nuno Gomes, anonymous to that point, had two efforts in quick succession before Scolari's team regained the lead through a combination of young legs and an older head. Ronaldo rocket After wave upon wave of Portuguese attacks, the ball fell to Deco on the right of the area and he weighted his pass perfectly for Ronaldo to supply the smooth finish with a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner of Čech's goal from the edge of the area. It was his 46th goal of an incredible season. The Czechs threw everything at Portugal in the closing stages but could not find their way past Ricardo and his resolute defence and in the final minute, with the entire Czech team committed to an attack, Ronaldo raced clear before squaring to Quaresma who slotted the ball home to complete the victory. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300691/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 11, 2008 22:52:00 GMT -5
Last-gasp Arda shatters Swiss dreams by Paul Saffer from St. Jakob-Park Ardan Turan's deflected goal deep in injury time gave Turkey a win that revived their UEFA EURO 2008™ hopes – but ended those of co-hosts Switzerland. Downpour Switzerland, like Turkey beaten on the opening day, dealt better with a first-half Basel downpour and Hakan Yakin put them ahead just past the half-hour with a rain-assisted goal. Semih Şentürk, however, was a prolific scorer from the bench for Fenerbahçe SK this season and 12 minutes after his half-time introduction he repeated the trick for his nation. It seemed a draw would be the outcome but Arda had other ideas and now Turkey can reach the quarter-finals by winning their final Group A game against the Czech Republic on Sunday, which if it is drawn will go to penalties. Switzerland, for their part, are resigned to finishing in fourth place. New strikeforce Not only were Switzerland without Alexander Frei after his knee ligament injury sustained in the 1-0 defeat by the Czech Republic but Marco Streller's groin problem was worse than originally thought so Eren Derdiyok and Yakin, both with Turkish heritage, were drafted in up front. Both teams had begun positively when the heavens opened after ten minutes and water quickly settled on the pitch. Gökhan Inler, the other Switzerland player with Turkish roots, tested Volkan Demirel, who then dived to stop a stinging Yakin shot. The Turkey goalkeeper was being kept busy, a Tranquillo Barnetta free-kick the next effort he had to save. Arda denied Fatih Terim had reshuffled the Turkey midfield since the 2-0 loss to Portugal, with captain Emre Belözoğlu injured and Tümer Metin, Gökdeniz Karadeniz and Arda all given starts, while Emre Aşık came in for injured defender Gökhan Zan. Any tactical plans had been scuppered by the downpour, however, and it was an old-fashioned set-piece that nearly gave Turkey the lead. Nihat Kahveci's free-kick was tipped by Diego Benaglio on to the head of Arda and the ricochet hit the woodwork. Yakin strikes Three minutes later Switzerland scored and the weather could claim an assist. Derdiyok chased a long ball into the right channel, rounded Volkan and squared. Unexpectedly, the ball held up right in the goalmouth and the grateful Yakin reacted first to tap in. A couple of minutes later he could have had another but this time he misjudged Valon Behrami's cross. The rain eased just before the break but the surface water presented a challenge for the groundstaff at half-time. Equaliser On to the partially-drained pitch came Turkey substitutes Semih and Mehmet Topal. Semih's appearance was an understandable statement of attacking intent, and Turkey bravely continued with their short passing game in tough conditions. That enterprise was rewarded when Nihat sent in a superb looping cross from the left and Semih rose to head in. Switzerland responded well and it took a sliding block from Hakan Balta to deny Yakin. Exciting finish Johan Vonlanthen was introduced by Switzerland coach Köbi Kuhn and proved a lively presence, sliding a neat pass which Inler turned just wide, while at the other end Tuncay supplied an inviting cross which just eluded Nihat's reach. In an open finish to the game either side could have won – Volkan pulled off a great double save from Ricardo Cabanas, another Swiss substitute, and Inler, and that proved invaluable when Arda set off on a run and his strike from the edge of the box flew in off the devastated Patrick Müller. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300690/report=rp.html[url=http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300690/matchcentre.html0MatchCenter[/url]
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Post by Terry on Jun 11, 2008 22:55:06 GMT -5
Bilić bullish ahead of Germany test by Graham Wood from Klagenfurt Croatia coach Slaven Bilić believes his team have as much reason to be confident as their opponents Germany ahead of Thursday's head-to-head between the Group B rivals in Klagenfurt. Confidence high Following their winning start against co-hosts Austria four days ago, and Germany's 2-0 triumph over Poland, the match at the Wörthersee Stadion should provide an enthralling spectacle with victory for either side potentially securing them early progress to the quarter-finals. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Bilić showed he has plenty of faith in his troops. "We approach this game with just as much self-confidence as Germany," he said. "Like them, we also won our first match and we are relieved after the negative pressure we had beforehand. The winning start has give us great belief in ourselves and the way we are playing." Great power Despite the obvious faith in his own team, Bilić clearly holds the Mannschaft in high regard, stating that Croatia can consider themselves potential UEFA EURO 2008™ title candidates if they claim a win. "I definitely would consider us a strong contender if we beat Germany," said the 39-year-old. "I believe any team that beats Germany can hope to beat anybody." Croatia's training session was hampered by a deluge of rain, but the outlook is a lot brighter on the injury front. Luka Modrić is ready to feature after training alone on Monday as a precautionary measure due to a slight pain in his achilles tendon and Mladen Petrić is also free of his recurrent back injury, though may well be sacrificed if Bilić tinkers with his lineup. Tough challenge Germany coach Joachim Löw admitted his players are feeling more upbeat than ever, but expects a tough night against the Croatians. "It is true that over the past few months we have become more and more self-confident," said the 48-year-old. "We've proved that we've been able to implement what we've practised in matches. We are confident going into the game, but Croatia are a good team with attack-minded players and we will face a tough challenge. We want to dictate our pace on the game – that will be our aim." Aiming for victory Asked if he would settle for second place in the group, Löw said it was not an issue he had given much thought to. "It is logical tomorrow that we want to win, simply because both ourselves and Croatia have three points each," he said. "But so far, I haven't spent much time thinking about whether we will be first or second. We want the win because I think it will put us in the quarter-finals." With a fully-fit squad of players, the only potential change Löw may make to his starting XI could be to give defender Arne Friedrich his chance in place of Marcell Jansen. Hertha BSC Berlin defender Friedrich, who was a first-team regular at the last World Cup and UEFA EURO 2004™, could return to right-back with Philipp Lahm moving to the left. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300693/report=pr.htmlHead to Head CRO - GER 7 Played 7 1 Won 5 5 Lost 1 1 Drawn 1 8 Goals For 17 17 Goals Conceded 8 Match officials Referee Frank De Bleeckere (BEL) Assistant referee 1 Peter Hermans (BEL) Assistant referee 2 Alex Verstraeten (BEL) Fourth official Stéphane Lannoy (FRA) Reserve assistant referee Matthias Arnet (SUI)
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Post by Terry on Jun 11, 2008 22:58:18 GMT -5
No margin for error in Vienna by Trevor Haylett from Vienna Both Austria and Poland will walk a tightrope at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion knowing that one false move could lead to their early departure from UEFA EURO 2008™. 'Optimistic by nature' For Austria the situation is arguably more acute. Prior to this tournament, Belgium in 2000 had been the only host nation since 1980 not to progress from the group stage and they will be desperate not to follow neighbours Switzerland in suffering early elimination. Coach Josef Hickersberger said: "This will be a decisive match for both teams, we both have to win in order to have a chance of moving up to the quarter-finals. Of course [failure to qualify] would be a great disappointment for myself, the team, each individual player and all Austria. I'm not going to speculate about disasters because I am optimistic by nature and I believe we will still have a chance [of making progress] after the game with Poland." Inspiring subs Both teams, who are making their first appearance at a UEFA European Championship final tournament, began their Group B campaigns with defeat. Austria were undone by a fourth-minute penalty against Croatia but there was enough improvement in their second-half display to inspire hope of a different result this time. The coach is mulling over changes and both Ivica Vastic and Ümit Korkmaz, who revitalised the team as substitutes, are in contention for starting roles. Poland are in the same position and Hickersberger has impressed on the Austrian supporters that they will be difficult opponents. "They qualified for the World Cup in 2006 and for this tournament they qualified ahead of Portugal so they're very strong. But we're convinced we have a team that is able not only to play well but also to win." 'Higher expectations' According to Hickersberger, expectations may weigh more heavily on Poland because of their greater experience of major finals. "In Austria we are realistic," the Austria coach added. "We know the international position we currently hold. Nevertheless we set ourselves ambitious goals and as long as we can still reach those goals we will believe in our chances. For Poland it is a different situation – they have to meet higher expectations." Austria's opponents, however, went down 2-0 to Germany on Sunday and lost captain Maciej Żurawski to a muscle injury while Mariusz Lewandowski is struggling with an ankle problem, so Roger Guerreiro and Marek Saganowski stand by to deputise. Home effect Hickersberger's opposite number, Leo Beenhakker, has also warned his side to beware the "home effect" that may rouse Austria to greater heights. "Many times in tournaments we've seen the host team playing at a much higher level based on the atmosphere around the team and among the people," he said. "We see it in every discipline in sport and in the Olympics when the home nation picks up the most prizes. This is a match to stay in the tournament so from that regard we're almost doing the same job as coaches. The two teams are very similar in that the strongest element is the team itself. Neither of us have a [Thierry] Henry or a [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, players who can make the difference in a game, but that doesn't mean we don't have good players." en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300692/report=pr.htmlHead to Head AUT - POL 7 Played 7 3 Won 4 4 Lost 3 0 Drawn 0 16 Goals For 17 17 Goals Conceded 16 Match officials Referee Howard Webb (ENG) Assistant referee 1 Darren Cann (ENG) Assistant referee 2 Michael Mullarkey (ENG) Fourth official Viktor Kassai (HUN) Reserve assistant referee Stéphane Cuhat (SUI)
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Post by Terry on Jun 12, 2008 22:27:32 GMT -5
Vastic rides to Austria's rescue by Richard Aikman from Ernst-Hapel-Stadion Ivica Vastic's last-gasp penalty kept Austria in contention to reach the UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals, salvaging a draw against a Poland side who had looked set to take three points thanks to Roger Guerreiro's first-half goal and some inspired goalkeeping from Artur Boruc. Late drama Boruc made four crucial interventions to frustrate a vibrant Austria before Roger was in the right place to tap in on the half-hour and give Poland the lead. Austria were staring a second successive 1-0 defeat in the face but, three minutes into added time, Marcin Wasilewski pulled Sebastian Prödl's shirt and substitute Vastic became the oldest player to score in a UEFA European Championship, finally beating Boruc from the spot. These teams now have one point apiece, two fewer than Germany who are Austria's final opponents on Monday, when Group B winners Croatia are the opposition for Poland. Austria domination With both sides having lost already, each knew another reverse would almost certainly end their championship hopes and, buoyed by deafening support, it was Austria who dominated much of the first half. Andreas Ivanschitz set the tone, dragging a hopeful shot wide before testing Boruc with a long-range free-kick. Then came the onslaught. Martin Harnik raced on to a lofted Ümit Korkmaz pass only for his strike to be turned wide by Boruc and, moments later, the Werder Bremen midfielder was again denied after Korkmaz set him up from the byline, having tricked his way past two defenders. Harnik shot from eight metres but Boruc was there again. Boruc heroics But for the Celtic FC goalkeeper, Austria would have been out of sight within the first 15 minutes. It was at that point that Boruc was called upon to make his fourth save of the evening as Christoph Leitgeb was put clean through. Like Harnik before him, Leitgeb opted against rounding the keeper and let fly early. Boruc bravely stopped the shot and was alert enough to kick away the loose ball too. Disbelief Poland had hardly threatened but somehow, completely against the run of play, Leo Beenhakker's men went in front in the 30th minute. Euzebiusz Smolarek's left-wing cross was controlled by Marek Saganowski at the far post and, though his strike was blocked by Emanuel Pogatetz, the ball rolled across goal for Roger to gleefully turn it into an unguarded net. Even Austria coach Josef Hickersberger cracked a rueful smile of disbelief as suddenly a cry of "Polska, Polska" reverberated around the ground. Macho saves Beenhakker's half-time team talk must have been impassioned as Poland emerged after the break with greater attacking intent. Smolarek spurned the opportunity to double the advantage after cutting in from the left and forcing a stop from Jürgen Macho with an angled drive, while Dariusz Dudka was afforded the time to bring down Roger's cross and make Macho parry at his near post. Poland were now in the ascendancy and, midway through the half, Macho had to be at his best to tip Jacek Krzynówek's ferocious free-kick over the bar. Vastic composure Austria strove manfully to find an equaliser, with Hickersberger throwing on Roman Kienast, Vastic and Jürgen Säumel as the clock ticked down. Säumel and Prödl both sent efforts too high and it seemed there would be no beating Boruc – until Prödl won the penalty and the 38-year-old Vastic did the rest . en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300692/report=rp.htmlMatchCenter
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Post by Terry on Jun 12, 2008 22:30:37 GMT -5
Olić kick-starts Croatian celebrations by Graham Wood from Wörthersee Stadion Croatia sealed their place in the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™ as goals from Darijo Srna and Ivica Olić earned a famous win against Germany that took Slaven Bilić's side three points clear at the top of Group B. Famous win With both teams having won their first game on Sunday each knew victory in Klagenfurt would all but secure a ticket to the last eight, and it was Croatia who struck first midway through the first half thanks to the determination of Srna. The points looked safe when Olić tapped in just past the hour, yet Lukas Podolski set up a tense finale with his third goal of the tournament eleven minutes from time. Croatia, whose only previous success against the Mannschaft had come in the quarter-finals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup – a match in which Bilić played – held on with Germany losing Bastian Schweinsteiger to a late red card. Joachim Löw's men were left needing a point from Monday's meeting with Austria to continue in the tournament. Srna strikes While the Germany coach kept faith with the side that served him well against Poland, Bilić brought in midfielder Ivan Rakitić for Mladen Petrić and pushed Niko Kranjčar into a more advanced role. Neither team were prepared to take risks in a tense opening and the first scoring opportunity did not materialise until the 24th minute – and from it, Croatia took the lead. The ball was worked neatly down the left for Danijel Pranjić to deliver a superb deep cross which Srna, arriving ahead of his marker Marcell Jansen at the far post, steered past Jens Lehmann. Missed chances Germany sought an immediate response with Mario Gómez heading over from Jansen's cross, although Kranjčar might have doubled the Croatian advantage only to volley Olić's knockdown over the bar. Germany captain Michael Ballack came more into the game, seeking to drive his side forward with half-time approaching and stinging the palms of Stipe Pletikosa with a powerful free-kick, before Christoph Metzelder nodded a Torsten Frings corner too high. Yet it was Croatia who finished the opening period the stronger, with Kranjčar wasting another presentable chance as he volleyed Olić's pass straight at Lehmann. Olić opportunism Löw replaced Jansen with winger David Odonkor at half-time, with Clemens Fritz and Philipp Lahm moving to right and left-back respectively as the coach tried to inject pace into his attack. The ploy did result in Löw's team gaining more possession but they still found it tough to carve out clear opportunities and fell further behind two minutes past the hour, albeit in unfortunate fashion. Lehmann reacted sharply to push Rakitić's deflected right-wing centre on to his near post, the ball having struck Podolski, but Olić moved fastest to tap the rebound into an unguarded net. Podolski pounces If that goal seemed to be the prelude to a comfortable last half-hour for Croatia, a Germany side who were running out of ideas suddenly halved the deficit with Podolski volleying in Ballack's knockdown from a Lahm cross. Despite that revival of ambition, the Mannschaft failed to mount a late charge and a disappointing day was completed two minutes into added time when substitute Schweinsteiger was sent off for reacting to a challenge from Jerko Leko. en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300693/report=rp.htmlMatchCentre
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Post by Terry on Jun 12, 2008 22:34:56 GMT -5
Donadoni plots Azzurri rescue mission by Michael Harrold & Alex O'Henley from Zurich & St Gallen Desperate times call for desperate measures and Italy coach Roberto Donadoni will ring the changes as he looks to rescue the world champions' UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign against Romania at the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich on Friday. Changes Italy crashed to their worst defeat in 25 years in their Group C opener against the Netherlands and face another stern test against a Romania team buoyed by a goalless draw against France that has boosted their hopes of qualifying from the toughest of sections. Only Gianluigi Buffon, Luca Toni and Andrea Pirlo are deemed safe in an Italy side that could feature up to five changes according to Donadoni. "There will be four or five players who will play tomorrow who did not play in Berne," said the Azzurri coach who has a full-strength squad at his disposal. "[Giorgio] Chiellini and [Alessandro] Del Piero will play, but I haven't mentioned any other names. If you hypothesise they will be your mistakes." 'Winning fundamental' Even so, there has been a frenzy of speculation in the Italian media over the lineup with Fabio Grosso and Antonio Cassano likely to come in after impressing as substitutes against the Netherlands. Donadoni said his side were "still hurting" from that result and would do everything to put it right. "Winning is fundamental for us," he said. "We have worked towards that goal and will do everything to achieve it." Italy recovered to reach the final of the 1994 FIFA World Cup after losing their first match, and a draw here would not spell the end of their hopes. With a repeat of their 2006 World Cup final to come against France, points are at a premium as Donadoni seeks to find the balance between defence and attack. "We mustn't think if we have not scored by the fourth minute it is a disaster," he said. "The game lasts 90 minutes and we must be patient." Pressure Romania coach Victor Piţurcă feels both sides will be playing to win, but stressed that the pressure was on the Azzurri following their heaviest loss at a UEFA European Championship. "Italy need the victory more than we do," said Piţurcă who revealed that striker Ciprian Marica was "almost certainly" out after suffering a blow to his head in training on Tuesday. "Italy are the favourites, but we came here to put on a good display and our main aim is to qualify for the knockout stage." More in attack For the former FC Steaua Bucureşti striker, Friday's match offers an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge against Donadoni after losing 4-0 to AC Milan in the 1989 UEFA European Champions Clubs' Cup final. Having failed to create many openings in their first game, Piţurcă knows his side have to pose more of an attacking threat. "I haven't decided who will start yet, but I might make some changes from the game against France. We will have to be vigilant in defence but there will also be times when we press in the opponents' half. The team that's better organised and can produce moments of inspiration will have the best chance of winning." en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=300695/report=pr.htmlHead to Head ITA - ROU 14 Played 14 10 Won 2 2 Lost 10 2 Drawn 2 24 Goals For 10 10 Goals Conceded 24 Match officials Referee Tom Henning Øvrebø (NOR) Assistant referee 1 Geir Åge Holen (NOR) Assistant referee 2 Jan Petter Randen (NOR) Fourth official Ivan Bebek (CRO) Reserve assistant referee Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (ESP)
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