As Russians from Moscow to Vladivostok celebrated their UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-final defeat of the Netherlands well into the night, national president Dmitri Medvedev even suggested making coach Guus Hiddink an honorary citizen.
Celebrations
Following the 3-1 win in extra time in Basel, the main roads in Moscow were blocked for hours as fans celebrated their first post-Soviet semi-final berth at a major tournament with horns, chants and songs. The picture was very different from Basel, where a couple of thousand of Russians were celebrating, surrounded by massive but subdued Oranje masses.
Dream continues
'Russian dream continues!', shouted sports daily Soviet Sport this morning. "Russia has played one of the best matches in its history. Guus Hiddink's team literally tore apart UEFA EURO 2008™ favourites Holland and advanced to the semi-finals, where they will play either Italy or Spain." As most of Russia's papers do not go to print until Monday, websites took most public attention, with gazeta.ru annointing: 'The Great Traitor', referring to Hiddink's now regretted pre-match intention of becoming "the traitor of the year in Holland".
President's pledge
Meanwhile, Medvedev praised the team and said that Hiddink deserves an honorary citizenship. During a meeting with Russian and Belarussian war veterans he was told that Hiddink should not be allowed to go home to his native Netherlands when his job is done. "He doesn't have to go, we can give him citizenship," smiled Medvedev. "I think we did very well. We played well for the first time in a long time."
Fans
Another feature of last night was the fact that 2,500 Russia fans, outnumbered at least tenfold by the Dutch at St. Jakob-Park, still outsung them for most of the match. "In the final minutes, the most interesting events were in the stands, where the Russian supporters, hungry for victories after a long time, were performing something beyond words," said daily Sport-Express.
source : www.euro2008.uefa.com
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Senin, 23 Juni 2008
Frings Diragukan Tampil Lawan Turki
Torsten Frings masih diragukan untuk bisa turun pada semi-final Euro 2008 melawan Turki, Kamis (26/6) dinihari WIB di Basel.
»Komentar Print Artikel Ini Kirim Ke Teman Hubungi Kami galleria zoom Gelandang Jerman itu absen saat Jerman mengalahkan Portugal 3-2 di perempat-final setelah mengalami patah tulang rusuk dalam pertandingan sebelumnya melawan Austria.
"Tentu kami ingin Frings pulih tapi kami harus menunggu dan melihat," ungkap manajer tim, Oliver Bierhoff.
"Sejauh ini dia hanya latihan berlari, kami masih belum melihat bagaimana dia bisa menendang bola, dia sudah gerah ingin main tapi kami perlu bicara dengan staf medis," lanjutnya.
Dengan cederanya Frings, pelatih Jerman Joachim Loew mengubah formasi lapangan tengah untuk menghadapi Portugal.
Dia memasukkan Simon Rolfes dan Thomas Hitzlsperger untuk membantu lapangan tengah dan memberi ruang bebas bagi kapten Michael Ballack untuk bisa membantu ke depan.
"Anda harus tanya pelatih tentang siapa yang akan dimainkan melawan Turki dan sejauh ini kami bertekad hanya akan menurunkan pemain yang 100 persen dalam kondisi fit," tandas Bierhoff.
source : www.goal.com
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Spanyol Lumat Rusia 4-1
Lewat hattrick yang dibuat David Villa, Spanyol menggilas Rusia 4-1 dalam laga Grup D Euro 2008 di Innsbruck, Austria, Rabu (11/6) dini hari WIB. Satu gol lain dibuat Cesc Fabregas yang masuk lapangan sebagai pemain pengganti di babak kedua.
»Komentar (4) Print Artikel Ini Kirim Ke Teman Hubungi Kami galleria zoom Spanyol melumat Rusia, 4-1, dalam laga perdana Grup D putaran final Euro 2008. Dalam duel di Stadion Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck, Austria, Rabu (11/6) dini hari WIB itu, striker David Villa menjadi bintang lapangan dengan mencetak tiga gol di menit 20, 45 dan 75.
Berarti David Villa menjadi pemain pertama yang mencetak hat-trick di Euro 2008 ini. Satu gol lain bagi Spanyol diciptakan oleh gelandang stylish yang masuk di babak kedua, Cesc Fabregas di menit kedua injury time. Adapun Rusia memperkecil ketinggalan lewat gol hiburan yang dibuat lewat sundulan kepala Roman Pavlyuchenko di menit 86.
Bermain agresif sejak awal kick-off babak pertama, Spanyol membuat Rusia kewalahan. Dimotori oleh gelandang pengatur serangan Xavi Hernandez dan Andres Iniesta, serangan tim negeri matador kerap menggoyahkan lini belakang Rusia yang dikomando Roman Shirokov.
Fernando Torres dan David Villa benar-benar menjadi momok menakutkan bagi para pemain belakang tim asuhan Guus Hiddink. Gol pertama Spanyol dicetak Villa setelah mendapat sodoran umpan tarik dari Torres. Kemudian gol kedua dibuatnya dengan memanfaatkan umpan terobosan Iniesta. Sedangkan gol ketiga dicetak Villa setelah ia berduel dengan Denis Kolodin sebelum menaklukkan kiper Igor Akinfeyev.
Kemudian gol keempat dicetak lewat sundulan Fabregas memanfaatkan bola muntah dari tangan kiper Akifeyev. Lima menit sebelumnya Rusia sempat menghibur diri lewat gol hasil sundulan keras Roman Pavlyuchenko dari jarak enam meter di depan gawang. Setelah gol itu Rusia mencoba mengurung Spanyol dengan serangan bergelombang, tapi mereka malah kecolongan lagi oleh gol Fabregas. *Syamsil Ajirismandiar.
source : www.goal.com
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Minggu, 22 Juni 2008
Del Piero: Serangan Kami Lebih Baik
Minggu, 22 Juni 2008 - 10:00 wib
Reporter: Muchamad Syuhada
Foto: APWINA - Ketajaman yang ditunjukan oleh para penyerang tim Spanyol tidak membuat Alessandro Del Piero dkk gentar. Justru bomber Juventus itu menyatakan serangan yang dilancarkan Italia juga tidak kalah menakutkan dari Spanyol.
Performa gemilang lini depan Spanyol dibabak kulifikasi grup D Euro 2008 memang sudah tidak diragukan. Torehan Sembilan gol dari tiga partai yang Fernando Torres dkk jalani telah menjadi bukti nyatanya.
Meski menggakui hal itu, pasukan Azzurri yang diwakili oleh Del Piero tidak mau kalah sesumbar. Il Piturichio mengatakan faktor mental pada pertandingan ini akan menjadi kunci.
"Duel melawan Spanyol besok memang sangat berat. Kedua tim memiliki kapasitas yang sama untuk saling mengalahkan. Faktor mental adalah hal yang akan menuntukan siapa yang akan keluar sebagai pemenang," ujarnya.
"Banyak yang membicarakan bagaimana kuatnya lini depan mereka. Namun saya yakin kami tidak kalah," tegas pemain bernomor punggung tujuh di timnas Italia ini seperti dilansir Goal,
source : www.euro.okezone.com
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Arshavin, Kunci Kemenangan Rusia
Minggu, 22 Juni 2008 - 05:57 wib
Reporter: Hendra Mujiraharja
Foto: APTIMNAS Rusia beruntung memiliki pemain seperti Andrei Arshavin. Pasalnya, gelandang lincah itu tampil gemilang dan menjadi kunci keberhasilan Beruang Merah melangkah ke babak semifinal Euro 2008.
Sebenarnya, ada beberapa pemain yang bermain gemilang dalam pertandingan ini. Mereka adalah Roman Pavlyuchenko, Dmitry Tobianskiy, Yuri Zhirkov dan Igor Akinfeyev. Ketiga pemain itu bermain baik dalam pertandingan ini.
Namun tidak salah gelar man of the match kembali disematkan kepada Arshavin. Sebab, sepanjang pertandingan ini gelandang lincah Zenit St Petersburg itu mampu membuat lini gelandang dan pertahanan Belanda, kocar-kacir.
Akhirnya, dari aksi gemilang Arshavinlah Rusia dapat memangkan pertandingan ini. Dia mampu mencetak sebuah gol dan umpan yang indah kepada Tobiansky sekaligus memastikan kemenangan Rusia atas Belanda 3-1. Sementara satu gol lainnya dicetak Pavlyuchenko.
Lantas, mampukah gelandang 27 tahun itu membawa Rusia terus berjaya di turnamen Euro 2008 kali ini?
source : www.euro.okezone.com
Russia united in celebrations
As Russians from Moscow to Vladivostok celebrated their UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-final defeat of the Netherlands well into the night, national president Dmitri Medvedev even suggested making coach Guus Hiddink an honorary citizen.
Celebrations
Following the 3-1 win in extra time in Basel, the main roads in Moscow were blocked for hours as fans celebrated their first post-Soviet semi-final berth at a major tournament with horns, chants and songs. The picture was very different from Basel, where a couple of thousand of Russians were celebrating, surrounded by massive but subdued Oranje masses.
Dream continues
'Russian dream continues!', shouted sports daily Soviet Sport this morning. "Russia has played one of the best matches in its history. Guus Hiddink's team literally tore apart UEFA EURO 2008™ favourites Holland and advanced to the semi-finals, where they will play either Italy or Spain." As most of Russia's papers do not go to print until Monday, websites took most public attention, with gazeta.ru annointing: 'The Great Traitor', referring to Hiddink's now regretted pre-match intention of becoming "the traitor of the year in Holland".
President's pledge
Meanwhile, Medvedev praised the team and said that Hiddink deserves an honorary citizenship. During a meeting with Russian and Belarussian war veterans he was told that Hiddink should not be allowed to go home to his native Netherlands when his job is done. "He doesn't have to go, we can give him citizenship," smiled Medvedev. "I think we did very well. We played well for the first time in a long time."
Fans
Another feature of last night was the fact that 2,500 Russia fans, outnumbered at least tenfold by the Dutch at St. Jakob-Park, still outsung them for most of the match. "In the final minutes, the most interesting events were in the stands, where the Russian supporters, hungry for victories after a long time, were performing something beyond words," said daily Sport-Express.
source : www.euro2008.uefa.com
Sabtu, 21 Juni 2008
Euro 2008: Jerman berpesta, Portugal menangis
— rajugravatarcloseAuthor: raju Name:
Site:
About: See Authors Posts (262) • June 20th, 2008
Reputasi Jerman sebagai tim yang lambat panas kemudian melaju kencang di pertengahan kompetisi kembali terbukti.
Der Panzer melaju ke semifinal Euro 2008–yang pertama sejak 1996–berkat gol Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose dan Michael Ballack saat mengalahkan Portugal 3-2 di Basel, Jumat dini hari.
Pertanyaannya, kenapa Jerman bisa menang dari Portugal?
Perjalanan Portugal di putaran grup mengesankan. Tiket ke perempat final didapatkan sebagai pemuncak Grup A setelah mengalahkan Turki (2-0), Republik Cek (3-1), dan tim “B” kalah dari Swiss (0-2).
Jerman? Menang dari Polandia (2-0), ditekuk Kroasia (1-2), dan hanya sanggup menang tipis dari Austria (1-0). Kritikan langsung dihujamkan pada The Mannschaft yang lolos sebagai runner-up Grup B.
Tapi sekali lagi, jangan pernah meremehkan Jerman. Dan laga di St Jakob Park membuktikannya. Kembali ke pertanyaan di atas, apa penyebab Jerman menang? Jawabannya, tinggi badan!
Gol pertama Jerman tercipta lewat kaki Bastian Schweinsteiger menit ke-22. Menerima umpan Lukas Podolski dari sisi kiri, Schweinsteiger menyambar cepat, melesak di sudut gawang Ricardi. 1-0.
Selang empat menit, giliran Miroslav Klose yang mencetak gol. Tendangan bebas Schweinsteiger melayang diatas pagar betis Portugal. Klose yang gagal dikawal, menanduk bola. 2-0.
Nuno Gomes memperkecil ketertinggalan lima menit menjelang jeda. Tendangan Cristiano Ronaldo sempat dimentahkan Jens Lehmann, namun Bola liar sigap disambar Nuno Gomes. 2-1.
Michael Ballack menambah keunggulan. Lagi-lagi tendangan bebas Schweinsteiger gagal dihadang pagar betis Portugal. Ballack yang dikawal rekannya di Chelsea, Paolo Ferreira, menyundul bola. 3-1.
Helder Postiga sempat membuka harapan Portugal ketika mencetak golnya di menit ke-86. 3-2. Tapi sisa empat menit tak ada lagi gol tercipta.
Jadi apa benar itu rahasianya? Mungkin ada pengaruh peran Ballack yang pada pertandingan ini sedikit maju ke depan. Tapi kegagalan pemain belakang Portugal menghadang bola-bola atas Jerman, jelas jadi salah satu penyebab kegagalan mereka.
Ini kata asisten pelatih Jerman, Hans-Dieter Flick. “Jerman adalah tim spesialis turnamen, dan kami sangat fokus dan mampu bangkit setelah teepuruk.”
Jerman berpesta, Portugal menangis. source : www.mysportblogs.com
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Euro 2008: Belanda Vs “Belanda”
— rajugravatarcloseAuthor: raju Name:
Site:
About: See Authors Posts (262) • June 21st, 2008
Asumsinya begini: siapapun yang menjadi lawan Belanda di perempat final akan menjadi korban pembantaian.
Tapi Rusia bersama pelatih Rusia, Guus Hiddink, bisa jadi pengecualiannya. “Saya ingin menjadi pengkhianat Belanda tahun ini,” kata Hiddink.
Perjalanan The Flying Dutch–julukan Belanda–sangat menawan di putaran grup. Juara Dunia Italia disikat 3-0 dan finalis lainnya Prancis dibabat 4-1. Bahkan dengan tim “B”-nya, Belanda masih sanggup menundukkan rumania 2-0 untuk mengkalim status juara Grup C.
Sedangkan Rusia harus memastikan tiket dengan susah payah. Tak ada yang menyangka mereka akan lolos setelah dihajar Spanyol 1-4 di pertandingan perdana. Tapi setelah menundukkan juara bertahan Yunani 1-0, Rusia tampil luar biasa dengan menundukkan Swedia 2-0.
Kini, keduanya akan bertemu St. Jakob Park Stadium, Basel, Minggu dini hari.
Meski tampil luar biasa, Belanda jelas bukan tim tanpa kelemahan. Tapi kelemahan ini bisa ditutupi dengan produktifitas; sembilan gol di tiga pertandingan.
Tapi di atas kertas, skuad Belanda saat ini punya amunisi lengkap. Pemain Real Madrid, Wesley Sneijder, dan gelandang Hamburger SV, Rafael van der Vaart, menjadi kunci lapangan tengah dibantu kecepatan dua winger lincah Arjen Robben dan Robin van Persie. Di ujung tombak, ada Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Kelengkapan Belanda juga terlihat dari daftar pencetak gol. Delapan pemain, mulai dari bek sampai striker, mencetak sembilan gol. Ini jelas modal penting.
Lini belakang juga cukup solid. Di tiga pertandingan, gawang Edwin van der Saar hanya sanggup diterobos gol striker Prancis, Thierry Henry.
Rusia sudah kembali full skuad. Hadirnya playmaker Zenit St. Petersburg, Andrei Arshavin, dari skorsing dua pertandingan memberikan nuansa baru. Arshavin menyuplai Roman Pavlyuchenko untuk mencetak gol pertama, sebelum ia sendiri mencetak gol kedua.
Di bawah Hiddink, Rusia adalah “Belanda”. Memainkan gaya menyerang ditambah pertahanan kuat dan umpan-umpan cepat.
Akankah “magis” Hiddink kembali terjadi?
FAKTOR KUNCI
* Rusia menjadi tim yang paling banyak mendapat tendangan sudut di Grup D, 27 kali. Belanda paling sedikit, tujuh kali, bahkan jadi yang terkecil di antara 16 tim finalis.
* Belanda mengalahkan Uni Soviet 2-0 di final Piala Eropa 1998 berkat gol Ruud Gullit dan sang pelatih saat ini, Marco Van Basten.
PRAKIRAAN PEMAIN
BELANDA (4-2-3-1): 1-Edwin van der Sar; 21-Khalid Boulahrouz, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 2-Andre Ooijer, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 17-Nigel de Jong, 23-Rafael van der Vaart; 18-Dirk Kuyt, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 11-Arjen Robben; 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy
RUSIA (4-4-2): 1-Igor Akinfeyev; 22-Alexander Anyukov, 8-Denis Kolodin, 4-Sergei Ignashevich, 18-Yuri Zhirkov; 11-Sergei Semak, 15-Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 17-Konstantin Zyryanov, 20-Igor Semshov; 10-Andrei Arshavin, 19-Roman Pavlyuchenko
PERUBAHAN
* Pelatih Marco van Basten melakukan sembilan perombakan dibandingkan tim yang berrtemu Rumnia pada partai ketiga Grup C. Hanya winger Arjen Robben dan bek Khalid Boulahrouz yang kemungkinan akan tetap dipasang.
* Pelatih Rusia, Guus Hiddink, sepertinya takkan mengganti susunan skuadnya yang tampil bagus saat mengalahkan Swedia 2-0 di laga ketiga Grup D.
DATA
* Partai: Belanda Vs Rusia
* Hari: Minggu, 22 Juni 2008
* Waktu: Pukul 01.45 WIB
* Tempat: Stadion St Jakob Park, Basel, Swiss
* Kapasitas: 40.000 orang
* Wasit: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
PERJALANAN BELANDA
* 09/06/2008: Vs Italia; 3-0
* 13/06/2008: Vs Prancis; 4-1
* 17/06/2008: Vs Rumania; 2-0
PERJALANAN RUSIA
* 10/06/2008: Vs Spanyol; 1-4
* 14/06/2008: Vs Yunani; 1-0
* 18/06/2008: Vs Swedia; 2-0
PERTEMUAN SEBELUMNYA
* 29/11/1967: Uji coba; Belanda Vs Uni Soviet; 3-1
* 05/10?1977: Uji coba; Belada Vs Uni Soviet; 0-0
* 12/06/1988: Euro 1988; Uni Soviet Vs Belanda; 1-0
* 25/06/1988: Euro 1988; Belanda Vs Uni Soviet; 2-0
* 22/03/1989: Uji coba; Belanda Vs Uni Soviet; 2-0
* 28/03/1990: Uji coba; Uni Soviet Vs Belanda; 2-1
* 15/06/1992: Euro 1992; Belanda Vs CIS; 0-0
* 07/02/2007: Uji coba; Belanda Vs Rusia; 4-1
source : www.mysportblogs.com
Jumat, 20 Juni 2008
Portugal 2-3 Germany
Joachim Low was proud of the way his German side rose to the occasion in beating Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The suspended coach had to watch the game from the stands, but was delighted with the way his side responded.
"We had a lot of courage, had good combinations, moved well without the ball - all the things that we've done well in the past we did," he said.
"Sitting behind the window in the stands was really difficult. It is too far from the action."
The 48-year-old Low gambled by making three changes to his midfield, but it paid off with Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring once and setting up the other two goals in the 3-2 win.
Low added: "After the Austria match we saw we had to make some changes. We wanted to close down the space in Portugal's midfield. We succeeded in doing that."
Ballack sets sights on Euro glory
In Low's absence assistant coach Hansi Flick took charge on the touchline.
Low added: "He did a great job. There were some things during the match he did absolutely right, like putting Michael Ballack a bit further back when there was a phase where they put us under some pressure."
Schweinsteiger said he was pleased to make up for his group stage sending off by inspiring Germany in Basel.
"I made a mistake, I knew it. I set out to help the team as much as possible and it worked," he said.
"We still have something left. We must do it again in the next match. I'm very happy to have won the game. We eliminated the best team of the tournament in my eyes."
606: DEBATE
Never ever write off Germany
avinthesky
Germany skipper Ballack felt they were good value for the win, adding: "We started very well.
"We changed the system a bit with five in midfield and one striker less, we were very compact.
"Especially in the first half I thought we played fantastically against a very strong Portugal team until now. I think we deserved it."
source : www.news.bbc.co.uk
Quarter-final 3: Netherlands v Russia,
Basel 21 June 2008
606 debate | Blog
Team newsDutch view Boulahrouz Russia view
UEFA EURO 2008 QUARTER-FINAL
Date: Sat 21 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel
Coverage: Highlights on BBC ONE and BBC Sport website (UK only), full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and on BBC Sport website (UK only), full text coverage on BBC Sport website and mobiles; live on ITV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten is set to revert back to his favoured starting XI after resting a host of players last time out against Romania.
That could mean only Khalid Boulahrouz - who will play despite the death of his prematurely-born baby daughter - and Arjen Robben keep their places.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andre Ooijer and Dirk Kuyt will all return to the side.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink will name an unchanged line-up to the one that beat Sweden 2-0 in their final group game.
That victory was inspired by Andrei Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker who had been suspended for the first two group games - a 4-1 defeat to Spain and a narrow 1-0 win over Greece.
"I don't think we needed to score that many goals in the Swedish game," said Arshavin. "We needed to save them for the next games and I hope we will score a few against the Dutch.
"If we didn't have to play the Netherlands, we would feel much better, because I think they are the best side here.
"But fate has it that we have to play the strongest team in the tournament in the last eight. I hope we will be able to match them."
Russia's performance in the win over Sweden prompted many observers to predict a possible upset against the Netherlands, despite the Netherlands' 100% record in the tournament so far.
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the quarter-finals
The match has a further twist, in that Russia coach Hiddink is a Dutchman, and led Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1998.
And Hiddink, who will reportedly earn a £400,000 bonus for leading Russia into the last eight, will hope to avenge Russia's defeat to the Netherlands at Euro '88.
The Netherlands, though, have been in superb form in this Championship, beating World Cup winners Italy 3-0, World Cup finalists France 4-1, and then Romania 2-0 with a side largely made up from fringe members of the squad.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Nigel de Jong and Andre Ooijer, and Russia's Ivan Saenko, Dmitry Torbinsky, Denis Kolodin, Andrei Arshavin and Sergei Semak, are all a booking away from missing a potential semi-final clash with either Spain or Italy.
source : www.news.bbc.co.uk
606 debate | Blog
Team newsDutch view Boulahrouz Russia view
UEFA EURO 2008 QUARTER-FINAL
Date: Sat 21 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel
Coverage: Highlights on BBC ONE and BBC Sport website (UK only), full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and on BBC Sport website (UK only), full text coverage on BBC Sport website and mobiles; live on ITV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten is set to revert back to his favoured starting XI after resting a host of players last time out against Romania.
That could mean only Khalid Boulahrouz - who will play despite the death of his prematurely-born baby daughter - and Arjen Robben keep their places.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andre Ooijer and Dirk Kuyt will all return to the side.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink will name an unchanged line-up to the one that beat Sweden 2-0 in their final group game.
That victory was inspired by Andrei Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker who had been suspended for the first two group games - a 4-1 defeat to Spain and a narrow 1-0 win over Greece.
"I don't think we needed to score that many goals in the Swedish game," said Arshavin. "We needed to save them for the next games and I hope we will score a few against the Dutch.
"If we didn't have to play the Netherlands, we would feel much better, because I think they are the best side here.
"But fate has it that we have to play the strongest team in the tournament in the last eight. I hope we will be able to match them."
Russia's performance in the win over Sweden prompted many observers to predict a possible upset against the Netherlands, despite the Netherlands' 100% record in the tournament so far.
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the quarter-finals
The match has a further twist, in that Russia coach Hiddink is a Dutchman, and led Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1998.
And Hiddink, who will reportedly earn a £400,000 bonus for leading Russia into the last eight, will hope to avenge Russia's defeat to the Netherlands at Euro '88.
The Netherlands, though, have been in superb form in this Championship, beating World Cup winners Italy 3-0, World Cup finalists France 4-1, and then Romania 2-0 with a side largely made up from fringe members of the squad.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Nigel de Jong and Andre Ooijer, and Russia's Ivan Saenko, Dmitry Torbinsky, Denis Kolodin, Andrei Arshavin and Sergei Semak, are all a booking away from missing a potential semi-final clash with either Spain or Italy.
source : www.news.bbc.co.uk
Euro 2008 - Team news: Croatia v Turkey
Eurosport - Fri, 20 Jun 09:48:00 2008
Perennial underdogs Croatia bear the unusual tag of favourites going into their Euro 2008 quarter-final against a depleted Turkey side.
More StoriesMystic Matthaeus: Croatia to progress
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has been boosted by the news that midfielder Ivan Rakitic is fit to return after a knee injury.
Rakitic, 20, shone in the 2-1 win over Germany and the 1-0 victory over Poland after being left out of the opening 1-0 Group B triumph over Austria.
Bilic declined to name his team but with Rakitic and winger Darijo Srna back to full fitness, Croatia are likely to use the 4-4-2 formation they employed against Germany before nine regular starters were rested against Poland.
Rakitic and Niko Kranjcar are set to link up again in a deeper role behind lone striker Ivica Olic while Srna and Luka Modric will be in midfield alongside 36-year-old captain Niko Kovac.
Srna said Croatia would tread carefully at the start.
"We certainly won't throw caution to the wind straight from the kick-off because Turkey have pulled off two impressive comebacks and we need to be cautious in the early stages," he said.
Turkey defender Servet Cetin has been ruled out, leaving coach Fatih Terim with just 17 players to choose from.
Emre Gungor is out for the rest of the tournament with a calf problem while goalkeeper Volkan Demirel and Mehmet Aurelio are suspended. Midfielder Tumer Metin will also miss the Croatia match due to injury.
And Turkey, who reached the last eight by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 in Group A on Sunday, have been without captain Emre Belozoglu because of a hamstring injury since their opening game.
Terim said there would be no change in the team's philosophy despite their problems.
"We have so far started playing a slow game in the first half and then start attacking in the second," Terim said.
"This is something that Croatia will experience as well because we will continue attacking so that we are the winning side at the end."
source :www.eurosport.yahoo.com
Selasa, 10 Juni 2008
Euro 2008: Austria lose with honour to Croatia
Euro 2008: Austria lose with honour to Croatia
By Steve Wilson and agencies
Last Updated: 7:28pm BST 08/06/2008
Austria (0) 0 Croatia (1) 1
Predictions of humiliation for Austria proved wide of the mark in their opening game with Croatia in Vienna, though Slaven Bilic's side still emerged with all three points despite an almighty scare.
# In pics: Opening day action | Euro 2008 homepage
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The mood of pessimism had been such that over 10,000 Austrians had signed a petition to withdraw from the competition, the team having won just twice in their last 16 matches.
Luca Modric
Spot on: Luka Modric scores the only goal of the game from the penalty spot
Another defeat duly arrived after Luka Modric converted a fourth minute penalty, but one with credit from a spirited performance that deserved more.
Croatia started the match in fine style, dictating play and opening up Austria at will but, missing an out and out goalscorer failed to hammer home their advantage.
Complacency, too, seemed to set it, such was their evident superiority and Austria regrouped and fought their way back in to the match.
The final 15 minutes saw Austria lay siege to the Croatia goal but to no avail.
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The decisive moment of the match came minutes after Croatia's noisy supporters had taken their seats after the anthems.
Ivica Olic chased a hopeful ball towards the byline where he was clumsily brought down by Rene Aufhauser. Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Pogatetz was booked for protesting against the decision but there was no element of doubt.
Modric converted the spot kick straight down the middle. The goal preceded a period of neat-passing from the Croatians and Olic and Mladen Petric both went close to a second after a dangerous low Darijo Srna free kick, before Petric, unmarked in the area, blasted wide after a deep cross from Vedran Corluka.
Austria looked shell-shocked by the early setback and only late in the half did they build any sort of attacking pressure, their best effort coming when Joachim Standfest steered a header just over the bar.
The home side were more positive after the break, pinning Croatia back for long periods and swinging in some dangerous crosses. But a poor final ball too often let them down.
The introduction of veteran Umit Korkmaz for the last 20 minutes added some bite to the Austrian attack as they built to a rousing finale, but Croatia held out.
source : www.telegraph.co.uk
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory in Austria and Switzerland
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory in Austria and Switzerland
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory in Austria and Switzerland
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 1:00am BST 03/06/2008
Michael Ballack is beloved of German football fans - indeed, he is the embodiment of all the talismanic qualities that they seek in a player. Moody, complex, but always passionate, his contribution to the national team has been so significant and sustained that his progress to join a pantheon of greats comprising Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthaus has been viewed as all but assured.
# Henry Winter: England flags will still flutter
# Football fans' forum
# Premier League Transfer Talk | Calendar: Euro 2008 fixtures
With suggestions that Ballack is already thinking of retirement at 31, Euro 2008 represents his chance to fulfil that prophecy.
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory
Point to prove: Michael Ballack has yet to win international honours
While his advancement at club level has been seamless - his powerful midfield attributes at FC Chemnitzer guaranteeing increasingly lucrative moves to Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea - his international legacy is not quite complete.
At one level, that might seem a questionable assertion. After all, has he not, since his Germany debut in 1999, marked his 81 caps with 36 goals, the kind of midfield return to make even David Beckham envious? For four years, too, he has been captain, and has played in two World Cup semi-finals, missing out on the 2002 final only through suspension.
And yet there is still ambivalence to be resolved. Germany have not won a major championship since 1996 and the fact that the only honour secured under Ballack's captaincy was third place at the World Cup two years ago threatens to form the epitaph to his international career. A sense of what might have been pervades an analysis of his time with the national side.
Certainly, Ballack's is not a record to stand much comparison with that of Beckenbauer, with one World Cup and one European Championship winner's medal to his name. Matthaus, more recently, accomplished that same coveted double. Ballack is yet to join their bracket of greatness, even if he did almost single-handedly ensure Germany's quarter-final and semi-final wins in 2002 through brute tenacity. More seriously, there is doubt as to whether those performances have reflected any qualities more subtle than those of the determined warrior. As yet there are no displays in a German side to sit alongside Matthaus' eclipsing of Maradona in the 1990 final, or Beckenbauer's domination of the 1974 final.
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But Ballack should never be written off. When Chelsea failed even to include him in their Champions League squad last season there was conjecture that his long-term ankle injury would seal his demise, at club level at least - that he would sit out the remainder of his days in meaningless, moneyed exile. By sheer defiance he came back stronger. He recognised, even through the sweetener of £130,000 a week, that he had a point to prove.
The same challenge defines his duties with Germany. In the team's 2-1 victory over Serbia last week, Ballack unleashed the winning free-kick. For coach Joachim Loew, it was potent proof that there is life in his captain yet. For Ballack himself - who, for all Cristiano Ronaldo's fireworks, is still being touted as a possible winner of the Ballon D'Or - it was reassurance, and a reminder that his work is not yet done.
source : www.telegraph.co.uk
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory in Austria and Switzerland
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 1:00am BST 03/06/2008
Michael Ballack is beloved of German football fans - indeed, he is the embodiment of all the talismanic qualities that they seek in a player. Moody, complex, but always passionate, his contribution to the national team has been so significant and sustained that his progress to join a pantheon of greats comprising Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthaus has been viewed as all but assured.
# Henry Winter: England flags will still flutter
# Football fans' forum
# Premier League Transfer Talk | Calendar: Euro 2008 fixtures
With suggestions that Ballack is already thinking of retirement at 31, Euro 2008 represents his chance to fulfil that prophecy.
Euro 2008: Michael Ballack's greatness hinges on German glory
Point to prove: Michael Ballack has yet to win international honours
While his advancement at club level has been seamless - his powerful midfield attributes at FC Chemnitzer guaranteeing increasingly lucrative moves to Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea - his international legacy is not quite complete.
At one level, that might seem a questionable assertion. After all, has he not, since his Germany debut in 1999, marked his 81 caps with 36 goals, the kind of midfield return to make even David Beckham envious? For four years, too, he has been captain, and has played in two World Cup semi-finals, missing out on the 2002 final only through suspension.
And yet there is still ambivalence to be resolved. Germany have not won a major championship since 1996 and the fact that the only honour secured under Ballack's captaincy was third place at the World Cup two years ago threatens to form the epitaph to his international career. A sense of what might have been pervades an analysis of his time with the national side.
Certainly, Ballack's is not a record to stand much comparison with that of Beckenbauer, with one World Cup and one European Championship winner's medal to his name. Matthaus, more recently, accomplished that same coveted double. Ballack is yet to join their bracket of greatness, even if he did almost single-handedly ensure Germany's quarter-final and semi-final wins in 2002 through brute tenacity. More seriously, there is doubt as to whether those performances have reflected any qualities more subtle than those of the determined warrior. As yet there are no displays in a German side to sit alongside Matthaus' eclipsing of Maradona in the 1990 final, or Beckenbauer's domination of the 1974 final.
advertisement
But Ballack should never be written off. When Chelsea failed even to include him in their Champions League squad last season there was conjecture that his long-term ankle injury would seal his demise, at club level at least - that he would sit out the remainder of his days in meaningless, moneyed exile. By sheer defiance he came back stronger. He recognised, even through the sweetener of £130,000 a week, that he had a point to prove.
The same challenge defines his duties with Germany. In the team's 2-1 victory over Serbia last week, Ballack unleashed the winning free-kick. For coach Joachim Loew, it was potent proof that there is life in his captain yet. For Ballack himself - who, for all Cristiano Ronaldo's fireworks, is still being touted as a possible winner of the Ballon D'Or - it was reassurance, and a reminder that his work is not yet done.
source : www.telegraph.co.uk
Senin, 09 Juni 2008
England and Euro 2008
Written by Andy Greeves. Tagged: England - Euro 2008 - Features
England Fans
England is a nation united, a land awash with colour and excitement. The Crosses of St George hang proudly in shops, homes and offices and the Three Lions shirt is the must have summer fashion accessory. Holidays to sunnier climes are deemed unnecessary while football fans and those unusual folk not usually bothered about the beautiful game lye back and dream of glory. Even the notorious English weather is playing ball, warming balmy evenings of barbecues, beers and blind confidence in the national team.
Oh what could have been…
Euro 2008 kicks off on Saturday and England is struggling to come to terms with the unthinkable – a major international tournament without our participation. The aforementioned sights will be absent across English towns and cities this summer, as cheers are replaced with a resigned national sigh. Patriotic newspaper front pages will be swapped with features on the credit crunch, while the masses switch their attention to the latest mind-numbing reality TV offerings. 14 years on from England’s failure to qualify for the USA World Cup, the void felt across this green and pleasant land is just about to take hold. And yes, the weather is rubbish too.
Despite rising ticket prices, over-saturated TV exposure and the predictability over which club is likely to be Premier League champions season-on-season, England’s passion for its national game cannot be understated. Over 70,000 supporters turned out for a meaningless Wembley friendly with the USA last week, while 40,000 will travel to Switzerland and Austria this month, even though their national side isn’t taking part. If there was a World Cup or European Championships for fans, surely England would come out on top time after time.
sad england fanThe post-mortem following England’s defeat to Croatia, which ultimately cost us qualification, continues to run and run. Have we squandered a golden generation? Are the number of foreign players in the Premiership hampering national team selection? Is enough being done at grass routes level to ensure a supply of enough quality English players? Was the qualification campaign a failure of poor management or poor player attitude? Are England actually any good…. The questions are endless, the answers not nearly so plentiful.
It’s a gross contradiction that in the same season there was an all-Premiership Champions League Final, England won’t be competing in the European Championships. Premiership football has become the be-all and end-all in this country. Ask any fan whether they would rather England lift the World Cup or their club side win the title and it’s fair to guess nine of ten would go for the latter. Some English football fans have even given up their support of the national team, viewing it an unnecessary past time. Others even question the importance of having a successful England team.
Premier League managers have become increasingly militant about their players joining up with the England squad. With the money and pressure that goes hand-in-hand with Premiership management, bosses can ill afford to see their stars injured on international duty. It’s as if the phrase ‘club v country row’ was coined on these fair shores, with bitter tugs-of-war involving employer and national side the common place. The England national team has become the mother of poor relations its on-going feuds with the all-conquering Premiership clubs.
It’s hardly surprising the England national team faces such difficulties, when you look at the organisation behind it. It has taken eleven years for Football Association to give the go-ahead to a National Football Centre in Burton - a project described by the FA’s development director Sir Trevor Brooking as being ‘as important as the appointment of the national coach’. Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has expressed disbelieve that the centre, similar to France’s Clairefontaine, hasn’t already been built while ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith describes its construction as being a ‘no brainer’.
In the time it has taken the FA and British Government to deliberate over the positives and negatives of a facility in Burton, France has won a World Cup, European Championship and two Confederations Cups. Despite spending £798m on the construction of Wembley, the FA could never find the £50m needed for the National Football Centre, which would ensure players of all ages the very best training facilities… until now. If it took the failure to qualify for a major tournament to see the scheme finally approved, some may see England’s omission for Euro 2008 as a triumph for the future prosperity of the national game.
The dithering over Burton exposed the bureaucracy and of lack of foresight so painfully missing at the top of English football. There have been major schisms between the FA, Premier League and British Government which has, by the FA’s own admission, hampered the progress of the national team. It is too simplistic to argue that organisational issues caused England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008. With the players available for selection for the national team, there shouldn’t have been any reason for the Three Lions not to make it to a major tournament, even if there was chaos in the background. But the clear message is that leadership, direction and cohesion are desperately needed if England is to be a world football force.
The cost of England’s Euro 2008 qualification catastrophe extends far beyond the football pitch. Lack of involvement in the European Championships is to cost the British economy an estimated half a billion pounds. Pubs, restaurants, sports shops and TV stockists are gearing up for disappointing summer takings while broadcaster ITV is counting the cost of a £12m loss in advertising sales. The FA meanwhile has missed out on an estimated £24m merchandising, price money and TV revenue windfall. All this is the midst of a national credit crunch and with Wembley still to be paid for.
The ultimate price of qualification failure is still to be paid. That begins on Saturday as England starts their summer in the football wilderness while the rest of Europe strut their stuff. Most England fans have resorted to finding tedious links to other Euro 2008 nations, such is their desperation to feel part of the tournament. ‘Adopt a nation’ articles are commonplace in the UK’s tabloid newspapers if you’re still in any doubt who to support.
Love or loathe England, spare a thought for us as we dream of what might have been this summer. You never know, we might be cheering on your nation as you do.
SOURCE : www.soccerlens.com
England Fans
England is a nation united, a land awash with colour and excitement. The Crosses of St George hang proudly in shops, homes and offices and the Three Lions shirt is the must have summer fashion accessory. Holidays to sunnier climes are deemed unnecessary while football fans and those unusual folk not usually bothered about the beautiful game lye back and dream of glory. Even the notorious English weather is playing ball, warming balmy evenings of barbecues, beers and blind confidence in the national team.
Oh what could have been…
Euro 2008 kicks off on Saturday and England is struggling to come to terms with the unthinkable – a major international tournament without our participation. The aforementioned sights will be absent across English towns and cities this summer, as cheers are replaced with a resigned national sigh. Patriotic newspaper front pages will be swapped with features on the credit crunch, while the masses switch their attention to the latest mind-numbing reality TV offerings. 14 years on from England’s failure to qualify for the USA World Cup, the void felt across this green and pleasant land is just about to take hold. And yes, the weather is rubbish too.
Despite rising ticket prices, over-saturated TV exposure and the predictability over which club is likely to be Premier League champions season-on-season, England’s passion for its national game cannot be understated. Over 70,000 supporters turned out for a meaningless Wembley friendly with the USA last week, while 40,000 will travel to Switzerland and Austria this month, even though their national side isn’t taking part. If there was a World Cup or European Championships for fans, surely England would come out on top time after time.
sad england fanThe post-mortem following England’s defeat to Croatia, which ultimately cost us qualification, continues to run and run. Have we squandered a golden generation? Are the number of foreign players in the Premiership hampering national team selection? Is enough being done at grass routes level to ensure a supply of enough quality English players? Was the qualification campaign a failure of poor management or poor player attitude? Are England actually any good…. The questions are endless, the answers not nearly so plentiful.
It’s a gross contradiction that in the same season there was an all-Premiership Champions League Final, England won’t be competing in the European Championships. Premiership football has become the be-all and end-all in this country. Ask any fan whether they would rather England lift the World Cup or their club side win the title and it’s fair to guess nine of ten would go for the latter. Some English football fans have even given up their support of the national team, viewing it an unnecessary past time. Others even question the importance of having a successful England team.
Premier League managers have become increasingly militant about their players joining up with the England squad. With the money and pressure that goes hand-in-hand with Premiership management, bosses can ill afford to see their stars injured on international duty. It’s as if the phrase ‘club v country row’ was coined on these fair shores, with bitter tugs-of-war involving employer and national side the common place. The England national team has become the mother of poor relations its on-going feuds with the all-conquering Premiership clubs.
It’s hardly surprising the England national team faces such difficulties, when you look at the organisation behind it. It has taken eleven years for Football Association to give the go-ahead to a National Football Centre in Burton - a project described by the FA’s development director Sir Trevor Brooking as being ‘as important as the appointment of the national coach’. Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has expressed disbelieve that the centre, similar to France’s Clairefontaine, hasn’t already been built while ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith describes its construction as being a ‘no brainer’.
In the time it has taken the FA and British Government to deliberate over the positives and negatives of a facility in Burton, France has won a World Cup, European Championship and two Confederations Cups. Despite spending £798m on the construction of Wembley, the FA could never find the £50m needed for the National Football Centre, which would ensure players of all ages the very best training facilities… until now. If it took the failure to qualify for a major tournament to see the scheme finally approved, some may see England’s omission for Euro 2008 as a triumph for the future prosperity of the national game.
The dithering over Burton exposed the bureaucracy and of lack of foresight so painfully missing at the top of English football. There have been major schisms between the FA, Premier League and British Government which has, by the FA’s own admission, hampered the progress of the national team. It is too simplistic to argue that organisational issues caused England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008. With the players available for selection for the national team, there shouldn’t have been any reason for the Three Lions not to make it to a major tournament, even if there was chaos in the background. But the clear message is that leadership, direction and cohesion are desperately needed if England is to be a world football force.
The cost of England’s Euro 2008 qualification catastrophe extends far beyond the football pitch. Lack of involvement in the European Championships is to cost the British economy an estimated half a billion pounds. Pubs, restaurants, sports shops and TV stockists are gearing up for disappointing summer takings while broadcaster ITV is counting the cost of a £12m loss in advertising sales. The FA meanwhile has missed out on an estimated £24m merchandising, price money and TV revenue windfall. All this is the midst of a national credit crunch and with Wembley still to be paid for.
The ultimate price of qualification failure is still to be paid. That begins on Saturday as England starts their summer in the football wilderness while the rest of Europe strut their stuff. Most England fans have resorted to finding tedious links to other Euro 2008 nations, such is their desperation to feel part of the tournament. ‘Adopt a nation’ articles are commonplace in the UK’s tabloid newspapers if you’re still in any doubt who to support.
Love or loathe England, spare a thought for us as we dream of what might have been this summer. You never know, we might be cheering on your nation as you do.
SOURCE : www.soccerlens.com
Ronaldo's Euro focus a sign of Portugal's intentGuardian report Observer report Min-by-min Match facts
Group A
Portugal 2 Pepe 61, Meireles 90
Turkey 0
David Hytner at Stade de Genève The Guardian, Monday June 9 2008 Article historyWhen the full-time whistle sounded, Cristiano Ronaldo plonked himself down on his backside, clenched his fists and exhaled deeply. The celebration was not nearly as impassioned as that which overtook him last month, at the end of the Champions League final against Chelsea. Then, the Manchester United winger crumpled face down into the turf to sob with joy and relief, his missed penalty in the shoot-out victory not having returned to haunt him.
This time, with a disappointing Turkey swatted to one side and Portugal up and running at the European Championship, the reaction appeared purely about relief. Ronaldo's announcement last Thursday that he wants to complete a transfer to Real Madrid, which would most probably involve a world-record fee and wage, ensured that the spotlight would burn even more on him.
Had Portugal stumbled, as they did in their opening fixture at Euro 2004 when they lost to Greece, the search for a scapegoat, the distraction to team focus, would not have taken long. Ronaldo's prospective move to the Bernabéu had dominated the build-up and all eyes around the stadium in Geneva scrutinised him for signs of the pressure telling.
For the opening 30 minutes he was jittery, his touch unusually erratic. Switched from the right to the left, though, he began to find his rhythm. One slicing run left a posse of defenders in his wake while a trademark free-kick from a wide angle was tipped on to the far post by the Turkey goalkeeper, Volkan Demirel.
Ronaldo grew further in the second-half, crossing for Nuno Gomes to head against the crossbar and having a hand in both of his team's goals; early in the build-up for Pepe's opener, decisively towards the end of the move for the substitute Raul Meireles' second. As the dust settled, he could reflect upon his clearing of a significant hurdle. Little wonder that he faced his post-match inquisitors with assurance.
"The speculation doesn't affect me," he said. "I feel good, I feel calm and this is the most important thing. I'm in a mindset now where I cannot allow myself to worry about these things and for that reason, I am calm.
"If you feel good, you don't have a lot of pressure in your head and the football comes good. After the Euro, I will talk about my future. I don't know already what the future holds after the Euro."
Ronaldo said that he was in contact with his friends at United but was not talking to them or his Portugal colleagues about what promises to be the summer's major transfer saga. It is helping his country to their first major championship success that preoccupies him.
"I need to think about the Euro," he said. "I don't need to think 'What about my future?' I know my future is good. My focus is only to play good in the Euros."
Luiz Felipe Scolari had considered naming Ronaldo as his captain only to go with Gomes, but when the striker was withdrawn the team's talisman took over.
"I asked Nuno to give Cristiano the armband so he could feel a bit more motivated and that's exactly what happened," said Scolari. "I wanted him to have extra oomph, an extra dribble, an extra pass and that gave us the extra goal in the last minute. That was my aim and it happened. I always have a particular intention when I give someone the armband."
The support for Ronaldo within the Portuguese camp appears total. There is a jealousy-free acceptance that he is the best player in the world, the man who has their prospects of glory here at his feet, and they, too, are keen to keep the Real sideshow in the background. "All the pressure is there but it is not getting to him, no way," said Paulo Ferreira, the Chelsea full-back. "Cristiano showed he wants to help Portugal achieve what we can achieve."
It would be foolhardy, however, to consider Portugal a one-man team. Their supporting cast is sprinkled with A-list stardust. While Ricardo Carvalho went about his business in typically impeccable fashion, his central defensive partner Pepe surged forward to take his goal in style, following a slick interchange with Gomes. Joao Moutinho caught the eye in midfield and then there was Deco, the personification of impudence and precision probing. Even Gomes, who might have an inferiority complex given the wealth of talent behind him, linked the play and hit the post as well as the bar.
Portugal stretched and sapped Turkey with the fluency of their passing and movement, and when Pepe broke their resistance, they had nothing left to give. Fatih Terim's team know that they must beat Switzerland in Basle on Wednesday night, another team who slunk back to their training base on Saturday night with their morale badly bruised. Neither of them are now expected to make the second half of the tournament. Portugal and Ronaldo, though, have served notice of their intent.
source : www.guardian.co.uk
picture source :www.christianoronaldo.com
Portugal 'Menjual' Cristiano Ronaldo
Satu-satunya tim yang berpotensi menjegal Portugal adalah Republik Cheska.
NEUCHATEL -- Pers menyebut Cristiano Ronaldo, winger Portugal, sebagai mutiara di Grup A. Sedangan tim ofisial Portugal menjadikannya tambang uang.
Keduanya dikabarkan berniat menjual tiket kepada fans Portugal yang ingin menyaksikan Ronaldo dan rekan-rekannya berlatih di Sadion Neuchatel La Maladiere. ''Sebanyak 12 ribu orang telah menegaskan akan menyaksikan latihan kami,'' ujar Antonio Florencio, juru bicara timnas Portugal.
Panitia mengutip 15 francs Swiss, atau Rp 134 ribu, jika ingin menyaksikan sang bintang berlatih. Di pasar gelap, harga tiket nonton latihan Portugal bisa melonjak empat kali lipat. Ofisial Portugal diperkirakan akan mengeruk Rp 1,6 miliar dari latihan terbuka.
''Kami satu-satunya tim yang mengenakan bayaran kepada siapa pun yang ingin menyaksikan pemain kami berlatih,'' ujar Carlos Godinho, direktur teknik timnas Portugal. ''Kita akan menjadi satu-satunya tim yang berlatih di hadapan 12 ribu orang.''
Portugal adalah salah satu favorit Euro 2008. Kedatangan mereka, Ahad (1/6), disambut lebih 10 ribu warga negara Portugal yang bekerja di Swiss. Bahkan para ekspatriat dan keluarganya itu mengantar mereka sampai ke hotel.
''Neuchatel tidak ubahnya Portugal kecil di tengah Eropa,'' tulis situs maisfutebol.iol.pt. Namun fans Portugal mengelukan ketatnya pengamanan bagi tim asal negara mereka. Hotel menjadi tempat terlarang bagi orang-orang yang tidak terkait dengan timnas Portugal.
Perahu mesin berpatroli di seputar danau yang mengelilingi hotel, untuk memastikan tidak ada orang menerobos dalam radius 300 meter. Sejauh ini Portugal telah dua kali menggelar dua latihan tertutup.
Mengejar Trebble
Euro 2008 begitu spesial bagi Ronaldo. Ia baru saja sukses meraih dua gelar dengan Manchester United (MU); Liga Primer dan Liga Champions. Kini ia berharap meraih gelar ketiga.
Ronaldo akan menjadi kunci bagi Portugal untuk lolos dari hadangan Swiss, Republik Cheska, dan Turki, di Grup A. Ia juga akan menjadi atraksi menarik bagi fans sepak bola, jika tampil seperti di MU.
Euro 2008 ini bakal menjadi momen pas buat Ronaldo dan Portugal untuk membuktikan kapasitas mereka. Tidak ada tekanan berlebihan seperti saat menjadi tuan rumah ajang serupa empat tahun lalu.
Dukungan terbesar datang dari Luiz Felipe Scolari, pelatih Portugal asal Brasil. Ahad lalu, Scolari dengan yakin menyatakan Ronaldo dapat mengakhiri kiprahnya di Euro 2008 sebagai pemain terbaik di dunia.
Satu-satunya tim yang kemungkinan menjadi ganjalan serius bagi Ronaldo dan Portugal adalah Republik Cheska. Tim yang masih dibesut Karel Bruckner membuat kejutan dengan mencapai semifinal empat tahun silam. Namun dua tahun kemudian tampil buruk di Piala Dunia Jerman.
Meski tidak lagi diperkuat Karel Poborsky, Pavel Nedved, dan Tomas Rosicky cedera, Cheska tetap merupakan ancaman serius bagi Portugal. Penjaga gawang Petr Cech juga sangat ingin melupakan kegagalan di Liga Champions.
Swiss relatif hanya membutuhkan dukungan publiknya ketika menghadapi Portugal. Meski demikian sulit membayangkan Swiss lolos usai pertandingan terakhir melawan Portugal 15 Juni nanti. Seluruh ekspatriat Portugal di Swiss dan Austria diperkirakan akan membanjiri stadion setiap kali timnya berlaga.
source : www.republika.co.id
NEUCHATEL -- Pers menyebut Cristiano Ronaldo, winger Portugal, sebagai mutiara di Grup A. Sedangan tim ofisial Portugal menjadikannya tambang uang.
Keduanya dikabarkan berniat menjual tiket kepada fans Portugal yang ingin menyaksikan Ronaldo dan rekan-rekannya berlatih di Sadion Neuchatel La Maladiere. ''Sebanyak 12 ribu orang telah menegaskan akan menyaksikan latihan kami,'' ujar Antonio Florencio, juru bicara timnas Portugal.
Panitia mengutip 15 francs Swiss, atau Rp 134 ribu, jika ingin menyaksikan sang bintang berlatih. Di pasar gelap, harga tiket nonton latihan Portugal bisa melonjak empat kali lipat. Ofisial Portugal diperkirakan akan mengeruk Rp 1,6 miliar dari latihan terbuka.
''Kami satu-satunya tim yang mengenakan bayaran kepada siapa pun yang ingin menyaksikan pemain kami berlatih,'' ujar Carlos Godinho, direktur teknik timnas Portugal. ''Kita akan menjadi satu-satunya tim yang berlatih di hadapan 12 ribu orang.''
Portugal adalah salah satu favorit Euro 2008. Kedatangan mereka, Ahad (1/6), disambut lebih 10 ribu warga negara Portugal yang bekerja di Swiss. Bahkan para ekspatriat dan keluarganya itu mengantar mereka sampai ke hotel.
''Neuchatel tidak ubahnya Portugal kecil di tengah Eropa,'' tulis situs maisfutebol.iol.pt. Namun fans Portugal mengelukan ketatnya pengamanan bagi tim asal negara mereka. Hotel menjadi tempat terlarang bagi orang-orang yang tidak terkait dengan timnas Portugal.
Perahu mesin berpatroli di seputar danau yang mengelilingi hotel, untuk memastikan tidak ada orang menerobos dalam radius 300 meter. Sejauh ini Portugal telah dua kali menggelar dua latihan tertutup.
Mengejar Trebble
Euro 2008 begitu spesial bagi Ronaldo. Ia baru saja sukses meraih dua gelar dengan Manchester United (MU); Liga Primer dan Liga Champions. Kini ia berharap meraih gelar ketiga.
Ronaldo akan menjadi kunci bagi Portugal untuk lolos dari hadangan Swiss, Republik Cheska, dan Turki, di Grup A. Ia juga akan menjadi atraksi menarik bagi fans sepak bola, jika tampil seperti di MU.
Euro 2008 ini bakal menjadi momen pas buat Ronaldo dan Portugal untuk membuktikan kapasitas mereka. Tidak ada tekanan berlebihan seperti saat menjadi tuan rumah ajang serupa empat tahun lalu.
Dukungan terbesar datang dari Luiz Felipe Scolari, pelatih Portugal asal Brasil. Ahad lalu, Scolari dengan yakin menyatakan Ronaldo dapat mengakhiri kiprahnya di Euro 2008 sebagai pemain terbaik di dunia.
Satu-satunya tim yang kemungkinan menjadi ganjalan serius bagi Ronaldo dan Portugal adalah Republik Cheska. Tim yang masih dibesut Karel Bruckner membuat kejutan dengan mencapai semifinal empat tahun silam. Namun dua tahun kemudian tampil buruk di Piala Dunia Jerman.
Meski tidak lagi diperkuat Karel Poborsky, Pavel Nedved, dan Tomas Rosicky cedera, Cheska tetap merupakan ancaman serius bagi Portugal. Penjaga gawang Petr Cech juga sangat ingin melupakan kegagalan di Liga Champions.
Swiss relatif hanya membutuhkan dukungan publiknya ketika menghadapi Portugal. Meski demikian sulit membayangkan Swiss lolos usai pertandingan terakhir melawan Portugal 15 Juni nanti. Seluruh ekspatriat Portugal di Swiss dan Austria diperkirakan akan membanjiri stadion setiap kali timnya berlaga.
source : www.republika.co.id
Euro 2008: Aardman joins BBC lineup to create title sequenceMark Sweney
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday June 4 2008
The BBC has teamed up with Wallace & Gromit producer Aardman to create an animated title sequence for its Match of the Day Euro 2008 football coverage.
Aardman's title sequence, which will run around Match of the Day's Euro 2008 coverage, features animated versions of footballers including Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Ballack, William Gallas and Fernando Torres.
The animation also includes former Holland player and present manager Marco van Basten and Italian former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.
It opens in an Austrian opera house and goes on to feature the eight cities that will host matches across Switzerland and Austria from the start of the tournament on Saturday, June 7, as backdrops to the animated players.
Unkle's version of Austrian-born composer Mozart's symphony number 41 accompanies the title sequence.
The sequence forms part of the BBC strategy of promoting Euro 2008 by focusing on players from the English Premier League and encouraging viewers to support a foreign team after England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland failed to qualify.
"We wanted the title sequence to reflect just how much footballing talent viewers can expect to see at the Euros," said Phil Bigwood, an executive producer at the BBC.
"There will be nearly 50 players at this year's tournament who play regularly in the Premier League ... meaning a lot of familiar faces to make the games more appealing."
The title sequence animation was produced by the BBC's Sunil Patel and animation group Busty Kelp working with Aardman.
Last month the BBC launched a promotional TV and radio campaign to support its Euro 2008 coverage using the strapline "Who will you support?".source ; www.guardian.co.uk
The BBC has teamed up with Wallace & Gromit producer Aardman to create an animated title sequence for its Match of the Day Euro 2008 football coverage.
Aardman's title sequence, which will run around Match of the Day's Euro 2008 coverage, features animated versions of footballers including Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Ballack, William Gallas and Fernando Torres.
The animation also includes former Holland player and present manager Marco van Basten and Italian former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.
It opens in an Austrian opera house and goes on to feature the eight cities that will host matches across Switzerland and Austria from the start of the tournament on Saturday, June 7, as backdrops to the animated players.
Unkle's version of Austrian-born composer Mozart's symphony number 41 accompanies the title sequence.
The sequence forms part of the BBC strategy of promoting Euro 2008 by focusing on players from the English Premier League and encouraging viewers to support a foreign team after England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland failed to qualify.
"We wanted the title sequence to reflect just how much footballing talent viewers can expect to see at the Euros," said Phil Bigwood, an executive producer at the BBC.
"There will be nearly 50 players at this year's tournament who play regularly in the Premier League ... meaning a lot of familiar faces to make the games more appealing."
The title sequence animation was produced by the BBC's Sunil Patel and animation group Busty Kelp working with Aardman.
Last month the BBC launched a promotional TV and radio campaign to support its Euro 2008 coverage using the strapline "Who will you support?".source ; www.guardian.co.uk
Cristiano Ronaldo kicks off Euro 2008 in winning style as Portugal overcome Turkey
By Andrew Warshaw and Les Roopanarine
Last Updated: 1:40am BST 08/06/2008
Cristiano Ronaldo's protracted flirtation with Real Madrid last night took second billing to the star attraction himself as the Manchester United forward contributed to Portugal's impressive 2-0 win over Turkey in their Euro 2008 opener in Geneva.
Patrick Barclay: Ronaldo rises above transfer hype
Pepe gets Portugal off to the perfect start
Euro 2008 homepage | In pics: Supporters start the football party
Having declared his desire for a move to the Bernabeu earlier this week Ronaldo let his football do the talking, burnishing his reputation as the world's leading player with a potent exhibition of wing play.
Wing and a prayer: Cristiano Ronaldo turned in a glittering display for Portugal against Turkey
"Cristiano Ronaldo was very motivated, very determined and that's what we expected from him," said Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach. "Maybe he did not do so well in the first 30 minutes but he helped us a lot. He played the way we like and we are really satisfied with his display."
Ronaldo, who had an audacious long-range free-kick turned on to the post, contributed to both goals, starting the move that led to Kleper Pepe's opener before laying the groundwork for Raul Meireles second with an incisive raid along the left flank.
That Pepe plies his trade at the Bernabeu will have done little to temper the ire of Sir Alex Ferguson. The United manager has been enraged by Madrid's overtures and frustrated in his attempts to contact Ronaldo, who has reportedly failed to return his calls.
Ronaldo's team-mate, the Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, offered a more positive assessment of the midfielder's Old Trafford future, however.
"I think he is happy in England and he's doing very well," said Carvalho. "He has a contract with Manchester United, so he has to play in England."
In an indication of his pivotal role in the Portugal team, Scolari handed Ronaldo the captain's armband following the second-half withdrawal of Nuno Gomes. "The idea was to give Christiano a boost, make him have more willingness, forget his tiredness, make that extra pass," he explained
Portugal's ominous display came as Scolari assumed pole position in the race to become the new Chelsea manager. While Scolari was busy orchestrating a possible reprise of Portugal's run to the 2004 final, AC Milan responded dismissively to reports suggesting that Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon had flown to Lombardy in an attempt to lure their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, away from the San Siro. "I know where Peter is and he is not in Milan," Umberto Gandini, the Milan operations director, told The Sunday Telegraph. "He is not talking to our coach because we said we would not release him. That I can guarantee 100 per cent. We received a direct and open approach from Chelsea and we told them no."
He also suggested last night that Inter Milan's former coach Roberto Mancini was no longer in the running. "I don't think Roberto Mancini is a target for Chelsea but I may be wrong," said Gandini. "That's only a personal opinion but I talk to people."
All of which appears to leave the door open for Scolari once Euro 2008 is over. His appointment would cause little surprise in Moscow, where sources close to Roman Abramovich have long insisted that the Brazilian is the Chelsea owner's preferred choice.source ; www.telegraph.co.uk
Last Updated: 1:40am BST 08/06/2008
Cristiano Ronaldo's protracted flirtation with Real Madrid last night took second billing to the star attraction himself as the Manchester United forward contributed to Portugal's impressive 2-0 win over Turkey in their Euro 2008 opener in Geneva.
Patrick Barclay: Ronaldo rises above transfer hype
Pepe gets Portugal off to the perfect start
Euro 2008 homepage | In pics: Supporters start the football party
Having declared his desire for a move to the Bernabeu earlier this week Ronaldo let his football do the talking, burnishing his reputation as the world's leading player with a potent exhibition of wing play.
Wing and a prayer: Cristiano Ronaldo turned in a glittering display for Portugal against Turkey
"Cristiano Ronaldo was very motivated, very determined and that's what we expected from him," said Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach. "Maybe he did not do so well in the first 30 minutes but he helped us a lot. He played the way we like and we are really satisfied with his display."
Ronaldo, who had an audacious long-range free-kick turned on to the post, contributed to both goals, starting the move that led to Kleper Pepe's opener before laying the groundwork for Raul Meireles second with an incisive raid along the left flank.
That Pepe plies his trade at the Bernabeu will have done little to temper the ire of Sir Alex Ferguson. The United manager has been enraged by Madrid's overtures and frustrated in his attempts to contact Ronaldo, who has reportedly failed to return his calls.
Ronaldo's team-mate, the Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, offered a more positive assessment of the midfielder's Old Trafford future, however.
"I think he is happy in England and he's doing very well," said Carvalho. "He has a contract with Manchester United, so he has to play in England."
In an indication of his pivotal role in the Portugal team, Scolari handed Ronaldo the captain's armband following the second-half withdrawal of Nuno Gomes. "The idea was to give Christiano a boost, make him have more willingness, forget his tiredness, make that extra pass," he explained
Portugal's ominous display came as Scolari assumed pole position in the race to become the new Chelsea manager. While Scolari was busy orchestrating a possible reprise of Portugal's run to the 2004 final, AC Milan responded dismissively to reports suggesting that Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon had flown to Lombardy in an attempt to lure their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, away from the San Siro. "I know where Peter is and he is not in Milan," Umberto Gandini, the Milan operations director, told The Sunday Telegraph. "He is not talking to our coach because we said we would not release him. That I can guarantee 100 per cent. We received a direct and open approach from Chelsea and we told them no."
He also suggested last night that Inter Milan's former coach Roberto Mancini was no longer in the running. "I don't think Roberto Mancini is a target for Chelsea but I may be wrong," said Gandini. "That's only a personal opinion but I talk to people."
All of which appears to leave the door open for Scolari once Euro 2008 is over. His appointment would cause little surprise in Moscow, where sources close to Roman Abramovich have long insisted that the Brazilian is the Chelsea owner's preferred choice.source ; www.telegraph.co.uk
Portugal & Jerman Irikan Buffon
Senin, 9 Juni 2008
BERNE - Awal bagus yang diraih Portugal dan Jerman di laga pembuka penyisihan grup membuat kiper Timnas Italia Gianluigi Buffon tergiur. Kapten baru Timnas Italia ini mengimbau agar rekan-rekannya meraih hasil maksimal pada laga pembuka.
Jerman dan Portugal sukses menjalani laga pembukanya masing-masing. Kedua kandidat juara ini berhasil membekuk lawan-lawannya dengan skor meyakinkan 2-0.
Merujuk pada kesuksesan yang diraih kedua kontendernya ini, Buffon juga menargetkan kemenangan kala Italia bentrok dengan Belanda di Stade de Suisse, Selasa (10/6/2008) dinihari.
Target muluk ini tetap diusung kiper Juventus ini, meski Gli Azzurri tergabung di grup neraka. Di grup C, skuad asuhan Roberto Donadoni ini akan meladeni laga sulit menghadapi lawan tangguh macam Belanda, Prancis serta kuda hitam, Rumania.
"Sejak Sabtu, kami telah merasakan atmosfer yang bagus. Dan kami sangat penasaran untuk mengetahui, seberapa siap kami dalam melakoni laga pembuka," papar Buffon seperti dilansir AP, Senin (9/6/2008).
"Mengawali laga dengan mengantongi 3 poin, merupakan penting yang harus kami realisasikan. Meskipun, kami sadar betapa sulitnya untuk bisa meraih poin penuh dalam grup yang ketat seperti ini," lanjutnya.
source ; www.okezone.com
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