Soccer News
Van Nistelrooy banned for two matches
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy tries to get past Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho (L) and Miguel (R), 30 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship semi-final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the Estadio Jose de Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO Hrvoje POLAN |
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been banned for two international matches by UEFA for insulting referee Anders Frisk after the Netherlands lost 2-1 to hosts Portugal in Wednesday's semi-final.
The Manchester United star will miss the first two matches of his country's 2006 World Cup qualifying competition.
Van Nistelrooy has until midnight on Monday to lodge an appeal.
He had confronted Swedish match official Frisk at the end of the defeat to Portugal in Lisbon.
Portugal will be ready for Greece
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| Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar (blue jersey) fails to catch the kick by Portuguese midfielder Maniche (not pictured), 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Maniche scored the second goal after this kick. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT |
Portugal midfielder Maniche says his side will be prepared for the challenge of surprise finalists Greece who beat the hosts in the opening match of the tournament.
"This time we'll be ready for them," he said. "But I would put the outcome at about 50-50. We will have to be on our game and keep calm as the Greeks are a patient and well-organised team. They will look to hit us on the counter-attack. We will have to be patient in our build-up going forward. They have several players with tremendous qualities and we will respect them."
20/20 for Portugal
Portugal are out to become only the fourth host nation to win the European Championship in Sunday's final against Greece, as well as keep going a sequence of the organising nation winning at 20-year intervals going back to 1964.
Spain won on home soil that year and France then weighed in by winning their own tournament in 1984, their Michel Platini-inspired side seeing off the Spanish in Paris.
The only other host winner was Italy, who were 1968 champions against Yugoslavia.
Karagounis to miss final
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| Greek football players Takis Fyssas and Giorgos Karagounis jog during a team training at the Rio Ave stadium in Villa do Conte, 17 June 2004. Greece which drew 1-1 with Spain yesterday, will play Russia 20 June. AFP PHOTO GIORGOS MATTHEOS |
There were mixed emotions for Greece midfielder Georgios Karagounis after the dramatic silver goal triumph over the Czech Republic sealed a place in the final of Euro 2004.
Karagounis was reflecting on the yellow card he received that rules him out of Sunday's final against Portugal.
"Above all, I feel happiness for the team, but I can't help feeling a little angry with myself for the booking" said the 27-year-old.
"But I have to say that Pierluigi Collina is probably the best referee in the world and he doesn't often make mistakes.
Rehhagel's plays down Germany job?
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| Greece's coach German Otto Rehhagel celebrates, 01 july 2004 at the Dragao stadium in Porto, at the end of the Euro 2004 semi final match between Greece and Czech Republic at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Greece won the match 1 to 0 after the extra time. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
When Dutchman Guus Hiddink led unfancied South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals two years ago he was showered with gifts, cars, a huge cheque and the eternal gratitude of a nation.
Otto Rehhagel's reward for going one better and taking 150-1 outsiders Greece into the final of Euro 2004 could be the job of leading his native Germany at the 2006 World Cup.
"As I've said all along I'm here to concentrate on my team. That's my obligation," said the 65-year-old coach who will be favourite after front-runner Ottmar Hitzfeld turned down the German hotseat.
Euro 2004 final set to be first among equals
Portugal and Greece will contest their first ever major international final on Sunday when they meet in the Euro 2004 final - but it won't be the only first.
It will be the first ever Euro final where the two finalists are coached by foreigners - Portugal by Luiz Felipe Scolari of Brazil and Greece by German Otto Rehhagel.
For good measure, Scolari could become the first ever coach to win the World Cup and the European title.
Bruckner's future uncertain
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| Czech coach Karel Bruckner (top) holds his head in his hands after the score remains 0-0 at full time, 01 July 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during the Euro 2004 semi-final match between Greece and the Czech Republic at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said it was too early to say whether he would remain in charge after his side's Euro 2004 semi-final loss to Greece here on Thursday.
"It's too soon after this match to speak about whether I'll be staying for the World Cup in Germany."
"Strangely that was the first goal we've conceded from a corner after three years and 30 matches in charge as coach," said Bruckner who was recording his first defeat in a competitive match in his two years in charge.
"It just goes to show how dangerous the final minutes of a match are. But we ourselves produced the setpiece".
Nedved injury cost us dear
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| Czech captain Pavel Nedved leaves the pitch after being injured, 01 July 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during the Euro 2004 semi-final football match between Greece and the the Czech Republic at the European Championships in Portugual. AFP PHOTO ARIS MESSINIS |
Czech Republic defender Marek Jankulovski said the loss of talismanic captain Pavel Nedved played a huge part in their crushing semi-final 1-0 defeat to Greece.
Nedved, the European Footballer of the Year, limped off in the 40th minute after injuring his left knee.
"Obviously, when someone like Pavel goes off, you're going to miss something because he's one of the best players in the world," Jankulovski said.
"He gives us something extra going forward and he's not easy to replace."
"We created lots of opportunities, but we didn't take them," said the Udinese defender.
Collina bows out of international football
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| Italian referee Pierluigi Collina (L) talks to Greece's midfielder Angelis Basinas (C), 01 July 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 semi-final football match between Greece and the Czech Republic at the European Nations championship in Portugal. |
Pierluigi Collina refereed the last international match of his career when he took control of the semi-final between the Czech Republic and Greece on Thursday.
The Italian widely regarded as the best referee in the world is 45 next February and so reaches the compulsory age for retirement at international level.
Collina may be too old for UEFA and FIFA's liking, but he has been consistently linked with a role officiating matches in the English Premiership.
He has declined to comment on the rumours of a future role in England.
Greece reach final with silver goal
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| Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (L) vies with Greek forward Zisis Vryzas, 01 july 2004 at the Do Dragao in Porto, during the Euro 2004 semi final match between Greece and Czech at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
Greece continued their unbelievable run at Euro 2004 when they reached the final thanks to a silver goal from Traianos Dellas that sunk the Czech Republic 1-0.
What must go down as one of the greatest surprises in the history of football continues as Greece booked their ticket to Sunday's final against hosts Portugal in Lisbon.
The Czech's had the lions share of scoring chances but some poor finishing let them down and Dellas punished them in the cruellest way.