Soccer News - June 9
Trap names Italy side
|
| Italy's coach Giovanni Trapattoni applauds his players prior to a friendly football match against Tunisia at Rades stadium in Tunis 30 May 2004. AFP PHOTO/Vincenzo PINTO |
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting line-up ahead of the Azzurri's opener against Denmark on Monday.
Gianluigi Buffon got the nod over rival Francesco Toldo in goal while Trapattoni will send out a 4-2-3-1 formation, the back four consisting of Christian Panucci, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro.
In front of them will sit Simone Perrotta and Cristiano Zanetti with Mauro German Camoranesi, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero slotting in just behind lone central striker Christian Vieri.
Campbell calls for Terry caution
|
| Chelsea's John Terry (2nd L) jogs during a warm-up training session 19 April 2004 at Stade Louis II stadium in Monaco as they prepare to face AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League Semi-finals football match 20 April. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON |
England defender Sol Campbell has urged coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to rest John Terry for Sunday's Euro opener against France if there is any hint he is not fully fit.
Terry's hopes were hanging in the balance after a hospital scan on his hamstring injury.
Although the scan showed no serious damage, the Chelsea defender will continue to have treatment over the next couple of days.
"There is no point in him coming on and just playing 45 minutes and missing the rest of the tournament," he said.
"I've seen this sort of thing happen with players and it's just not worth it."
Greeks eye Portugal upset
|
| Portugal's Boa Morte (L) vies with Greece's Theodoros Zagorakis in a friendly in the new stadium of Aveiro, Portugal, 15 November 2003. |
Greece are hoping fitness and man-to-man marking can upset hosts Portugal in the opening fixture of the European Championships.
"We're all in great shape as we get closer to our first game. We played Portugal recently (a 1-1 draw earlier this year) and we have a good idea about their condition," captain Theodoros Zagorakis said.
Defender Traianos Dellas was steeling himself for the tie: "We will be looking at our rivals straight in the eye. A lot depends on one-on-one play."
Cruyff plays down Euro quality
|
| POUR ILLUSTRER LE PAPIER : FC BARCELONE-CRUYFF : VERS LA GRANDE RECONCILIATION - photo prise le 07 novembre 1991 à Kaiserslatern de l'ancien entraîneur du FC Barcelone Johan Cruyff. La direction du FC Barcelone a profité des fêtes de fin d'année pour proposer à Cruyff d'enterre la hache de guerre après plus de deux ans de conflit. |
The European Championships are unlikely to produce passion-filled football of the highest quality, former Holland star Johan Cruyff fears.
Cruyff, one of the greatest players ever to grace the game, has long held the view that the modern game has become sterile and ruled by the fear of losing.
"The Euro will not be a spectacular tournament. It will be emotional but not spectacular", said Cruyff.
"If you don't want the ball and your opponent doesn't either then it's goodbye football,"
"Of the ten outfield players eight dedicate themselves to chasing after the ball," he added.
Scolari in hot water
|
| Portuguese football team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gestures at a press conference after his team's training session at the Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, in preparation for the European 2004 Nations championship, 08 June 2004. Scolari had to reassure the president of the Portuguese football federation (FPF) today that he wanted to stay on in the post of coach till the 2006 World Cup. However Gilberto Madail expressed his frustration that Scolari's agent had evoked the possibility of his client - whose present contract runs till July 31 this year - returning to club football just four days away from Portugal opening their Euro 2004 campaign against Greece. AFP PHOTO / Lluis Gene |
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been forced to reassure the president of the Portuguese football federation (FPF) that he wants to stay as coach till the 2006 World Cup.
However Gilberto Madail expressed his frustration that Scolari's agent had evoked the possibility of his client returning to club football just four days away from Portugal's opener against Greece.
"I can tell you that I did not appreciate Gilmar Veloz's (Scolari's agent) comments," said Madail.
A furious Scolari, though, later denied he would be going to Benfica at a press conference in which he refused to take any questions.
Trezeguet back in training
|
| French forward David Trezeguet participate a training session, , 02 June 2004 in Clairefontaine (southwest of Paris). The French team is training there in preparation for the European Nations Championships in Portugal to start 12 June.AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
Champions France received a boost ahead of Sunday's opening clash with England in Euro 2004 when striker David Trezeguet resumed training.
The 26-year-old Juventus star sprained his ankle in training on Saturday and was forced to miss out on the 1-0 friendly win over the Ukraine on Sunday.
However the former Monaco striker - who scored the golden goal that clinched the Euro 2000 crown against Italy - was able to go through the 90 minute light training session on Tuesday just hours after the squad arrived in Portugal.
Gerrard better than Zidane
|
| England's captain Steven Gerrard (Top) fends off Sweden's Tobias Linderoth during their friendly football match in preparation for the Euro 2004 in Gothenburg, 31 March 2004. AFP PHOTO PAUL BARKER |
England's Steven Gerrard is better than France superstar Zinedine Zidane, according to Liverpool legend Ian Rush.
"People will think I'm going overboard but I wouldn't swap Stevie for Zidane. That is the biggest compliment I could give Stevie," said Rush.
"Zidane had an ineffective time of it at Real Madrid by his standards, although I have a lot of respect for all he has achieved.
"He has made giant strides and there is more to come. Zidane has been the most complete player in Europe for the last five years but, over the past season,
I'll stand by the claim that Stevie has been the better player.
Sweden hit by flu bug
|
| Sweden's Erik Edman is pictured during the international friendly football match against Portugal at Coimbra Stadium, central Portugal, 28 April 2004. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA |
Sweden's Erik Edman and Mattias Jonson have been quarentined from the rest of the squad after coming down with a bout of flu.
Co-coach Lars Lagerback was the first to fall sick and fears of a full blown epidemic in the camp ahead of their first tie against Bulgaria on Monday saw medical staff take the extraordinary precaution.
Italy and Denmark complete Group C.
Voller's World Cup target
|
| German team coach Rudi Voeller is pictured in Winden near the southern town of Freiburg on 29 May 2004 during a training session of tge German football team ahead of the Euro 2004 in Portugal. AFP PHOTO DDP/THOMAS LOHNES GERMANY OUT |
Germany coach Rudi Voeller says he intends to lead the three-time world and European champions at least through to the 2006 World Cup.
"I'll certainly stay as team coach through to 2006, when the Germans host the World Cup," said the 44-year-old.
Outgoing Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is being mentioned as a potential successor for when Voller, who won 90 international caps, eventually does call it quits.
"That Ottmar is on the market doesn't change the situation. I have a good relationship with Hitzfeld," he added.
Owen backs Rooney to shine
|
| England's Wayne Rooney is chased by Japan's Keisuke Tsuboi (L) and Shinji Ono (C) during today's FA Summer tournament match at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester 01 June 2004. AFP photo by Paul Barker |
Michael Owen has dismissed suggestions that his 18-year-old strike partner Wayne Rooney could be overwhelmed by the pressure of playing in his first major tournament.
"He's playing well, he's full of confidence, he's not got any fear and I for one think he is going to have a big tournament."
"When you're 25 or 26 and its your first tournament, then maybe it is different but when you are 18, you couldn't give a monkey's."
Rooney is the youngest player to have pulled on an England shirt and the youngest one to have scored for the national side.