Off the pitch - June 9
Armchair fans' health hazard
The story of England defender Rio Ferdinand straining a knee tendon by putting his feet up in front of the TV is well known, but now British doctors have released a pamphlet outlining injuries fans could suffer while watching Euro 2004 on the box.
Principal dangers include back strains caused by leaping from and sinking back into one's seat during exciting moments.
Deep breathing excercises during penalty shoot-outs are also advised. Ferdinand's bizarre coffee table injury came in January 2001 while with Leeds United.
Painful penalty memories
A Dutch web site has been launched aimed at avoiding a repeat of the Euro 2000 semi-final penalty shambles that saw the Dutch miss five of six spot-kicks against a disbelieving Italy.
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| Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo (L) jubilates after saving a penalty by Dutch Frank De Boer (R) during the Euro2000 semi final between Italy and the Netherlands 29 June 2000, in Amsterdam. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) |
The site is named "the democracy of the penalty" and visitors vote for potential penalty takers, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Pierre van Hooijdonk attracting large numbers.
In 2000 Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert missed during regular time that ended 0-0. Italy won the shoot out 3-1 as De Boer missed again, Jaap Stam fired over, Kluivert scored and a terrified Paul Bosvelt then failed too.
Portuguese upbeat about chances
Four in 10 Portuguese believe that the tournament hosts will win the Euro 2004 finals, a poll released Wednesday showed.
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| Portuguese fans cheer their national team during the Portugal vs Lithuania friendly football game 05 June 2004 in Setubal, South of Lisbon. Portugal will play Greece next 12 June in the opening match of the Euro 2004. AFP PHOTO FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT |
The survey found that 14 percent think coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will not get the squad past the first round of the 16-nation tounament while 13 percent say he will not get them to the semi-finals.
World Cup winner Scolari has said he will leave his post if Portugal does not reach the Euro 2004 quarterfinals.
Portugal was ranked in 22nd place in the latest FIFA world rankings.
The hosts play Greece in the curtain raiser on Saturday.
Hitting the post
Football fans who arrive at Euro matches with pointy key rings, scissors or other banned items will be able to mail them home free of charge.
Portugal's national mail company CTT said Tuesday it will set up stands at the 10 grounds which will host matches where fans will be given a pre-paid envelope to place any item confiscated at the gates by guards.
They can then write an address on the envelope for their home in Portugal or abroad, or for the hotel where they are guests, and leave it with the officials who will ensure the items are delivered the next day at no cost.
Strike threats grow
Doctors at three major hospitals in the Portuguese capital will begin a five-day strike over overtime pay demands on Monday, just two days after the start of the three-week Euro 2004 football finals.
Emergency services at the three hospitals however will be maintained during the action, a Union spokesman said.
Lisbon is scheduled to host two of the 31 matches of the tournament during the strike period.
Some 350 firemen in Portugal have also threatened to strike over pay demands as the tournament becomes a bargaining tool for disgruntled workers.
Bangkok crack down on gambling
Bangkok police have said they would set up a centre to crack down on gambling during the upcoming Euro 2004 championships after premier Thaksin Shinawatra ordered them to get tough on illegal betting.
Police officials said the centre was expected to begin operations Friday and officers from every station in Bangkok would be required to report to it.
A study carried out last year found that Thais lost up to 518.6 billion baht (13 billion US dollars) in 2001 to underground lotteries, overseas and illegal local casinos, soccer betting and other illicit gambling.
Euro Candidate dies on campaign
The main Portuguese Socialist candidate for this weekend's European Parliament elections, Antonio Sousa Franco, 61, died of a heart attack on Wednesday when fighting broke out at a campaign stop in Porto, where much of the Euro 2004 action will take place.
The Socialist Party, leading in the polls, has suspended campaigning for Sunday's European vote.
Sousa Franco suffered a heart attack shortly after fights broke out during a campaign appearance in Matosinhos, a suburb of Porto.
Dope ban Russian at Euro
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| Spartak Moscow's Yegor Titov (R) battles for the ball with Dan Alexa from Dinamo Bucharest, during their UEFA Cup match at Lokomotiv stadium in Moscow, 06 November 2003. AFP PHOTO / MLADEN ANTONOV |
Spartak Moscow captain Yegor Titov was suspended by UEFA for a year on account of a failed dope test after a Euro qualifier but has made it to the finals regardless, albeit as a television pundit.
He was suspended after testing positive for the banned substance bromantan - often used as a masking agent - after the first leg of a Euro 2004 playoff against Wales (0-0) on November 15 in Moscow.
Titov misses the Euro and will be banned until January 21, 2005. UEFA also fined him 6400 euros (dollars) while his club have also been fined 12800 euros.
Latvians on the road
More than 3,000 fans from Latvia will travel to Portugal to support their team at Euro 2004, the football federation of the Baltic state of 2.4 million inhabitants said on Wednesday.
Not bad for a country so small and whose sports fans generally prefer ice-hockey.
"There is no doubt, I should go and to see it with my own eyes," said Reinis, a 27-year-old carpenter who has rented a bus for a trip to Portugal.
Latvia reached the finals with a play-off win against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey and who face Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands in Group D.
Ronaldo cuts to the chase
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| Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo warms up during a training session at Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, ahead of the 2004 European Nations Championships 08 June 2004. Portugal will play the opening match against Greece 12 June. AFP PHOTO/Lluis Gene |
Portugal have had some hair-raising adventures in previous European Championships with semi-final defeats against France in 1984 and again in 2000, but young star Cristiano Ronaldo says this time the hosts are going to cut to the chase.
And the youngster has shorn his wavey locks ultra-short especially.
"I've had it cut short as I intend on being around for the final," the winger, whose goal in the FA Cup final against Millwall helped rescue Manchester United's season.
The 19-year-old was recently voted player of the season by United fans.