Soccer News
Kluivert gets Ruud shock
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Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy will operate as the lone striker when the Netherlands face Germany in their first Group D match on Tuesday, coach Dick Advocaat announced.
The decision marks an end to Patrick Kluivert's long supremacy in the position despite his national record of 40 goals (from 79 games) for the Orange.
"Van Nistelrooy is the best choice for the team. None of the four strikers really impressed me during the training sessions and the friendly matches we played, but I believe Ruud is a real match player," Advocaat said on Thursday.
Nedved's prognosis
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| Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved (C) waits for his luggage with teammate defender Pavel Mares at the Penha Longa hotel in Sintra 10 June 2004 two days before the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. The Czech Republic will play its first Euro 2004 match against Latvia 15 June in Aveiro. |
The Czech Republic squad left for Portugal Thursday with captain Pavel Nedved in determined mood about their expectations.
"I hope that at least we can make to the quarter-finals," said the current European Footballer of the Year.
"That will be the most difficult thing for us. After that anything can happen".
The Czechs were installed as possible winners of the Cup after defeating France 2-0 in Paris and qualifying ahead of first round opponents Holland.
They open their campaign against underdogs Latvia before facing Holland and Germany.
Albelda doubtful for Spain
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| Spanish football player David Albelda (R) gestures next to his teammate Xavi Hernandez (L) and Raul Bravo (back) during a training session at Da Falperra Hotel near Braga where Spain prepares for the Euro 2004 nations championships, 08 June 2004 . AFP PHOTO/ Javier SORIANO. |
The season long physical effort of leading Valencia to both UEFA Cup victory and the Spanish league title may now be exacting a heavy price on the Spain midfield as David Albelda injured himself in training on Thursday.
The Valencia captain hurt his right leg in a practice match (which the first 11 won 3-0) and his midfield anchor role is expected now to fall to the 22-year-old Xabi Alonso of Real Sociedad for Spain's Euro opener on Saturday against Russia.
Denmark shaping up
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Morten Olsen believes Denmark may go further at the Euro than they did at the last World Cup, where they knocked out France to make the second round.
"It is a fact the players are in better shape physically than during the World Cup," said coach Olsen.
"To be successful at a tournament like this you have to be in good shape, you need some luck, and you need to be free of injury especially when you have a small pool of players."
Denmark play Italy on Monday without the injured Morten Wieghorst, suspended Thomas Gravesen and possibly absent Jesper Gronkjaer.
Eriksson may turn to King
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| England's Ledley King is seen during a mixed zone interview session at the England training camp, near Lisbon 10 June 2004. Speculation surrounds whether England Manager Sven Goran Eriksson will replace the injured John Terry with King. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS |
Sven-Goran Eriksson is contemplating the biggest gamble of his managerial career by throwing inexperienced Tottenham defender Ledley King into the fray in England's opener against France.
First choice centre-back John Terry, who is struggling with a hamstring injury, has been given until Friday to prove he is fit enough to start.
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher had been viewed as the most likely replacement but Eriksson has been experimenting with King alongside Sol Campbell during training sessions.
"At the moment I'm just waiting but if I do get the chance I won't let anyone down," said King.
Croatian keeper Pletikosa injured
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| Croatia's goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa reacts in front of Tungay Sanu (R) of Turkey during their friendly football match in Zagreb, 31 March, 2004. AFP PHOTO HRVOJE POLAN |
Croatia's first-choice goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa has injured a thigh, plunging his participation in Sunday's opener against Switzerland into doubt.
Pletikosa felt a sharp pain in his right thigh as he dived to save a shot in training.
The 25-year-old stopper from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk was due to undergo a scan in Lisbon on Thursday to determine the seriousness of the injury.
Croatia will call on either Austria-based Joseph Didulica or Tomislav Butina of club FC Bruges if Pletikosa is not fit.
Croatia play reigning France next Thursday followed by England on June 21.
Zero tolerance for bad tackles
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| Referees for the European Nations championship Fr L to R German Markus Merk, Italian Pierluigi Collina, Swedish Anders Frisk and Slovak Lubos Michel pose for photographer in Espinho, near Porto, northern Portugal, 10 June 2004. Italy's Pierluigi Collina will referee the Euro 2004 opener between Portugal and Greece in Porto 12 June, UEFA announced today. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA |
UEFA have ordered referees at Euro to punish all dangerous tackles with a red card regardless of whether they are made from behind.
The severity of the punishment will depend on the speed at which the tackle is made, whether the defender had any chance of touching the ball and whether the tackle risked causing injury.
Match officials will also book players for incidents such as shirt-pulling or holding back an opponent.
Referees have also been instructed to show a yellow card to players who dive and to those who remove their shirts in a goal celebration.
We're world beaters - Rui Jorge
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| Portuguese defender Rui Jorge and goalkeeper Morera (L) give a press conference at the Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, 10 June 2004 two days before the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. Portugal will play the opening match against Greece 12 June. AFP PHOTO / Lluis GENE |
Portugal, after much heartache and near misses at top level events, are ready to answer their nation's expectations and win Euro 2004 on home soil, defender Rui Jorge said on Thursday.
"I think we can beat any team in the world," said the Sporting Lisbon star.
"We're a strong team and can turn it on at a very high level. We will be going out to win the event, there's no doubt about that," he added.
The Portuguese are looking to exceed their previous best showings of semi-final losses to France in 1984 and 2000.
Dutch injury worries ease
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Dutch injury concerns ahead of their Euro opener against Germany on Tuesday have eased with both winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Andy van der Meyde resuming training.
Robben came through unscathed and Van der Meyde was also able to practice with the full squad on Wednesday evening.
Edgar Davids and Marc Overmars also trained after resting during the first session while minor injuries kept Michael Reiziger and Rafael van der Vaart out of the later session.
The biggest concern is Clarence Seedorf who did not train all day due to a hamstring injury.
Ref Collina gets opener
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| Italian referee Pierluigi Collina gestures during the Euro 2000 quarter-final match between France and Spain in Bruges 25 June 2000. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO EPA/OLIVER BERG/ma/rc |
Italy's Pierluigi Collina will referee the Euro opener between Portugal and Greece in Porto on Saturday.
The bald-headed 44-year-old financial adviser from Bologna has refereed the world's top matches.
He officiated at the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany in Yokohama and the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
Sunday's big clash between France and England in Lisbon will be taken by Germany referee Markus Merk.
Merk was in control of the 2003 Champions League final won by AC Milan over Juventus and also officiated at the 2002 World Cup including England's 3-0 second round win over Denmark.