Soccer News
Van the Man saves Holland
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| Netherlands' forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij (C) is congratulates by teammates after his goal, 15 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during their Euro 2004 group D football match against Germany at the European Nations in Portugal. AFP PHOTO / DDP Marcus BRANDT |
Ruud van Nistelrooy lived up to his reputation as one of Europe's top strikers with a sublime equaliser with 9 minutes to play as Holland battled back to draw Germany 1-1 on Tuesday.
Torsten Frings had given Germany a 1-0 lead from an innnocent free-kick on 30 minutes but they failed to hang on and the result throws Group D wide open.
Earlier the Czech Republic spotted unfancied Latvia a 1-0 lead but came back with two late goals to win 2-1 in what promises to be a very tight group in the race for quarter-final places.
Latvia play Germany on Saturday while Holland and the Czech Republic go head to head in Aveiro.
Baros makes amends
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| Czech republic forward Milan Baros shoots and scores past Latvia's goalie Aleksandrs Kolinko (R), 15 June 2004 during their opening match of the European Nations football championships at Aveiro's municipal stadium. The Czech Republic and Latvia are competing in Group D with Germany and The Netherlands. |
Milan Baros said he was mighty relieved to atone for his error which led to the Latvian goal by scoring the Czech Republic's equaliser in Tuesday's nervy 2-1 victory.
"It was my mistake for their goal because I lost the ball and they scored from the counter-attack," said the Liverpool striker.
"We knew it was going to be difficult because they defend very well," he said of the plucky Latvians, appearing in their first major finals since gaining "The first step was to win our opening match and maybe one more win will see us get through the group," he said.
Czechs overcome Latvia scare
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| Czech republic coach Karel Bruckner looks worried, 15 June 2004 during their opening match of the European Nations football championships against Latvia at Aveiro's municipal stadium. The Czech Republic and Latvia are competing in Group D with Germany and The Netherlands. |
The Czech Republic had to come from a goal down to beat Latvia 2-1 in Group D's opening match on Tuesday, winning the day with strikes from Milan Baros in the 73rd minute and Marek Heinz in the 85th.
A close-range tap-in from Maris Verpakovskis in first-half injury-time and against the run of play had given the Latvians a 1-0 lead and the psychological edge at the break.
Baros' goal came thanks to some fine work from veteran winger Karel Poborsky, and Heinz's winner after sloppy goakeeping and a dreadful half clearance.
French referee Gilles Veissiere pulled no cards whatsoever from his pocket in a clean match.
We must attack says Lampard
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| England midfielder Frank Lampard (R) heads the ball past French defender Mikael Silvestre (C) to score, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. |
England will have to switch to all out attack against Switzerland on Thursday in their Euro 2004 Group B clash according to midfielder Frank Lampard.
"We need to win that game and the onus will be on us to get forward," said Lampard, who scored England's goal in the cruel 2-1 defeat to France.
"We are just about over it. The lads were devastated and shellshocked but we have had a bit of a rally round together". .
"It would have been such a confidence booster and it is terrible how it turned out. Victory was taken away from us,"
"We firmly believe we will get to the quarter-finals.
Spain unsure on Raul
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| Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin (R) catches Spanish strikers Raul's jersey , 12 June 2004 at Faro stadium during their first match in the European Nations football championships in Portugal. Spain and Russia are competing in Group A of the Euro2004 with Greece and host Portugal. AFP PHOTO / YURI KADOBNOV |
Spain coach Inaki Saez has conceded that he is considering dropping the country's record goalscorer Raul but said he would not announce his line-up until just before Wednesday's match with Greece.
"I know there has been a big debate in Spain between supporters of the Raul and (Fernando) Morientes duo and those who would like to see Torres in the centre-forward position, not forgetting the fans of Valeron.
"So I'm going to reveal something to you. As there is a public debate, I had one too with my assistant coaches and we have decided, for the first time, that we will not reveal the lineup of the team before the match."
Scholes set to face Swiss
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| England midfielder Paul Scholes (R) dribbles past French defender William Gallas, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Switzerland and Croatia. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Paul Scholes is winning his battle to be fit to face Switzerland on Thursday.
The midfielder is struggling with an ankle injury and had been rated only a 50-50 chance of being ready for the must-win clash.
"I think he (Scholes) will play but I'm not sure. The decision will be taken after practice tomorrow," Eriksson said.
He also announced John Terry would take his place in central defence at the expense of Ledley King.
"John Terry will be there. Yesterday he did everything and today he did everything. He looked fit and sharp," Eriksson reported.
Croats look ahead to England
Croatia are prepared to lose to France and gamble all on beating England in their last Group B match by resting several pivotal players for Thursday's clash with the reigning champions.
"I believe a couple of players from the team that started against the Swiss will certainly miss the game against France as we want to have our strongest team out there for the England match and it is a risk with them already on yellow cards," said assistant coach Drazen Ladic.
"Our goal is to stay undefeated against France but we will play without pressure because we're not favourites," he said.
Beckham penalty poser
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| England captain David Beckham takes a penalty, 13 June 2004 during their opening match against France at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO PAUL BARKER |
England skipper David Beckham insisted Tuesday he would continue to take penalties for England despite having a crucial spot-kick saved in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to France.
"When I have missed penalties in the past, whether it be for Manchester United or England, I've always said that I will carry on," Beckham said.
"I am confident enough to do it and I will carry on."
Beckham has now missed his last two penalties for England.
Fabien Barthez brilliantly saved his effort on Sunday, but the previous one against Turkey in England's final qualifier flew over the bar after Beckham slipped in his run-up
Butt ruled out of tournament
England midfielder Nicky Butt has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2004 after a scan confirmed he had suffered ligament damage to his right knee.
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| England's midfielder Joe Cole (L) fights for the ball with midfielder Nicky Butt during a training session at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon, 11 June 2004 on the eve of the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. England will play its first Euro 2004 match against France 13 June. AFP PHOTO Paul BARKER |
"Nicky Butt has medial collateral ligament damage which he picked up in training yesterday," a spokesman confirmed.
The Manchester United player incurred the injury in training on Monday and an England spokesman said he was facing a three to four week lay-off.
The spokesman added that England officials were talking to UEFA about whether it would be possible to fly out a replacement for Butt.
Gronkjaer to join Denmark
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| Danish midfielder Jesper Gronkjar, whose mother passed away last week, practices during a training session at the Le Meridien Golf and Country Club in Portimao on the Algarve coast in Portugal 15 June 2004 where they have their base during the Euro2004. |
Denmark's Chelsea midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer is to belatedly join Denmark's Euro 2004 squad having stayed home in Copenhagen to mourn his deceased mother.
The 26-year-old left Denmark on Tueday to join the team in time for Friday's Group C tie against Bulgaria in Braga, folowing their 0-0 draw with Italy on Monday.
On Sunday coach Morten Olsen said he'd been in regular telephone contact with the player, who had reasured him of his physical and psychological condition.