Off the pitch
Swiss squabble over Beckham shirt
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| England's captain David Beckham smiles during today's 6-1 victory over Iceland in the FA Summer tournament match at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester 05 June 2004. AFP photo by Paul Barker |
Switzerland's players appear to have been scrambling to swap shirts with David Beckham after Thursday's defeat against England.
Christoph Spycher lamented that Beckham had declined to give him his shirt following his defensive tussle with the Real Madrid and England midfielder. Beckham reportedly said he had promised it to someone else.
Striker Alexander Frei turned out to be the lucky man. "We met in the middle of the pitch at the final whistle. We had a chat and the swap took place quite naturally in the changing rooms," Frei said. (AFP)
England fan gets carried away
An England fan who had overdone the celebrations for the victory over Switzerland took to sea on an inflatable mattress off the Algarve resort of Albufeira. Luckily the man was picked up by a fishing boat having drifted out to sea. Unfortunately, not knowing that he had been found, two coastguard boats scoured the area and a helicopter was put on standby, officials in the town said.
After riot police clashed with fighting English fans in the resort earlier this week, Albufeira is not going to forget the 'Barmy Army' for quite a while.
German TV not getting the picture
Two German TV stations are unhappy with the pictures they are receiving of Euro 2004 matches from the Portuguese host broadcasters. "In the opening match, they showed too many slow motion replays," said Reinold Beckmann, a commentator for the public ARD channel. "The replays often show just the goal itself but not the build-up," moaned Bela Rethy, who commentates for ZDF.
UEFA say a poll of fans has shown widespread satisfaction with the TV coverage.
More English fans in court
Three England fans who were arrested in Portugal on public order charges following their team's 3-0 win over Switzerland will appear in court on Friday, police said.
Police detained the three men on Thursday after they threw bottles at national guards who were patroling Albufeira, Captain Manuel Jorge, a spokesman for the guards, told AFP.
A fourth English fan who was detained after he poured water on a journalist was released after the reporter he soaked declined to press charges, Jorge added.
Beckenbauer supports Portugal
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| German football legend Franz Beckenbauer addresses a press conference on the Football World Cup 2006, hosted by Germany, in Basel 02 June 2004, ahead of a pre-Euro-2004 friendly match between Switzerland and Germany. |
German legend Franz Beckenbauer believes Portugal's exit from Euro would take some of the sparkle away from the spectacle.
"If Portugal exit the European championships it would take some of the shine out of the tournament," said Beckenbauer.
"No-one in Portugal would follow the football."
The host nation need to beat Spain to stay alive.
"If I were coach of Spain I would not feel confident about having such a defence," added the Bayern Munich president.
"Several times in this tournament they have looked fragile."
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990.
Players complain of slow pitches
Several teams but most notably France have complained about dry pitches out in Portugal and blame 'thick grass' for slowing down the game.
"You would almost say it (the grass) was a mix of real and synthetic grass. We asked UEFA to water the pitch an hour before the game but thet refused," said France Euro tour manager Henri Emile after France's 2-2 draw with Croatia on Thursday.
UEFA have banned any watering of pitches in the four hours preceeding matches.
Croats robbed say press
Croatia's press lauded their Euro 2004 side Friday after they drew 2-2 with favourites France in a Group B match.
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| Croatia's forward Dado Prso celebrates after scoring against France, 17 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Doctor Maghalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria. Croatia and France are competing in Group B with Switzerland and England. . |
"The champions were on their knees."
"Just one step to miracle."
"England has to fall," ran some of the headlines.
"The French 'dream team' look confused. We couldn't believe it either." commented the Vecernji List daily.
"Robbed heroes," read one headline.
Croatia came from an own-goal down to lead 2-1 before a controversial France equaliser and must now beat England to make the quarter-finals.
'Rioting fans' protest innocence
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| Policemen bring to the Albufeira courthouse 17 June 2004 one of the 33 arrested English supporters who took part in Euro 2004-related riots which rocked the southern resort town of Albufeira 14-15 June. The name of the man arrested during the riots is part of a list of known hooligans forbidden to leave the United Kingdom whenever there is an international competition. AFP PHOTO / DDP MARCUS BRANDT |
England football fans ejected from Portugal following riots in Albufeira loudly protested their innocence Friday after flying back home, some visibly battered and bruised.
"I have not been treated fairly," Paul Donahue, 32, from Manchester, complained Friday morning at London's Heathrow Airport .
Sporting a black eye and cuts on his arm.
John Jackson, a 22-year-old from Newcastle, showed reporters injury marks on his back.
"It's a disgrace. I was beaten up and spat on by the police," he said.
Out 'Butt' golden hearted
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| England's Nicky Butt sits and watches after being ruled out of the rest of the tournament on injury during a training session of the English national football team at the Cidade de Coimbra stadium in Coimbra 16 June 2004, ahead of their 17 June clash with Switzerland. AFP PHOTO PAUL BARKER |
Ruled out of the Euro action by a ligament injury England midfielder Nicky Butt rose above his own frustration Thursday when he visited a children's hospital at Coimbra, where his teammates later beat Switzerland 3-0.
The Manchester United man gave out England T-shirts and caps to sick children there, some of who were doubly excited when they took him for his England pal David Beckham.
French all worry and doubt: press
France's struggling 2-2 draw against Croatia left many French papers bemused on Friday.
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| Croatia's forward Dado Prso (bottom) heads the ball with French captain Marcel Desailly, 17 June 2004 during their match at the European Nations football championships at the DR. Magalhaes Pessoa Stadium in Leiria. France and Croatia are competing in Group B with England and Switzerland. |
"Worrying," headlined Le Parisien highlighting captain Marcel Desailly's "huge gaff" in allowing Dado Prso to score Croatia's second goal.
"The blues made it hard for themselves and the doubts are creeping in," the paper said.
"We have it all to do," headlined L'Equipe, who also raised the matter of the relatively poor form of top strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. They too had harsh words for Desailly.