Off the pitch
Police search for two extremists
Police in the province of Algarve were seeking two men on Sunday who attempted to buy 200 litres (52 gallons) of ammonium, a product which can be used to make explosives.
Police received a tip-off from a construction goods company in the town of Portimao who said two men of North African descent had attempted to buy the product from their outlet earlier this week.
The company turned the two men away after informing them that they did not have such a large quantity of ammonium in stock.
The Algarve is being used as a base by thousands of English fans, as well as Danes, Germans, the Dutch and Russians.
Bruckner closes door on UEFA
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| Czech football team coach Karel Bruckner smiles during a press conference in Sintra, 20 June 2004 a day after his team's victory 3-2 vs The Netherlands at the European nations championship. The Czech Republic are the first country to seal a Euro 2004 quarter-final berth after the completion of the second round of group matches which left the axe hovering over such footballing superpowers as Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. AFP PHOTO |
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner made no exceptions at their training camp this week at a closed doors session with his squad, insisting there would be no observers, neutral or not.
UEFA official Scotsman Andy Roxburgh found this out when dropping by on official business to check how the session was going only to be told closed means closed even for the organisers.
Angry Vieri vows media silence
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| Sweden's goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson (L) stops Italy's forward Christian Vieri's kick, 18 June 2004, during their European Nations football championship match at the Dragao stadium in Porto. Italy and Sweden are competing in Group C with Bulgaria and Denmark. |
Italy striker Christian Vieri said Sunday he is going to stop talking to the press if the media do not show the under-fire Azzurri respect as they try to rescue their faltering bid.
Vieri blew his top after reports of a spat between him and keeper Gigi Buffon and vowed that "this is the last time I will speak to you."
"You just invent stories and blast us all the time," stormed Vieri.
"I don't care what your views are," he continued insisting the squad had a right to the media's respect at all times even when, as now, the team is struggling.
Italy must beat Bulgaria in their last match and hope the result between Sweden and Denmark works in their favour to qualify.
Rooney tilts Owen's crown
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| England's forward Wayne Rooney jubilates after his goal, 17 June 2004 at Coimbra stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match against Switzerland at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
British bookmakers are no fools and their gambling odds are rarely far off the mark, which makes Wayen Rooney England's most likely goalscorer out in Portugal
"Punters are so taken with Wayne that for the first time in three years we've had no choice but to remove Michael Owen as favourite to score first. Rooney is 4/1 to score first (against Croatia on Monday) with Owen at 9/2," said Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush on Sunday.
Latvia put beer on ice
Latvia are willing to postpone celebrating one of the biggest days in the country's calendar should they make history by reaching the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Latvia must defeat the Dutch and hope the result of the Czech Republic v Germany match goes their way.
The game falls on Janis Day - a two-day national holiday.
"We celebrate by drinking plenty of home made beer, only beer, and we eat lots of cheese," said a young fan aptly named Janis.
"All of Latvia will be celebrating with fireworks, singing songs, but if we have to cancel our party, that will be okay" he added.
Doom and gloom in German media
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| The Latvian team celebrate, 19 June 2004 after their European Nations football championships match against Germany at Bessa stadium in Porto. Latvia and Germany are competing in Group D with the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. |
Germany's 0-0 draw with tiny Latvia on Saturday was met with disdain in the German press who were left in awe of their next group opponents the Czech Republic.
"We need to win against the super Czechs," headlined daily Bild. "Is there any hope after a 0-0 against Latvia?"
"Latvia are ranked below Jamaica and Jordan according to FIFA but they had the best opening of the game."
"Germans face early exit after disappointing Latvia draw," bemoaned the Frankfurter Allgemeine. "A repeat of Euro 2000 is now on the cards." in reference to the first round exit in Holland and Belgium
Euro harder than World Cup
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| Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houlier (C) talks to Liverpool and England player Jamie Carragher (R) 19 June 2004 during the team's training session at the Estadio Nacional, Lisbon Portugal in preparation for their next match against Croatia in the Euro 2004 Football Tournamnent 21 June. AFP PHOTO Paul BARKER |
Former Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier thinks the European Championships is tougher to win than the World Cup.
"The European Championship is more difficult to win than the World Cup. The best 16 teams in Europe are here. It's the cream," said Houllier.
"It's quite open right until the end. I've been really impressed by the tempo of the games despite the heat".
Houllier added he felt for England after they went down to France in their opening match. "A draw would have been a fairer result. England played a very shrewd, tactical game," said the former France coach.
France remain Euro favourites
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| The french team poses, 04 June 2004 in Clairefontaine, before the European Championships in Portugal. L to R, bottom: Gregory Coupet, Sylvain Wiltord, Sidney Govou, Marcel Desailly, Jacques Santini (national coach), Jerome Rothen, Bixente Lizarazu, Olivier Dacourt, Mickael Landreau. Middle: François Blacquart (coach), Louis Saha, William Gallas, Benoît Pedretti, Fabien Barthez, Claude Makelele, Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Robert Pires, Henri Emile (coach). Top : Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet, Willy Sagnol, Pierre Mankowski (coach), Mikael Silvestre, Bruno Martini (goalkeeper coach), Thierry Henry, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Steve Marlet. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
France are still hot favourites with British bookies to retain their crown despite two indifferent performances in Group B.
Zinedine Zidane's side can be had at 11/4 slightly longer odds than before the tournament started, but still clear favourites.
England are second favourites at between 5/1 and 6/1 ahead of their game against Croatia where a draw would put them into the last eight.
Spain and Italy are joint-third favourites at 7/1, but the odds have lengthened on Droup D flops Germany and the Netherlands who have both slipped to 16/1.
The emerging Czech Republic team are a tempting 7/1.
Dutch press blame Advocaat
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| Netherlands' forward Raphael Van der Vaart looks dejected, 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, after loosing (2-3) the Euro 2004 group D football match against Czech Republic at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Joe KLAMAR |
Coach Dick Advocaat has been slammed by the Dutch press after the team's collapse against the Czech Republic in Saturday's classic throwing away a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2.
Advocaat took off exiciting young winger Arjan Robben with the team leading and brought on defender Paul Bosvelt.
The substitution was a "fatal mistake" according to the Telegraaf newspaper.
"The Oranges were outclassing the Czechs and playing dream football, but they totally lost their shape after this bad mistake," it said.
"I would never have made a substitution like that," agreed former Dutch great Johan Cruyff.
Del Piero losing sleep
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| Italy's forward Alessandro Del Piero leaves the field followed by his teammate striker Christian Vieri (R) and coach Giovanni Trapattoni (L) at the end of a training session at the Restelo stadium in Lisbon 15 June 2004. Denmark made Italy's tag as one of the favourites for Euro 2004 appear to be wide of the mark as they had the better of an entertaining 0-0 draw in their opening Group C clash 14 June. AFP PHOTO/ Vincenzo PINTO |
After Italy let a 1-0 lead slip late on against Sweden on Friday Alessandro Del Piero admitted he had a hard time sleeping that night.
"I couldn't stop thinking about the match and just lay awake in my bed thinking about the result," he said.
"But today's another day and I have to think about the next match against Bulgaria,' he added.
The Italians need a win over Bulgaria and will be at the mercy of the result of Sweden v Denmark to see if they qualify for the quarters. More lost sleep for Del Piero in the pipeline then.