Soccer News
England make the quarters
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| England forward Wayne Rooney (top) jumps the tackle of Croatia's defender Robert Kovac, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Croatia and England are competing in Group B with Switzerland and France. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
A 4-2 win over Croatia saw England book a quarter-finals date with hosts Portugal on Thursday as they finished second in Group B with six points behind France, who's win over Switzerland gave them seven points and top spot.
Croatia's Niko Kovac opened the goalfest early on but Paul Scholes equalised and Wayne Rooney gave England a 2-1 lead in first-half injury time.
A Rooney break and strike made it 3-1 for England after 68 minutes but Croatia again reduced the defecit through Igor Tudor on 73 minutes. Frank Lampard again extended the lead for England ten minutes from time.
France win Group B with late show
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| French midfielder and captain Zinedine Zidane jubilates after his goal, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against Switzerland at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO John MACDOUGALL |
It took a Thierry Henry goal with 14 minutes remaining to break the resistance of Switzerland and carry the champions to a 3-1 win as they finished as Group B winners on Monday.
England finished second and meet Portugal on Thursday while France take on Greece on Friday as the tournament knockout phase takes shape.
Zinedine Zidane headed home a Robert Pires corner to give France the lead but Switzerland refused to roll over and stunned the champions six minutes later with an opportunist equaliser.
It was then left to Henry who struck twice late in the second half to send France into the last eight.
Swiss is new youngest scorer
Switzerland's 18-year-old striker Johan Vonlanthen became the youngest ever scorer in a European championships finals, beating the record set last week by Wayne Rooney of England, when he found the net against France on Monday.
Vonlanthen was born on February 1, 1986, making him more than three months younger than Rooney, who was born on October 24, 1985.
The PSV Eindhoven forward stroked the ball past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the 26th minute to draw his side level at 1-1.
Hargreaves declared fit
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| England's Owen Hargreaves, who plays for Bayern Munich, 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 |
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's options in midfield received a surprise boost just hours ahead of Monday's showdown with Croatia when Owen Hargreaves was declared fit to play.
The Bayern Munich defensive midfielder will start on the sub's bench despite being laid low by an upset stomach which forced him to sit out training since the 3-0 victory over Switzerland last Thursday.
"He (Hargreaves) is very useful when you want to defend a result," said coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
"He can play anywhere in the midfield and when he comes on he's always ready and always aggressive.
We can beat anyone - Dane coach
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| Danish coach Morten Olsen shows of his skills with the ball at the start of the training session at the Le Meridien Golf and Country Club near Portimao on the Algarve coast of Portugal 19 June 2004. Denmark will play against Sweden 22 June in Porto. AFP PHOTO - SVEN NACKSTRAND |
We can beat anyone when we're on form predicted coach Morten Olsen ahead of Denmark's Euro clash with their nordic cousins Sweden on Tuesday.
"We know what we have to do - the scenario of this game will change if we score a very early goal. In this competition we've seen that attacking football's been rewarded each time, just look at the match the Czech Republic won against the Netherlands.
What counts is the form of the team on match day. When Denmark's on form I think we can beat anyone."
Swiss withdraw Frei
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| England's midfielder Steven Gerrard (L) vies with Switzerland's forward Alexander Frei, 17 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Paul BARKER |
Alexander Frei will take no part in Switzerland's must win clash against France on Monday after his federation withdrew him from the match.
The decision was taken following UEFA's decision to appeal against him being absolved of spitting at England's Steven Gerrard.
"Alexander Frei and the Swiss FA have decided together that he will not play tonight no matter what the UEFA decision is on the spitting incident," said a statement from the Swiss camp.
The Swiss must win the match if they are to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Schweinsteiger adds to German injuries
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| Germany's striker Bastian Schweinsteiger shoots, 19 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match against Latvia at Bessa stadium in Porto. Latvia and Germany are competing in Group D with the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The match ended in a draw 0-0. AFP PHOTO / DDP OLIVER LANG |
Bayern Munich teenage sensation Bastian Schweinsteiger is the latest injury doubt for Germany's cruncher with the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Dietmar Hamann and Bernd Schneider have been unable to train with knocks and 19-year-old Schweinsteiger picked up a calf complaint in training.
"We have a few injuries after the Latvia game," revealed assistant coach Michael Skibbe.
"Schweinsteiger has a calf injury that he picked up in training while Hamann and Schneider are just jogging at the moment.
"But I believe all three will be fit for the match with the Czech Republic."
Bulgaria hit by more problems
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| Bulgarian defender Ivailo Petkov watches the ball, 14 June 2004 at the Jose De Alvalade stadium in Lisbon during their opening football match at the European Nations championship against. Sweden. |
Bulgaria's hopes of salvaging something from a wretched campaign suffered a significant blow on Monday when it was announced star left back Ivailo Petkov is out of Tuesday's Group C match with Italy because of a thigh injury.
The Fenerbahce star will not be the only one missing from the starting line-up as playmaker Stilian Petrov is suspended after being sent off against the Danes as is defender Rosen Kirilov for picking up a second booking.
"There will be changes in the team, and not only because of the suspended players," said coach Plamen Markov
Kahn plays down 2000 repeat
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| Germany's goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn looks at the ground, 19 June 2004 at Bessa stadium in Porto, during their Euro 2004 football match against Latvia at the European Nations championships in Portugal. Latvia and Germany are competing in Group D. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT |
German captain Oliver Kahn insists the must-win Group D match against the Czech Republic in Lisbon on Wednesday cannot be compared to Euro 2000 when a weakened Portugal routed Germany 3-0.
"The situation is nothing like four years ago," says Kahn. "Against Portugal we had to win and look at other results.
"This time around we have our destiny in our own hands and that is good. It is a huge pyschological advantage not to be dependent on others."
"I have won so many big games in my career," declared Kahn. "I think this will be another one and we can continue to be successful in this tournament."
Rommedahl doubt for Denmark
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| Denmark's forward Dennis Rommedahl stare at the ball, 18 June 2004 at Braga's stadium, during his team's Euro 2004 group C football match against Bulgaria at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Sven NACKSTRAND |
Denmark winger Dennis Rommedahl is a doubt for his country's decisive match with Sweden on Tuesday after failing to fully recover from a hip injury.
The PSV Eindhoven star suffered the injury early in the 2-0 win over Bulgaria and while the problem improved after sessions in a flotation tank, Denmark are not willing to risk him unless he is 100 percent fit.
Another winger, Jesper Gronkjaer, came on for Rommedahl against Bulgaria and scored.
A draw could be enough to see both of them progress to the quarter-finals, although Italy who are two points adrift could complicate the picture if they beat Bulgaria.