Soccer News
Portugal eliminate England on penalties
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| Portugal's midfielder Rui Costa celebrates after scoring during the prolongations, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships quarterfinal match between Portugal and England at The Luz Stadium in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Portugal 'keeper Ricardo was the hero on Thursday as he starred in a penalty shoot-out as the hosts beat England after a dramatic encounter that was won 6-5 on penalties after the match finished 2-2 after extra-time.
Frank Lampard had equalised in second-half extra-time after Rui Costa had fired the hosts 2-1 in front but again the penalty shoot-out proved the downfall for England and Portugal were left to celebrate.
Michael Owen had opened the scoring in the 3rd minute and his goal stood up until 7 minutes left when Helder Postiga headed home to force extra-time.
France will show Greece respect
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| French coach Jacques Santini arrives for a press conference, 20 June 2004 in Coimbra during the 2004 European Nations championship. France will play against Switzerland 21 June. France are still hot favourites with British bookies to retain their Euro 2004 crown despite two indifferent performances in Group B against England and Croatia. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
France coach Jacques Santini insists his players will not be taking the challenge of Greece lightly in their quarter-final on Friday.
"You have to have a lot of respect for this sort of nation. These are the countries coming into form at the moment," said Santini.
"When the draw was made people immediately thought we would be facing Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals. But this will be just as tough a match."
"I will not be forbidding my team from playing their normal game so that they can defend against counter-attacks," he added.
Vieira not healing as well as Gallas
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| le milieu de terrain de l'équipe de France de football, Patrick Vieira, répond aux questions des journalistes, le 13 octobre 2002, au Centre Technique à Clairefontaine, lors du rassemblement de l'équipe de France, au lendemain de la victoire face à la Slovénie (5-0), dans le cadre des éliminatoires de l'Euro 2004. AFP PHOTO PATRICK HERTZOG |
France midfielder Patrick Vieira remains a serious doubt for the quarter-final against Greece on Friday, his teammate Marcel Desailly said.
Vieira pulled a thigh muscle in the victory against Switzerland on Monday and defender William Gallas sprained an ankle, but Gallas is likely to recover in time to face the Greeks.
"Gallas is doing very well, Vieira a little less so," Desailly told a press conference on Thursday.
Olivier Dacourt is the most likely man to fill Vieira's defensive midfield position should the Arsenal player not be fit.
Sweden's Larsson set for Barcelona
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| Sweden's striker Henrik Larsson celebrates after scoring a goal againsy Bulgaria, 14 June 2004 during their opening match of the European Nations football championships at the Jose de Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. Sweden and Bulgaria are competing in Group C with Italy and Denmark. |
Sweden striker Henrik Larsson has agreed to play for Barcelona for the next two seasons, a Spanish sports daily reported on Thursday.
The paper added Larsson would not be officially announced as a Barcelona player until the end of Euro 2004 which runs till July 4.
Larsson was considered a bargain by Barcelona, because he will have cost them nothing with his contract at Scottish club Celtic finishing in six days time.
He has scored three goals so far at Euro helping Sweden's drive to the quarter-finals where they take on Holland on Saturday.
Voller resigns
Germany coach Rudi Voller resigned on Thursday following the three-time European champions' elimination from Euro 2004.
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| Germany's coach Rudi Voller (C) walks past goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn (L), 23 June 2004 after their European Nations Championship football match at Jose De Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. Germany lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic. |
"After long consideration, I have decided to step down," Voller said the day after his side crashed out following a 2-1 defeat by a second-string Czech Republic side.
Germany drew two of their matches and lost one scoring just two goals in total and finishing third in Group D behind the Czechs and the Netherlands.
Voller, 44, took over as coach from Erich Ribbeck following a disastrous Euro 2000 when Germany failed to win a match.
Toldo takes a bow
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| Italy's national soccer team goalkeeper Francesco Toldo poses at the Coverciano training camp near Florence 27 May 2004, two weeks before the start of the Euro 2004. AFP PHOTO/VINCENZO PINTO |
Italy's veteran goalkeeper Francesco Toldo has announced his international retirement, brushing off any suggestion his county's Euro elimination had anything to do with the decision.
"I was hoping to go out on a high but one deception can't wipe out an unforgettable 11-year international career," said the Inter Milan number 1.
"I had decided before the tournament this would be my last," said the 33-year-old who played all six matches at Euro 2000 but sat out 2004 as a replacement for Gianluigi Buffon.
Czechs to do Danish homework
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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 |
The Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner admitted on Thursday that he needed to do some homework on quarter-final opponents Denmark having thought that Italy would be the opposition instead.
"We had prepared ourselves for playing Italy," said Bruckner. "However, I know that the Danes are an uncomplicated team but with not a little skill. There is more to learn as always but I will be fully up to scratch before we play them,"
The match takes place on Sunday in Porto with the winner meeting either France or Greece.
Sand major doubt for Czechs
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| Danish football coach Morten Olsen is seen during a press briefing, 24 June 2004 at the Le Meridien Golf and Country Club in Portimao on the Algarve coast in Portugal during the European nations championship. Denmark will play the Czech Republic in a Euro 2004 quarter-final match, 27 June in Porto. AFP PHOTO - SVEN NACKSTRAND |
Denmark have suffered a blow ahead of Sunday's quarter-final with the Czech Republic as striker Ebbe Sand is a major doubt with a strained buttock muscle.
"I am not saying this because I might be dropped. It's the truth," said Sand. "I took some hits against the Swedes and I have persistent pain. I will have to take it day by day," added Sand, who has overcame testicular cancer in 1998.
However Danish coach Morten Olsen said he didn't think Sand would be fit in time.
"Ebbe clenched his teeth and finished the game, but right now he is very doubtful for the quarter-final,"
It's all Greek to me says Rehhagel
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| Greece's coach, German Otto Rehhagel (L) gives advices to his players during a training session at the Rio Ave stadium, in Vila Do Conde, 10 June 2004, two days before the opening ceremony of the European Nations Championship. Greece will face Portugal in the Euro 2004 opening game. |
Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel has refused to comment as to whether he would be a candidate to replace Rudi Voller as the German boss following the latter's resignation.
"I'm only concentrating on Greece, I want to do my best for them," said Rehhagel, known as 'King Otto' after winning two German championships, two German Cups and the UEFA Cup with Werder Bremen in a 14 year reign.
"I've been hired by the Greek Federation to achieve success with this team as opposed to Germany, and that's what matters to me," he added.
Wakey wakey Swedes says skipper
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| Italy's forward Antonio Cassano (2dL) is congratulated by his teammates forward Alessandro Del Piero (L) and midfielder Simone Perrotta (R) as Sweden's defender Olof Mellberg reacts after he scores the first goal against Sweden, 18 June 2004 during their Euro 2004 Group C football match at the Dragao stadium in Porto. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA |
Lucky Sweden must be sharp right from the kick-off in their quarter-final with the Dutch on Saturday if they are to progress further in Euro 2004, says captain Olof Mellberg.
Sweden went behind in the 1-1 draw with Italy and then twice against Denmark in the 2-2 draw on Tuesday.
"For some reason we don't really get off to the kind of start we want."
"The way we came back in the last two games shouldn't really be possible," said Mellberg, who played in all of Sweden's matches at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup finals.