Off the pitch
Euro to make little impact on economy
The three-week Euro 2004 tournament currently underway in Portugal will have only a limited impact on the economy despite bringing thousands of visitors to the country, a finance ministry study released Thursday concluded.
Extra tourism revenue will add just 0.08 percent to Portugal's gross domestic product in 2004, while at least 211,000 extra visitors will travel to the country the world's third-largest sporting event in terms of television audience.
Some 112 million euros (135 million dollars) in tourist revenues, creating a 2.5-percent rise in tourism revenues in 2004 over the previous year.
Britain's ambassador praises fans
Britain's ambassador to Portugal on Thursday praised the behaviour of England fans during Euro 2004 which got underway on June 12.
"The supporters of the England team inside the stadiums have been really extraordinary. They have contributed to a great football party," said Glynne Evans.
One criticism has been that English fans have booed and whistled when the national anthems of France and Croatia were sung.
"Our fans have been absolutely fantastic during this tournament and given us great support. But they should also respect their opponents' national anthem." said England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
France no, Spain yes: Fernandez
Former France international Luis Fernandez has declared his desire to coach Spain just days after ruling himself out of the soon-to-be vacant France job.
"I would be delighted, if they (the Spanish football federation) made me an offer that would interest me," said Fernandez, who was born in Spain but spent his playing career in France at Lyon and with the national team.
Only this week he rulesd himself out of the France job as he didn't wish to woirk with the people who lead French football.
He coached Espanyol last season and Atletico Bilbao between 1996-2000.
Fans hit by Lisbon bus strike
Bus drivers in Lisbon and its suburbs went on strike on Thursday over pay demands in a job action timed to coincide with the quarter-final between England and Portugal.
Roughly 80 percent of workers at the regional bus line Rodaviario Nacional were taking part in the 24 hour job action, said a union leader.
"There are between 30 and 40 buses on the road right now when there should be around 200," he added.
City and suburban bus drivers plan to strike again on Wednesday, when Lisbon hosts a semi-final and again on July 4 when the city hosts the championship final.
Captured British troops allowed to watch England
A group of eight British soldiers captured by Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards were allowed to watch Monday's England-Croatia match by their captors.
"They were so demoralised and could not even talk, so to cheer them up we mobilised our resources so they could watch the England-Croatia match," said deputy commader Admiral Ali Fadavi.
England won the match 4-2, advancing to the quarter-finals.
The six Royal Marines and two sailors were arrested Monday after they strayed into Iranian waters along the Shatt al-Arab waterway but were released into the care of British diplomats on Thursday.
Minnows lose no honour
|
| The Latvian team celebrate with coach Aleksandrs Starkovs (top centre), 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. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Latvia became many fans' darlings at Euro after plucky ties against the Czechs and the Germans before their 3-0 defeat to Holland, a loss for which their countrymen have forgiven them.
"Coming home with honour," Latvian internet news portal Apollo headlined.
"Despite the loss in the last game, the Latvian team led by (Aleksandrs) Starkovs gave a very good impression to the whole of Europe. The team from tiny Latvia constantly drew attention to itself," Apollo said.
Latvian newspapers did not appear on Thursday due to a public holiday.
German logic says Hitzfeld
|
| (FILES) A picture taken 15 May 2004 shows former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld during a match of his first division football club against Stuttgart. German national team coach Rudi Voeller announced 24 June 2004 he had resigned after the three-time European champions crashed out of Euro 2004. Hitzfeld's name was brought up in the context of Voeller's succession. AFP PHOTO DDP/OLIVER LANG GERMANY OUT |
Ottmar Hitzfeld believs he is the man to lead Germany into the 2006 World Cup after Rudi Voller's tenure as coach ended in disaster on Wednesday when they crashed out of Euro 2004 with a whimper.
"I was coach at Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich so after the resignation of Voller it would be a logical step for me to be German national coach," said Hitzfeld, who is the only coach to have won the Champions League with two different teams.
The 55-year-old former maths teacher quit Bayern a month ago saying he wanted a lower pressure job.
Customs turning back thousands
|
| Policemen search Television equipment as crew unload them in front of Lisbon International media centre 08 June for the Euro 2004 european nations football Championships in Lisbon. The tournament will kick off 12 June with Portugal/Greece in Porto. AFP Photo MLADEN ANTONOV |
Since border controls were reintroduced in May as part of the security for Euro 2004 some 3,500 foreigners caught trying to enter the country illegally have been turned back.
The vast majority of those stopped were people traveling without valid documents who police suspect were illegal immigrants heading to Portugal to look for work, border police officials said.
The measures are aimed at keeping known hooligans and suspected Islamic extremists out of Portugal during the three-week football finals which began on June 12.
Deco Chelsea move mere speculation
|
| Portuguese midfielder Deco trains during a session at Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, ahead of the 2004 European Nations championships, 07 June 2004. Portugal will play the opening game against Greece 12 June. |
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has played down a reported move for Portugal midfielder Deco, believing that England's Joe Cole can do the job in midfield next season.
Kenyon told Chelsea TV: "Deco is a good player, but we've got Joe Cole and Joe has to feature. I put Deco very much in the speculation camp."
Deco has told Portuguese newspapers he has all but signed for Chelsea, now managed by his ex-Porto coach Jose Mourinho.
Cole, 22, rarely got a full 90 minutes for Chelsea last season and is yet to feature for England at Euro.
British press go Rooney mad
|
| 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 |
The British press was awash on Thursday with pictures of England's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney the day of their quarter-final against Portugal.
"Roo can do it boys!" said the Daily Star, which for once covered up its pinup girls in Rooney's number nine England shirt.
The Sun predicted a 30-million-strong "Roon Army" would follow the match on TV.
They also went as far as comparing him to Mozart.
"Rooney is a physical genius in the same way that Mozart was a musical genius," a British sports expert, told the paper.
.