Soccer News
Greece stun France 1-0 in giant upset
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| Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (R) heads the ball past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to score, 25 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose de Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
Angelos Charisteas is the toast of Greece after his second-half header sent his side to a shock 1-0 win over champions France at Euro 2004 and booked a place in the semi-finals where they will meet either Denmark or the Czech Republic.
Theodoros Zagorakis slipped past Bizente Lizarazu on the right wing and fed a perfect cross across the face of goal that Charisteas rose majestically to meet, sending a powerful header past Fabien Barthez in the 65th minute.
The win will go down as one of the greatest upsets in European championship history as France are now heading home and Greece, a team most people gave little chance of qualifying, let alone reaching the semi-finals are now the talk of world soccer.
Ruud got his talent from God
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij kicks the ball to score his second goal in front of Latvian goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko (R), 23 June 2004 at Braga's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group D football match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT |
Ruud van Nistelrooy's uncanny goal-scoring ability was a divine gift, Dutch coach Dick Advocaat suggested Friday on the eve of his team's quarter-final clash with Sweden.
"Ruud is a natural goal scorer - he scores goals for whoever he's playing for. It's not something you learn - it's a gift from God."
"My team's progressing. You can see that from their performance in the second half of their opening game against Germany.
"We're still hoping to play three more games here, and improve more. We've come this far we'll try to go as far as possible."
Dutch avoid penalty practice
The Netherlands are perhaps just behind England when it comes to incompetence in penalty shootouts yet they still have no intention of practicing ahead of the quarter-final clash with Sweden on Saturday.
"We want to win the match in the 90 minutes not concentrate on penalties," explained Frank de Boer who missed twice during the Euro 2000 semi-final horror against Italy.
"Practicing penalties is not an issue."
"No we have not practiced penalties," confessed Marc Overmars.
"It can be dangerous because there are cameras in training."
Lucic set for Sweden return
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| Sweden's team pose, 14 June 2004 at the Jose De Alvalade stadium in Lisbon before their opening football match at the European Nations championship. Sweden and Bulgaria are competing in Group C with Italy and Denmark. (2nd row from L) Defender Teddy Lucic, defender Olof Mellberg, midfielder Mikael Nilsson, defender Andreas Jakobsson, forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. (1st row from L) Defender Erik Edman, midfielder Anders Svensson, midfielder Tobias Linderoth, midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg, forward Henrik Larsson. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
Sweden's' hopes of muzzling Dutch master marksman Ruud van Nistelrooy in Saturday's quarter-final look set to receive a major boost with the return of experienced Teddy Lucic.
The Bayer Leverkusen defender has been out of commission since picking up a first half abdominal injury in Sweden's opening 5-0 drubbing of Bulgaria.
But Sweden coach Lars Lagerback reported here on Friday: "We hope he's going to play, we'll wait and see after training on Friday evening." Lucic is a veteran of two World Cup campaigns.
Lippi takes over Italy hot seat
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| Juventus player Alessandro Del Piero looks at his coach Marcello Lippi (R) during a press conference before a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid 05 May 2003. Juventus will play their semi-final first leg Champions League match against Real Madrid tomorrow. AFP PHOTO JAVIER SORIANO |
Marcello Lippi was officially named as the new Italy coach on Friday.
Italian Football Federation President Franco Carraro announced the news in Rome after Carraro himself had offered his own resignation but was persuaded to stay on earlier in the day.
Lippi resigned from his post as Juventus coach at the end of the 2003-04 season and is widely considered the best man for the job in his homeland.
He coached Juventus to five Italian titles and one Champions League victory during two spells with the Turin club.
Former coach Giovanni Trapattoni's contract runs out July 15, 2004.
Germany Hitzfeld's for the taking
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| (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 |
There is only one name on the short list for the post of Germany coach, that of outgoing Bayern Munich handler Ottmar Hitzfeld, according to Hertha Berlin manager Dieter Hoeness.
Hoeness is a member of the influential working group that resolves major questions for the German Football Federation.
"He's the only one, you can forget the rest. We must convince him to take up this task and give us all a shot in the arm," said Hoeness.
Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League with both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, has given every indication that he expects to be offered and will accept the post.
Nedved predicts fireworks
Czech Republic captain Pavel Nedved brushed off any favourites tag ahead of their Sunday quarter-final with Denmark and instead predicted an open show of flair from both teams.
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| Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved jogs during a training session in Sintra 16 June 2004. The Czech Republic will play against The Netherlands 19 June in Aveiro. AFP PHOTO JOE KLAMAR |
"I would say it is about 50-50 as to who will go through," said the Juventus star. "We like to play an attacking style, and so too do Denmark."
The 2003 European player of year expressed his hopes of getting a good start in the match.
"We have had to come from behind three times. Now I hope we will be able to lead from the front," Nedved explained, while saying he had enormous respect for the Scandinavians.
Olsen sees mystery Czech weakness
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| Denmark's head coach Olsen Morten (L) celebrates after their qualification for the quarter-finals, 22 June 2004 at Bessa stadium in Porto, during their European Nations football championship match in Portugal. Denmark and Sweden are competing in Group C. AFP PHOTO Sven NACKSTRAND |
Coach Morten Olsen believes he may have devised a masterplan to help Denmark beat their quarter-final opponents the Czech Republic in Porto on Sunday.
"I think I may have spotted a weakness in the Czechs - I know something but I'm not going to tell you, only my players," he teased before a closed training session at the Danes' base camp here in the Algarve on Friday.
Denmark could find themselves exposed as Czech coach Karel Bruckner is also a man who does his homework on the opposition.
Beckham defiant after exit
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| England's midfielder and captain David Beckham listens to journalists' questions 25 June 2004 during a press conference in Lisbon. England's dreams of glory at Euro 2004 ended in heartbreak 24 June after more than two hours of gut-wrenching drama culminated in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal. David Beckham 25 June angrily hit out at suggestions he had lost his ability to inspire England and insisted he would not be reliniquishing his captain's armband in the wake of his side's exit from Euro 2004. AFP PHOTO PAUL BARKER |
David Beckham has hit out at suggestions he has lost his ability to inspire England and insisted he would not be reliniquishing his captain's armband in the wake of his side's exit from the Euro.
"I've handled a lot more emotional things than this in my life," he said. "I'm a strong person. Every time someone hits criticism at me I'll come back fighting."
"I am proud to be the England captain and I will not be resigning unless someone wants me to and that would be the manager."
Beckham misssed two crucial penalties during the tournament including the opening shot of the penalty shoot-out loss to Portugal in last night's quarter-final.
Sand in race to make Czech match
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| Denmark's forward Ebbe Sand (L) fights for the ball with Sweden's midfielder Anders Andersson, 22 June 2004 during their Euro 2004 football match at the Bessa stadium in Porto. Denmark and Sweden are competing in Group C with Italy and Bulgaria. |
Denmark striker Ebbe Sand is confident he will be fit in time to face the Czech Republic in Sunday's quarter-final.
Sand has a thigh strain but said he was determined to be fit and would test the injury in a full training session on Saturday.
"I think I will be able to play," Sand said on Friday, who is suffering from a strained buttock muscle.
Denmark will definitely be without defender Niclas Jensen for the quarter-final in Porto but he is expected to be fit should the Danes reach the semi-finals.