Soccer News
Netherlands defeat Sweden on penalties
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| Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf (R) vies with Swedish midfielder Anders Svensson, 26 June 2004 at the Algarve stadium in Faro, during the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Sweden and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT |
The Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals of Euro 2004 when they defeated Sweden 5-4 on penalties after the match finished 0-0 after extra-time.
Captain Olof Mellberg had his penalty saved brilliantly by Edwin van der Sar leaving Arjen Robben the honour of firing home the winning penalty.
Both teams had chances to break the deadlock but with both goalkeepers playing inspired stuff between the posts.
Andreas Isaksson was the busier of the two custodians, one of his best saves off Clarence Seedorf in first half extra-time.
Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg also hit the woodwork as the ball refused to go in.
In the end it came down to penalties and unlike Euro 2000, the Dutch were solid in the shoot-out to book a final four spot against Portugal next Wednesday.
'King Otto' denies German interest
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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. |
Otto Rehhagel has no intention of deserting Greece to take over the poisoned chalice of Germany coach he revealed on Saturday.
"I am going to stay with the Greeks unless they say thats enough," said Rehhagel.
"The Germans haven't called me. In any case I will not tear up my contract. I do not want to let people down. There remains a target: to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany and perform in the same manner once we get there."
Former Bayern Munich handler Ottmar Hitzfeld remains the favourite to replace 44-year-old Rudi Voller.
Czechs will tighten up says Bruckner
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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 is confident his team will be quicker off the mark when they face Denmark in Sunday's quarter-final at the Dragao stadium.
"We are in the quarter-finals now, so the philosophy will be different," explained the 65-year-old.
"The knockout matches are very different to the group games. The attitude will be different. We have to approach it with a different style, a different character."
Two goals in the last 17 minutes saw the Czechs edge Latvia 2-1 in their opening game before they stormed back from 2-0 down to snatch a five-goal thriller against the Dutch.
Santini blames players
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| France's Jacques Santini listens to journalists' questions during a press conference at the hotel team in Lisbon before departing for Porto 26 June 2004. Santini's two-year spell in charge of France ended on a sour note 25 June with the Tottenham-bound coach laying the blame for the shock defeat by Greece firmly at the feet of his players. Greece created one of the biggest shocks in the history of the European Championships by dumping defending champions France out of the tournament 25 June. A 65th-minute header by Werder Bremen striker Angelos Charisteas was enough to give Otto Rehhagel's tightly-organised side a 1-0 win that sends them into a meeting with either the Czech Republic or Denmark in their first ever appearance in the semi-finals of a major tournament. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
Jacques Santini has launched an astonishing attack on the French squad blaming them for their failure to defend the European title.
"I tried to protect the squad by not bawling them out in public," said Santini. "Why did I ignore the reality of what was happening on the pitch? Because I am like that. Like one says I was too nice and they betrayed me by taking advantage of that.
I am going to say what happened, if the players wish too then they can. I thought the players experience would tell but instead I think after we beat Germany 3-0 in a warm-up match that several of them became complacent,"
Scolari to stay at Portugal
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| Portugal head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari celebrates with Brazil and Portuguese flag after Portugal beat England, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between Portugal and England at the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon. |
Luiz Felipe Scolari will extend his stay as Portugal coach until the 2006 World Cup their Football Federation president Gilberto Madail said on Friday.
Madail foresees a few remaining details being "ironed out very quickly" prior to Scolari and the Federation agreeing terms.
Scolari, who took up the post in January 2003, left the door open to an extention, but had some unfinished busines first.
"I like Portugal, my family likes Portugal. But we are playing the Euro, so I won't discuss my future while the event is on."
Denmark can do it again
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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 |
Coach Morten Olsen believes you can throw out the form book once the quarter-finals arrive and is hoping Denmark ride a wave of luck all the way to a second European Championships victory.
"I've always said that if you get past the group stages you have a chance and we have to believe in that," said Olsen, who won more than a 100 caps as a player.
"We are hoping to go all the way and some of the surprise results in the tournament have shown us anything is possible."
Denmark won Euro 92 as last minute guests and play the Czech Republic in Porto on Sunday.
Two months out for Rooney
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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 |
England prodigy Wayne Rooney will not play competitive football for at least eight weeks, his English Premiership club Everton said Saturday.
Rooney, 18, who has been one of the the stars of Euro with his youth and four goals, broke a bone in his foot during England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
"The estimated recovery time will be around eight weeks and he should be able to start his rehabilitation to include cycling and swimming within 3-4 weeks," head physio Mick Rathbone said after Rooney had his foot examined by a leading specialist on Saturday.
Oh la la say Greek press
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| A Greek fan is seen, 25 June 2004 prior to the European Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose de Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO ARIS MESSINI |
The Greek press on Saturday had a distinct French tone as they saluted their footballing heroes after booking a semi-final date with a 1-0 win over defending champions France.
"Oh la la, the great Greece!" headlined the French the daily Ta Nea.
"Vive la Grece!" (in French) said Eleftherotypia.
"Bravo!" was the simple headline of Avghi.
"The Greece of 1-0, The Greece of miracles."
"A country, a team, a dream," ran the headlines in the various national dailies after the rank outsiders dethroned the former world champions in Lisbon.
No Figo rift insists Scolari
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| Portuguese player Luis Figo arrives at training session at the Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, 10 June 2004 two days before the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. Portugal will play the opening match against Greece 12 June. Figo has admitted he could retire from international football after Euro 2004 to make way for a new generation of Portugal stars including Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP PHOTO / Lluis GENE |
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he and skipper Luis Figo have not fallen out following the side's nailbiting quarter-final win over England in which the winger was subbed and slunk off to the dressing rooms.
"Relations with Figo are fine. He is simply not the kind of guy to open up and pour out his heart, he is a private person," Scolari said.
"Everyone has their own personality and way of dealing with a situation. People experience the atmosphere differently and you have to live with that," Scolari added.
Metsu wants France job
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| Portrait of Senegal national soccer team coach Bruno Metsu taken 26 January 2002 in Sikasso before the start of a match between Senegal and Zambia counting for the XXIIIrd African Cup of Nations Mali 2002. Senegal is qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan scheduled from 31 May to 30 June. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
Bruno Metsu, whose Senegal side beat France at the 2002 World Cup, is ready to make sacrifices to replace Jacques Santini and rebuild the former World and European champions in his own image.
"Money is not an issue for me," said the well paid Al-Ain coach. "I would be prepared to quarter my salary."
The laid-back Frenchman would place a lot of emphasis on "the synergy within the (France) group."
"A player who appreciates his coach also gives everything he's got. When the players go well together, you can see it out on the pitch," he added.
Jean Tigana is another serious candidate for the job.