Soccer News
Czechs destroy Denmark
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| Czech forward Jan Koller (L) heads the ball to score the opening goal despite Danish defender Martin Laursen (R), 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
The Czech Republic hammered three goals past Denmark in 16 second-half minutes to book a semi-final against Greece next Thursday.
Jan Koller headed the first home in the 49th minute before his strike partner Milan Baros took his personal tally to five in four games with two delicious strikes, a cheeky lob in the 63rd and a powerful drive in the 65th, to bury Denmark's Euro dream on Sunday with a resounding 3-0 win.
The first half was a dull, tight affair with rare goalmouth action. Holland take on hosts Portugal in the other semi-final on Wednesday.
Andrade wishes Rooney well
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| Portuguese defender Jorge Andrade listens to journalists' questions during a press conference 27 June 2004 at the Academia Sporting, near Lisbon during the European nations football Championship. Portugal will play the Euro 2004 semi-final against The Netherlands 30 June 2004 at Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. |
Jorge Andrade, the Portugal defender whose tackle left Wayne Rooney with a broken foot, said Sunday he wished the Everton and England striker a speedy recovery.
"I was once injured like him and I want to wish him all the best," the Portugal centre-back explained.
"I hope that he is fit again soon because football needs players like him. He has had a wonderful Euro and I hope he is playing again very quickly."
Rooney scored four goals in his three and a bit games here and remains joint top scorer in the tournament alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Soderberg takes a sidestep
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| Sweden's assistant coach Tommy Soderberg gestures as he answers journalists' questions during a press conference in Cascais, 30km northwest of Lisbon, 24 June 2004. The Catalan club of Barcelona said Sweden's forward Henrik Larsson hopes to join the club, his first choice for a move after leaving Celtic last month following a prolific seven years in which he scored 240 goals. AFP PHOTO/ VINCENZO PINTO |
Joint Sweden coach Tommy Soderberg is keeping his promise to step down from his post and rejoin the Under-21 side, he told a press conference at Faro on Sunday.
The 55-year-old was visibly moved as he delivered his news and thanked the players for "Everything you have brought (to the team) these last years."
He was also number two at the Asian World Cup.
It will be his second spell with the Under-21's, who he led between 1994-97.
"With my background as a teacher I've always got a lot out of working with youngsters," he said.
Van the Man ready for semi challenge
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates, 26 June 2004 at the Algarve stadium in Faro, at the end of the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Sweden and The Netherlands at the European Nations championships in Portugal. The Netherlands won by 5 penalties to 4 during the penalty time. AFP PHOTO DIMITAR DILKOFF |
It is all smiles within the Dutch camp after the penalty shoot-out win over Sweden and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is relishing the challenge of Wednesday's semi-final against Portugal.
"We're not known for our penalty taking and the pressure was on me. It's a long walk up from the middle of the pitch but I was very focussed."
"I'm glad this team has turned it around. To play a semi-final against the host nation is a great challenge for any team. They're at home, everyone expects them to win it. Facing Portugal in Portugal is a tough task, but we've faced tough tasks before."
Giannakopoulos set for semi clash
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| Greece's goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis (L) talks to midfielder Stylianos Giannakopoulos during a training session 27 June 2004 in Lisbon. Greece will play the winner of the quarter final between the Czech Republic and Denmark 01 July in Porto. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Euro 2004 giantkillers Greece received an added boost on Sunday with the news inspirational midfielder Stylianos Giannakopoulos has recovered from a calf injury and looks set to start in Thursday's semi-final.
Giannakopoulos trained with the squad on Sunday and then played for the first team against the reserves.
Greece will play either the Czech Republic or Denmark in Oporto on Thursday in what has become a fairytale ride for a country who had never won a match at a major tournament before beating hosts Portugal in the opening clash.
Portugal face the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-final.
Andrade ready to face van Nistelrooy
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| Portugal's defender Jorge Andrade (Top) falls on England Darius Vassell's head, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between Portugal and England at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO Hrvoje POLAN |
Portugal stopper Jorge Andrade has declared himself fit and ready to face the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-final in Lisbon.
"The ankle is better now and I think I am almost fit," said the 26-year-old.
"The defence will have a big responsibility but I'm used to that and I can deal with it," he said.
"It is not Jorge Andrade against Ruud van Nistelrooy, its Portugal against Holland," he stressed.
"We believe we can go through and make something special for Portugal by winning the tournament. The national team has never won anything and we want to do it in our home country.
Zidane undecided over future
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| French captain Zinedine Zidane looks dejected after his team lost 1-0 to Greece, 25 June 2004 in their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon. |
Zinedine Zidane is yet to make up his mind as to whether he will retire from international football following France's disappointing defence of the European title.
"It is necessary to let the disappointment of the defeat pass, to digest it," said Zidane. "It is true that is a lot to take, with the World Cup, the Euro... we will see, I don't know yet. It is of course imperative something changes and to change it one cannot wait till six months before the 2006 World Cup finals.
"I have not decided yet, I do not know what I am going to do. I will think about it and afterwards we will see."
The curse of Villa strikes again
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| Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar catches the penalty kicked by Swedish defender Olof Mellberg, 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 championships in Portugal. The Netherlands won the match by 5 penalties to 4. AFP PHOTO Francois-Xavier MARIT |
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| Swedish defender Olof Mellberg looks dejected after missing his penalty kick, 26 June 2004 at the Algarve stadium in Faro, at the end of the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Sweden and The Netherlands at the European Nations championships in Portugal. The Netherlands won by 5 penalties to 4 during the penalty time. AFP PHOTO DIMITAR DILKOFF |
If you want to score in a penalty shootout then don't play for English side Aston Villa.
Swedish captain Olof Mellberg followed English clubmate Darius Vassell in having his spotkick saved as his side went out to the Netherlands.
"When Robben converted his, and it was all over, I immediately left the pitch, my spirit completely broken. My mind was numb, I wasn't capable of thinking anything," said the 26-year-old.
However he and Vassell are not the first Villa players to suffer the awful feeling of having let your country down. Gareth Southgate did so in the Euro 96 semi-final when he missed against Germany.
Injured De Boer's celebrations tainted
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| Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma (L) shakes hands with Dutch defender and captain Frank De Boer (R) as he replaces him, 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 Yuri KADOBNOV |
Captain Frank De Boer's delight in seeing the Netherlands finally overcome their penalty jitters to clinch a semi-final date with Portugal was tempered by the harsh realisation that his role in Euro 2004 may have come to an untimely end.
"I stubbed my foot in the grass. I'll be going to the hospital for check-ups but it doesn't look good as it seems to be getting worse.
"I'm doubtful for the semi-final. It's a big blow as I'd finally got myself back in the team and was playing with a lot of confidence.
"It's hard thinking I might miss the semi-final and final after coming this far."
Hitzfeld cool on Germany job
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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 |
Germany's search for a successor to Rudi Voller suffered an unexpected blow on Sunday when the hot favourite for the job, Ottmar Hitzfeld said he was far from certain to take it.
"There is less than a 50 percent chance that I will succeed him," the Hitzfeld. "My wife would be delighted that I do something else," added Hitzfeld, who is the only coach to have won the Champions League with two different teams, Borussia Dortmund (1997) and Bayern Munich (2001).
"If I do it, I will do it only if I have Michael Henke (who has been his deputy since 1991) as my assistant," said Hitzfeld.