Off the pitch
Barca or Bayern for Deco
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| Portugal's midfielder Deco fights for the ball with Russian midfielder Dmitry Loskov, 16 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Da Luz stadium in Lisbon. Portugal and Russia are competing in Group A with Spain and Greece. |
Portugal's midfield dynamo Deco has attracted interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich, his club president Jorge Pinto da Costa said on Monday.
"I think that Chelsea is out of the race because Deco would prefer to go to either Barcelona or to Bayern Munich.
"The offers are both the same and the choice is up to Deco," he added.
The Brazilian born midfielder won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and looks like being just one part of a mass exodus from the club.
The man himself has refused to talk since he told press he'd be going to Chelsea, a move now off.
Millionth spectator rewarded
A Dentist and his wife got more than they bargained for when they arrived at the Czech Republic v Denmark Euro 2004 quarter-final on Sunday - two tickets for the final from the organisers.
Norberto Moreira, 33, was the millionth spectator and the couple were invited onto the pitch to be presented the tickets.
However, the couple had a little bit of explaining to do to their four-year-old daughter when they got back home.
They had told her they were going to a meeting so as not too disappoint her so she was a bit bemused to see the meeting had been televised.
Ref's family 'hounded by press': UEFA
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| Swiss referee Urs Meier is seen during a training session for the referees of the Euro 2004 at Sol Verde Hotel in Espinho near Porto 23 June 2004. AFP PHOTO/ Javier SORIANO. |
Swiss referee Urs Meier's family has been hounded by the English press over his decision to disallow Sol Campbell's header, which would have given England victory over Portugal in the quarter-finals, UEFA said on Monday.
TV replays appear to confirm that Campbell's teammate John Terry was obstructing goalkeeper Ricardo when the header went in.
"The English media have taken photographs of his car, his house, his wife and his family. It is unacceptable to behave like that," president of the UEFA referees' committees, Volker Roth said on Monday.
The sick bay
The Euro has been well looked after by a host of medical staff including 305 doctors, 500 nurses, more than a 1,000 ambulance staff, 48 psychologists and 216 admin staff.
So far 1,319 people have needed madical aid at the 24 matches, around 55 per match. More than a third of those treated needed treatment for injuries connected to falls while high blood presure, heat stroke and asthma attacks also featured largely.
Tourism industry mad with Portugal
Euro 2004 was supposed to be a huge boon for Portugal's tourism industry but insiders now feel the host nation's performances have been a double edged sword.
The two visiting nations best represented at the finals were England with more than 30,000 followers and Spain not far behind. However both teams were eliminated by Portugal, sending more than 50,000 visitors scurrying to the airports.
Paying a pricey penny
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| Dutch head coach Dick Advocaat (R) gives instructions to his player, striker Roy Makaay, before he enters on the field, 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 Dimitar DILKOFF |
Dutch striker Roy Makaay responded to a call of nature after the 90 minutes were up in the quarter-final against Sweden, a rash act that could have cost Holland dearly.
Rules stipulate that a player must warn the referee, and Makkay should have had a yellow card. As he picked up a caution during extra-time he would then have been sent off for a second yellow and would never have scored during the subsequaent penalty shoot-out won by the Dutch.
Greeks rush for Lisbon
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| Greek supporters cheer their team as they wait for the beginning of the Euro 2004 group A first football match between Portugal and Greece, 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
Greek fans are optimistic their team will overcome the Czech Republic in and make the tournament's grand final on Sunday, to judge by the stampede for last-minute travel bookings with local travel agents.
"Demand is immense. Most fans want to book four-day trips to Portugal to watch the final too," Anna Anifanti, an official with Greece's Travel Agents Union HATTA, told AFP.
As many as 10,000 Greek fans could make their way to Portugal for the semi-final, Anifanti said.
Van Nistelrooy to Madrid?
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| Netherlands' forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij jubilates after his goal, 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group D football match against Czech Republic at the European Nations championship in Portugal.AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
Reports in the English press claim Manchester United are Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid for 30 million pounds (55 million dollars) in order to buy 18-year-old England sensation Wayne Rooney from Everton.
Real and van Nistelrooy's agent have been negotiating during Euro , the report said..
United manager Alex Ferguson has been told by his board he cannot bid the 30 million pounds Everton want for Rooney unless he sells.
Van Nistelrooy does not want to get involved in any talks until Holland are out of Euro 2004.
Man killed wife after Euro bets
A Vietnamese man has killed his wife after she complained of his gambling on Euro 2004 matches, police said Monday.
Vo Van Nghe, 44, stabbed his wife from behind at the nape of her neck when she was brushing her teeth last Thursday, policeman said.
Pham Thi Tuyet Vinh, a 42-year-old secondary school teacher, died immediately.
Nghe, a truck driver, told police he attacked his wife because she nagged at him all the time after he lost nearly 10,000 dollars in football betting.
Reduce league programmes says Beckenbauer
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| German football legend Franz Beckenbauer addresses a press conference on the Football World Cup 2006, hosted by Germany, in Basel 02 June 2004, ahead of a pre-Euro-2004 friendly match between Switzerland and Germany. |
Franz Beckenbauer believes the major footballing powers have slumped at Euro 2004 because their stars play too many league matches.
"The best-known players came to the Euro already tired because of the length and the intensity of their championships," said the German, who won the World Cup as a player and coach.
Players have to play so many games both for club and country and it can mount up to a maximum of around 80 matches," he added.
Italy, Spain, England, Germany and France all failed to make the semi-finals of the tournament.