Off the pitch
History favours Portuguese over Dutch
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| Portugese fans dance Samba as they celebrate their team's victory over England at Rossio square in central Lisbon 24 June 2004. England's dreams of glory at Euro 2004 ended in heartbreak 24 June after more than two hours of gut-wrenching drama ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal. After finishing 90 minutes of regulation time and two 15-minute periods of extra-time tied at 2-2, the two sides were finally divided by the heroics of Portugal's goalkeeper Ricardo. |
If history is any guide - and in the unpredictable world of football it likely is not - Portugal should have the edge over the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-final in Lisbon.
The two nations have previously met eight times with Portugal winning four, drawing three and losing just one, while the tournament hosts also knocked the 'Oranje' out of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.
The sole Dutch victory came 13 years ago in a European Championship qualifier.
The last meeting of the two countries came in April last year, Kluivert again on target before Simao Sabrosa levelled.
Collina contemplating move to Premiership
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| Italian referee Pierluigi Collina gestures during the Euro 2000 quarter-final match between France and Spain in Bruges 25 June 2000. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO EPA/OLIVER BERG/ma/rc |
Italian referee Pierluigi Collina admits he hasn't ruled out the possibility of taking charge of Premiership matches next season.
The popular bald-headed referee must retire from Italy's Serie A because the Italian retirement age is 45 and the Football Association's vice chairman David Dein has suggested he move to England.
"It is too far away for me to think about that," Collina told the BBC.
"I have a year to think about what I am going to do. Now is not the time for decisions because I am very busy."
Collina will take charge of the Greece-Czech Republic semi-final at Euro 2004 on Thursday.
Gullit defends Advocaat
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| Dutch football coach Dick Advocaat whistles , 24 June 2004 during a team training session at Albufeira stadium, some 40 km outside Faro during the European nations championship. The Netherlands won 3-0 vs Latvia last night and qualified for the quarter-final of the Euro 2004 to play Sweden 26 June. AFP PHOTO - YURI KADOBNOV |
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat deserved some criticism over his decisions at Euro 2004 said former great Ruud Gullit but some of the abuse was not acceptable.
"He made a mistake with a bad substitution bringing on Paul Bosvelt for Robben and he accepted that.
But that can happen to any coach, but he knew what to do in the face of the criticism and the result is there for all to see as we are still in the competition,"
"Now, however, when the attacks become personal (some fans suggested Advocaat should be hanged or stoned while others collected money so they could buy him an early ticket home) that is out of order.
French players gunning for Zidane
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| French captain Zinedine Zidane loosens his shirt, 25 June 2004 during their European Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose de Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO ARIS MESSINI |
The fallout from France's disappointing campaign continues with reports that striker Thierry Henry was plotting along with his fellow French internationals to oust Zinedine Zidane.
According to Le Parisien Henry is keen to assume Zidane's role as France's leading player and start preparing for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers where they are grouped with the Republic of Ireland.
Henry wants the team to be built round him as he believes the way the team was built to suit the talents of Zidane lessened the impact he could make in front of goal.
Robson bemused by bizarre Euro
Former England coach Sir Bobby Robson reflected on what he termed a bizarre tournament but does not know why the so-called giants had gone out so early.
"Who would have said that France, England, Spain and Italy would have been gone from Euro before the semi-finals!
"No-one would have believed that at the beginning of the tournament and I also do not know how to explain it.
"Certain pundits say that the players were tired but Portugal also have players who had a difficult and long season with Maniche, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Costinha winning the Champions League with FC Porto".
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.
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.