June 8th, 2008
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Watch the Live streaming action of France VS Romania match on EURO 2008 on your TV and PCMatch 5 : France VS Romania
Group C
Date : Monday 9th June
Venue : Zurich - Letzigrund
Time : 18:00 (local)
France is going to play its first match on the EURO 2008 against Romania. France and Romania are both on Group C with Italy and Holland. The group seems to be the tightest one since two finalist of
Written by Sudip Kafle and Sujan Kafle on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Euro 2008 and Romania and euro-cup 2008 and france and watch live.
Czech Republic 1-0 Switzerland
So, not a bad game to kick off the tournament. The Swiss may not be one of the favoured teams, but they gave a good account of themselves overall, despite the loss. The Czechs took a while to get going, and although they had more quality than their opponents, I’d say they were lucky to come away with a win, and they needed a few good saves from Petr Cech to keep them in the game.
Switzerland, meanwhile, had a terrible bit of luck when captain Alexander Frei went down with a knee injury just before halftime. He had to leave the game, and — as you could probably guess from his devastated reaction — his tournament is over as well. That’s a huge blow, because you have to wonder who’s going to score their goals now, with only two proper strikers left in the squad. And that proved to be the problem in the second half, as despite a strong performance from the Swiss, it was the Czechs who eventually took the lead after 70 minutes. The ball was headed back in past the Swiss defence and Vaclav Sverkos, who’d come on earlier for Jan Koller — ran on to it to score.
More bad luck for Switzerland: they probably should have had a penalty for a handball by Tomas Ujfalusi late in the second half, but instead the referee played on, and first Tranquillo Barnetta had his shot brilliantly saved by Cech, and then Johan Vonlanthen whacked the rebound off the crossbar. Anyway, the result doesn’t bode well for their chances of progressing from the group. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, will have to step up their game a bit — i.e., come up with something other than lumping the ball up to Koller — if they want to get past Turkey and/or Portugal.
Portugal 2-0 Turkey
Apparently this is what you do if you’re suffering from a lack of strikers: get your goals from your central defenders. Pepe opened the scoring against Turkey in the 60th minute after a rampaging run up the middle of the pitch, playing a one-two with Nuno Gomes to get into the box and finishing well under pressure from the Turkish defender. And it was fitting that he was the one to score, after seeing an earlier header ruled out for a (correct but very close) offside call. Substitute Raul Meireles added a second goal for Portugal in stoppage time after a well-worked move, fed by Joao Moutinho on the edge of the box.
It was a pretty open, entertaining game to watch, with both teams more interested in attacking — or, in Turkey’s case, pressing forward and then throwing themselves to the ground instead of shooting — than defending. As for you-know-who, Turkey seemed to be double- and triple-teaming him, but he still showed a few flashes of brilliance, and was involved in the buildup to both goal. His most notable contribution was probably a dangerous free kick in the first half that was just barely tipped onto the post by Volkan. That, and possibly pouting when he realized that Simao’s jersey was even more skin-tight than his own.
Anyway, a much better start to the tournament for Portugal than last time around, when they lost to eventual champions Greece in the opening game. Turkey will feel that they have a decent shot at surviving the group, but they have to learn to take their chances — they had only one shot on target — rather than just falling over.
Next up in Group A: Turkey v. Switzerland and Portugal v. Czech Republic, both on Wednesday
Bad hair of the day award: Valon Behrami of Switzerland, who seems to have been a bit too enthusiastic with the Lady Clairol highlighting kit.
Written by Jen on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Czech Republic and Euro 2008 and Switzerland and Turkey and portugal.
Euro 2008- 3rd match
June 8, Group B- Croatia Vs Austria
Croatia defeated the co-hosts Austria in Group B match after Luka Modric scored in the 4th minute penalty. Austria playing their first European championship actually were on command as they were charging against the Croatian defence. It seems Austria at least deserved a point as they showed totally an attacking game.
Here is the Video
Written by Sudip Kafle and Sujan Kafle on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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Lucas Podolski scored one goal each in the first and second half as the favorites Germany won against Poland 2-0 in Group B match of Euro 2008. German goal strikers Podolski and Miroslav Klose who were both born in Poland showed no mercy for their motherland as one scored two goals and the next assisted in both of the two goals. Despite remaining on the back in second half, Germany defeated their
Written by Sudip Kafle and Sujan Kafle on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Euro 2008 and Germany and Lucas Podolski and Poland and euro-cup 2008.
Croatia 1 - Austria 0Add Croatians to the list of people not to invite over. For the second day in a row a former communist country showed up as a guest to the Euro party and started to steal shit from the host. And by "shit" I mean "match." Heavy favorites Croatia got a debatably gift penalty call (see what we did there... who doesn't love a party theme?) inside of 5 minutes then held on for the three points.
A bit reckless on the contact? Yes. Penalty? Maybe. Yellow card? No way (turns out the card was given to Emanuel Pogatetz for the protest, not to Rene Aufhauser for the challlenge). But Luka Modric converted, and the single goal held up.
The 90-something ranked Austrians probably deserved better, save for the critical fact that they neglected to score but, silver lining, they disposed of the notion that they would embarrass themselves as they flat outplayed Croatia in the second half.
Croatia, who often will just punch a team in the face until they relent found that the Austrians were happy to punch right back. In fact it was while Pogatetz was carrying the yellow and still pulled at [I think] Olic's shoulder not once but twice before clubbing him across the face with his forearm—should have been a second yellow and an ejection—at about the 30th minute that Croatia realized they might have to win on skill alone. And somewhat surprisingly, they didn't seem like they had enough of it (I know Eduardo led the qualifying group in scoring but is he really that important?).
Austria peppered keeper Pletikosa with chances, but failed to get a couple of headers down that might have netted the equalizer. My $.02, this was the most exciting match of the tourney so far. It was far from pretty, buy fuck if these two teams didn't run at each other for 90 straight.
Germany 2 - Poland 0
The really sad part about this is that with each successive encounter, Poland seems more convinced that they are going to beat Germany. Today's 2-0 quasi-methodical defeat brings Germany's running record to 12-0-4. Lukas Podolski had a brace off a fortuitous bounce and a couple of good looks at a hatty (Oh wait, the really, really sad part about this is that Podolski was born in Poland).
I didn't see the second goal live because my ESPN2 went out (along with ESPN, but Classic was still raging, strange). Was that national?
Anyway, Poland created some chances, but keeping with the letimotif of all teams having been shut-out, couldn't finish. I think that might be a tautology.
Too bad Johnnie Cochran is dead or he could have made a killer pre-game pep talk. "If Lehmann is in goal, you must score if you're a Pole." Yeah, shit that rhymes is always true.
Despite Jens showing in the first minute (ah, shades of the EPL opener against Fulham) that he was apt to blunder, Poland couldn't take advantage. They actually outshot Germany 11-9 (with a good number of the German shots coming late) but didn't make Jens have to handle enough of them.
Germany looks like a lock to advance, but given the other three teams' performances, Group B's bridesmaid derby is wideopen.
Linkage:
Looks like Spain won't be having any Cesc on the field. Not for starters anyway. I don't have the coaching credentials of Aragones (I'm also not quite as racist either) but this seems like a very bad idea.
Shocker. People drinking at the Euro.
Didier Drogba can't stand not being the center of attention.
If I weren't such a HTML 'tard I would have given the two photos cutlines of "My name is Luka" and "My name is Lukas" respectively. Go ahead, laugh. That shit is funny.
Written by Darkvader on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Austria and Croatia and Euro 2008 and Euro Trash and Germany and Poland and Precious Roy.
Last week, Spangly Princess had an interesting post about how, as female football bloggers, we’re sometimes reluctant to mention the attractiveness of the players, because we’re afraid that readers will then discount our opinions about the game itself. It’s something I worry about myself — I may talk about players’ hair, for example, but I try to keep the gushing about how lovely Xabi Alonso is to a minimum, for example.
Anyway, I mention all this as an aside to a bit of self-pimping: I recently participated in a Euro 2008 roundtable discussion organized by Dame of Extra Time over at Ladies…, in which we cover such essential topics as who’s most likely to win it all, which players are going to have a breakout tournament, the rapidly dwindling number of hotass Italian defenders, and why Spain are so pretty and yet so frustrating. Part I and Part II.
Written by Jen on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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The Spanish National Football Team had all the media climbing for
higher grounds to catch a glimpse of todays training session as
Coach Luis Aragones ordered that the training day be behind closed
doors. The idea was to get away from crowds of fans & concentrate
on all the tactical moves, as it looked like Aragones has already
chosen the starting 11 for their debut match next Tuesday in Group
D.
Spain begins its EURO 2008 journey against Russia next Tuesday at
18.00 (local time) & wishes to start well, as traditionally the Spaniards
start badly & thus begin going uphill from the start, a tradition they
wish to avoid this time around & begin with confidence.
Coach Aragones separated the squad into 2º teams with the speculated
line-up training away from the supposed reserves. Taking this observation
as the evidence & the clue, the starting line-up against Russia would
thus be :
Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila, Senna, Iniesta, Xavi,
Silva, Villa & Fernando Torres.
The only other speculation is that Aragones may have a trick up his sleeve& line up De La Red on the actual day. Stay tuned!
Written by STRIKER on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Spanish National Squad and euro-cup 2008.
The other day Peter Hill Wood, our chairman, said that he could count on one hand the number of players at Arsenal who REALLY love the club and most are in for the money.
It's obvious that most are in it for the
wonga. What can you do about that?
Nothing.
Its part of the attraction for some people to become a professional footballer and who can blame them? You see the things these players can possess with their wealth and its understandable that money plays a huge part.
Take a look at the Arsenal squad. They are very well paid at Arsenal, don't listen to this pauper bull-shit. Our players are looked after alright.
But who seems to have a genuine affection for Arsenal? Who really means it when they kiss the badge on the shirt after scoring?
I think the following players REALLY do love Arsenal.
SagnaFabregasToureSenderosVan
PersieGilberto
ClichyHoyteWalcottThose are the players to me who REALLY love the club. The money they earn helps of course, but those mentioned above mean it when they kiss the Arsenal badge to me.
Who do you think REALLY loves the club? The players who love Arsenal and who think money isn't everything.
Keep it
Goonerish.....
Written by Wrighty7 on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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ESPN's leadup to the Germany-Poland match is bound to have many WWII references. It's easy. I've done it and everybody else will as well. Plus, I don't think either country will forget. The fans have already
caused trouble, clashing last night with 7 arrested in Klagenfurt, Austria as the opposing fans got a bit rowdy.
As ESPN's Andy Gray, astutely pointed out, there really isn't much of a football rivalry between the two countries. Germany is better and manages to steal Poland's best players (see Klose, Miroslav; Podolski, Lucas). That said, Poland is bound to put up a good fight.
Lineups after the jump...plus some pictures...
Interesting note, there are 13 Polish players starting this match.
Poland
Germany's Stolen Poles
(G) Artur Boruc 1
(D) Jacek Bak 6
(D) Michal Zewlakow 14
(D) M. Wasilewski 13
(D) Pawel Golanski 4
(M) Jacek Krzynowek 8
(M) Maciej Zurawski 9
(M) M. Lewandowski 18
(M) Dariusz Dudka 5
(M) W. Lobodzinski 17
(F) Ebi Smolarek 7
Germany
Noch ein Bier, bitte.
1 Jens Lehmann (G)
21 C. Metzelder (D)
16 Philip Lahm (D)
4 Clemens Fritz (D)
17 Per Mertesacker (D)
2 Marcell Jansen (D)
8 Torsten Frings (M)
13 Michael Ballack (M)
11 Miroslav Klose (F)
20 Lukas Podolski (F)
9 Mario Gomez (F)
___________________________________________________________
Full Time Podolski proves too much for Poland as the only German Forward who can put the ball on frame. Klose and Gomez had their chances as well, but could not shoot. Lehmann, who had his gaffes, kept everything in front of him today.
72.00 Goal Yes, Podolski scored. Poland fails to clear, Klose whiffs, Podolski knocks it top corner. Game over. Germany 2-0
72.00Podolski scored? ESPN's feed is horrible.
64.00 Schweinsteiger, showing off his "Guy from Everclear" look, gets a Yellow card. My wife says the Polish guy flopped.
60.00 I was right about someone going after Podolski. Lewandowski takes a yellow card for the effort
51.00 Going to be less active this half--family obligations and what not.
46.00 Second half starts.
Half-Time Germany are deservedly in the lead, and should have at least one more in their total. Poland looked much better over the last ten minutes, pushing the Germans back into their own half. Lehmann looks so very rusty, and Boruc has yet to screw anything up. Hopefully, there will be a lively second half to look forward to.
45 +1 Podolski takes a hard foul, runs at the defender to yell at him, gets told by the ref to quit it, walks away, and falls down. Tosser.
45.00 1 minute of added time to came.
43.00 Poland are playing with possession right now, but are not pressing the German back line.
41.00 Trooper, you can come back. I was just kidding.
39.00 Yellow Card Smolarek receives a scare after the ref initially takes out the red card for him. Hard foul on Mertesacker the reason.
37.00 Beenhakker looks like he's right out of Poltergeist. Oh, and Germany miss another good chance by not putting the ball on frame.
35.00 Poland are brightening up and starting to play. Zurawski had an open shot from 15 after Lobodzinski squirmed free on the right, but he duffed it.
33.00 Game really being played in midfield for the last few minutes.
30.00 Germany are choking off the game in the back, content with the game as it stands.
28.00 Decent attempt form the right for Poland. Lobodzinski's shot smothered by Lehmann.
26.00 Germany stream forward, and Fritz's cross gets tipped out for a corner. Podolski takes the corner and kicks to no one.
24.00 Yes, PR, me too.
23.00 Thanks to Trooper for doing my job in the comments.
20.00 GOAL As I was writing that the game had slowed, Germany does a mirror image of Gomez's miss. Klose gets in behind again, and passes to Podolski for the easy tap-in. 1-0 Germany
14.00 Lehmann really looks out of it, doesn't he?
13.00 Yes, Germany's looking pretty strong. I'm surprised there haven't been more hard fouls from Poland. The Poles look rather meek out there.
10.00 Podolski dives, looking for a free kick right outside the box. Why wasn't his head in that photo?
09.00 Polish cross not met correctly in front of the net. Good chance goes begging.
08.00 Poland are playing a really high line, and Germany are attacking it with both Forwards and Midfielders looking for long balls through. That does not bode well for the Poles.
06.00 Gomez was offside the whole time. The question is whether the ref would have called it.
04.00 Mario Gomez misses an open net on a pass from Klose. Poland's defense was nowhere to be found.
03.00 Poland look bright early, but Germany's defense isn't allowing any breakthroughs. And then a couple of hard Polish fouls on Germany.
1.00 Krzynowek just went over from 18 after Jens spilled the ball. Really trying to make Wenger miss him, huh?
Kick-off 4-5-1 for the Poles. Not much chance that they are really trying to outscore Germany tonight.
Kick-off Croatia did not look that good today, did they? England fans have to feel even worse after that display. Oh, and to The Fan's Attic, that is my favorite German picture ever. Thank you.
-05.00 ü75 here, UF's resident Polack to guide you through this game for as long as I can hold out. Being at the beach will put a crimp in how long I can go, but until then, here I am.
Written by Darkvader on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Germany and Live Blogs and Open Thread and Poland and The Fan's Attic and ü75.
Roger Federer is a Champion there is no doubt, but Spanish World
Nº2 RAFAEL NADAL is unbeatable till now on a clay court. So
much so that the Nadal semi-trailer crushed in 3º staright sets,
6-1, 6-3, 6-0, Federer to win his 4ºth straight FRENCH OPEN title
with only 22 years of age. The Spaniard equals the record set by
Swede Bjorn Borg with his 4ºth straight win to enter the French Open
leyends catagory. Simply amazing.
Rafael Nadal is experiencing a sweet period of form & today was
simply bliss. Roger Federer was not at his best but he also could
not find ways to stop the Spaniah clay court bulldozer.
Now it´s on to Wimbeldon, different surface & different conditions.
Good luck, its time to now expand & evolve on other surfaces.
Written by STRIKER on June 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on French Open and Rafael Nadal and Tennis.
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