Euro 2008
 

The tournament is not far away, as being a greek god i hope greece win it again after they won it at 150/1 in 2004.

I think its going to be spains year they havent won anything in a while.

there is 20k comp on nsw tab for who ever is intrested

European Championship - Euro 2008 Winner
Winner Online Betting Closes 04:45 Mon 30 Jun 2008
NSW Fixed Odds updated at: 7:08:13 AM
Sportsbet No Selection (default) Price
19904 GERMANY 5.00
19901 ITALY 6.50
19903 SPAIN 6.50
19902 PORTUGAL 8.00
19906 FRANCE 9.00
19912 CROATIA 13.00
19905 HOLLAND 13.00
19910 CZECH REPUBLIC 19.00
19917 GREECE 21.00
19919 RUSSIA 26.00
19909 SWITZERLAND 26.00
19918 ROMANIA 41.00
19908 SWEDEN 41.00
19913 TURKEY 51.00
19920 POLAND 61.00
19915 AUSTRIA 101.00

greece back to back

portugal not bad either at 8.00

Hey Apollo, great value with most of the top teams.
19904 GERMANY 5.00
19901 ITALY 6.50
19903 SPAIN 6.50
19906 FRANCE 9.00
19902 PORTUGAL 8.00
19905 HOLLAND 13.00

france no chnace there too old / spain are pretenders / holland in a tough tough group.

even like a croatia could go far

Definately Germany to win this comp as nothing else really stands out to me.

Portugal are at the best odds IMO.

Febregas and Ronaldo are in great form.

Portugal 'on the right path'
 

June 08, 2008

GROUP A favourites Portugal have made a winning start to Euro 2008, defeating Turkey 2-0 in an entertaining match in Geneva, Switzerland.

Portugal defender Pepe opened the scoring after a fine attacking movement begun by Cristiano Ronaldo on the left. Pepe charged forward, exchanged passes with striker Nuno Gomes and raced into the Turkey penalty area to scuff the ball past goalkeeper Volkan Demirel in the 61st minutes.

The Brazilian-born defender also headed the ball into the net in the first half, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Portugal wrapped up victory three minutes into injury-time, when Joao Moutinho bore down on goal before feeding substitute Raul Meireles, who knocked the ball into the net with the helpless Volkan out of his goal.

"I can hardly describe the emotion I felt (when I scored), especially after the disallowed effort," Pepe said.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the victory meant his side were halfway towards reaching the quarter-finals.

"We are on the right path," said the Brazilian.

"We won the match and are 50 per cent towards qualification.

"We needed six points so 50 per cent after one match is excellent."

Portugal had the lion's share of chances at Stade de Geneve although Turkey regularly posed a threat to Ricardo's goal.

Nuno Gomes hit the woodwork for the second time in the match when he headed on to the bar minutes after the first goal following a curling cross by Ronaldo.

The dangerous Ronaldo had almost put Portugal in front in the 38th minute when his free-kick from way out on the left skidded off the turf and hit the far post.

Turkey created several half-chances from fast breaks in the early stages.

Tuncay Sanli went down in the Portuguese box as he chased a cross from the right but referee Herbert Fandel was quick to wave play on and admonish the forward.

Early in the second half Turkey had a penalty appeal turned down when Nihat Kahveci went down under a challenge.

In Portugal's next attack Simao Sabrosa was fouled by Gokhan Zan just outside the box, the ball running free for the luckless Nuno Gomes to strike the post with the net at his mercy.

"It would be great if we play really well against Czech Republic (in Geneva on Wednesday) because then we will have advanced to the next phase," added Scolari.

"We wanted a bit of breathing space, a bit of leeway, and that's what we got today."

Czechs gatecrash Swiss party
 

June 08, 2008

A LATE, opportunist goal by striker Vaclav Sverkos enabled the Czech Republic to kick off their Euro 2008 campaign with a scarcely-deserved 1-0 over co-hosts Switzerland.

A match overshadowed by what appeared to be a serious injury to Switzerland's captain and leading goalscorer, Alexander Frei, was settled in the 70th minute.

Having cleared their lines from a corner, the advancing Swiss back four was caught out when the ball was knocked back over their heads, enabling substitute Sverkos to sprint clear before beating goalkeeper Diego Benaglio with the outside of his right boot from 12 yards.

It was a fine piece of finishing but a cruel blow for a Swiss side that was repeatedly frustrated by their opponents' outstanding goalkeeper, Petr Cech.

Further agony followed when substitute Johan Venlanthen's close-range shot came back off the bar with Cech finally beaten.

Swiss coach Jakob Kuhn, who fears Frei will be ruled out of the rest of the tournament once the results of a scan on his knee are known, said he was proud of his players' display.

“I told them they can leave the stadium with their heads held high,'' Kuhn said.

“Now we have to forget about this game and concentrate on the next match, against Turkey.

“Our chances of going through have certainly not increased but we still believe. Everything is still possible and we are not going to give up. We must build on what we did here today.''

Czech captain Tomas Ujfalusi admitted it had been a shaky display from his side.

“The most important thing is that we got the win,'' he said.

“We made some errors but overall our defence held out.

“We waited for our chance and when it came we took it. We have to continue like that.''

Manager Karel Bruckner added: “We did a good job. The first match is always very important and three points represents an excellent start. We were not at our best but we can play better and we will play better.''

The fact that Kuhn's squad had not played a competitive match in nearly two years was belied by a high-tempo start which might have yielded a goal after barely two minutes, when Frei's shot slid narrowly wide of Cech's right-hand post with the goalkeeper struggling to cover.

That set the tone for a first-half in which a combination of energetic pressing by the Swiss and the penetration of Lazio's Valon Behrami down the right flank restricted the Czechs to a handful of counter-attacks, their only moment of menace coming from David Jarolim's deflected cross which almost caught out Benaglio in the 13th minute.

The co-hosts, in contrast, might easily have been ahead by the break but for Cech.

Having blocked goalbound shots from Behrami and Gokhan Inler, the Chelsea goalkeeper came swiftly off his line to deny Frei at close range after the Swiss captain had been allowed to run on to Benaglio's box-to-box punt.

Frei gave one more demonstration of why he has plundered 35 goals in 60 appearances for his country - a swerving drive from 30 yards that Cech could only beat away -before tragedy struck three minutes from the break.

As he contested a 50-50 ball with Czech right-back Zdenek Grygera, the Swiss captain's left knee appeared to lock against his opponent's leg and he slumped to the turf in agony.

Minutes later he was limping from the pitch in tears, the hush that had descended on the St-Jakob Park stadium telling its own story.

Frei's replacement, the veteran Hakan Yakin, made his presence felt within a minute of the restart, drawing Tomas Galasek into a trip on the edge of the area and then curling the resulting free-kick inches over.

Nearly an hour had elapsed before the Czechs finally generated their first clear chance, Libor Sionko glancing Marek Jankulovski's free-kick wide after the inswinging delivery had found him unmarked six yards out.

Switzerland responded by carving out an equally gilt-edged opportunity of their own, Hakan planting his header wide from eight yards after a fine cross from overlapping right-back Stephan Lichsteiner.

The cost of that miss was to become apparent minutes later when Sverkos, a second-half substitute for the ineffective Jan Koller, fired the Czechs into the lead.

Switzerland battled to the end but a bitterly frustrating evening was to be summed up when Vonlanthen's follow-up crashed against the woodwork after Cech had parried Tranquillo Barnetta's low shot from the edge of the area.

Early penalty enough for Croatia
 

June 09, 2008

CROATIA got their Euro 2008 campaign off to a winning start when a fourth-minute Luka Modric penalty proved enough to beat co-hosts Austria 1-0 in the opening game of Group B.

Croatia were well worth their win against a team placed 92nd in FIFA's world rankings and set the pace before group rivals Germany and Poland met in Klagenfurt later on Sunday (1845 GMT).

Austria have been widely tipped to lose all three games in their first appearance at a European Championship. Though they were keen enough, their disjointed efforts betrayed a lack of competitive action and they only came alive in the last 20 minutes.

Croatia, noisily backed by around 20,000 of their fans in the team's red and white chequered shirts, arrived at the tournament full of confidence after seeing off England from their qualifying group.

The decisive moment came minutes after their supporters had taken their seats after the anthems.

Ivica Olic was chasing a hopeful ball towards the byline when he was clumsily brought down by Rene Aufhauser and Modric converted the spot kick straight down the middle.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said: "We are happy to collect three points from the opening match which is always tough.

"I am not entirely happy with the performance in the second half, but we were very good in the opening period and should have led by a bigger margin at half-time.

"Although we were on the back foot after the interval, we had several promising breaks."

Summing up, he said: "We are delighted because we got the start we wanted and it will give us a lot of confidence. I have to congratulate my players for the effort."

Austria defender Martin Stranzl said: "It's not really that bitter of a defeat. We played very well after the first 25 minutes. Unfortunately we weren't able to score.

"They got the penalty early and then there were two situations later where there could have been a handball called against them. But the referee didn't make the call. That's football."

Modric's goal immediately settled the Croatians, whose neat-passing midfielders began coolly knocking the ball around.

Olic and Mladen Petric both went close to touching in a second after a dangerous low Darijo Srna free kick, before Petric, unmarked in the area, blasted wide after a deep cross from Vedran Corluka.

Austria looked shell-shocked by the early setback and only late in the half did they build any sort of attacking pressure, their best effort coming when Joachim Standfest steered a header just over the bar.

The home side were more positive after the break, pinning Croatia back for long periods and swinging in some dangerous crosses. But a poor final ball too often let them down.

The introduction of Umit Korkmaz for the last 20 minutes added some bite to the Austrian attack as they built to a rousing finale, but Croatia held out.

Podolski brace does the job
 

June 09, 2008

POLISH-born forward Lukas Podolski ended Germany's 12-year wait for a European Championship win on Sunday with two goals as his side's Euro 2008 campaign began with a 2-0 win over Poland.

Having turned 23 last Wednesday, Podolski combined with Germany's other Polish-born forward Miroslav Klose for his first goal on 20 minutes and followed up with an unstoppable volley on 72 minutes.

After Group B rivals Croatia had earlier got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over co-hosts Austria in Vienna, the result puts Germany on top of their group.

The last time Germany had won a European Championship game was way back in June 30 1996, when they beat the Czech Republic to win Euro 1996 at London's Wembley Stadium.

There had been some controversy last Wednesday when Polish tabloid Super Express printed a mocked up picture of Poland coach Leo Beenhakker holding the severed heads of opposite number Joachim Loew and Germany captain Michael Ballack.

Both sides had played down any problem, but 140 German fans were arrested in the city centre, although well-behaved fans in the stadium lent their passionate support.

Ballack said the Germans had been their traditional efficient selves in sealing the points.

"I think we played well. It's always difficult - you never know where you are before the first game of a tournament. I think we deserved victory. From the start we were aggressive," the Chelsea star told the BBC.

The Poles were making their European Championship debut, but are still yet to beat Germany in 16 meetings between the sides since 1933, with the Germans now claiming 12 wins with four draws between the neighbours.

Beenhakker had opted for five in midfield, with Euzebiusz Smolarek as the lone striker up front for Poland.

Loew had gone for a traditional 4-4-2 formation, keeping midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger - a star of the 2006 World Cup - on the bench until half-time, playing Podolski behind the two German strikers.

The move paid off as Podolski gave Germany an extra attacking option supporting front men Miroslav Klose, the top scorer at the last World Cup, who was partnering VfB Stuttgart hot-shot Mario Gomez up front.

After both sides squandered early chances, the trio combined to give Germany the break through they craved on 20 minutes.

Gomez flicked the ball over the defence for Klose to draw the goalkeeper before giving his Bayern Munich team-mate Podolski a simple tap in on 20 minutes past Poland's Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

Poland's best chance of the first half - and ultimately the game - came when midfielder Wojciech Lobodzinski put in a superb pass, but Maciej Zurawski pulled his shot wide.

Polish striker Smolarek picked up the first booking on 40 minutes when he tripped Per Mertsacker.

During the half-time break, Beenhakker swapped his captain Maciej Zurawski for Brazilian-born Roger Guerreiro, but he made little impact and Lobodzinski earned Poland's second yellow card on 64 minutes for tripping Podolski.

Germany were dominating by this stage and when the ball fell to Podolski on 72 minutes, he drove his shot into the top corner of the net to give his side some breathing space.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann produced a string of saves as Poland applied some late pressure, but his defence held.

The result means Group B's two unbeaten sides will meet Thursday when Germany return here to face Croatia.

Ballack said he was looking forward to playing Croatia but cautioned: "I think it's an open game - both teams are very strong."

France begin with scoreless draw
 

June 10, 2008

FRANCE did their chances of advancing from a tough Group C no favours when they drew 0-0 with Romania in a tight, tactical affair in their opening match at Euro 2008.

The 2006 World Cup runners-up, who will also face the Netherlands and world champions Italy in what is widely seen as the toughest group of the tournament, looked nervous and failed to breach a tight Romania defence.

France started the match at the Letzigrund stadium without striker Thierry Henry, who received a knock in a warm-up game, and midfielder and captain Patrick Vieira, sidelined by a thigh injury.

Neither side made any headway against some very tight defending, with only one shot on target in the entire match – steered straight at Romania keeper Bogdan Lobont by France striker Karim Benzema.

France coach Raymond Domenech said: "We know it is a complicated group and Romania are not there to do anybody any favours. We were nervous, we could not express ourselves fully, it's often like that in the first match.

"The situation we're in now is that every match will be a knock-out round.

"If we play with too much caution, something will be missing at the end. There are two matches left and six points to take. I'm neither pessimistic nor optimistic."

Though his strikers fired blanks, Domenech was pleased with the untroubled time had by his goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

"The positive thing is that Greg did not have one save to make," he said. "We managed to control the match, but we were not dangerous enough."

Romania coach Victor Piturca said: "Personally I would have wanted the three points since France may no longer be at the level they used to be. You could see that today.

"Our goal was three points but in the end it was a fair result."

The first 45 minutes featured few highlights with Romania concentrating on defending and France dominating play but creating few clear chances.

Nicolas Anelka, playing in place of Henry, shot just wide on nine minutes and headed the ball over the bar after the half-hour mark in two of France's few threatening moves.

France had another chance on 17 minutes, Lobont rushing out to deny Florent Malouda before Anelka fired wide with an angled shot from the edge of the box.

Romania also showed signs of nerves, collecting three yellow cards in the first half, but stood firm at the back to keep alive their chances of making the quarter-finals.

The second half started in more promising fashion for France with Malouda twisting his way past two defenders and racing into the box to shoot just wide with an angled shot.

The pressure was back on Romania when Benzema fired at Lobont after collecting a Franck Ribery cross shortly before the hour.

Romania kept their cool, though, demonstrating how they had topped their qualifying group ahead of the Netherlands and showing their determination to give their group rivals a hard time.

France, looking for the right balance between ageing stalwarts and exciting newcomers, need to step up a gear in their next outings if they are to survive the group stage.

Dutch slay world champions
 

June 10, 2008

THE Netherlands' 30-year wait for a victory over Italy ended in glorious fashion in Berne as Marco van Basten's side rampaged their way to a 3-0 defeat of the world champions.

A goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy - which Italy claimed should have been ruled offside - may have kick-started the rout but there was no doubting that the Dutch, superior in every area, fully deserved a victory that was completed by Wesley Sneijder's close-range strike and a late breakaway goal by the outstanding Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Uncharacteristically shaky in defence, the Italians were given a painful reminder of the importance of their World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury in training last week.

Marco Materazzi took Cannavaro's place in the centre of defence but filling the former world player of the year's boots was to prove beyond the Inter Milan veteran, who was humiliatingly substituted 10 minutes into the second half.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said his men had to move on and look forward.

"The game started badly for us and ended up worse but it is already history.

"We made mistakes and paid for them but now we have to look forward to the Romania game, which is going to be critical now," Donadoni said.

The Dutch themselves were exultant.

"It's a great start for us. We must keep going now," said striker Dirk Kuyt.

"We've given everything we've got and it's a great result for us. But it's the first match and there's another two tough matches to come."

Austria's refereeing commission chairman Gerhard Kapl insisted after the game that the referee was "100 per cent correct without a doubt" not to rule the Netherlands' first goal offside.

He said van Nistelrooy was played onside by Italian defender Christian Panucci, who had been injured moments earlier and who was behind the goalline as Van Nistelrooy fired home.<p>

Kapl said the law stipulated that "an opposing player cannot be offside when one of the last two defenders has left the field of play," as in the case of Panucci.

The first clear indication of the extent to which the Italians would miss Cannavaro came after quarter of an hour, when van Nistelrooy got in behind Materazzi only to be let down by a heavy first touch as he attempted to go round Buffon.

Materazzi made partial amends by heading Sneijder's free-kick from the left over his own bar. But there was no such let-off for the Italians when Rafael van der Vart swung in a similar delivery from the opposite flank minutes later.

Buffon could only palm the ball away at his back post and when the ball was rolled back to Sneijder the midfielder unleashed a fierce low drive that van Nistelrooy turned into the net from three metres out.

As the striker was clearly offside, the ensuing protests may have been justified but their only result was a yellow card for Luca Toni.

Five minutes later the Italians found themselves in deeper trouble after a move that suggests Total Football is alive and well in the Netherlands.

Having cleared Andrea Pirlo's corner off his own line, van Bronckhurst immediately sprinted forward to take possession once more in the acres of space that had opened up down the left.

The Barcelona defender's cross was knocked down by Kuyt from beyond the back post and Sneijder, having stolen a yard on Materazzi, lashed the bouncing ball in between Buffon's left glove and the near post.

The world champions could offer little in response, their one real moment of menace before the break coming when Antonio di Natale's volley bounced through the legs of Khalid Boulahrouz with the result that Edwin van der Sar needed two attempts to smother the ball.

Van Nistelrooy should have extended the Dutch lead a minute before the break after Sneijder's superb pass once again put him in behind Materazzi.

From just inside the box, the striker pushed his shot towards the bottom corner only to see it ricocheted off Buffon's leg and up over the bar.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, Donadoni had decided radical surgery was required for his malfunctioning back four.

Materazzi was hauled off, Fabio Grosso introduced at left-back with Gianluigi Zambrotta switching sides to allow right-back Christian Panucci to move into the centre.

Alessandro Del Piero was also thrown into the fray and the Juventus forward's prodding helped the Italians finally display some of their true quality.

But after Toni had lifted their best chance of the night over the bar, van der Sar produced superb stops to keep out Grosso's low drive and one of Pirlo's trademark free-kicks in quick succession.

Inevitably gaps were being left at the back and the Dutch took advantage with another counter-attack move of breathtaking fluency that finished with van Bronckhorst playing the overlapping Kuyt into space inside the box.

Buffon blocked the Liverpool striker's shot but he was able to collect the loose ball and chip it into the area for van Bronckhorst to head home.

Poor starts are nothing new for Italy but, on this evidence, a World Cup and Euro double looks beyond Donadoni's men.

Ibrahimovic special floors Greece
 

June 11, 2008

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal for almost three years to send Sweden on the way to a 2-0 Euro 2008 win over champions Greece in Salzburg.

The striker, who last found the net for his country in October 2005, combined with partner Henrik Larsson to drive in a superb shot from the edge of the box after 67 minutes to break the deadlock in a dull game.

Petter Hansson scrambled the second goal five minutes later to put Sweden level on points with Spain, who beat Russia 4-1 in the other Group D game earlier.

"It was a difficult game today," Ibrahimovic told reporters. "We won the game and that was the most important thing.

"I feel very happy and it couldn't have begun better. It wasn't an easy game for the strikers because they played with central defenders."

Angelos Haristeas, scorer of the goal that won the 2004 title and one of six Greece survivors from that Lisbon final, had an early sight of goal after seven minutes when he cut in past two defenders on the right but scuffed his low shot.

Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson also beat out an awkward, bouncing shot from Greece captain Angelos Basinas but spent most of his time watching from afar as the holders played possession football in their own half.

Sweden were neat in possession and always looking to release their re-formed strike partnership of Ibrahimovic and Larsson, the 36-year-old out of international retirement for a final swansong.

Both men, however, struggled to shake off the muscular attention of centre backs Traianos Dellas and Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Larsson once becoming the meat in a sandwich when the three climbed for a high ball.

Ibrahimovic stole a yard after 32 minutes to reach a hopeful Fredrik Ljungberg punt but his back-header went over.

The game changed when Larsson laid the ball back into the path of Ibrahimovic, who struck unerringly to end a 14-game goal drought in spectacular style.

Hansson then somehow forced the second over the line after a goalmouth melee.

"We made decisive mistakes on two occasions," said Greece coach Otto Rehhagel.

"The Swedes pressed a lot. We failed to exert pressure ourselves. We did not have that fighting spirit at the key moments."

Asked about Greece's approach for the next match against Russia on Saturday, he added: "We must show something different, we must."

Spain thump Hiddink's Russia
 

June 11, 2008

DAVID Villa notched the first hat-trick of the tournament to help Spain hammer Russia 4-1 in their Euro 2008 opener in Innsbruck, Austria.

Villa grabbed his first when he steered the ball into an open goal after fellow striker Fernando Torres drew goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev out of his net in the 20th minute.

The 26-year-old Villa added the second before half-time, stroking the ball home after being put through by Andres Iniesta, before making it 3-0 when he tucked in a low shot after jinking past a defender on 75 minutes.

Russia pulled one back with a header from Roman Pavlyuchenko before substitute Cesc Fabregas dived to nod Spain's fourth goal from close range in injury time after more good work by the inspirational Villa.

"It was great to get three goals and it is a good start for the team," Villa told reporters.

"It was important to win this one but we have to remember it is only the first of three (Group D) games."

Spain, who beat Russia 1-0 in their opening match at Euro 2004, made a confident start to the tie under stormy skies at the Tivoli Neu stadium.

They quickly settled into their patient short passing game and had a couple of early chances, Torres sending a shot skidding wide in the eighth minute and Villa scooping an effort over the bar.

Russia also threatened with Yuri Zhirkov and Pavlyuchenko proving a handful for Spain's back four.

Spain, however, broke the deadlock when Torres raced on to a 30-metre pass from Joan Capdevila.

The striker made the most of a lucky bounce as he tried to beat defender Denis Kolodin before setting up Villa.

Russia almost equalised two minutes later when Konstantin Zyryanov fired a shot against the post.

Torres had a couple of half chances to extend Spain's lead but it was live-wire Valencia marksman Villa who went on to steal the spotlight.

"I am happy but I think we were a bit fortunate in the first half," said Spain coach Luis Aragones.

"They pressed us hard but we got that first goal on the break.

"Villa is a brilliant player but so is Torres when he's got space.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink said: "We were caught on the counter attack by our own mistakes.

"We were punished from very naive situations. That's a harsh lesson and I hope we can learn very fast from our mistakes."

For the first time in the tournament no yellow cards were shown.

Ronaldo stars in Portugal win
 

June 12, 2008

CRISTIANO Ronaldo, tipped by many to become Euro 2008's player of the tournament, scored one goal and made another to give Portugal a 3-1 win over Czech Republic in Group A.

The victory at Stade de Geneve put Portugal firmly on top of the group with six points and within touching distance of a quarter-final berth.

With the game level at 1-1, Ronaldo struck in the 63rd minute with a firm shot from a pass by Deco and then set up Ricardo Quaresma to add the third in stoppage time.

"It's a very good feeling," Ronaldo said.

"We've almost reached our first goal which is to get to the next stage. I'm very happy I was able to contribute with a goal.

"We played well. The Czechs played really well during the first half. It was very hard to penetrate their defence.

"We created a lot of chances and played as a unit. If we keep on playing like that we've got a good chance of doing well in this tournament."

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was also satisfied with his team's performance.

"I am pleased with the commitment and dedication the team showed," said the Brazilian.

"We had to suffer, but we played well. This shows that we prepared in the right way."

Portugal began better and after midfield probing by both teams, they went ahead in their first foray into Petr Cech's area in the eighth minute.

Ronaldo sped through the defence and tried to round Cech. The goalkeeper blocked with his foot but the ball ran free to Deco on the left who put it in the net at the second attempt.

The goal stung the Czechs into action.

Libor Sionko equalised nine minutes later after the winger had won a corner with a penetrating attacking run down the right. Sionko then powered a header past Ricardo from Jaroslav Plasil's corner.

Czech Republic were far more enterprising and sharp than against the Swiss on Saturday with a Marek Matejovsky at the helm and striker Milan Baros trying to unsettle Portugal's Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho.

The Czechs were strong on the wings, forcing Ronaldo to try attacking down the middle where he brought a diving save from Cech with a shot from outside the area.

A Ronaldo free kick just before halftime was one of five Portugese shots on target in the first half to just one for Czech Republic.

The Czechs could have gone ahead minutes after the interval when Matejovsky set up Sionko for a low cross from the right that went across the face of goal untouched.

Close to the hour Cech made a good save from Simao Sabrosa's point-blank shot as the Czechs sat back soaking up pressure.

Czech captain Tomas Ujfalusi was just wide when he glanced a right wing corner with his head towards the far post minutes before Ronaldo struck.

Ronaldo then finished off a breakaway by squaring the ball for Quaresma to steer into an empty net.

Turks come from behind
 

June 12, 2008

ARDA Turan has ended Switzerland's interest in Euro 2008 in heartbreaking fashion, capping a man-of-the-match display with a stoppage-time goal that gave Turkey a 2-1 win in Basel.

Just as it seemed the co-hosts had done enough to stay alive in the competition, Arda broke clear on the left, cut inside and beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio from the edge of the area with the help of a cruel deflection off the boot of centre-back Patrick Muller.

The goal was harsh on the Swiss, who were left to count the cost of wasting the chances they had to kill off the Turks long before the dramatic denouement.

"It is a wonderful feeling," Turkey coach Fatih Terim said.

"The players needed this for their confidence, and I congratulate them on their incredible effort."

Turkey can now join Group A leaders Portugal in the quarter-finals by beating Czech Republic in their final game.

"This win has given us a lot of confidence for the last game," Terim said. "Today is the begininng of the Euro for us. It was not easy, the conditions were difficult, and Switzerland are a very strong team, playing at home. So was an important win."

Hakan Yakin, one of three players in the Swiss side with family roots in Turkey, gave Jakob Kuhn's side a first-half lead. But the veteran playmaker also wasted two glorious chances to claim a second goal for his side, who were pegged back when substitute Semih Senturk headed home an equaliser just before the hour mark.

"It is hard to find the words to say how terribly disappointed we are," Hakan said. "The weather played a role, it was a bit of a lottery in the first half and in the end the luckier of the two sides won."

Kuhn described his squad's exit as "painful".

"The disappointment is huge, of course, but I can't criticise anyone," he said. "The team played as well as they could and they lost two matches in a rather unfortunate way. I'm not saying we were better but we had the chances to score a second goal."

Portugal's earlier victory over the Czechs had simplified matters for Switzerland, who kicked off knowing that defeat would mean the end of their tournament.

Injury took its toll on both sides, with the co-hosts deprived of captain and leading goalscorer Alexander Frei and his usual strike partner, Marco Streller, with the result that Hakan was partnered in attack by 19-year-old Eren Derdiyok.

Turkey were missing regular captain Emre Belozoglu and key defender Gokhan Zan for what was the first meeting between the two countries since their play-off for a place at the last World Cup ended in a mass brawl.

The pre-match suggestions that that incident was all water under the bridge was belied by the ferocity of the early exchanges, but a torrential downpour drew the sting from the encounter.

Swistzerland adapted better to the water-logged surface, thanks largely to the marshalling of Gokhan Inler.

The midfielder was first to test Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel's handling, with a skidding long-range effort, and it was his crossfield pass that gave Hakan the opportunity to force the keeper into a smart save at his near post.

Volkan also did well to keep out Tranquillo Barnetta's free-kick before Arda struck the woodwork at the other end, although the Turkish midfielder knew little about it as Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio's punched clearance from Nihat Kahveci's free-kick rebounded off his head and against the post.

The direct Swiss approach paid off with just over half an hour gone, when Philippe Senderos's punt landed in the Turkish penalty area, where the sodden turf stopped the ball, Derdiyok skipped around the rushing Volkan and squared the ball across the saturated goalmouth for Hakan to tap in at the back post.

Hakan was guilty three minutes later of the miss of the tournament, after Valon Behrami's low cross from the right found him in an almost identical position. Astonishingly, the most technically gifted player on the pitch contrived to slice the ball wide from three metres

Such a flagrant miss was always like to prove costly, and Turkey, who switched to a three-man forward line with the introduction of Semih at the break, capitalised on the let-off 11 minutes into the second half.

Nihat swung in a cross from the left and Semih rose unchallenged to head the ball past Benaglio from close range.

Hakan had another clear sight of goal with seven minutes to play, but he side-footed his shot straight at Volkan, and, with the hosts straining for the winner, Turkey made their superior finishing count at the death.

Vastic makes Poles pay the penalty
 

June 13, 2008

CROATIAN-born Austrian player of the year Ivica Vastic became the oldest scorer in Euro championships history as he converted an injury-time penalty to give the co-hosts a 1-1 draw with Poland and ironically send his Croatia compatriots into the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.

The 38-year-old - who also scored the last time Austria appeared in a major finals at the 1998 World Cup in France - slotted home to keep the hosts' hopes of making the quarter-finals alive , though they will have to beat Germany to do so.

The Poles, who were incredulous at English referee Howard Webb's decision, had earlier taken the lead through 26-year-old Brazilian-born striker Roger Guerreiro, who only became a naturalised Pole in March.

The Austrians started brightly with captain Andreas Ivanschitz - whose romantic life has featured largely in the papers of late - having two shots at goal, one sailing harmlessly wide while his 32-metre freekick didn't pose a problem for Polish keeper Artur Boruc.

However, Boruc had to be at his best in the 11th minute as a poor backpass by a Polish defender released Austria's Martin Harnik, who raced clear but his shot into the far corner was deflected by the Celtic keeper for a corner.

Boruc did even better two minutes later as Vmit Korkmaz put in a great pass into the penalty area but Harnik again had his shot saved by Boruc with his legs failing to add to his international haul of two goals.

The Polish guardian was again equal to the task a few minutes later as with the Poland defence in disarray Christoph Leitgeb ran onto a beautifully weighted pass but his shot was again saved by Boruc.

The Poles - looking nothing like a side that finished above Portugal in their qualifying group - took over 20 minutes to even force a corner and after repelling another Austrian attack they hit the co-hosts with a real sucker punch.

Marek Saganowski controlled the ball after a brilliant cross from Euzebiusz Smolarek inside the penalty area and managed to get his pass past the outstretched hand of Jurgen Macho and the boot of Austria's Middlesbrough defender Emmanuel Pogatetz, for Guerreiro to slot it into the net, though he looked to be offside.

The goal provoked a rueful smile from Austrian coach Josef Hickersberger and a shake of the head while his players heads went down.

Unsurprisingly, Poland's veteran Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker had seen enough of Mariusz Jop at centreback and took him off at half-time as he tried to shore up his defence.

The Austrians thought they should have had a penalty in the 48th minute as Ivanschitz went down in the box under a challenge from Pawel Golanski but Webb waved aside the Austrian captain's appeals and it clearly looked as if he had dived.

Poland had a bit of wind in their sails and the impressive Smolarek surged onto a great ball by Guerreiro turned the defender and forced a bit of a fumbled save from Macho.

Macho was more alert in saving his side from going two down just after the hour mark as he got down smartly and blocked Polish captain Jacek Bak's shot with his legs, and got up to beat away a follow up shot by Mariusz Lewandowski.

Hickersberger decided to ring the changes at that point and somewhat surprisingly took off Ivanschitz and Roland Linz and sent on 38-year-old veteran Vastic and Roman Kienaast.

However, it was the Poles who had the next effort on goal with a fierce freekick by Jacek Krzynowek, which was tipped over the bar brilliantly by Macho.

The Austrians rarely troubled the Polish defence or indeed the magisterial Boruc with just Sebastian Prodl - who is suspended for the next match with the Germans - getting anywhere near the target with a header 10 minutes from time that went past the post.

It took Vastic to break the Poles' hearts.

The 65-year-old Beenhakker stormed onto the pitch at the final whistle furious with English referee Howard Webb's decision.

“It (penalty) was totally unjustified,” Beenhakker said.

“What was happening in the penalty box as they prepared to take the freekick is nothing different to what has been going on for the past five years.

“And none of the other referees have whistled. Before the tournament we received a DVD with what was allowed and what wasn't. There was a chapter on divers and referees were to pay extra attention to that.

“I have never had a problem with a referee since the beginning of my career. I just can't understand."

Beenhakker admitted that he was extremely disappointed at losing out on the three points.

“Of course I am extremely disappointed. My lads went to sleep for the first 20 minutes (when Austria had three clear chances saved by Artur Boruc).

“But after that we scored (Roger Guerreiro in the 30th minute) and in the second-half we were better than the Austrians.”

Beenhakker admitted that qualifying for the last eight was now a distant hope.

“I really don't think we will qualify. For the moment, I think we are out of the tournament and that is painful. We know what we are capable of. We didn't need this.”

For Guerreiro it was a memorable moment as the Brazil-born 26-year-old scored his first goal for his adopted country, but the end left a sour taste in his mouth.

“I would have gladly exchanged the man of the match award for a win,” said Guerreiro, who only became a naturalised citizen in March.

“We lost two points this evening. But we are professionals and we will pick ourselves up from this.”

Beenhakker's Austrian counterpart Josef Hickersberger was delighted his side had shown at least in the opening 30 minutes that they could play stylish football and create chances, and admitted he was licking his lips in anticipation of Monday's match with Germany - where a win for the Austrians would see them eliminate the Germans, who were beaten 2-1 by Croatia earlier today.

However, he said it was pointless to look back to Austria's famous 3-2 victory over then world champions West Germany at the 1978 World Cup finals, a match he played in.

“Matches against Germany are still something special to me,” said Hickersberger, who is in his second spell as national coach.

“I spent some wonderful years in the Bundesliga. But what happened 30 years ago counts for nothing. That win in Cordoba belongs to the past.”

Classy Croatia stun Germany
 

June 13, 2008

FEARLESS Croatia pulled off a memorable 2-1 win over Group B favourites Germany to move to the brink of a place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.

Darijo Srna beat Marcell Jansen to poke home a curling cross from the left by Danijel Pranjic in the first half and Ivica Olic tapped the ball in early in the second period after a centre by Ivan Rakitic had struck Lukas Podolski and a post.

Germany pulled one back in the 79th minute through Podolski but Croatia held on for a victory that revived memories of their 3-0 triumph over Germany in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, a match that featured their coach Slaven Bilic.

To add to Germany's misery substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger became the first player to be sent off at these finals when he pushed Jerko Leko to the ground in retaliation for a tackle from behind in injury time.

Croatia top the group with six points, ahead of Germany on three.

“I want to congratulate both teams for a great game of football,” Bilic said. “We played some outstanding football and nothing less is required to beat Germany.

“We kept going forward throughout and always looked threatening while our back four held firm when they put us under pressure.”

Bilic's team certainly kept things tight early on and were dangerous in attack.

Pranjic gave Germany a warning of what was to come when he whipped in a cross that the defence struggled to clear.

The same player then headed over the bar, with keeper Jens Lehmann beaten, and Christoph Metzelder produced a last-gasp sliding tackle to deny Olic.

The first goal came in the 24th minute, Srna proving too sharp for Jansen.

Croatia nearly made it 2-0 when Olic headed down and Niko Kranjcar blasted over.

The Germans went close with a Michael Ballack free kick and a header from Metzelder that flashed over.

Coach Joachim Loew sent on David Odonkor to add pace on the right and Ballack shot over from the edge of the area.

The second goal had an element of luck about it but it was reward for the excellent attitude Croatia showed and they managed to hold on after Podolski netted his third goal of the tournament for Germany.

Asked why his team failed to build on their opening 2-0 win over Poland, captain Ballack said: “Perhaps we thought we had already achieved something. We played poorer in all areas.

“We knew we were up against tough opponents so that surprises me. It's bitter. Now we have to win the next match (against Austria on Monday).”

Buffon heroics keep Italy alive
 

June 14, 2008

A PENALTY save by Gianluigi Buffon spared Italy a second defeat of Euro 2008 but the world champions' involvement in the tournament was still left hanging by a slender thread after a 1-1 draw with Romania.

Adrian Mutu gave his side the lead 10 minutes into the second half but Romania's star striker was unable to beat Buffon with an 80th-minute spot-kick that would almost certainly have sealed a famous victory.

Christian Panucci had cancelled out Mutu's opener within a minute but the Italians never seriously threatened to go on from there to claim the victory they needed to haul themselves off the bottom of Group C.

After a goalless draw in their opening match against France, the Romanians will go into their final game against the Dutch knowing a win over a side they beat during qualifying will be enough to put them into the last eight.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni was not too downcast declaring that he hadn't given up hope of making the last eight.

“We created a lot of chances, but, unfortunately we had to settle for a draw,'' he said.

“Nevertheless, we remain on course,'' added Donadoni, who signed an extension to his contract prior to the tournament that takes him up to the 2010 World Cup.

His Romanian counterpart, Victor Piturca, was delighted with the performance and the result.

“We witnessed a hell of a match,'' said Piturca, who is in his second spell as national coach.

“It's a very good result for us, because don't forget we were playing against the world champions.''

An Italian side featuring five changes from the line-up that began Monday's 3-0 defeat by Holland appeared to have heeded Donadoni's call for a display of focused anger in reaction to that humiliating defeat with a high-tempo start.

The early pressure almost yielded a goal after 10 minutes, when recalled captain Alessandro del Piero nodded Simone Perrotta's chip wide from close range.

The Italians quickly found themselves on the back foot however, and there was an echo of the defensive lapses that contributed to the defeat by the Dutch when Mutu broke clear and forced Buffon to make the first of three crucial saves at his near post.

Luca Toni sent a Fabio Gross cross looping over the bar from beyond the back post but most of the first-half action came at the other end.

Gabriel Tomas's low drive from fully 40 yards was bound for the bottom corner before Buffon reached it at full stretch and the Italians had a huge let-off in the 20th minute, Cristian Chivu's free-kick deflecting off Panucci onto the inside of the post.

Toni's power in the air appeared to be Italy's most likely source of a goal and, after Perrotta failed to finish off one of his knockdowns, the Bayern Munich striker forced Bogdan Lobont into two good saves in quick succession in the closing minutes of the first half.

The lanky forward thought he had finally got the better of the Romanian goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time but his finish from Gianluigi Zambrotta's cross was disallowed for a debatable offside decision against del Piero, who was judged to have strayed fractionally offside as Zambrotta sent in his cross.

That pattern continued after the interval but it was Romania who were to take the lead.

There appeared little danger as Romanian right-back Cosmin Contra hammered a free-kick forwards from deep inside his own half but Zambrotta's header back to Buffon was under-cooked and Mutu was able to dart in and smash the ball past the Italian goalkeeper from close range.

The equaliser came in less than a minute, Giorgio Chiellini heading Daniele de Rossi's corner back across goal to allow Panucci to bundle the ball over the line.

Lobont had to throw himself to his right to palm away de Rossi's diving header 15 minutes from the end.

But it was the Romanians who should have claimed victory after Panucci was judged to have brought down Mutu as they tussled for a cross at the near post.

The Fiorentina striker got up to take the penalty himself but his strike was nowhere near the corner and Buffon got a hand to it before a fortunate ricochet off his boot carried the ball over the bar.

Deadly Dutch destroy French
 

June 14, 2008

FRANCE stood on the brink of elimination after Holland maintained their dream start with a 4-1 win over the 2000 champions here to book their place in the quarter-finals

Goals from Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder and second half substitutes Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben knocked the stuffing out of France and left the Oranje army marching on to join Portugal and Croatia in the last eight.

For France, this defeat, coming on top of their opening draw with Romania, meant their first major finals without Zinedine Zidane are turning into a nightmare and they now must beat world champions Italy in their final Group C clash.

With just one point they not only need to beat the Azzurri but also pray Holland can beat Romania, who are on two points.

“As long as our destiny is in our own hands we can go through. We must not give in. We must play a high-level match we are capable of'' against the Italians,'' said France coach Raymond Domenech, who wielded the axe on the side that failed to fire in the goalless draw with Romania.

He notably brought back Thierry Henry, who at least netted a consolation.

“It's a shame,'' said Henry. “At 2-1 we could have given them cause to doubt, but they got their third right from the restart. Now we have to go out and beat Italy.''

In contrast to Domenech, his Holland counterpart, Marco van Basten, was a picture of contentment, the former Dutch great saying: “We can only be happy after first beating the world champions 3-0 and France 4-1.

“We were a little lucky today, we made goals at the right time. I want to congratulate our defence and the whole team for their healthy spirit.

“To be No.1 in the group is very positive for us.''

Aside from the inclusion of Henry, France's all-time top scorer, who was fully recovered from a thigh problem that kept him out of Monday's drab opener.

Domenech also introduced Sidney Govou, this pair replacing Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema.

Domenech made one further switch, replacing defender Eric Abidal with Manchester United's Patrice Evra while Patrick Vieira was on the bench.

France from the off were a more urgent purposeful and menacing outfit compared to four days ago in Zurich with Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda combining well up the left flank.

But the Dutch it was who took a 10th-minute lead, Kuyt heading in Rafael van der Vaart's corner from the left to the delight of the fans.

With French backs to the wall they only had one option - to attack - and in the 22nd minute went close to equalising when Ribery played in a great ball from the right only for Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar to save Govou's angled shot.

Down at the other end Sneijder, who had left such a mark on the Italian defence, tried a long range effort which was safely gathered up by Gregory Coupet.

As half-time approached Henry, who had not seen much of the ball, showed what a threat he could pose when turning on the edge of the box and shooting just over the crossbar.

Van Basten introduced Robben for Orlando Engelaar at the start of the second half which was barely seconds old when Henry flew in a cross from the right only for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to knock it to safety.

In the 50th minute the French then made heated protests for a penalty claiming Andre Ooijer had handled a shot from Govou in the box but they were dismissed by German referee Herbert Fandel.

“It's a shame there was no recourse to video,'' said Domenech afterwards.

France were all over the Dutch at this point and Malouda's enterprising overhead bicycle kick found Henry on a one-on-one with van der Sar but the Barcelona striker's extravagant lob went sailing over the bar.

Van Basten them made his second switch, bringing on van Persie for Kuyt.

Both his changes proved masterful as in the 59th minute Robben raced down the left wing to cross for van Persie whose shot slid over the line despite Coupet getting a hand to it.

France got the goal they deserved in the 71st minute after a cute angled cross from Sagnol was flicked past van der Sar by Henry near the far post.

But that only served to spur the Dutch on and one minute later a flash of individual brilliance from Robben made it 3-1, the winger racing down the left and shooting high into the near corner of Coupet's goal.

Sneijder rounded off the night, flashing in the fourth in injury time.

The only consolation for him and his team came from the spirited manner that France succumbed to a Dutch team that underlined its status as one of the favourites for the European crown.

Spain snatch late win
 

June 15, 2008

STRIKER David Villa scored in stoppage-time to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Sweden in a scrappy Group D encounter at Euro 2008.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have earned his side a share of the points with a 34th minute equaliser, after Spain had taken a deserved lead on 15 minutes with a clever finish from striker Fernando Torres.

But Villa, who hit a hat-trick in Spain's opening 4-1 rout of Russia, secured the points with a close-range finish on the break in the second minute of stoppage-time.

The result puts Spain close to a place in the quarter-finals with six points from two games, though Sweden are still in the race on three points.

Spain took the initiative early on at the Tivoli Neu stadium, with Xavi marshalling the midfield and Torres giving full-back Mikael Nilsson some early problems with his surging runs into the area.

It came as little surprise when Spain took the lead, Torres getting in front of his man and steering the ball in with the sole of his boot after David Silva had clipped the ball into the area following a corner.

Largely deprived of possession, Sweden had to rely on isolated counter-attacks involving Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic, although Johan Elmander almost equalised a minute after the Torres goal when he lashed the ball into the side netting.

Spain suffered a major setback when experienced centre-back Carles Puyol was forced off through injury and replaced by Raul Albiol midway through the first half.

Sweden responded by upping the pressure on the back four.

The tactic paid off 11 minutes before the break when Ibrahimovic controlled an Elmander cross at the second attempt, turned past full-back Sergio Ramos and beat Casillas with an angled shot.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback took Ibrahimovic off at half-time and replaced the lanky striker, who has been suffering a knee problem, with Markus Rosenberg.

David Silva and Torres were both denied during a goalmouth scramble and keeper Andreas Isaksson turned a rasping drive from Marcos Senna around the post soon after.

A draw was very much on the cards until Villa's late strike.

Russia end Greek reign
 

June 15, 2008

GREECE'S reign as European champions came to an end in Salzburg when Russia defeated them 1-0 in their Group D Euro 2008 match.

A goal by Konstantin Zyryanov in the 33rd minute was enough to see off the Greeks, a howler by one of their few world-class players, goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, contributing.

The result keeps alive Russian hopes of making the last eight, but they will have to beat Sweden on Thursday (EST) to progress.

Spain have qualified as group winners while the Greeks join an unenviable list of European champions to go out in the first round - Czechoslovakia in 1980, Denmark in 1996 and Germany in 2000.

Greece's veteran German coach, Otto Rehhagel, refused to be too downcast.

"I am not as disappointed as all that," the former Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich coach.

"Because I knew at what level we were and everything had to come together for us to beat the Russians. Our problem is that we score so few goals."

The Greeks had shown a marginally more adventurous approach than in their first match, and their Atletico Madrid full-back, Giourkas Seitaridis, got down the right flank in the 12th minute and put in a dangerous cross only for Russia goal'keeper Igor Akinfeev to gather safely.

The Russians bit back a minute later as the Greeks lost possession in midfield, and the ball reached striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, whose lob Nikopolidis tipped over the bar for a corner.

The Greeks failed to clear the resulting corner and Yuri Zhirkov rattled a vicious volley just wide of the goal.

Greece, though, had the clearest chance of the opening 20 minutes, as a free-kick was floated in and Euro 2004 hero Angelos Charisteas went up for the ball unmarked just two metres from the goal. But he unbelievably failed to make any contact and the ball bounced just wide of the goal off Igor Semshov's shoulder.

Russia deservedly took the lead in the 33rd minute as Nikopolidis astonishingly chased a lob which was drifting wide instead of allowing Ioannis Amanatidis to do the job of clearing the ball. A brilliant overhead kick by Sergei Semak set up Zyryanov to tap the ball home.

Russia were all over Greece, and the defending champions were further unsettled in the 40th minute when Rehhagel decided to replace Seitaridis with playmaker Georgios Karagounis, who had been surprisingly left out of the starting line-up.

Karagounis's first contribution, though, was to go into the referee's book in the 42nd minute for pulling back Semshov as he burst clear over the halfway line.

Charisteas's dreadful evening continued in the first minute of the second half as he got into a good position but lobbed his effort lamely into the goalkeeper's hands with just Akineev to beat.

Pavlyuchenko hardly looked like a man who was struggling to make the match with a groin problem as twice in the opening minutes of the second period he forced Nikopolidis into saves.
Pavlyuchenko produced a brilliant piece of skill in the 52nd minute as he nutmegged a Greek defender and advanced into the penalty area but his shot to the near post went wide.

Karagounis replied, at last forcing Akineev into making a save, though the shot was straight at the keeper. That effort seemed to give the Greeks a sense of much needed urgency, as captain Angelos Basinas was well placed outside the box but got under the ball and lofted it high over the bar.

Russia, though, kept creating chances but they failed to take them.

A delightful backheel by Pavlyuchenko inside the box set up Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, but he sent his shot wide of the far post. Bilyaletdinov nearly had another clear chance after the hour mark but Traianos Dellas put in a last-ditch tackle to send the ball for a corner.

But Russia only really went close to doubling their lead with 10 minutes to go, when Zhirkov floated a free-kick just wide of the post.

Swiss bow out on a high
 

June 16, 2008

SWITZERLAND departed Euro 2008 with their heads held high after beating a second-string Portugal side 2-0 in Basel.

Hakan Yakin's second-half double provided the Swiss supporters with a measure of consolation after narrow defeats by the Czech Republic and Turkey had ensured their side would not go beyond the first round.

Already sure of top spot in group A, Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari took the opportunity to rest most of the players who will be back here on Friday (EST) to contest a quarter-final against Germany, Austria or Poland.

Portugal still showed enough flashes of the quality that has made them one of the tournament favourites to have put the match beyond reach before Hakan latched on to Eren Derdiyok's flick to fire the 71st-minute opener through the legs of Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo.

Then, with seven minutes left, Tranquillo Barnetta was pulled down by Fernando Meira and Hakan slotted in the penalty to make sure Swiss coach Jakob Kuhn's ended his international career with a victory.

"I'm very pleased that we were able to give this gift to the fans,'' Kuhn said. "But of course there is a bit of sadness because we deserved to take at least a point from both of our first two games and it now looks as if that would have been enough to qualify us for the quarter-finals."

Ricardo, centre-back Pepe and full-back Paulo Ferreira were the only survivors from the Portuguese side that started the 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in midweek.

Scolari said afterwards he regretted not changing his entire line-up to ensure there was no risk of key players getting injured or picking up yellow cards.

"They played normally and we had a few opportunities but we did not score the goal we wanted and later on we saw the consequences of that," Scolari said.

"I could not have imagined (the match finishing) this way. I should have been more careful and replaced 11 rather than eight.''

In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco, Ricardo Quaresma seized the opportunity to show that Portugal's reserves of skill run deep with an outrageous piece of trickery to create his side's first chance, in the 8th minute.

Shaping to cross from the left of area, the Porto winger swung his right boot around the back of left leg to deliver the ball, with astonishing accuracy, to the near post. Sadly Helder Postiga's finishing was not of the same standard and the striker's header comfortably cleared the bar.

Pascal Zuberbuhler was making his last international appearance in the Swiss goal and he was given the opportunity to demonstrate his reflexes remain sharp at the age of 37 when he turned Nani's free-kick onto the bar after it had taken a late deflection off Pepe.

A long-range effort from Gokhan Inler and a Hakan Yakin header from the midfielder's corner gave Ricardo some work to do.

But Portugal were finding chances easier to come by and Postiga should have scored after Nani had caught Inler in possession on the left.

Advancing into the box, the Manchester United winger cut the ball back for the former Tottenham striker, who attempted to place the ball in the corner of the net but saw his tame shot blocked by Philippe Senderos on the six-yard line.

Ferreira was fortunate to escape with only a booking after his late lunge felled Behrami at full pace and Scolari opted to substitute the Chelsea defender minutes before half-time rather than risk another wild challenge resulting in suspension for the quarter-final.

Portugal's domination continued into the early stages of the second half, Nani striking the base of the post after being given a clear run at goal by Miguel Veloso's angled throughout ball before Quaresma's swerving shot produced another good save from Zuberbuhler.

It was to be the co-hosts who finished stronger, however. Inler was unfortunate when his 25-yard drive shaved the outside of Ricardo's right-hand post but Hakan's coolness in front of goal finally ensured the Swiss were rewarded for their efforts.

Turkey great escape KO's Czechs
 

June 16, 2008

TEN-man Turkey made the greatest of escapes to book their Euro 2008 quarter-final berth as they came from 2-0 down to stun the Czech Republic 3-2 in Geneva.

The Turks had looked dead and buried on 62 minutes after a first-half header from giant Czech striker Jan Koller and a second-half strike by winger Jaroslav Plasil looked to have made the result safe for the Euro 2004 semi-finalists.

But three goals in the last 15 minutes - including two by captain Nihat Kahveci in the 87th and 89th minutes - put them in the quarter-finals.

Turkish coach Fatih Terim, who may well earn an even higher title than his present nickname 'The Emperor', had a clear message for the Turkish people.

"I send a message to my country and I say to the people 'get on the streets, celebrate this victory, profit from this moment'!

"I said after beating the Swiss (2-1 winning with another late goal) that people would remember us. I say that again today (Sunday)!"

Czech captain Tomas Ujfalusi was left as stunned as his shell-shocked teammates.

"We led 2-0 and should have controlled things from there," said the former Fiorentina defender.

"But we completely messed up the end of the match. We went onto the back foot after their first goal and all we can say is we are distraught."

There was no need for the anticipated historic penalty shoot-out after Turkey's late showing when Arda Turan hit a superb strike past Petr Cech to give his side hope with 15 minutes left.

And Villareal's Kahveci struck twice - the first coming from an unbelievable howler by the normally sound Cech - to put his side into the last eight and set up a quarter-final clash against Group B winners Croatia in Vienna on Friday.

There was intense drama in the dying stages when Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was shown a red card, but Turkey were not to be denied to leave the Czechs heart-broken.

A penalty shootout had been a pre-match option as both teams had come the Stade de Geneve with identical Group A records from their two previous games.

But in the end Turkey join Portugal in the quarter-finals, while the Czechs pack their bags.

Czech coach Karel Bruckner - who now steps down after a seven-year reign - had opted for Nuremberg's towering Koller as the lone striker up front in place of totally out of form ex-Liverpool forward Milan Baros, who was to show how far he had fallen since being top scorer at the championships four years ago by being booked even though he never got on the pitch.

Terim opted to play Fenerbahce's Semih Senturk alongside hero Kahveci up front in a traditional 4-4-2 formation unlike the 4-3-3 he used against the Swiss.

With so much at stake, the Turks made an aggressive start with Brazilian-born Mehmet Aurelio picking up a second yellow card of the tournament joining fellow midfielder Mehmet Topal in the referee's book.

After sustained Czech pressure, the decision to play Koller paid off on 34 minutes when he scored his 55th goal in his 90th, and what was to turn out to be his last appearance, for his country.

Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera whipped in a cross and Koller rose highest and although Demirel palmed the ball onto the underpart of the cross bar, it flipped into the net.

It was no more than the Czechs deserved and Bruckner must have wondered why his side were not more than 1-0 up at the half-time break.

As the rain poured at the start of the second-half, so Turkey stepped up their attack with Kahveci twice going close, but Cech was solid in the Czech goal.

The Czech Republic looked to have sealed the match when they took a 2-0 lead as Plasil hit a bullet strike as he used the wet turf brilliantly to slide onto Libor Sionko's cross on 62 minutes which gave Demirel no chance.

But Turkey showed fighting spirit and deserved to pull a goal back after laying siege to the Czech goal as winger Halil Altintop slid in a cross and Turan rifled his shot home.

And a mistake by Cech put Turkey back in the tie when skipper Kahveci pounced on the Chelsea goalkeepers mistake with just three minutes left.

And his winner right at the death put Turkish fans in seventh heaven and leave many a Czech supporter with their head in their hands.

Klasnic stars in Croatia win
 

June 17, 2008

CROATIA striker Ivan Klasnic became the first kidney transplant patient to score at a World Cup or European championships when he got the only goal in Croatia's 1-0 win over Poland in their Euro 2008 Group B match.

Victory ensured that Croatia finished with a perfect nine points in the group and set them fair for their quarter-final with Turkey in Vienna on Friday - for the Poles - who co-host the next finals with Ukraine - it means they leave for home with just a point.

It also leaves their veteran Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker without a win at a European Championships or World Cup finals.

Poland pressed early on desperately in search of an early goal to give them some hope, but it was the Croats who had the better and sharper chances.

First to rattle the cage of the nervous Poles was Danijel Pranjic, who was put clear on the left but his curling effort drifted wide of Polish ‘keeper Artur Boruc's far post.

The Croats then went even closer in the 19th minute as Ivan Rakitic once again showed how dangerous he is at crossing the ball - his deflected cross against the Germans had led to Jens Lehmann fumbling the ball and gifting the Croatians a goal - as his free kick was met by central defender Hrvoje Vejic, though his header went narrowly past the post.

Croat coach Slaven Bilic had to make a change 25 minutes into the encounter as he was forced to take off the injured Dario Knezevic and replace him with Manchester City's Vedran Corluka.

Croatia didn't let up at all as Klasnic - also the first player to appear at a major finals having had a kidney transplant - was released. But with only Boruc to beat, he found like many before him that the Celtic goalkeeper was equal to the task.

Boruc must have seen his value in the market rise enormously here during the tournament and yet again he was Poland's saviour with 10 minutes remaining from the break he once again got down to deny the Croatians, this time Pranjic.

Poland weren't helping their cause by giving the ball away and Jerko Leko was just wide with a long range low effort from outside the penalty box after the ball was lazily given to him by Polish midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski.

Boruc might as well not have had a defence as in time added on in the first-half Klasnic turned his marker and zeroed into the box but his shot was blocked by the Polish goalkeeper and Rakitic was unable to keep his follow-up down.

However, Boruc was like former English King Canute unable to keep the waves out permanently and Klasnic was to justifiably and emotionally slot home brilliantly from the left side of the box after the outstanding Pranjic pulled the ball back for him.

That seemed to spark some life from the Poles as first Marek Saganowski - himself no stranger to health problems as he was told he would never walk again after a serious motorcycle accident in the 1990's - had a firm header well saved by Vedran Runje and then Brazilian-born striker Roger Guerreiro turned brilliantly but saw his shot go wide of the post.

The Poles fire was doused really by that stage till a fine piece of individual skill by Euzebiusz Smolarek saw him turn smartly and fire a curling effort just wide.

Poland were denied a point three minutes from time as Runje denied Tomasz Zahorski, running out of his goal to block him with his legs.

Ballack sends Germany through
 

June 17, 2008

MICHAEL Ballack struck a thunderbolt free-kick to send an unconvincing Germany through to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over co-hosts Austria.

Germany, needing to avoid defeat to stay in the tournament, looked nervous in the first half but Ballack's strike from 25 metres at the start of the second changed the game and took them through as Group B runners-up behind Croatia.

They will go on to face Group A winners Portugal in Basel on Thursday.

It was the first time the three-times winners have reached the quarter-finals since last clinching the trophy in 1996 in England and also gave them only their second win since then in the finals.

They started their campaign here by beating Poland 2-0 before losing to Croatia 2-1 on Thursday to put their tournament survival in some jeopardy.

"The team put up a great fight. At the start we should have gone in front and the match would have been easier. The way it worked out we had to fight to the last minute," Ballack said.

"It's our own fault we ended up in this situation due to the Croatia match. It meant we couldn't play relaxed."

Germany coach Joachim Loew described the match as an "enormous pressure situation - it was a game full of emotions".

Austria, needing a win to stand a chance of going through, gave Germany a few nervous moments, particularly in a first half that ended with the two coaches sent to the stands by the referee after a dispute with the fourth official.

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger described Ballack's decisive strike as "sensational" and added: "Unfortunately, we weren't able to do up front what we had hoped."

Germany should have given themselves the perfect start, and silence the majority of the 51,000 home crowd, when Miroslav Klose ran through the Austrian defence on the right of the area and crossed low for Mario Gomez.

The German forward was just a metre out with an open goal but he mishit his shot, the ball flew up high and Gyorgy Garics headed it back off the line.

Austria's game plan focused on hitting Germany on the break and the tactic almost paid off in the 19th minute when Erwin Hoffer was put through on goal, only for his control to let him down, giving Jens Lehmann the chance to gather.

Ballack's free kick, belted right-footed into the top corner and clocked at 121 kilometres an hour by Germany TV company ARD, should have given the Germans the chance to pick off Austria on the break but they remained cautious.

Austria, however, were short of ideas themselves and well before the end they were reduced to taking pot shots mainly from outside the area.

Italy deny France revenge
 

June 18, 2008

WORLD champions Italy beat old foes France 2-0 to go through to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals as Group C runners-up with a helping hand from the Netherlands while their rivals and 2006 World Cup finalists exited.

The French endured a wretched night, suffering two major blows in the first 25 minutes, with first star midfielder Franck Ribery stretchered off then Eric Abidal red-carded with Andrea Pirlo converting the penalty.

Daniele de Rossi added Italy's second after the break to send the world champions on a last eight date with Spain in Vienna on Monday (EST).

The win would have been inconsequential if the Romanians had beaten Holland, but the Dutch instead beat Romania 2-0 to make it three wins out of three.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said that despite the outside pressures after two successive poor results, a 3-0 defeat by the Dutch and a 1-1 draw with Romania, there had always been inner belief in the squad.

"We have never lost hope, even in the most difficult times,'' said the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder.

"We put in a good performance and the team was cohesive and came together.

"I never had any worries about the Dutch as I know well the spirit of Marco van Basten (who was his teammate at AC Milan)."

Despite the catastrophic defeat France coach Raymond Domenech, remained stoic in defeat.

"I am proud of the players," said the 56-year-old, whose future must be in doubt even though his contract runs till 2010.

"The manner they stuck to it despite all these circumstances which are so similar to the World Cup final, lose to a penalty again and a sending-off (it was in fact rather different, a penalty shootout at 1-1 and Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the 2006 World Cup final).

"They showed energy. They showed something, its a pity because the circumstances were against us.

"This team has something in its guts."

For Italy, searching for their first European title in 40 years, this victory was consolation after the world champions failed to get past the first round at Euro 2000.

For France elimination, with just one goal scored, was the unwelcome prize for a campaign dogged by reported internal strife, player fatigue and controversy over injured captain Patrick Vieira.

This game was billed as 'our final' by Domenech, and it could well be his with 1998 French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit for one saying heads should roll.

Domenech made three changes from the side swept aside by the Netherlands, with defenders Lilian Thuram and Willy Sagnol replaced by Abidal and Francois Clerc, and Karim Benzema joining Thierry Henry in attack with midfielder Florent Malouda dropping to the bench.

Roberto Donadoni unveiled an attacking line-up, dropping Alessandro del Piero in favour of Euro 2008 debutant Antonio Cassano and picking Gennaro Gattuso in favour of Mauro Camoranesi in midfield.

At kick-off a perfect rainbow enveloped the Letzigrund stadium as both teams went in search of their pot of gold.

As early as the third minute Italy had a live chance when Luca Toni latched on to a ball punted up field from deep in the Italian defence but the Bayern Munich striker's finish lacked direction.

Shortly after France lost Ribery, their best player up to now.

Toni's Bayern teammate was stretchered off on a buggy after going over on his left ankle in a tackle on Gianluca Zambrotta.

The midfielder's place was taken by Samir Nasri.

Play resumed with a corner for Italy and only quick thinking by France defender Claude Makelele kept out Christian Panucci's low angled header.

Coupet then did well to deny Pirlo's curling 20 metre free-kick from the right flank.

The game's turning point came in the 24th minute when Toni, at full stretch trying to latch on to a lob, was tackled and felled from behind by Abidal in the box.

Slovakian referee Lubos Michel had no hesitation in pulling out a red card, with Pirlo blasting his shot high into the left hand corner.

Abidal's sending off evoked wretched memories for France of the last time these two countries met in a major competition, in the World Cup final, when Zinedine Zidane was given his marching orders for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

That though came in the closing minutes and with over an hour's play left here Domenech decided to shore up his defence, taking off Nasri for Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Coupet then performed wonders to tip out with his fingers Fabio Grosso's 25m free-kick.

Up at the other end Pirlo was booked for an ugly challenge on Benzema, his second of the competition which rules the AC Milan playmaker out of the quarter-final with Spain.

As news filtered through from Berne early in the second half that The Netherlands had gone a goal up against Romania a huge cheer went up from the Italian fans.

And on the pitch the Azzurri celebrated that news when de Rossi struck a 30m free-kick which flew past Coupet after the ball was diverted on its course by Henry's foot.

Domenech introduced Nicolas Anelka for Govou in a desperate bid to salvage the match.

Then not for the first time in this competition Buffon performed miracles to tip out a Benzema special from the edge of the area which was heading into the top far corner.

The stuffing though had been knocked out of France and Italy were never going to be denied, the resounding win keeping alive their dream of a repeat of their 1968 success.

Dutch complete clean sweep
 

June 18, 2008

THE Netherlands marched into the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with a 100 per cent record in Group C and their momentum intact after their reserves strolled to a 2-0 win over Romania in Berne.

A poacher's goal from Klaas Jan Huntelaar just after half-time and Robin van Persie's late strike sealed the win over opponents who were woefully devoid of ambition.

Needing to win to be sure of staying in the competition, Victor Piturca's side's only concern appeared to be to avoid the kind of mauling the Dutch had handed out to France and Italy in their first two group matches.

That was never on the cards with only right-back Khalid Boulahrouz and the defensive midfielder Orlando Engelaar surviving from the Dutch side that had started the 4-1 demolition of France.

But Marco van Basten's side were always in control and would have ended the contest much earlier if Huntelaar and Arjen Robben, who was withdrawn after an hour, had taken their first-half chances.

Van Basten said he was proud of the professional job his side had done after he had rested most of the line-up that will face Russia or Sweden on Sunday (EST).

"We have to be very proud and happy that we have won the group and the three games. We have made a great start. But Saturday is another match altogether and we have to start again from zero.

"The atmosphere is good. The players are working well together and having a good time. If we continue playing like this I dont know where exactly we are going to end but I hope it is going to take a long time."

Piturca admitted the Dutch had been "better and fresher" than his side.

"But we don't go home empty-handed. We avoided defeat in two games against fantastic teams in Italy and France.

"Had we scored from the penalty we had against Italy we would have qualified," the Romanian coach reflected.

Piturca denied that he had been too cautious in his approach to a must-win match.

"I think we took enough risks. There were moments when it was three against three at the back and against teams like Holland you just can't play this way. They can score at any time. If you let them score it is difficult to win - that is what France and Italy also realised."

Van Persie said the result was proof positive of Dutch strength in depth.

"This win tells you a lot. We don't have a B team but a team of 23 players," said the Arsenal star.

Romania's cutting edge was blunted by captain Cristian Chivu being forced to drop back into a holding role in midfield as a result of the serious eye injury suffered by teammate Mirel Radoi in the 1-1 draw with Italy.

They were also missing suspended centre-back Dorin Goian but none of that amounted to an excuse for an absurdly cautious approach which saw every outfield player regularly behind the ball as the Dutch probed for an opening.

The first of those came after 19 minutes, when Engelaar's cross found van Persie in space just beyond the back post, the Arsenal forward mistiming his jump and sending a header high into the crowd.

Mutu then saw a close range effort spin across the goalmouth after a last-ditch intervention by his marker, Wilfred Bouma, before van Persie headed another inviting Engelaar cross off target.

Mutu and Cosmin Cocis both tried their luck from distance without troubling stand-in goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg before the Dutch spurned two gilt-edged chances to take the lead in quick succession.

Sent into the box by Ibrahim Afellay's clever angled pass, Boulahrouz teed up Huntelaar in the 33rd minute but the striker, so prolific for Ajax, appeared edgy as he lifted his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Huntelaar did better a few minutes later, helping Demy de Zeeuw's pass into the path of Arjen Robben with a deft first-time flick. With only Bodan Lobont to beat, the Real Madrid winger went for an equally cute finish and his strike slipped and inch to the left of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Romania's best chance of the first-half came a minute from the break. Razvan Rat made it to the byline and delivered an acute cutback for Paul Codrea, who blasted over from just inside the box.

It took a fine save from Lobont to deny van Persie three minutes after the restart and The Netherlands' superiority finally told in the 54th minute.

Afellay's cross from the right was flicked on by Engelaar and, this time, Huntelaar demonstrated his predatory instincts by getting in front of his marker to prod past Lobont for his eighth goal in what was only his 13th international appearance.

There was a brief flurry of Romanian pressure in the closing minutes but it was to be van Persie who had the final word. Collecting a cross on the left of the Romanian box, the Arsenal forward held off Contra's challenge and the pace of his shot saw Lobont beaten at his near post.

Spain pile more misery on Greece
 

June 19, 2008

SPAIN equalled their record of nine straight wins with a 2-1 defeat of Greece that sent the reigning champions spiralling to their third defeat of the tournament.

Andreas Charisteas opened the scoring for Greece before Ruben De la Red equalised and Daniel Guiza struck an 88th-minute winner.

"It was a tricky first half but we managed to battle through and win the game,'' said Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, who was named man of the match.

"Now is the time to start thinking about Italy which is going to be the hour of truth.''

With Spain resting almost their entire first-choice side ahead of their quarter-final showdown with Italy on Monday (EST), and Greece playing for little more than pride, the game lacked the intensity and edge of the previous group clashes.

Greece were surprisingly defensive for a game that mattered little and in which both teams had fielded weakened outfits.

Spain, already group winners, had made 10 changes from the starting XI that won their two previous matches.

Liverpool midfielder Alonso had the first effort on goal on 23 minutes, and had it gone in it would surely have been the goal of the tournament.

Spotting Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, captain for the day as he was playing in his final match for his country, well off his line, Alonso hit a David Beckham-esque shot from five metres inside his own half, missing the top corner by only inches with the back-peddling Nikopolidis beaten.

Surprisingly, Alonso seemed the only person trying to score in that opening period and he sent two long range shots wide of the left-hand upright.

On 39 minutes, Cesc Fabregas played a great ball in for Sergio Garcia but he fell over as he tried to shoot.

Greece took the lead against the run of play on 42 minutes as Charisteas headed home a Giorgis Karagounis free kick after losing his marker all too easily.

After the break it was Alonso again who tried his luck from distance, this time with a rasping drive from almost 30 metres that beat Nikopolidis but crashed off the inside of the post and away to safety.

However, Alonso played no part in Spain's well-worked equaliser with Fabregas chipping the ball into the box for Guiza, whose cushioned header back to De la Red was lashed home with venom - the Getafe man's first goal for his country in only his third appearance.

Greece came storming straight back and Charisteas took a pass from Alexandros Tziolis around goalkeeper Pepe Reina but could only hit the outside of the post from a tight angle.

On 73 minutes, Guiza ran onto a lucky ricochet into the box but dragged his shot from the right just past the far post.

But two minutes from time striker Guiza scored his first goal for his country in his fifth appearance, heading home a cross from Sergio Garcia.

Russia advance to quarter-finals
 

June 19, 2008

RUSSIA beat Sweden 2-0 in their Euro 2008 Group D match to reach the quarter-finals at the expense of their opponents.

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 24th minute, for his second of the tournament, and Russian player of the year Andrei Arshavin added a second in the 50th minute to seal victory.

Russia progress to their first knockout stages of a major tournament since the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991, and will play the Netherlands in the quarter-final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday (EST) - a repeat to a certain extent of the 1988 final when present Holland coach Marco van Basten scored in the 2-0 victory over the Soviets.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback was gracious in defeat and warned Holland that they shouldn't take their quarter-final opponents for granted.

"I would like to congratulate the Russians, who really play joyful football,'' said the soon to be 60-year-old veteran handler.

"I think they saw rapidly where they could hurt us and they exploited our weaknesses perfectly.

“To concede two goals is not a disaster!

“We just don't have the same concept of the style of playing football.

“I am very sad, because we haven't been knocked out of the first round of a finals since Euro 2000.

“I am very disappointed by our inability to turn the match around.

“But that is football, sometimes you lose.

“It is, however, important to congratulate the Russian team, they were the better side today.

“They really are a very good team, and the 4-1 defeat by Spain in their opening match didn't reflect their real quality. They are very strong.''

Russia are also coached by a Dutchman in Guus Hiddink, the former Australia coach who took the Netherlands to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals.

Russia produced their usual flowing football in the early stages with playmaker Arshavin - coming back after a two match suspension - pulling the strings, and the unimaginative Swedes, who did start with star striker Zlatan Irahimovic despite his knee problem, content to sit back on the whole.

It was Russia who went closest to opening the scoring in the 20th minute as Yuri Zhirkov unleashed a fierce volley from the left side of the penalty box which just crept past the far post of the Swedes, Arshavin having provoked the corner with a cheeky chip which forced Andreas Isaakson into a tip over.

However, they got a deserved lead in the 24th minute as Pavlyuchenko tucked away a finely made goal, having been set up by Zenit St-Petersburg's rampaging full-back Alexander Anyukov.

Sweden hit back almost immediately as veteran striker Henrik Larsson got on the end of a long ball and his header clipped the bar much to the relief of Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Russia were playing the most delightful football, some of the best of the tournament, and in the 36th minute they went desperately close to doubling their lead as the redoubtable Pavlyuchenko was fed inside the box and his chip beat Isaakson only to clip the post.

The ball was crossed in again and Zhirkov fired fiercely on target only for Isaakson to produce a marvellous tip away save to leave it at that point the Russians having had 13 shots to the Swedes three.

Sweden, though, could not be discounted and captain Freddi Ljungberg forced Akineev into a scrambled save in the 44th minute but the Swedes failed to take advantage of the corner.

Russia at last made their overwhelming superiority tell in the 50th minute as Arshavin scored their second, the 'little jewel' as he is fondly called, sliding the ball home after another glorious team move with the Zenit St Petersburg star at the end of Zhirkov's pass.

Sweden were toothless up front, with Ibrahimovic clearly labouring and it was Russia who should have gone 3-0 up 10 minutes from time as Konstantin Zyryanov's shot was deflected onto the post and thence to safety.

Then, as Sweden pressed forward in desperate search of a goal Pavlyuchenko had two glorious chances to add to the Russia tally but first miskicked and then seconds later directed his header into Isaakson's welcoming hands.

Lagerback, whose conservative tactics have served Sweden well but were exposed by the more adventurous approach by Russia's Dutch handler Guus Hiddink, rejected the theory that he should have selected a younger side for the match than including grizzled veterans like 36-year-old Henrik Larsson.

“We didn't lose because we had physical problems but because Russia were better than us,'' Lagerback said.

“A new generation is already on the way, but I always said it was necessary to take the best players and not simply based on age.

“The question of age, of experience, is simply not interesting, what counts is the quality of the players.

“Now we must recharge the batteries for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.''

Lagerback will certainly be able to count on the services of the seemingly ageless Larsson, who said he had no intention of retiring.

“No, its not the last time you will see me in a Sweden shirt,'' he said. “Yes I can go on till the 2010 World Cup finals but there are still the qualifiers to go.''

Germany advance to semi-finals
 

June 20, 2008

GERMANY marched into the last four of Euro 2008 after Portugal pressed the self-destruct button in a five-goal thriller of a quarter-final.

Goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack earned Joachim Loew's side a 3-2 win that sets up a semi-final meeting with either Croatia or Turkey.

Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga replied for the Portuguese, but they were always trailing and only briefly did it look like they could reclaim control of a match they had been widely expected to win.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's worst pre-match fears were all realised as Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and the rest of Portugal's wonderful array of attacking talent was cruelly let down by the woeful defending and goalkeeping that contributed to all three German goals.

Loew said that having to watch from a box up in the stands as he was suspended had been extremely frustrating.

"Sitting behind the window in the stands was really difficult," said the 48-year-old.

"I was a long way from the pitch. Obviously from on high you see things better but it is too far from the action.

"Against Austria and Croatia, we did not play well. That is why we tried to send a signal. We wanted to shut down the spaces, and to go from defence to attack really quickly, which we managed to do.''

Ballack, who was scoring for the second match in succession, believed that overall the Germans had deserved the victory.

"We started really well, we changed our system and became more compact and we played fantastically well, especially in the first-half."

Scolari, as he had announced on the eve of the match, reverted to the side that had beaten the Czech Republic and Turkey in their opening two matches.

Germany, in contrast, rang the changes with Lukas Podolski the only member of the midfield to remain in the same slot he had occupied in the 1-0 win over Austria that clinched their quarter-final place.

Schweinsteiger returned from suspension on the right in place of Clemens Fritz, Ballack was pushed up front alongside Klose with Mario Gomez dropping to the bench, while Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes doubled up in the centre in the absence of the injured Torsten Frings.

Portugal's start was promising enough. Starting on the left, Ronaldo quickly got away from right-back Arne Friedrich although the resulting cross was easily gathered by Jens Lehmann.

Jose Bosingwa did better from the opposite flank, whipping a dangerous ball across the six-yard line that Nuno Gomes inexplicably missed after 10 minutes, and Joao Moutinho should have put his side ahead 10 minutes later.

Stooping to head another Bosingwa cross, the midfielder changed his mind and finally kneed the ball over from the six-yard line.

Germany had plenty of early possession but it was Portugal who looked the more likely scorers until a lapse of concentration by Paulo Ferreira gifted Germany the opener.

A one-two with Ballack sent Podolski clear on the left and Schweinsteiger's aggressive run to the near post caught the Chelsea defender flat-footed, giving the Bayern Munich star the yard he needed to meet the low cross with a first-time finish from six yards.

Four minutes later, more poor defending combined with poor goalkeeping to leave Portugal reeling.

Granted a free header of Schweinsteiger's chipped free-kick, Klose directed the ball almost straight at Ricardo but, falling backwards, Portugal's goalkeeper failed to block.

"There's only one team in Basel," sang the German supporters - in English.

Deco begged to differ and the Brazilian-born playmaker's artful prompting gave his side a platform for recovery five minutes before the break when his pass sent Ronaldo into the box. The winger's shot was parried by Lehmann but Nuno Gomes hooked in the loose ball.

Another Ronaldo effort zipped inches wide in first-half stoppage time and the opening minutes of the second period saw Friedrich and Philipp Lahm booked for cynical trips on the winger and Deco respectively.

Germany were feeling the heat and the Portuguese should have equalised 11 minutes after the restart, when centre-back Pepe headed over from barely two yards out after Deco had flicked-on Simao's corner.

Instead, it was the Germans who extended their lead with a hugely controversial goal just after the hour mark, after Pepe had conceded a free-kick on the right.

Once again, the back four failed to deal with Schweinsteiger's delivery but Ballack still needed the help of a blatant shove in the back of his Chelsea teammate Ferreira to get the space he needed to head past Ricardo, who had, ill-advisedly, rushed off his line.

Portugal's hopes of a great escape were raised with three minutes left, when Nani swung in a cross that fellow substitute Helder Postiga headed past Lehmann. But Germany held out through four minutes of added-on time without further alarm.

Spain is the suspect this year.

Turkey escape kills off Croatia
 

June 21, 2008

TURKEY lived up to their billing as comeback kings with a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Croatia to put them into the Euro 2008 semi-finals.

The spot-kick lottery was called for after the side's were inseparable at 1-1 after additional time, both of those goals coming in the dying minutes of what up to then had been a forgettable affair.

Ivan Klasnic put Croatia into a 119th-minute lead - for his second in successive matches - only for Turkey to level in the first minute of time added on thanks to substitute Semih Senturk.

Croatia then fell apart, with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic shooting wide and Mladen Petric having his spot kick saved by Turkey keeper Rustu Recber, who turned from villain to hero having made a terrible mistake to gift the Croats their goal.

Turkey, making their first appearance in the semi-finals, face Germany in Basel on Thursday (EST).

But the win came at a price for Turkey, who will be missing Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik due to suspension after this trio picked up their second yellow cards of the competition while Nihat went off during extra-time clutching his groin.

Turkey coach Fatih Terim, who was in charge when Turkey lost 1-0 to Croatia in Euro 96 in the group stages, was ecstatic.

"What has happened to us is unique in our history,'' said Terim, who was not in charge when Turkey made the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.

"We have become one of the great footballing nations. Our people can rejoice. And if our people are proud of us then we are proud of them."

His Croatia counterpart Slaven Bilic insisted his young side would return stronger in time for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

"This is not the sort of match you play on a regular basis, this is something we'll never forget - it will haunt us for the rest of our lives," he said.

"We'll probably weep for a few days but such is life - things like this happen.

"We have to go on, I've got a young team, qualification for the World Cup is imminent.

"Tomorrow is a new day, the sun will rise, and my players have a strong character and will be back even stronger.''

After Germany's drama-laden first quarter-final win over Portugal the night before, this second quarter-final was a big letdown, with chances as rare as empty seats in the Ernst Happel stadium.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic fielded the same team that defeated Germany in the group stages, with only two players - Danijel Panijec and Rakitic - surviving from the side that lined up against Poland.

Turkey turned up at the Ernst Happel stadium with half a dozen of their first team missing from injury or suspension.

Veteran keeper Rustu came in for Volkan Demirel, sent off against the Czech Republic, and manager Fatih Terim also handed a start to London-born Kazim Kazim, who led the attack with Nihat Kahveci.

Croatia will never know how they didn't go into the lead in the 18th minute, Ivica Olic being guilty of a criminal miss.

Darijo Srna set up the move, laying the ball on to Modric who raced down the right of the box to cross for Olic only for the Hamburg striker's shot to hit the crossbar from only a couple of metres directly in front of goal.

To compound their woes, Niko Kranjcar missed with his header from the rebound.

Tottenham Hotspur signing Modric summed up the mood of frustration, banging the Austrian turf repeatedly with his fist in frustration.

The game then meandered its way, slowly, to the break, with both sides unable to mount anything much resembling a serious challenge, a 35th-minute long-range effort from Mehmet Topal aside.

More of the same in the second half and penalties were in the offing.

Croatia looked more dangerous in the rare moments they were able to break the Turkey defence, with Rustu quick to deal with a Kranjcar effort in the 58th minute.

The match had a goal from Olic shortly after but it was disallowed for offside.

Terim then made his first substitution, taking off the ineffective Kazim Kazim for Ugur Boral, and Bilic followed, bringing off Kranjcar for Petric.

Minutes later Rakitic squandered Croatia's second gilt-edged chance, his close range shot after being set up by Olic flying high over Rustu's bar.

With quarter of an hour left of normal time, Terim switched midfielder Mehmet Topal for Fenerbahce striker Senturk in search of that elusive goal.

On 84 minutes, as Croatia maintained their almost constant pressure, Rustu earned his wages and some when only his outstretched hands edged out Srna's finely struck 20-metre free kick.

Extra time produced the badly needed fireworks, but only in the dying minutes.

Croatia thought they'd grabbed the winner when Klasnic struck but unbelievably after such a turgid affair Turkey struck back with Senturk equalising with a great shot into the top left hand corner to force the spot kicks.

Hiddink's Russia dispatch Dutch
 

June 22, 2008

RUSSIA coach Guus Hiddink became a traitor in his native Holland after his team's 3-1 quarter-final win after extra-time dumped the Dutch out of Euro 2008.

The 61-year-old former Netherlands coach had said he would be happy to be a traitor if his Russia team beat his countrymen, and he got his wish as two goals in extra-time broke Dutch hearts.

Roman Pavlyuchenko opened the scoring for Russia on 56 minutes before Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy headed home an 86th-minute equaliser to give the Dutch a lifeline - and take him alongside Johan Cruyff on 33 goals for the national side.

However, super sub Dmitri Torbinsky grabbed a second in the 112th minute, before Andrei Arshavin settled it with a third on 116 minutes.

"I don't know how far we have come since our preparation for the first match (a 4-1 defeat by Spain) but usually the Dutch are a team who one cannot outdo tactically, technically or physically, but we did on all three counts,'' said Hiddink.

"Of course we realised we couldn't give away too many free kicks to them but as you get tired you tend to commit more fouls.

"However, my players responded really well and instead of relying on the counter-attack they pressed for the winning goal.''

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, this is the first time Russia have made the knockout stages of a major tournament and will contest Friday's (EST) semi-final in Vienna.

But it was heart-break for Holland as the defeat signalled the last game in charge for coach Marco van Basten - who joins Ajax next season on a four-year deal - making his swansong at Euro 2008 after four years in charge.

The former AC Milan striker failed in his bid to bow out out on a high by giving the Netherlands a second European crown to the one he helped win in 1988.

His team had come into the Basel quarter-final with a 100 percent record from Group C having handed out comprehensive defeats to 2006 World Cup finalists France (4-1) and Italy (3-0) en route.

"The Russians played a lot better than we did and deserved their victory,'' said van Basten.

"I can live with the indisputable fact that they were better than us. We delivered some remarkable performances in the first round, but today we were not able to repeat those.''

After Holland defender Khalid Boulahrouz and his wife suffered the tragedy of losing their prematurely born daughter last week, the team wore black armbands, but the result only served to cap a dark week for the Dutch.

Meanwhile, Hiddink has continued his habit of helping international teams punch well above the weight.

The former Netherlands boss guided South Korea to the semi-finals at the 2002 World Cup and Australia to the knockout phase in 2006 just before signing on to coach Russia.

His side opened their Euro 2008 campaign with a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Spain as David Villa hit a hat-trick, but Russia hit back with a 1-0 win over Greece and were impressive in their 2-0 win over Sweden.

Both sides had plenty of chances in the first half.

Russia made a bright start and kept Manchester United goalkeeper Edin van der Sar busy in the first half with Dynamo Moscow defender Denis Kolodin and Pavylyuchenko going close early on.

But the Dutch also threatened on attack with Real Madrid's Wesley Sneijder testing the Russia defence and fellow midfielder Rafael van der Vaart also squandered several chances as it remained 0-0 at the break.

Van Basten brought Arsenal forward Robin van Persie into the fray at the start of the half but the Dutch went behind for the first time in the tournament soon after.

After Arshavin terrorised Sweden in Russia's 2-0 win last week, he blasted in a free kick which forced van der Sar into a diving save, but the shot just carried wide.

Russia opened the scoring when Pavlyuchenko slipped his marker and stabbed home Ivan Saenko's cross on 56 minutes for his third goal of the tournament.

But with time running out, the Dutch made their experience count as striker Nistelrooy headed an 86th-minute equaliser from Sneijder's superb cross to put his side back in the game and take the match to extra-time.

Russia looked down to 10 men when Denis Kolodin was shown the red card, but Slovakian referee Lubos Michel rescinded a second booking for the defender in stoppage time of normal time after a linesman told the official the ball had gone out of play before Kolodin tangled with Wesley Sneijder.

And the goal which ended Dutch hopes came after a pinpoint accurate cross along over the goalmouth from Arshavin was poked home by Torbinsky in the 112th minute.

And Arshavin scored a third just four minutes later as his side will now face Italy or Spain in the semi-final.

It was a great win for the Russia who are the under dogs of the competition.

Id like to see them go all the way and win it.

Cant beleive what Hiddink can do for a team he is a wonder coach.

Great coach Guus Hiddink. It's a shame he is not coaching australia anymore, but Pim Verbeek is going okay.

so far all 3 favs in the q/finals have been beat