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Entries for June, 2008

Ballack doubtful for final

The Chelsea midfielder, who has been in impressive form for much of the tournament, has been unable to train since Friday because of the problem.Ballack’s absence would be a major setback for coach Joachim Low as he looks to guide his side to the Henri Delauney trophy in Vienna.
“Michael Ballack has not been able to [...]

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Semi-Final: Germany vs. Turkey

Turkey are just one step away from reaching their first UEFA European Championship final but they will find a formidable obstacle blocking their path at St. Jakob-Park in Basel in the shape of Joachim Löw’s Germany.

• While the last four is previously uncharted territory for Turkey, the same certainly cannot be said of three-times European [...]

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Aragonés’ Spain scratch 24-year itch

Luis Aragonés warned before the start of UEFA EURO 2008™ that Spain lacked just two things if they wanted to become champions – how to manage a game and that elusive stroke of luck. There is no greater test of managing a knockout match in modern football than outplaying world champions Italy and then winning [...]

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Zidane wows Fan Zone youngsters

Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinédine Zidane gave 20 children a day to remember on Sunday when he joined in a small-sided game at one of Vienna’s UEFA EURO 2008™ Fan Zones.

Zidane, who turns 36 tomorrow, was at the adidas football park on the Heldenplatz in the centre of the Austrian capital, where [...]

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Holland v Russia preview

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink will be hoping his Russian side have a memorable win over his old team Holland in Saturday’s Euro 2008 quarter-final.The 61-year-old took over the Netherlands from 1994-1998 and reached the semi-finals of World Cup ‘98 - but suffered from the spot as they were dramatically dumped out of the tournament by [...]

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Scolari - I did my best

Scolari’s men departed this summer’s tournament at the quarter-final stage as they were beaten 3-2 by Germany in Basel.The Brazilian is set to fill the vacant managerial position at Chelsea on 1st July, a revelation that was announced during Euro 2008.But Scolari is refusing to blame the proclamation, instead admitting that his side’s defensive mistakes [...]

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Is this Spain’s year at last?

Certainly the signs are good for the legions of Spanish fans that have been following their side in Austria. Spain set down a marker in their 4-1 Group D victory against Russia and, in David Villa and Fernando Torres, have perhaps the most fearsome strike partnership in the tournament. Villa has taken the brilliant form [...]

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Euro 2008 preview: Holland v Romania

Much more positive against Italy, Romania should adopt a similar game plan tonight, knowing victory will book a place in the quarter-finals. As part of the plan, Adrian Mutu, vowing to make up for his penalty miss, will probably start from the left again, endeavouring to support Ciprian Marica.
Already qualified, the Dutch, meanwhile, can let [...]

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Donadoni ready for ‘final’

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni insists his bags are not packed ahead of the Euro 2008 crunch game against France.In a repeat of the 2006 World Cup final, Italy and France meet in Zurich on Tuesday night with one team guaranteed to be exiting the tournament. The world champions must beat France, and hope Romania fail [...]

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Ballack powers Germany on

The Germany captain struck a tight game’s only goal on 49 minutes when the midfielder hammered an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of Jurgen Macho’s net.Germany - knowing a draw would be enough to advance to the last eight - should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Mario Gomez contrived to [...]

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