The Group C draw had seemed cruel for Marco van Basten’s side, lining them up against world champions Italy, France and Romania, but last night’s victory in Berne – combined with the earlier 3-0 success against the Azzurri – sent the Dutch into the last eight in quick time. It also earned plaudits from the [...]
With France’s starting XI enjoying a rest after their meeting with Romania the night before, a 45-minute practice match was organised between the remainder of the squad and an Under-18 side taken from local clubs Neuchâtel Xamax FC and FC Fribourg. Fans and journalists attending training feared for the youthful Swiss team as the imposing [...]
Holland boosted their morale ahead of Euro 2008 as they cruised to a 2-0 friendly victory over Wales at the De Kuip stadium.But John Toshack’s young Welsh brigade can be happy with their plucky performance against top quality opposition. The Dutch were ahead after 34 minutes when Arjen Robben broke away to beat Wayne Hennessey.
Wales [...]
Holland coach Marco van Basten will establish in the “next few days” whether Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will be fit to face Italy in their first Euro 2008 game on Monday.
Van Persie has been out for several weeks with a thigh problem but returned to training this week.
“Robin trained for the first time in [...]
Germany blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Belarus in their penultimate Euro 2008 warm-up friendly on Tuesday night.The result leaves coach Joachim Low with much to ponder as he must trim his current 26-man squad down to a final 23 for Austria and Switzerland by midday on Wednesday.Miroslav Klose, a player guaranteed to [...]
As England’s senior team have struggled with qualification for the Euro 2008 championships this summer, the English Under-21 side have quietly gone about their business.A 1-1 draw against Portugal on Tuesday all-but confirmed their place in Sweden for 2009 with two games remaining spare and ensured that they remain unbeaten after six qualifying games with [...]
Romania beat Russia 3-0 in a friendly on Wednesday with goals from strikers Ciprian Marica, Daniel Nicuale and Marius Niculae. Romania dominated the match against a Russian team drawn entirely from the domestic championship, with VfB Stuttgart striker Marica opening the scoring from the edge of the area on the stroke of half-time. Coach Victor [...]
Midfielder Georgos Karagounis struck twice to give European champions Greece a 2-1 win over Portugal in a friendly on Wednesday. Greece, who beat Portugal 1-0 in the Euro 2004 final in Lisbon, went ahead when the former Benfica player lashed home a stunning 20-metre free kick after 33 minutes. Karagounis made it 2-0 from another [...]
Euro 2008 is almost here and Romania is preparing for an interesting friendly against Russia in Bucharest on 26 March. There aren’t too many surprises regarding the selected players.
Defender Laszlo Sepsi, recently transferred from CF Gloria 1922 Bistrita to SL Benfica, is the newcomer in the squad after initially being selected for the Under-21s to [...]
