Saturday, June 14, 2008

ESPN Broadcast Quote of the Day




Tommy "Shithead" Smyth during Romania/Italy:

"Julie and Andy have been arguing about all of the touching and grabbing inside the box."

Friday, June 13, 2008

Friday's Euro 2008 Previews: Italy-Romania and France-Holland

What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Italy vs Romania
When: Friday 13 June 2008, 17:00 CET
Where: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 12:00 EDT
Preview
Italians count on history repeating itself
Italy ask Del Piero to play ultimate captain's role

What: Euro 2008 Group C Matchday 2
Who: Netherlands vs France
When: Friday 13 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Where: Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, Berne, Switzerland
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 2:45 EDT
Preview
Van Basten wary of overconfidence
Desailly: Henry is French Hope

But how will they feel later this evening?

U.S vs. Barbados: 2010 Campaign Begins


World Cup 2010 qualifying gets underway for the States on Sunday when the lads host Barbados in Carson (Sunday at 5:00 Eastern on ESPN2).

Here's an article.

Here's Greg Lalas' 3-5-2 that breaks down the upcoming match and looks at the current national team scenario.

There's (to the left) a picture of Barbados.





And here's the roster:

Goalkeepers: Dominic Cervi (no club), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton, England)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (no club), Dan Califf (Midtjylland, Denmark), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany)

Midfielders: Freddy Adu (Benfica, Portugal), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Maurice Edu (Toronto), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby, England), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Eddie Johnson (Fulham, England)

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany



Uli says the below-par Germans are suffering from an attitude problem.

What a difference a game makes

Italian model to bare all if Azzurri beat Romania

From The Telegraph:

Italian model Elena Santarelli says she will take all her clothes off on live television if Italy beat Romania today.


Santarelli, who has appeared on the Italian version of 'I'm a celebrity, get me out of here', will derobe on MTV's 'Total Request Live' programme in Bari, southern Italy, which she is hosting.

"If Italy beat Romania, I'll take my clothes off in Bari, live on MTV," said the 26-year-old, who obviously doesn't need much of an excuse to get naked.


Errr..Come on you Italians...

The Mill + ++




Friday's Rumours

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Euro 2008: Thursday's Reports

Austria 1 - 1 Poland
Late penalty leaves hosts with hope
Phil Holland's Report
Austria Alive and Kicking
UEFA Supports Webb

Germany 1 - 2 Croatia
Kevin McCarra's Report: Germanany Living on Reputation
Germany Put to the Sword

Poor...

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Thursday's Euro 2008 Previews: Croatia-Germany and Austria-Poland

What: European Championships, Group B
Who: Croatia vs Germany
When: Thursday 12 June 2008, 18:00 CET
Where: Wörthersee, Klagenfurt
Referee: Franck De Bleeckere (Bel)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 12:00 EDT
Preview
Croatia need Modric's confidence to spread

What: Euro 2008 Group B match
Who: Austria v Poland
When: Thursday, 12th June, Kick-off: 20:45 BST
Where: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 2:45 EDT
Preview
Austria on the brink of home embarrassment

He could help...

How Wenger Out-Flanked Fergie For Ramsey




Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger won Aaron Ramsey's footballing heart by highlighting the differences between Manchester United and the Gunners.

Aaron Ramsey Profile




Private jet never hurts either...

Emmanuel Petit tells of world of swinging and cocaine whilst an Arsenal player




Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has revealed that success on the pitch brought him in to a world of swinging parties and 'unbelievable debauchery' on rich Arabs' yachts where cocaine was freely available.

The Mill + ++







Thursday's Rumours

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Ukraine may lose Euro 2012, says official


Ukraine could lose the right to co-host the Euro 2012 soccer tournament due to delays in the renovation of Kiev’s Olympic stadium, an official from the Ukrainian soccer federation was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Needs some work...

Big Phil in at Chelsea



Luiz Felipe Scolari was last night named by Chelsea as their new manager, on a four-year contract worth in the region of £27m, putting to an end the club's pan-European hunt for a successor to Avram Grant.


Kevin McCarra:
Hiring Scolari is tacit admission of error by Abramovich


Factbox

Euro 2008: Wednesday Reports



Czech Republic 1 - 3 Portugal

Report
Portugal's Team of Millions Show Their Worth
Deco Blossoming

Switzerland 1 - 2 Turkey
Report
The Swiss press react to their early exit


Sad Swiss...

Villarreal Not Loaning Altidore Out




Villarreal look set to go back on their original plan to loan out American forward Jozy Altidore next season and keep him at the club while he adapts to a new country and league.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Wednesday's Euro 2008 Previews: Switzerland-Turkey and Greece-Sweden

What: Euro 2008, Group A
Who: Czech Republic (2nd, 3pts), Portugal (1st, 3pts)
When: Tuesday, June 10 (1800 CET)
Where: Stade de Genève, Geneva
Referee: Kyros Vassaras
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 12:00 EDT
Preview
Portuguese Aim to Stand Tall

Ronaldo: Ready to Bust Out?

What: Euro 2008 Group A Matchday 2
Who: Switzerland (3rd, 0/3pts) vs Turkey (4th, 0/3pts)
When: Wednesday 11 June 2008 20:45 CET
Where: St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 2:45 EDT
Preview
Dominic Fifield: Two sides with a score to settle may produce an explosive match in Basle

The Battle of Instanbul

Euro 2008: Tuesday Reports

In the end, Spain had little trouble dispatching a Russian side that actually had a few chances and could have made it a very different match. David Villa was the hero with the first hat trick in the competition since Patrick Kluivert in 2000. Still, insecurity at the back must be a worry for Spain. In the other match, champions Greece began their campaign in a similar style to four year ago = assball. Thankfully the Swedes were able to break down the wall of non-play that Greece constructed and put them on their heels. Ibra broke his duck with a sensational blast to get them on their way to victory.

Spain 4 - 1 Russia

Spain Light Up the Alps
Phil Ball: Job Well Done

Sweden 2 - 0 Greece
Pedestrian Champions Fail to Spark
John Brewin's Match Report

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Tuesday's Euro 2008 Previews: Spain-Russia and Greece-Sweden



What: Euro 2008 - Group D
Who: Spain v Russia
When: 18:00 CET - Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Where: Stadion Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 12:00pm EDT
Preview
Hiddink relaxes in Putin's shadow


The infamous Swedish Bikini Team...sans bikinis


What: European Championship, Last 16, Group D
Who: Greece vs. Sweden
When: Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 20:45 CET
Where: Wals-Siezenheim, Austria
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 2:45 EDT
Preview
Confident Swedes ready to challenge champions

Euro 2008: Poles revel in English-style football-watching



While there has been a considerable exporting of Polish manpower to the United Kingdom in recent years, the links between the 2 countries have not been all one way. And one of the things that has gone to Poland in return, to be taken up with immense enthusiasm, has been British football culture.

Tim Vickery in South America




It's 10 days and counting to the biggest game in international football with Brazil and Argentina set to meet on 18 June in the sixth round of South America's World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Mill + ++




Tuesday's Rumours

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Ramsey swayed by Wenger appeal




Arsène Wenger's record in developing young talent looks like being the decisive factor in Aaron Ramsey's destination for next season.

Euro 2008: Monday Reports

A tale of two matches yesterday: A dull affair in Zurich where the French and Romanians failed to play much positive soccer was followed by a scintillating contest in Bern. The Dutch got off the mark on a controversial goal by RVN, but in reality were always more than a step ahead of the lethargic Italians. How a midfield led by Milan players who were poor all season can be expected to suddenly take it up a notch is beyond me. Pirlo and Gattuso looked as out of sorts as they have been for months. Donadoni needs to rethink things or the Italians could face a quick exit. Meanwhile, Van Basten's men put on a show to remember, with a total football display that was a pleasure to behold.

Holland 3 - 0 Italy
Kevin McCarra's Match Report
Pirlo blasts Donadoni's Tactics
Dutch Delight Brings the Tournament to Life
Offside: The Can of Worms is Wide Open

Romania 0 -0 France
Bore Draw in Zurich
France Sans Zidane Need a New Attacking Vision

Monday, June 09, 2008

Portugal's free spirits are serious contenders




Alan Smith:
There was plenty about Portugal's winning performance against Turkey on Saturday night to suggest Luiz Felipe Scolari has once again fashioned a unit who can make a real impression, maybe go one better than four years ago.

Monday's Euro 2008 Previews: Romania-France and Holland-Italy



What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Romania vs. France
When: Monday 9 June, 18:00 CET
Where: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)
U.S. TV: ESPN2, 12:00pm EDT
Preview


What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Holland vs Italy
When: Monday 9 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Where: Stade de Suisse, Berne
Referee: Peter Frojfeldt (SWE)
U.S. TV: ESPN, 2:45 EDT
Preview

The Mill + ++

Monday's Rumours

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German Fans Arrested For Shouting Nazi Slogans





Over 140 German fans were arrested on Sunday evening in Klagenfurt amid an outbreak of racial offences ahead of Germany’s opening EURO clash with Poland…

Euro 2008's Group C Will Set Pulses Racing




Henry Winter on the Group of Death

Martin Rogers on how to survive the Group of Death

Calcio Debate: Italy All-Time Best XI

As Italy prepare to play Holland in their first game of Euro 2008, as part of all the fever, Carlo Garganese offers his all-time Azzurri XI...

4) Gaetano Scirea (1975-86) – Caps 78 Goals 2
Probably the best natural sweeper to have played the game after Franz Beckenbauer, Scirea was class personified. Another member of the outstanding Juventus backline with Zoff, Gentile and Antonio Cabrini, Scirea was the organiser and the brains of this unit for both club-and-country. He was often the instigator of Italy’s attacks, bursting forward to add an extra man, just as he did in creating Marco Tardelli’s second goal in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany. Like Facchetti, Scirea was renowned for his fair play and sportsmanship, and he was never sent off or suspended during his entire career. Shortly after retiring he was tragically killed in a car crash in 1989.

Euro 2008: Weekend Reports

Both host nations played quite well but ended up with no points. Germany cruised with two goals from Polish-born Podolski, Portugal had little trouble with a surprisingly poor Turkish side and the Czech Republic failed to impress in their 1-0 win over Switzerland.

Austria 0 - 1 Croatia
Uninspired Croatia sneaks win

Germany 2 - 0 Poland
Poles can't beat Germans


Portugal 2 - 0 Turkey

Disappointing Turks

Switzerland 0 - Czech Republic 1
Weak performance just enough for Czechs

After that opening ceremony, include me out




Martin Kelner:

Football Focus's cake-and-chocolate extravaganza did nothing to whet the appetite for Euro 2008

International Friendly: USA 0 - 0 Argentina



A week before big World Cup qualifying matches for both squads, the USA and Argentina warm up with a spirited 0-0 tie in the swamps of New Jersey.

Ives:
U.S. Rises to the Occasion

Wenger On Grant, Fergie And Decisions




Arsenal manager Arsené Wenger has revealed his surprise at Chelsea’s treatment of ex-manager Avram Grant, and insisted that the Israeli is no worse a manager as a result of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat. He went on to laud rival Sir Alex Ferguson as well as express his views on key decisions turning matches.