Euro 2008 Saturday Previews

Switzerland v Czech Republic
GROUP A
Date: Sat 7 June
Kick-off: 1700 BST
Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel
U.S. TV: 12:00pm EDT, ESPN Classic
PREVIEW


Portugal v Turkey
GROUP A
Date: Sat 7 June
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: Stade de Geneve, Geneva
U.S. TV: 2:45pm EDT, ESPN Classic
PREVIEW

European Championship of Beers

What's the best beer to drink during Euro 2008? Two-time British Beer Writer of the Year Ben McFarland introduces the runners and riders.

Mutu ordered to pay Chelsea $18.6 million

That'll buy a lot of blow...

Euro 2008 Previews: Spain and Sweden

They look more talented than ever, but Europe's biggest under-achievers might not be any closer to being more than the sum of their parts.









Lars Lagerback's durable team have more attacking strengths than might be expected, but expect the customary quarter-final exit.

Altidore expects to be loaned by Villareal

There has been a report that Villarreal, which finished second in the Spanish League, might send the 18-year-old American to Recreativo Heulva on loan to indoctrinate him into European soccer.

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany

Uli mulls Germany's defensive and attacking options ahead of kick-off...

The Mill

Friday's Rumours

Ernst Bouwes in Holland

Ernst looks at back at some moments in recent Dutch history as familiar foes await...

Lineker's Euro 2008 View

Gary gives his thoughts on the forthcoming tournament and explains why international football is more important than the Champions League.

Classy

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has been caught up in a row between Poland and Germany ahead of the European Championship after a newspaper depicted him with his head chopped off...
Ballack caught up in row

Earplugs in for Wayne Rooney's 'quiet' stag do

"Quiet" compared to what, exactly? Def Leppard play Wembley?

Wayne kicks off stag party with 16-hour bender





Graham and John Rooney = Pure Class

Ronaldo Declares for Real

"I want to play for Real Madrid, but only if it is true they are eager to pay me and Manchester United what they have been saying they will," said Ronaldo in an interview with the respected Brazilian website Terra. "However, it does not depend on me."





His neck looks weird...

Euro 2008: It’s Germany’s tournament to lose

Martin Rogers likes Germany to win it all. So do a lot of other people.

Read about it here.

Boro In Four-Million-Euros Bradley Swoop

Middlesbrough could beat fellow English clubs Everton and Newcastle United and land American starlet Michael Bradley after they offered Heerenveen four million euros.

MLS and Villarreal Agree Terms for Altidore

Eighteen-year-old New York Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore is moving to Spanish side Villarreal.

Euro 2008 Previews: Greece and Russia

They've retained their wily manager along with most of the victorious team from 2004. Can lightning really strike twice?











Guus Hiddink's team will be fast, flexible and fluid in their attempt to join Russian sport's 'golden age'

The Mill + ++

Monday's Rumours

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International Friendly: Spain 1 - 0 USA

Xavi strike sinks U.S.


Jeff Carlisle:
U.S. offers little offensively against Spain


Player Ratings

U.S. looks to bounce back against Spain

In all probability, another setback is in store for Bradley's men. But after last week's loss, a grittier, more aggressive performance from the Americans will mean at least some progress has been made.

Expected Line-up
Preview



Santander...from the air. Wouldn't mind hitting those links.




U.S. men's schedule:

U.S. vs. Spain
June 4
Estadio El Sardinero, Santander, Spain
4 p.m. ET, ESPN360
5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 (Tape delay)

U.S. vs. Argentina
June 8
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Classic

Pat Nevin's Euro 2008 Verdict

The BBC Radio 5 Live Euro 2008 Pundit weighs in...and he likes Russia.

Euro 2008 Previews: Holland, Italy, Romania

Uncharacteristically cast as outsiders, the Dutch have potential to thrive - but a basic inability to defend properly could cost them in Group C.











If the Italians can decide on a system and overcome an unkind draw, they may add to their World Cup success.













Victor Piturca's no-nonsense management may see Romania progress from the Group of Death

Manchester City name Mark Hughes as new manager

Hughes, 44, steered Blackburn to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season on limited resources, two places higher than where his new employers finished, and will become City's 13th manager in 22 years.

The Mill + ++

Wednesday's Rumours

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Eto'o Could Face Lengthy Prison Sentence

Samuel Eto'o could face a lengthy prison sentence if he is found guilty of assault after he reportedly attacked a journalist in Cameroon last week.





Be like Zizou...

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany

Uli takes a look at Germany's goal machine Miroslov Klose.
A Man of Few Words

Sven Confirmed as New Mexico Manager

Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was named as the new coach of Mexico on Tuesday.

Walsh's Word: When Bad is Good

Goal.com USA's Pat Walsh believes that you need a few tough guys on your side to truly have a well-rounded team in MLS.

Euro 2009 Previews: Germany, France, Croatia

Michael Ballack's form, combined with an easy draw, will take Joachim Löw's men all the way.












Raymond Domenech has the best squad in the tournament, but will he pick the right XI?













Slaven Bilic's charismatic leadership won't compensate for a lack of quality up front.

Euro 2008: WAGS

No England this time around -- here are some of the wives and girlfriends from the continent compliments of the BBC.

Manchester United Agree Fee for Ramsey

The Champions League and Premier League winners have had an offer accepted believed to be in the region of £5m to £6m.

Cardiff also had offers from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool for the Wales Under-21 star, BBC Sport understands.

Ramsey, 17, has played just 22 games for Championship side Cardiff.

The Mill + ++

Tuesday's Rumours


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The 3-5-2: Crewd Behavior, Bad Yanks and McReturn

Goal.com USA's Greg Lalas comes out shooting from the hip, giving opinions on everything from the racial incident in Columbus last weeekend, the U.S. National Team's loss to England and Brian McBride's upcoming return to MLS.



Missed this from earlier. Apologies. -Ed.

The Big Interview: Sir Alex Ferguson

My best player? Cantona

"Eric's great asset was to score important goals at important times or make a goal at important times. That's what his great asset was. Just when you're saying to yourself, 'God, we need a goal here', up he'd pop. And he'd either make one or score one. He was a fantastic personality - I've been very lucky, the players I've had. Some fantastic players."

MLS: Fire Need to Facilitate McBride Homecoming

Brian McBride wants in. He's sitting by the phone, waiting to become Chicago Fire property. It's up to the bosses at Toyota Park to make it happen. They may have to get creative, but it's surely worth the effort. A very special season for the Fire is there for the taking.

Moyes wins libel pay-out after Rooney book claim

The undisclosed sum is being paid to Moyes by Rooney, co-author Hunter Davies and publisher HarperCollins, a judge in London heard.




Lies! All of it...lies!!

Italy Captain Cannavaro Out of Euro 2008

The 34-year-old defender twisted his ankle in training today following a collision with team-mate Giorgi Chiellini, and underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

Chiellini in Tears

Quotes of the Week

"You know you can't complain, you know. To play for your country, like I've always said, you know, it's the best thing in the world, you know. When a new manager comes in you know, everyone starts on, you know, the same level, you know. I've just gotta keep working hard, you know."
Jermain 'You Know' Defoe enjoys his two goals for England in Trinidad.

All the Fun

Euro 2008: Can Spain Win?

It is June, and we are approaching a major football tournament which means that some time in the next month, the fabulously-gifted players of Spain will crash out and fly home prematurely.

'I'm going for Italy': Paul Wilson's Euro 2008 verdict

There is only one prediction it is safe to make about Euro 2008, and that is that England will not win it. There is still just about time for a war to break out between Spain and Portugal, and Carlos Queiroz seems to be doing his best to start one, but even in the unlikely event of England being drafted in as late replacements for squabbling Iberians, they still won't win it. It is history that repeats itself, not fairy tales.

Euro 2008 Previews: Austria and Poland

Josef Hickersberger's hosts are so bad that they would consider one positive result in the group stages a creditable performance








Poland have qualified impressively for the last two World Cups, only to flop badly having got there and the fear is that, having reached the finals of the European Championship for the first time, the big tournament experience might be about to repeat itself.

The Mill + ++

Monday's Rumours

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Mourinho Makes Managerial Return at Inter

The former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been confirmed as the new manager of Internazionale. The Portuguese has signed a three-year contract with the Nerazzuri, and will work alongside his former Chelsea colleagues Rui Farias, Silvino Louro and André Vilas-Boas at the San Siro.

Players fight with police during match in Brazil

A player was arrested after being sent off in a Brazilian championship match and riot police used pepper spray and truncheons in fights with his team mates on the pitch on Sunday.

Eriksson leaves Manchester City after one season

Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes is favourite to replace Eriksson after Blackburn Rovers confirmed later on Monday that they had given permission for their manager to talk to City about the vacant post.