Euro 2004

[Eric in Long Beach]

Here is a thread for discussion about this summer's European Championship in Portugal.

[Eric in Long Beach]

MILAN, May 18 (Reuters) - Juventus striker Marco Di Vaio has been named in the squad for Italy's Euro 2004 training camp ahead of injured AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi.

Inzaghi missed the end of the season with an ankle injury but had hoped for a chance to prove his fitness in time for the finals, which begin on June 12 in Portugal.

Di Vaio was chosen ahead of his Juve team mate Fabrizio Miccoli and Parma's in-form Alberto Gilardino, who had both held out hopes of making the squad.

Roma's Antonio Cassano also makes the squad despite only making two appearances for the Azzurri and not featuring in any of the qualification games.

Inzaghi said he had been working hard to get back in shape after being given 'reassurances' from Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni that he would have a chance to prove his fitness.

'I'm disappointed that I won't have the chance to undergo a test of my fitness, despite having that right, from a purely football point of view,' Inzaghi told AC Milan's website.

'I think I had earnt that (right) after what I have given to the national team in particular during qualification,' he added.

Inzaghi got a hat-trick in the win over Wales in September that played a major role in ensuring Italy qualified for Euro 2004.

Di Vaio was pleased to have held off other challengers for Inzaghi's spot.

'I'm absolutely delighted to get this call up. I've always felt part of the group right from the start of qualification and so I did expect it a little.

'But you always get a bit shaky waiting for the final list. For me it will be enough just to play for a minute. I'd be so happy with that,' he told Juve's website.

Trapattoni will not formally name his travelling party for Portugal until the UEFA deadline of June 2 but he is unlikely to change the 23 named unless injury forces him to.

Lazio's Angelo Peruzzi, who recently returned to the national side after a five-year absence, has been handed the third goalkeeper slot ahead of Roma's Ivan Pelizzoli and Milan number two Christian Abbiati.

There was disappointment for Juve central defender Nicola Legrottaglie, who was pipped by Inter's Marco Materazzi, and Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini also failed to make the squad.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Francesco Toldo (Inter Milan), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio)

Defenders: Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Fabio Cannavaro (Inter Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Giuseppe Favalli (Lazio), Matteo Ferrari (Parma), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Stefano Fiore (Lazio), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Simone Perrotta (Chievo Verona), Cristiano Zanetti (Inter Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Francesco Totti (AS Roma), Christian Vieri (Inter Milan), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Bernardo Corradi (Lazio), Marco Di Vaio (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (AS Roma)

[Eric in Long Beach]

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled Porto midfielder Maniche Ribeiro and kept faith with struggling Tottenham Hotspur striker Helder Postiga when he named his squad for Euro 2004 on Tuesday.

There was no place for Fulham forward Luis Boa Morte, though, and Scolari effectively called time on the international career of goalkeeper Vitor Baia by omitting the 34-year-old from his 23-man squad.

Maniche, an integral part of Porto's run to the Champions League final, has not played for Portugal since a 3-0 defeat against Spain in September 2003.

Scolari opted for Postiga, who moved to Tottenham from Porto before the start of the season, ahead of one of his regularly used forwards, Boa Morte.

Boa Morte has enjoyed a far more successful season than Postiga, who has failed to adjust to life in the premier league, scoring just one league goal and one in the League Cup.

Postiga will act as back-up for leading forwards Pauleta Resendes and Nuno Gomes.

'Each of the strikers we have is excellent, with different characteristics,' Scolari said.

'If we run into difficulties we won't have to play with just one system. With three players, we have scope for variation. I really can't think only in one model.

'Maniche can fill in, in places where we might be in difficulty. He's a great athlete who's playing well at the moment.'

The absence of Baia was no surprise as Scolari has refused to call up the former Barcelona keeper, now back at Porto, since taking over in January 2003.

Baia played at the last two European Championships and the World Cup in 2002 and has been the outstanding goalkeeper in Portugal all season.

Ricardo Pereira is likely to be first choice, ahead of Quim Silva. The third slot went to uncapped Under-21 keeper Jose Moreira of Benfica.

Portugal are in Group A at Euro 2004 alongside Russia, Greece and Spain. The hosts kick off the tournament on June 12 against Greece. The final is on July 4.

The bulk of the squad will assemble on May 20 in Obidos, 80 km north of Lisbon, but many players will be delayed by club commitments.

The six Porto players will join the squad after the Champions League final against Monaco on May 26 in Gelsenkirchen and Real Madrid's Figo and Paris St Germain's Pauleta will arrive late.

Portugal have two friendlies before Euro 2004, against Luxembourg on May 29 and Lithuania on June 5.

Goalkeepers: Quim Silva (Braga), Jose Moreira (Benfica), Ricardo Pereira (Sporting)

Defenders: Fernando Couto (Lazio, Italy), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Miguel Monteiro (Benfica), Nuno Valente (Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Porto), Ricardo Carvalho (Porto), Beto Severo (Sporting), Rui Jorge (Sporting)

Midfielders: Deco Souza (Porto), Armando Petit (Benfica), Francisco Costinha (Porto), Maniche Ribeiro (Porto), Rui Costa (AC Milan, Italy), Tiago Mendes (Benfica)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, England), Helder Postiga (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Luis Figo (Real Madrid, Spain), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao Sabrosa (Benfica), Pauleta Resendes (Paris St Germain, France)

[Eric in Long Beach]

CLAIREFONTAINE, France, May 18 (Reuters) - England-based strikers Louis Saha and Sylvain Wiltord were celebrating as France coach Jacques Santini unveiled his 23-man squad for next month's Euro 2004 finals on Tuesday.

Santini opted for Manchester United's Saha and Wiltord of Arsenal as back-up for automatic first choices Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

The biggest suprise, however, came in Santini's timing.

He made his announcement well before UEFA deadline of June 2, breaking with the tradition set by predecessors Aime Jacquet and Roger Lemerre.

'We wanted to start preparing for the tournament as soon as possible,' Santini said at a news conference at Clairefontaine training camp where the players gathered on Monday.

'I felt the need to spare the players unnecessary pressure.'

Santini said he known his final squad for some time but had waited for the green light from team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret before making the official announcement.

Thirty-one players had been summoned to Clairefontaine and underwent medical tests on Monday.

'There is no question mark left about the shape of the 23 players who are going to play the European championship,' Santini said. 'I knew where I was going and today's list is only the confirmation of what I saw throughout the season.'

Saha won Santini's vote after his move from Fulham to Manchester United this season while the coach kept faith with Wiltord even though he made few appearances for English champions Arsenal this season because of injury.

'It's a great relief and I'm really happy,' he said.

Saha benefited from the absence of AJ Auxerre's Djibril Cisse who was given a four-match ban by UEFA for kicking an opponent in an under-21 game in November.

'I'm aware I'm taking someone else's place but I'm really fit and ready for such a challenge,' Saha said.

The 25-year-old marked his international debut with a fine goal in France's 2-0 defeat of Belgium in February.

Santini also retained Olympique Marseille Steve Marlet, a player he has often picked despite strong competition.

Two Olympique Lyon strikers, Sidney Govou and Peguy Luyindula, missed out even though they helped their team to a third Ligue 1 title in succession.

Santini said he held face-to-face meetings with each of the 10 players left out on Tuesday morning.

'Everyone of them was disappointed but I wanted to explain what my options were. I think they deserved an explanation from me, as in several cases the choice was hard to make.'

Manchester City's Nicolas Anelka was left out after snubbing a late call-up for an international friendly in November 2002.

Monaco midfielders Ludovic Giuly and Jerome Rothen, though, will be in Portugal after a brilliant Champions League campaign.

The pair were allowed to return to their club on Tuesday to prepare for the final against Porto in Gelsenkirchen on May 26.

'If anything happens to one of the players still on duty with their clubs I will have the option of picking a replacement,' Santini said.

Other leading absentees were AJ Auxerre's defender Philippe Mexes and Werder Bremen midifielder Johan Micoud.

Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes)

Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus).

Midfielders: Olivier Dacourt (Roma), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Jerome Rothen (Monaco), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

Strikers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Olympique Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal)

[dianascully]

well Eric I must confess that your review about Potuguese team is very good!!!!
I wouldn't do better

as for the absense of Baia I won't comment it at all: I just think he should be on th 23list....

anyway...he (Scolari) was chosen to be our coach.. so he MUST know what he's doing

Take care

BTW are there any Monaco supporters here?
next wednesday, my (great) team FCporto will be on the Champions League final!!!!

[wanderer]

anyway...he was chosen to be our coach.. so he Must know what he's doing

I wouldn't bet too much on that...

I'm not very confident about the performance of the portuguese national team in the upcoming Euro 2004.

I honestly believe that the Euro itself, as an event, will go on just fine, if not extraordinaly. But the performance of the portuguese team... I'm not a football fan, but I enjoy watching a game every now or then. But for what I see, and for what I hear from my friends who know more about football than I do, people don't seem to be expecting too much from them...

Only time will tell...

[Eric in Long Beach]

AMSTERDAM, May 19 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Dick Advocaat sprang no suprises on Wednesday when he announced his provisional 23-man squad for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

There were places for Ajax Amsterdam youngsters Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Johnny Heitinga, who will all be taking part in their first major tournament.

Forward Arjen Robben, soon to join Chelsea, has recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury to be included in the squad that will assemble on May 26 for a warm-up match against Belgium in Eindhoven on May 29.

Defender Mario Melchiot and his Chelsea team mate Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a striker, along with Manchester City midfielder Paul Bosvelt and PSV Eindhoven defender Andre Ooijer have been put on standby in case of injury.

The Dutch play the Faroe Islands in Lausanne on June 1 and host Ireland four days later.

On June 8 they travel to Portugal where they open their tournament a week later against Group D rivals Germany in Porto. Latvia and the Czech Republic are also in their group.

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Fulham, England), Ronald Waterreus (PSV Eindhoven), Sander Westerveld (Real Sociedad, Spain)

Defenders: Michael Reiziger (Barcelona, Spain), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam), Jaap Stam (Lazio, Italy), Frank de Boer (Rangers, Scotland), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona, Spain), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven)

Midfielders: Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax Amsterdam), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax Amsterdam), Edgar Davids (Barcelona, Spain), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan, Italy), Philip Cocu (Barcelona, Spain), Boudewijn Zenden (Middlesbrough, England), Mark van Bommel (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, England), Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona, Spain), Pierre van Hooijdonk (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich, Germany), Andy van der Meyde (Inter Milan, Italy), Marc Overmars (Barcelona, Spain), Arjen Robben (PSV Eindhoven)

[Eric in Long Beach]

Sven-Goran Eriksson announced the squad today which he hopes will take England to Euro 2004 glory and admitted his most difficult decisions were over who to pick in defence.

With Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand suspended, Jonathan Woodgate out injured and Gareth Southgate not totally fit the Swede has drafted in Liverpool's utility defender Jamie Carragher and Tottenham youngster Ledley King as cover for what will be his first-choice pairing of Sol Campbell and John Terry.

'It was my hardest task. Southgate is not fit at this moment so that was difficult,' he said. 'I talked to Southgate today and he is going to try to be fit but it is doubtful.'

Eriksson was asked whether it was a gamble to take Carragher and King as both were short on international experience.

'The answer will come if they are going to play and we will know it then,' was his response at a press conference, televised by Sky Sports News. 'King is a young man but he has been playing well; Carragher has done very well so I think they are okay, both of them.'

Eriksson believes England can achieve 'great things' in Portugal.

With virtually his first-choice side at his disposal the Swede is quietly confident.

'If they stay fit we can do great things in Portugal,' Eriksson said. 'I think we are lucky this time, more lucky than we were before the World Cup. In the days before we came together [before the 2002 World Cup] Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard were out.

'To go far in a tournament, to reach a final or win a final, you must be lucky both with injuries and in the games. So I am very confident. If they stay fit before and during the tournament I think we have a very good squad and I look forward to it very much.

'I was tempted to go with a fifth striker but we have Kieron Dyer and Joe Cole who are both able to play as a second striker.

'Defoe knows he is number 24 but if anything happens to the 23 he might come in. He is a young lad and it is good for him to be with us and even if he is not going to Portugal it will be good experience for him [to travel with the squad].'

Eriksson said he was confident the 23 he had chosen would be those who would travel to Portugal.

'We have time, until June 2, but I don't think I will change it at all,' he added. 'I am happy with the balance. Hopefully, they will stay fit and if they stay fit I think we will have a very, very good team.

'Steven Gerrard (who missed the 2002 World Cup through injury) will mean a lot to the team and I hope they stay fit, all of them.'

Everton's young striker Wayne Rooney was selected for his first major tournament but Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe is one of the players on stand-by.

'Defoe was very close. He is coming with us to Sardinia - he is not one of the 23 but he is number 24. He will take part in the tournament in Manchester and if something happens in the squad he might come.

'I hope Rooney is fit and in good form because he is an excellent footballer and every time he plays for England he does very well. When he is on the pitch he does not seem to be young.'

Asked if he felt his squad was good enough to win Euro 2004, Eriksson added: 'If they are fit I think so yes. You need a bit of luck to win a big tournament and I hope we have that luck.

'A lot of them are the same (as in the World Cup squad) with two more years' [experience] which is important and those who were in Japan and still in the squad should be better.'

Eriksson insisted he was not concerned about David Beckham's frame of mind after the England captain was sent off in Real Madrid's defeat to Murcia yesterday.

'I am not concerned at all,' he told the press conference, televised on Sky Sports News. 'He had some difficult times that's for sure and I saw the game yesterday but I have always said that when he puts on the England shirt he will do an excellent job as he always does and will put away what has happened lately.'

Eriksson added he left out Manchester United's Wes Brown because he felt he was not back to top form following his injury problems, and praised Carragher as a player 'who will always will stand up and fight for you if you need him'.

Goalkeepers:
James (Manchester City)
Robinson (Leeds/Tottenham)
Walker (Leicester)

Defenders:
G Neville (Man Utd)
P Neville (Man Utd)
A Cole (Arsenal)
Bridge (Chelsea)
Campbell (Arsenal)
Terry (Chelsea)
King (Tottenham)
Carragher (Liverpool)

Midfielders:
Beckham (Real Madrid)
Scholes (Man Utd)
Gerrard (Liverpool)
Butt (Man Utd)
Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)
Dyer (Newcastle)
Lampard (Chelsea)
J Cole (Chelsea)

Forwards:
Owen (Liverpool)
Heskey (Liverpool)
Rooney (Everton)
Vassell (Aston Villa)

On standby:
Southgate (M'boro)
Upson (Birmingham)
Parker (Chelsea)
Defoe (Tottenham)
Smith (Leeds)
Wright (Everton)

[Eric in Long Beach]

I am so looking forward to this Saturday! I can hardly stand it!!!

[Rémi]

"Mylord Beckham, please, shoot first". (copyrights Comte d'Auteroche)

[Rémi]

First day of competition, first surprise.
Portugal 1 - Greece 2

The portuguese team lost the match against Greece on his own field in Porto. The deception must be high over there given that Portugal was considered by the newspapers as a possible candidate for the final. Nothing is done of course, but it's a really bad beginning for you guys (DianaScully and Wanderer).

Spain 1 - Russia 0
I didn't watch the match so I can't tell what happened... But given the score, I guess it might have been a boring match. Anyway, I don't really care, because it's Spain...

Tomorrow will be the day.

[Rémi]

First match of this second day of competition was Switzerland - Croatia. The match wasn't really extravagant, and it end on a draw.

Switzerland 0 - Croatia 0

It's right now the half-time of France - England and I have no comments to make.
... No, I said no comments...
Apart the fact WE should lead the score given what we did during this first period!
But beware! there's still 45 mins. I'm telling you, we're gonna eat rosbifs tonight!

France 0 - England 1 (half-time)

[Rémi]

I will have just one word...

ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU!
ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU!
ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU!
ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU!




FRANCE 2 - ENGLAND 1
Yahoo!!!!! It's party time right now!!!

Small review of the match:
At the end of an incredible match, France beat England ( 2-1 ). Led 1-0 until the 90th minute of the match, our boys magnificently reacted. Fabien stopped a penalty shot by Beckham at the 73th min. And Zidane scored twice, at first on a free kick, then on a penalty during the extra time.

PS:
Eric, I'm sooooo sorry!

[wanderer]

Well great day for you Remi isn't it? I watched the game until de 90 minute when I thought the game was already decided. To my surprised I turned to the channel that was broadcasting the game 10 minutes later and I couldn't unterstand the disappointment in the Brits face and the expression of joy in all French people. What a turn over. Congrats to the French national team.

About the Portuguese performance. We're off to a terrible start. I wasn't expecting much as I said in the previous post on this thread but that performance really disappointed me. Although my expectations weren't that high, I was expecting a victory. I can't say I suffer to that last minute expecting for a turnover similar to what happened with France because I wasn't. At the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half I just changed channel. At that point, watching the Portuguese performance, one could expect nothing but a big defeat. I honestly hope that Scolari changes his strategy so that we can at least make it to the quarters as it would be quite embarrassing to organise such an event (and congratulations to the organization; so far everything went on very smoothly) and don't be in the quarters. Let's wait and see.

Now I'm expecting for the Germany game tomorrow.

Once and again, congratulations to all French people and to the French national team. Great job!

[wanderer]

Oh and Remi sorry but I was kind of supporting the British...

But once more, great match, great performance...

[Eric in Long Beach]

Thank you for your condolences, Rémi. It was a great match, and the final between England and France should be even better, especially when England wins!

All credit to Zidane. He finished his chances and showed why he is still the best. Hats off to Ledley King of England, though. In only his second international match, he helped shut down France's strikers.

After seeing the ugly display between Croatia and Switzerland, I am very confident that England will get through to the quarterfinals, and I guess they will see Spain there, which would be an interesting match, what with the Beckham-Real Madrid subplot.

[Rémi]

Day 3, Group C.

Italy 0 - Denmark 0
A boring match... as usual when Italy plays! I'm quite happy, because it's a good result for the danish players and by consequence, a bad score for the dreadful cheaters.

Sweden 5 - Bulgaria 0
The biggest score since the beginning of the Euro 2004. I'm a bit disappointed though, because the bulgarians deserved a better match with what they had showed during the first period.

[Rémi]

Week 1, last day.

The group D is what we could call the "killer" group because it includes 3 of the best european nations (Czech Republic, Netherlands and Germany), and as you might know, only 2 will be qualified for the quarter finals.

Latvia 1- Czech Republic 2
The latvians, newbies of the competitions, have led the match during 75 mins but they haven't been able to cope in front of the Czechs who reduced the score and took the advantage at the end.
I'm afraid it will be very difficult for them since their next matches will be against Germany and Netherlands. The Czech team is now leading the group and have a good opportunity to qualify.

Germany 1 - Netherlands 1
The second big match of the week. The two favorite teams have separated on a fair draw. Their next matches will be decisive.

[Eric in Long Beach]

I enjoyed both matches today. The Dutch tried too much to get the long ball into Ruud. Everytime they made an attempt, Germany was there to intercept. It wasn't until van Hooijdonk and Overmars came in that the Orangemen looked like they could break through. Schweinsteiger looked very dangerous. I wonder if that was a fluke or the real thing.

Latvia did much better than I expected (I thought we'd see them playing the part of Bulgaria in a replay of yesterday's match). They almost snatched a result at the end, too. They will not be the easy 3 points everyone thought they'd be.

[wanderer]

Congratulations Eric for England's victory. I must say though, I didn't enjoy the game that much. In my opinion the game turned out to be quite slow.

About the Swedish game with Bulgary I'm with you on that Remi. The Bulgarian team did not deserve such defeat. They played well and didn't deserve such result... But I think that desolation and dispair took over after the 3rd goal... However, good effort.