2004-06-13, 17:02
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Link #84 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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  The Euro 2004 Football Championships.  England stunned by French comeback by Mark Buckingham - Last Updated 13 Jun 2004  England shot themselves in the foot in their opening game of Euro 2004 as France scored twice in injury time to pinch a 2-1 victory at Estadio da Luz. Frank Lampard's 38th minute header had set England on course for a priceless victory in Group B and they were desperately clinging on, even after captain David Beckham missed a 73rd minute penalty. But France turned the match on its head within the space of two minutes in injury time as firstly, Zinedine Zidane rattled home a brilliant free kick and then hammered home a penalty after David James felled Thierry Henry. The holders were the first to show their attacking intent when Zidane and William Gallas combined to provide Patrick Vieira with a sight of goal but he wildly blazed his shot over with barely a minute on the clock. England offered a quick riposte as Paul Scholes, after linking intelligently with Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, slipped a pass through to Michael Owen but the Liverpool forward was easily brushed aside by the alert Gallas. Zidane was then afforded acres of space 25 yards from goal but he sliced his shot wide of the target before Les Bleus came closest to opening the scoring on 15 minutes. Vieira, displaying a penchant for creativity, whipped in a cross from the right flank and David Trezeguet powered in to glance a header just over James' bar. Claude Makelele curled a shot over the frame of the goal after tussling with Chelsea team-mate Lampard while only a well-timed tackle from Gallas curtailed Gerrard's probing progress into the penalty area. Scholes' assiduous attempts to end his England drought only resulted in a hopelessly off-target shot as The Three Lions struggled to keep possession in the opposition half. Ledley King then proved the wisdom of his inclusion in the starting line-up when producing a timely intervention from Vieira's flick after France had, not for the first time, manoeuvred space on the right flank. On 38 minutes, England breached a resolute French defence which had not conceded a goal in its previous 11 matches, as Beckham made his first notable contribution of the contest. After winning a free kick on the right, Beckham curled in a superb set-piece which Lampard headed in at the near post, with Fabien Barthez rooted to the spot. While Zidane's trickery bamboozled both Lampard and Gerrard, his attacking cohorts Henry and Trezeguet were expertly shackled in the first half by Sol Campbell and the impressive King as goalkeeper James did not have a shot to save. France were immediately on the offensive after the restart as Henry was presented with his first sight of goal as he chested down Vieira's flick, but volleyed straight at James before a teasing run from the Arsenal ace resulted in the England keeper grasping the cross at the second attempt. Pires became the first player booked after a hack at Scholes but, from Gerrard's free kick, France broke with menace and purpose with Vieira again teeing up Henry, who curled a shot tamely into the arms of James. Having minutes earlier been the victim, Scholes then turned aggressor as his well-known inability to tackle brought him a caution for a mistimed lunge on Vieira. After being subjected to a barrage of pressure for the bulk of the second half, England were handed the chance to kill the game off on 73 minutes due to the vivacity of Rooney, who first robbed Lilian Thuram of possession. The Everton starlet then surged towards the penalty area and drew a reckless challenge from Mikael Silvestre, with Markus Merk having no hesitation in duly awarding a penalty. Up stepped England skipper Beckham whose fiercely struck spot kick was magnificently saved by his former Manchester United team-mate Barthez. The French keeper was then smacked in the face by a shot which bounced wickedly from Darius Vassell, who had replaced the ineffectual Owen. England required some desperate defending in the closing minutes as substitute Willy Sagnol skilfully touched the ball to Makelele whose shot was brilliantly charged down by King. But in injury time England succumbed after Emile Heskey needlessly fouled Makelele 25 yards out. The mercurial Zidane produced a moment of magic to unleash an unstoppable free kick past a stranded James. England's misery was further compounded deeper into injury time after a wretched piece of play by Gerrard, whose awful back-pass was pounced on by Henry. The France livewire beat James to the punch, with the keeper sending Henry crashing to the ground. The ice-cool Zidane confidently approached the ball and smashed it into the corner of the net to give the reigning champions an unlikely win. http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ |
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2004-06-13, 17:05
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Link #86 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Age: 34
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! AAAAAAHH!!!! WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY FOING(england)!!?!?!?! GAAAAAAAAAAATHHH 2 GOAL ON OVERTIME!!!! Last edited by NightWish; 2004-06-13 at 20:49. Reason: Because the O's were messing with the layout |
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2004-06-13, 17:14
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Link #87 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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The Euro 2004 Football Championships.  Croatia held in dour stalemate by Alex Dunn - Last Updated 13 Jun 2004  Croatia and Switzerland fought out a dour 0-0 stalemate in the searing heat of Leiria, in a result that will please neither coach. Switzerland were reduced to ten men early in the second period when Johann Vogel saw red but Croatia's tepid efforts failed to breach a staunch rearguard. In a first half that was in truth befitting of two sides ranked as outsiders for qualification from the group stage, it was Switzerland who fashioned the game's first opportunity. With Croatia's back line still seemingly adjusting to the glorious heat of Leiria, Hakan Yakin was invited to advance with the ball and his effort was hit with precision but without conviction and Jorg Stiel gathered comfortably. Indeed, it was the Swiss who started the brightest, with the industrious midfield pair of Vogel and Raphael Wicky economic in their distribution and controlling in the middle of the park. After a Croatian foray ended with Rangers-bound Dado Prso pleading for a penalty but only receiving a booking for a lamentable dive, Swiss striker Alexander Frei then broke quickly and could have registered the opener. The dominating Murat Yakin launched from back to front and when glimpsed a sight of goal, Frei struck well from the angle but Stiel was equal to it. However, Switzerland's grip on the proceedings was to prove short-lived, as Portsmouth's Ivica Mornar and Ivica Olic began to cause trouble to Kobi Kuhn's narrow side from wide positions. From set-pieces Croatia had the aerial advantage and in the 35th minute, Niko Kovac arrived from deep to plant a header over when well placed. Then came the half's best opportunity, as Croatia's Olic was left with his head in his hands after being found guilty of a glaring miss. A free kick from the right and Switzerland's offside lacked unity, leaving Josip Simunic with a free header. Stiel managed to get a firm palm to the ball with an agile stop but it only spun to Olic, whose header was weak from close range and rolled onto the top of the bar. The second period began with Croatia's ascendancy showing no sign of abating and four minutes into the restart came Vogel's moment of lunacy. At odds with referee Lucilio Batista's decision to award a free kick against him, Vogel petulantly kicked the ball away and was awarded a second yellow card to accompany his first, awarded for a foul in the opening period. With numerical advantage it could be expected that Croatia would seize the game and grasp maximum spoils but seemingly they were content with a point. Showing a startling lack of ambition and a lethargic manner when in possession, Croatia were dire in a performance that will enthuse England coach Sven Goran Eriksson. Peripheral Croatia striker Tomislav Sokota managed an effort in a rare attacking foray but his shot matched the game and was duly woeful. Switzerland could even have stolen the points with 15 minutes remaining, as Benjamin Huggel broke from his defensive shackles to drive from range. His effort was straight and true but Stiel managed to dart across his goal to save in an unconventional but nevertheless effective manner. Huggel's effort proved to be the last effort of note in a dour contest that was officiated in a pedantic manner, which did nothing to raise the entertainment value. http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ |
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2004-06-13, 20:13
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Link #88 | |
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Lord Sesshoumaru
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: "Post a Photo of Yourself!" Thread
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Quote:
but damn they must've gotten real lucky in that extra time to score 2 goals...1 of them was a penalty wasn't it? |
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2004-06-13, 20:55
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Link #91 |
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I pity the foo!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Lisbon ,Portugal
Age: 37
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And it seems that english fans couldn't digest easy the defeat... the police is already in prevention.
Yesterday, they tried to close out Rossio (most important square in Lisbon)... and they even attacked portuguese folks that where coming from the "Marchas Populares" with *drumroll* pepper gas... and they said that it was the portuguese that attacked them. (Of course, you do see portuguese folks running behind drunk english fans with stell bars from their arches made for the "Marchas Populares"  )
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2004-06-13, 22:51
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Link #93 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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The Euro 2004 Football Championships. Becks laments ill luck by Alex Livie - Last Updated 13 Jun 2004  England captain David Beckham and coach Sven Goran Eriksson felt The Three Lions were the victims of some ill luck against France on Sunday. The Three Lions were cruising toward three points approaching injury time, after Frank Lampard had headed them in front, but they had not counted on Zinedine Zidane. Firstly, a superb free kick levelled the scores and secondly, deep in injury time, David James' foul on Thierry Henry presented the midfield maestro with the chance to win the match from the penalty spot and he made no mistake. It was cruel on England who had played well and weathered a barrage of pressure, and Beckham, who missed a penalty, felt the result was unjust. "We have not deserved that," he told ITV. "We deserved to win. For 89 minutes we have performed well. "If I had put the penalty away it would have finished it off and I hold my hands up, I could not have struck it better but fair play to Fabien he read me and made a great save. "It could have been 2-0, but I don't think we deserved that. "They got the run of the play in the final couple of minutes and that is football." Beckham felt there were a lot of positives to take into the next two matches against Croatia and Switzerland. "We have got to take a lot from the game," he added. "We have played well for 80, a lot of young kids have played like they have been there for years and we have got to take those positives to the next game." England chief Eriksson was of a similar opinion to his captain, as he said: "We were unlucky. "We played a good game, very good tactically and when it came to the last 10 we controlled it and they were out of ideas, shooting from distance. "It should have been a delusion to draw it but it was a bigger one to lose. "We now look to the next game and have to produce a performance like we did today against Switzerland on Thursday." http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ |
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2004-06-13, 22:57
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Link #94 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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The Euro 2004 Football Championships. Best of Day - June 13 We look at the best action from today's games in Euro 2004. by Alex Dunn - Last Updated 14 Jun 2004 Player of the day - Zinedine Zidane  The world's best player proved his pedigree with two moments of sumptuous skill and stole the game from England's grasp. Whilst his team-mates looked dejected, the maestro conjured a majestic free kick in the final minute and then dispatched a penalty with consummate ease. The Real Madrid man finished last season without a trophy but is clearly not in the mood to surrender France's title as Europe's best side. On the biggest stage, Zidane exposed the thin line between endeavour and class. Goal of the day - Zinedine Zidane  With England on the verge of a monumental victory, Zidane made the sweetest of contacts with a dead ball and David James was left clutching broken dreams. The Manchester City custodian had previously been relatively untroubled but genius can only be subdued for so long. After England conceded an unnecessary free kick on the edge of their own box, Zidane stepped up and arched a magnificent strike into the far corner of James' goal. It's not always easy but sometimes you have to salute the irrepressible skills of the mercurial Frenchman. Save of the day - Fabien Barthez  When Silvestre upended a rampaging Wayne Rooney in his own box there was to be only one outcome. David Beckham, who missed his last spot kick against Turkey, stepped forward with confidence and focus. However, despite striking the ball well, former Manchester United team-mate Fabien Barthez went to his right and pulled off a breath-taking stop. England's chance of claiming a much needed second goal evaporated and the rest is history. Pass of the day - Zinedine Zidane  The France captain could only notch a double salvo tonight but we give him a hat-trick of awards with pass of the day. Hitting a 70-yard ball from left to right may seem effortless to Zidane but we still think it deserves a mention. Robert Pires was the grateful beneficiary and another lighting France counter attack was launched. Miss of the day - Ivica Olic  In a dour game between Switzerland and Croatia, Ivica Olic was left with his head in his hands after being found guilty of a glaring miss. A free kick from the right was delivered into the box and with Switzerland's offside trap lacking cohesion, Croatia's Josip Simunic was left with a free header. Swiss custodian Jorg Stiel managed to get a firm palm to the ball with an agile stop but it only spun to Olic, whose header was woeful from a yard out and rolled onto the top of the bar. Dive of the day - Dado Prso  In a monumentally dull contest between Switzerland and Croatia, Dado Prso and Ivica Mornar deserve credit for brightening up the proceedings with some laughable diving. Both players are big robust forwards and there is little more entertaining than watching a large man role about in agony after a feeble tackle. Prso just about takes today's trophy - as he was attempting to win a penalty in the dive which earned him a yellow card. Tactic of the day - Kobi Kuhn  An easy choice for Tactic of the Day - We salute Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn. Reduced to ten men early in the second period after a moment of petulance from Johann Vogel, Kuhn organised his side into a tight defensive unit. Croatia may have been too negative in their outlook but Kuhn and his side can be credited for reducing their opposition to hopeful long-range efforts. Celebration of the day - David Beckham  Ultimately it may have been a miserable night for England's captain but his reaction to Frank Lampard's goal deserves a mention. Whilst Lisbon rejoiced and the whole of England began to wave their flags in jubilation - Beckham screwed his face and frowned... And then screamed with joy as he realised the Chelsea man had thundered his delivery past Fabien Barthez and not wide of the post. http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ Last edited by Scrumhalf; 2004-06-14 at 20:28. |
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2004-06-13, 22:59
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Link #95 |
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冤枉的小狗
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: South East Asia
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Lucky the Dutch & English aren't in the same group at the start, otherwise Portugal will be torn to pieces by the bad hats amongst their fans
 Italy vs Denmark today. It should be interesting considering Italy is considered a powerhouse and the Danes were European Champions before. But the next most eagerly anticipated for this week should be Germany vs Netherlands. Will the Dutch in-fighting tear them apart again? Or would the German methodical dour play bore them opponents to defeat yet again ?
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2004-06-13, 23:06
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Link #96 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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The Euro 2004 Football Championships.  Denmark v Italy preview by Paul Higham - Last Updated 13 Jun 2004 Denmark face the well-fancied Italians in their opening Euro 2004 clash with both sides looking to get off to a flying start Both nations know what it is like to lift the trophy and they both fancy their chances of going all the way again in Portugal. Azzurri boss Giovanni Trapattoni has already named his side for the clash in Guimaraes, with Christian Vieri set for the lone striker role up front. However, the Italians have insisted that they are going to shed their defensive tag and set Portugal alight with attacking football. Vieri has already boasted that he will be banging in the goals left, right and centre, with Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero both operating just behind the big striker. Argentinian-born Mauro Camoranesi will also play in midfield, as part of Trapattoni's 4-2-3-1 formation. Simone Perrotta and Cristiano Zanetti will sit in front of the back four to shield them, but Christian Panucci, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta will form a pretty solid backline. Gianluigi Buffon will be given the nod ahead of Francesco Toldo but again Trapattoni has a great choice with two superb keepers at his disposal. Gennaro Gattuso's pleas for a starting berth have not been successful, while Roma starlet Antonio Cassano will have to make his impact off the bench. Denmark have, sadly, lost Jesper Gronkjaer for the clash with Italy, after the sad death of his mother. The Chelsea man may return for their next match after coach Morten Olsen left the door open for his return if he should feel up for it. Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen is suspended for the match in which a number of Danes will be facing familiar faces. Thomas Helveg, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Martin Laursen all played in Serie A last term and will be well clued up on most of the Italian side. The Danes need a good start to upset the group favourites, who have never lost an opening game of the European Championship. Italy lead the way in the head-to-head record, having won seven of their ten previous meetings, although they are all-square at three apiece in competitive games. There has never been a competitive draw between the two and Denmark are quietly confident of upsetting the odds, and they will need a good start to stand a chance of repeating the heroics of Sweden 92. http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ |
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2004-06-13, 23:08
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Link #97 |
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Ed & Winry? :O
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 42
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The Euro 2004 Football Championships.  Sweden v Bulgaria preview by Simon Fudge - Last Updated 13 Jun 2004 Sweden and Bulgaria meet in Lisbon on Monday evening, with both sides eager to get a result to open their Group C campaign. The Jose Alvalade Stadium plays host to an intriguing contest in a competitive-looking group that includes powerhouse Italy and a talented Denmark squad. The Swedes are buoyed by the return to international football of goalscorer Henrik Larsson and it will be the Celtic striker that the Scandinavians will again look to, to provide the goals in Euro 2004. With Italy and rivals Denmark to come for the Swedes, a win will be vital to provide a good start to their campaign - with Bulgaria having been a good opponent over the years for them. Seven victories and two draws in their last nine meetings against the Eastern European counterparts should give Sweden plenty of confidence. Larsson will hope his striking partnership with the tall Ajax hit-man Zlatan Ibrahimovic can fully test a seemingly shaky Bulgarian backline. The Swedes have plenty of midfield creativity as well in Rennes youngster Kim Kallstrom - a potential star of the future - while Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg will surely provide another attacking threat from midfield. Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg is Sweden's only injury concern with a long-standing Achilles injury problem. Though unlikely to be fancied for a result on Monday, the Bulgarians will see Greece's shock win over Portugal as an incentive to go out and take three points against the Swedes. Goalkeeper Zdravko Zdravkov will need to be at his best to keep out Larsson and Ibrahimovic while striker Dimitar Berbatov will be looked upon to convert his side's goalscoring chances. Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov will be a key man in the Bulgarian midfield, with defensive duties likely to be the order of the day against a talented Sweden squad. Manager Plamen Markov's only injury worry concerns Wolfsburg striker Martin Petrov with a strained hamstring problem, but he is expected to play on Monday evening. He has received a treble fitness boost, with striker Velizar Dimitrov having overcome a thigh injury while goalkeeper Zdravkov and midfielder Daniel Borimirov have overcome minor muscle problems. The Eastern Europeans have to go back to 1967 to record their last success against Sweden, but the Bulgarians will aim to end that poor streak in Sporting Lisbon's ground. http://www.euro2004.com/ http://www.football365.com/ http://www.soccernet.com/ |
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2004-06-14, 05:39
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Link #98 | ||
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Not looking forward to today's matches oh well they might be interesting
 Quote:
Well either your twist around the facts e.g. Portugal has 4 wins, 11 draws and 15 losses against Spain (which is far more realistic I might add) or the site where you get the numbers from are wrong Quote:
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2004-06-14, 06:48
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Link #99 |
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Oups...
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Not being a football fanatic, there are positive spin off effects here in Sweden of the match today: Sportsbar at work = Less work! Wheee!
 But all the rue and gnashing of teeth in the media after the (inevitable) eventual loss might not be worth it...
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2004-06-14, 07:23
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Link #100 |
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///_^
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mushroom County, Mario World
Age: 36
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All right on to the next match-up of some importance. Germany vs. Holland. Everybody off course know that the Germans will endure a 0 - 3 asswhooping but there are certain people who have a tendency to be oblivious to the fact that The Netherlands have a far better line-up.
So what do you think about this??? (If you haven't guessed, I'm Dutch) |
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*feels bad cause he can't watch the game*
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