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Greece stun Portugal with 2-1 victory
England fans keen
to leave behind happy memories |
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Bonus for French; Swedes play for nothing
We will play to win: Vieri
Srinath gives tips to pacers New Zealand in strong position Tata academy beat RCF, enter final Punjab Games at Patiala Player dies in accident Punjab boys move into final
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Greece
stun Portugal with 2-1 victory
Porto, June 12 Portugal had not lost any of their previous nine European Championship group games and were hot favourites to claim another win but they could have no complaints about the defeat as they rarely troubled a well-drilled and committed Greek team. The Group A outsiders, looking composed on the ball and determined in attack, led through Giorgos Karagounis's seventh-minute shot and doubled the advantage with an Angelos Basinas penalty six minutes into the second half. They then held out until injury time when Cristiano Ronaldo got a consolation goal with a close range header from a Luis Figo corner. After the excitement of Porto's Champions League success last month and the anticipation of hosting their first major tournament it was a huge anti-climax for most of the 50,000 crowd. Greece, who qualified ahead of Spain and drew with Portugal in a November friendly, showed they would not be overawed as they cut through in the first minute, striker Angelos Haristeas miskicking in front of goal after a low cross by Zisis Vryzas. It was an encouraging start for a team who failed to score in their three group games during their last appearance in a major tournament, the World Cup in the United States 10 years ago. It got better five minutes later as midfielder Karagounis pounced on a misplaced pass out of defence by Paulo Ferreira. With the defenders retreating, he took the ball forward and drove a low shot past goalkeeper Ricardo from the edge of the area. Greece had more chances as Haristeas shot wide and overlapping fullback Takis Fyssas arrived in the box to send a volley over the bar. Portugal eventually settled, with Figo, Rui Costa and Simao Sabrosa beginning to show some nice touches in midfield. But their chances were limited, Costa heading the best of them wide from the near penalty spot after 25 minutes. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari introduced Cristiano Ronaldo to add some invention in the second half but the winger's first contribution was to bring down Yourkas Seitaridis as he drove into the penalty area. Italian referee Pierluigi Collina pointed to the spot and midfielder Angelos Basinas duly sent Ricardo the wrong way with a crisply-struck penalty. Despite having almost 40 minutes to try to get back into the game, Portugal appeared bereft of ideas and failed to test Greek keeper Antonis Nikopolidis until the 86th minute when he made his first real save of the match from a Nuno Gomes effort. The second Group A game between Spain and Russia takes place in Faro later on Saturday and Greece's victory has already made pre-tournament predictions of how it will turn out irrelevant. —Reuters.
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A team that has not been beaten in 18 matches or conceded a goal in its last 11 should not have any problem disposing of one that has won just one of its last six. That’s the theory. As ever in football, the reality of the 36th meeting of the two countries here in their opening Euro 2004 match tomorrow is a little more complex. France’s recent record and status as defending champions is mitigated by the memory of their catastrophic appearance at the last World Cup, as well as by a sense that, defensively, Jacques Santini’s side has started to fray around the edges. Likewise, England’s tendency to fluff their lines in friend lies is offset by an increasingly reliable capacity for meeting their cues when it matters most. In the three and a half years since Sven-Goran Eriksson inherited the shambles left to him by his predecessor Kevin Keegan, England have suffered just one competitive defeat, to Brazil in a World Cup quarterfinal two years ago. Along the way there have been some memorable results: the 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001, the World Cup defeat of Argentina in Sapporo and the goal-less draw with Turkey in Istanbul which earned Eriksson’s men the right to tomorrow’s rendezvous in the Stadium of Light. It is the sense of purpose displayed on those occasions which allows England’s captain, David Beckham, to suggest that England’s collective strength can be greater than the sum of France’s outstanding individual talents. “The plan is to get right at France in the first 10 minutes and not to be fazed by any of their players because I think we’ve got a great team,” Beckham revealed ahead of his own reunion with Real Madrid team-mate Zidane. “Personally I think we’ve got a better team than France. Only in the game will that be proven and we’ve got to perform well on the day. “If every player performs well then we have got a great chance of coming out on top and getting the win we want from the first game. “We’ve got to forget how good other teams are. The French team is one of the best in the world and have got the best players in the world. “But if our team all comes together at the right time, then we are definitely capable of beating anyone.” Eriksson expresses a similar sentiment, albeit with a proviso that a draw would still represent a very good result. “The confidence in the squad is very, very big. I don’t need to tell them that we can beat France if we have a good day. I think they know that.” Such confidence is in part born of the familiarity of the France players, with more than half of their likely starting line-up earning their living in England. There is not a single member of the England team who would dispute that Henry is currently the world’s best striker, Vieira the most imperious midfield anchor and Zidane a playmaker without equal on the planet. But even the most impressive of individuals must lose some of their lustre when you see them every day on the training field. Sol Campbell might not be able to stop Henry, but it would not be for lack of practice on the Arsenal training ground. Beckham’s admiration for Zidane has grown during his season in Madrid but the Englishman has also pirated some of his team-mate’s tricks. Eriksson is not one for allowing players too big a say in how matches are approached, but on this occasion he admits: “I could may be ask my own players how to stop them.” Vieira picks up the theme by insisting that training ground camaraderie will not inhibit France. “You can’t have friends on a football pitch — it’s not something I even think about even if I know I am going to be playing against some players I have a lot of respect for. “The desire in the squad is very high. We suffered after what happened in 2002 and this time we are ready, physically and mentally. If we want to beat England, we know we’ll have to work for it.” — AFP LIBSON: The England-France game on Sunday carries a high risk of violence and the police will act firmly to quell disturbances. About 600 officers will be deployed for the Group B match at the Stadium of Light in the capital, the Lisbon police said in a statement. “The game is seen as having a high risk.” Policing will focus on supporting, informing and controlling fans,” the statement said. As a safety measure, the gates will open three hours before the game starts. Security perimeters will be set up around the 60,000-seat stadium. — Reuters
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England
fans keen to leave behind happy memories Lisbon, June 12 “They’ve told us that they’re glad we’re here, that they’re not quivering in their boots and we are saying — don’t fear us, we want to be loved not loathed,’’ he said. Most fans said England supporters suffered unduly from a negative Press which created prejudice and led to “closed bars, full hotels and riot police on the streets’’. “In my experience the English fans are very good, lots of fun. I think they get a rough deal in the media,’’ said Sven Aagg Hansen, a Norwegian who switched allegiance to England after Norway failed to qualify for the tournament. Simon Copson from Reading agreed: “The media betrays England fans very badly. There’s often fighting at games in Holland, in Italy, but it’s not reported. “In England, you only need someone to belch at a game and it’s back-page news.’’ These fans intend to go the extra mile to “celebrate Englishness’’ and change the popular view of England supporters, tarnished by rioting at Euro 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium and at the 1998 World Cup in France. “We know we have a problem minority but too often we’ve allowed them to paint that picture for us,’’ Perryman said.
— Reuters |
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Bonus for French; Swedes play for nothing
Lisbon, June 12 There is a sting in the system, though. If Les Bleus get knocked out in the first round like they did at the 2002 World Cup they will not get a cent. Many federations refuse to divulge their system of bonus payments but an unofficial ranking list, based on media reports and official figures, has Denmark and France at the top, with Italy and Spain earning about the same as Portugal. Portugal’s players will earn an estimated 200,000 euros if they win the championship in front of their home fans and they will get 35,000 euros just for making it through the first round. Denmark, in group C with Italy, Sweden and Bulgaria, won the title in 1992 and their incentive scheme should keep the players’ bank managers happy. Each player in the 23-man squad gets 442,000 crowns just for being in Portugal. A first-round draw earns 49,000, a victory 98,000. The most a player can earn with six wins out of six is a healthy 2.31 million Danish crowns more than France. Germany’s squad, European and world champions three times, would earn 100,000 euros each if they win the title but, like France and Spain, they would return home with empty wallets if they lost out in the first round. Spanish players will earn 201,338 euros each if they win the title and their federation has taken out an insurance policy in case they have to pay up. Russian football chief Vyacheslav Koloskov says his squad and staff will get half of Russia’s total bonus pool of six million Swiss francs ($4.77 million) in the first round. They will get an additional bonus of 3 million francs if they reach the final. “It will be divided between the players, coaching staff and support personnel, masseurs, doctors and even cooks,” Koloskov said. “Of course, if we lose all three first-round games, the players will get a lot less. There is no point in giving away huge bonuses to the players if they
underperform.” Under the French scheme only the squad’s press officer of the support staff is covered by the bonus scheme. The Czechs will hand to the players 50 per cent of the country’s payments from the
UEFA, European football’s governing body, following the tournament. But they will deduct the cost of the squad’s stays in Portugal and their training camp in Austria first. Bulgaria’s sports ministry has offered 102,300 euros to the squad if they reach the quarterfinals. They will also get undisclosed bonuses from the Bulgarian football union. Outsiders Latvia have reached their first major football tournament in Portugal and they are negotiating bonuses with banking group Nordea’s Latvian arm, the squad’s main sponsor. Midfielder Andrejs Rubins will get a cash bonus from Nike should he score during the tournament. Pity Sweden coaches Lars Lagerback and Tommy
Soderberg, however. While their players will pick up undisclosed bonuses, they are on a fixed salary, win or lose.
— Reuters
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We will play to win: Vieri Lisbon, June 12 “We will be playing to win, on the attack but attacking in the right way.’’ Italy, who were knocked out of the World Cup in the second round by South Korea two years ago, face Denmark in their Group C opener on Monday and Vieri said the team are raring to go. “We are in good shape and after Korea we have matured a lot. We’ve been training well and we are fired up and ready for a good championship,’’ he said. Asked what would be regarded as a good result in the tournament, Vieri said the expectations were always high. “Every time we are at a European Championship or World Cup, we have to win. From our part there is no problem with being among the favourites,’’ he added.
— Reuters |
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ALMANCIL (Portugal): Few
believed Oliver Kahn when he predicted Germany could go a long way at
the 2002 World Cup.
Now the German captain, who
inspired the team to their surprise run to the final in Japan two
years ago, is forecasting another German revival at Euro 2004. “I
have exactly the same feeling (as before the 2002 World Cup,)” the
Bayern Munich goalkeeper told reporters at the squad’s training camp
on the Algarve coast on Friday. Like two years ago, Germany
have failed to shine in the build-up to the tournament, with
embarrassing recent defeats to Romania and Hungary. — Reuters
Suspects arrested LISBON:
More than 10 men of Arab descent were arrested in the northern Portuguese city of Porto on Friday, a day before the start of Euro 2004, media reports said early on Saturday. The arrests came during a joint operation between the police and the Portuguese secret service, SIS. The authorities acted on a tip-off from the Dutch secret service, which said one man was potentially dangerous, the newspaper Publico reported in its online edition. Portuguese authorities are investigating if the men have links to terrorist groups.
— DPA
Doc’s advice ALMANCIL (Portugal):
Germany’s team doctor has advised players not to have sex shortly before Euro 2004 games and drink plenty of water instead. The players’ wives and partners are staying at a hotel next door to the players’ near the Algarve resort of
Almancil. Team doctor Tim Meyer says sex immediately before games should be avoided because of the physical and emotional strain involved.
— Reuters
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Srinath gives tips to pacers Dharamsala, June 12 "I am here to tell the upcoming bowlers to develop a positive attitude as belief in oneself as important as skill and talent when it comes to fast bowling. It is all about mental toughness," he said. "That is why," he added, "I plan to share my international bowling experiences with them, so that they get correct guidance at the right time. The training methods should be at par with international standards so that these young players deliver their best when they take a plunge into mainstream cricket." Srinath further said that he was pretty sure that players from Himachal Pradesh can do equally well as the hilly terrain should not be considered a disadvantage. Appreciating the facilities at the Dharamsala cricket stadium, which is still under construction, he said it would soon give the right platform to young cricketers to hone their skills. Former Indian all-rounder Hanumant Singh, who also arrived here today, said watching one-day matches on television sometimes had negative impact on upcoming players. "Even the best of players have to sometimes depart from the tight techniques in the one-day matches. That is why direct training is more important," he said. Bishen Bedi, who has been giving training to the camp participants for over two weeks, said the camp was not about training alone and they were also infusing competitiveness among the players. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president Anurag Thakur said although they were expecting nearly 50 participants, they number had shot upto nearly 90. "We are in the process of adding nearly two-dozen rooms, besides setting up a gymnasium so that the stadium offers world-class facilities to the cricketers," said Mr Thakur. |
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New Zealand in strong position London, June 12 The tourists were 255 runs ahead at the close and in a commanding position despite some controversial umpiring decisions. Craig McMillan was 28 not out with nightwatchman James Franklin on two in the tourists' second innings. New Zealand (1st innings): 384 England (1st innings) Trescothick c Styris b Franklin 63 Strauss c McCullum b Cairns 0 Butcher c Styris b Franklin 5 Vaughan lbw b Cairns 61 Thorpe c McCullum b Flintoff lbw b Cairns 54 Hoggard c Styris b Franklin 5 Jones lbw b Styris 22 Giles not out 45 Saggers b Cairns 0 Harmison b Cairns 0 Extras:
(b-2, lb-5, nb-12) 19 Total: (all out, 85.3 overs) 319 FoW:
1-1, 2-18, 3-128, 4-140, 5-221, 6-244, 7-255, 8-295, 9-301. Bowling:
Martin 1.5-0-1-0, Cairns 23.3-5-79-5, Franklin 26.1-4-104-4, Mills 6-2-31-0, Oram 15-0-47-0, Styris 11-1-45-1; McMillan 2-1-5-0. New Zealand (2nd innings): Richardson lbw b Giles 49 Fleming lbw b Flintoff 45 McCullum c Flintoff b Giles 4 Styris c Jones b Harmison 39 Astle lbw b Flintoff 0 McMillan not out 28 Franklin not out 2 Extras
(lb-21, nb-2) 23 Total (for five wickets, 61 overs) 190 FoWs:
1-94 2-106 3-126 4-134 5-185 Bowling : Hoggard 6-2-25-0 (1-nb) Harmison 17-2-44-1, Saggers 6-2-14-0, Flintoff 16-2-48-2 (1-nb), Giles 16-3-38-2.—Reuters
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Tata academy beat RCF, enter final Mandi, June 12 The first half of the first semifinal went completely in favour of the Kapurthala team, who forced more than six flag kicks and created several chances. Both Kulwinder and Kularjit failed to make their presence felt. A flag kick was forced in the seventh minute but Kulwinder headed wide. Two more flag kicks followed in quick succession and a goalmouth scramble saw the Tata goal narrowly surviving. Midway through the first-half, Kulwinder’ volley from outside the box went well over the bar. Manjinder had a good chance but he angled his shot wide. Amandeep gave a low pass right across the goalmouth but Kularjit failed to connect properly. Against these series of attacks, TFA, participating in the tournament for the first time, had little to show. Whenever they tried to go on the offensive, their attempts were foiled. TFA’s serious threat came late in the second half but Mohammad Shafiq’s shot hit the bar. Their was no scoring during regulation time and the game went into extra time. Within a minute of the start of extra time, Jeetan Hembram scored the winning goal. Though his first attempt was saved by goalkeeper Bhupender Singh, he converted the rebound. Hyderabad Globe Club outplayed Neemuch Football Association 2-0. Johnson put the Hyderabad team ahead early in the second half while Ayaz-ul-Haq netted the second goal towards the end. |
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Punjab Games at Patiala New Delhi, June 12 Randhir Singh, who is also the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said though the 11 disciplines would be finalised later, athletics, swimming, squash, shooting and boxing were sure to be featured in the games. He said a 10-member POA delegation, led by its secretary-general Latif Butt, had attended the Olympic Torch relay in Delhi, and later interacting with the IOA top brass, agreed to make the Punjab Games an annual affair, with cities in Punjabs of either side of the border holding the games on rotation basis. Randhir Singh said the Punjab Games would be held in a straight and simple manner as the competitions were planned to be held as straight finals, without any preliminary rounds. |
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Player dies in accident Chandigarh, June 12 He was 24, he had represented Punjab.
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Punjab boys move
into final Chandigarh, June 12 For losers, Kanan (15) and Arun (12) were the main scorers.
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Lisbon, June 12
