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Croatia need ‘game of their lives’ against Spain
Greece stun Russia to lift home gloom
Italy may fall into Irish trap
Punjab cops rule in Mandi
Free Kicks
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Czechs shatter Polish dream
Wroclaw, June 17 Petr Jiracek’s neat 72nd-minute strike sealed a 1-0 win and sent Poland out to the delight of a small corner of the rain-soaked Wroclaw stadium, where the majority of red and white clad fans could only rue a host of missed chances in the first half.
“My adventure with the national team is over,” Smuda said afterwards. “It is a bitter pill to swallow. We were too sure about the possibility of winning. We had some opportunities in the first half, we didn’t take advantage of them and we lost the game.” The only crumb of comfort for the broken supporters, who arrived for kickoff as huge bolts of lightning seemed to foretell their impending doom, was that old rivals Russia were also eliminated with a 1-0 defeat by quarter-finalists Greece. Without a win in Euro finals, the victory they needed to progress at the Czechs’ expense looked difficult on paper but in the first 20 minutes Poland should have had their neighbours buried. Gangly frontman Robert Lewandowski flashed a shot wide after a good move among the highlights of spurned chances. The Czechs, humiliated in their opening 4-1 defeat by Russia and without injured playmaker Tomas Rosicky because of an Achilles problem, came into the game as the half wore on having weathered the Polish attacking storm and the driving rain. Coach Michal Bilek has not been popular with Czech supporters and striker Milan Baros, who set up Jiracek for the goal, had even been booed by his own fans as their early campaign looked in disarray. However, the battling 2-1 win over Greece and the ability to hang on against Poland and grab the goal when they finally got on top has suddenly sent them into the last eight as group winners with six points, even though they had negative goal difference. “We are satisfied because we beat a team that played at home,” said Bilek, whose side will face the Group B runners-up in the last eight and will hope that does not turn out to be Germany. “We weren’t good in the first 25 minutes and then we improved. We have been in difficult situations but have been able to play as a team.” Rosicky’s replacement Daniel Kolar was completely anonymous during the match and the Czechs will now do everything they can to get Rosicky fit but the skilful and lively Jiracek, as well as Vaclav Pilar and Jaroslav Plasil, offer a decent threat. The Poles should have come out for the second half raring to go thanks to the wave of noise from the crowds who had made trams bounce up and down en route to the stadium. Instead the Czechs took the initiative without being very incisive but broke through when Jiracek cut inside a defender before beating goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton, preferred to Wojciech Szczesny, for his second goal of the tournament. Tournaments generally suffer for losing hosts early and with Ukraine also far from certain of progressing, UEFA will have to hope the buzz and fervour around the nations does not die down. The Polish fans did their team proud with a rousing rendition of “Polska” towards the end and the applause for the Czech victors as well as their fallen heroes was also a nice touch, contrasting with the violence before the co-hosts’ 1-1 draw with Russia on Tuesday. — Reuters
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Croatia need ‘game of their lives’ against Spain
Gdansk, June 17 Croatia have the unenviable task of trying to halt the rampaging Roja, who hammered Ireland 4-0 at Arena Gdansk on Thursday with Fernando Torres scoring twice as the world champions hit top gear. A shock win over Spain will see Croatia qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners, while a draw could be enough depending on whether Italy beat Ireland in Poznan, Poland. For Spain, the task is straight-forward: a draw means qualification and a win ensures first place. Spanish confidence is high after their star-studded forwards battered the Irish using their 66 percent of ball possession to produce 26 shots on goal, 20 of which were on target, and underdogs Croatia have their work cut out. Bilic has admitted his players will need to produce something special to make the champions dance to Croatia’s tune, but his team showed plenty of pluck to hold Italy on Thursday in Poznan. “What I can say is that we will need to play the best game of our lives,” Bilic said. “We drew 1-1 against Italy, one of the best teams in the world. We are still in a realistic position to go through and we have a chance. We need to remain confident. “Spain will enjoy more possession, but they won’t control the ball the whole time and we’ll also have chances. I hope luck will be on our side too,” added the 43-year-old, who steps down after the tournament to take over at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow. — AFP
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Greece stun Russia to lift home gloom
Warsaw, June 17
Greece and Russia, who could not repeat their impressive opening win which had commentators purring, were next with four, with Fernando Santos’s side progressing thanks to the head-to-head rule. Greek players and coaching staff celebrated wildly on the pitch in front of their small section of fans who had been heavily outnumbered by the large Russian contingent that descended on the Polish capital. Greece stunned the football world by winning Euro 2004 as huge outsiders and could be on a roll again after the much maligned traits of being a well-organised, if limited side, proved a hurdle the more talented Russians, let down by wayward shooting, could not cross. Santos, the Portuguese coach charged with following ‘King Otto’ Rehhagel, the German who led Greece to triumph eight years ago, said his side had been inspired “by the history of Greece”. “What we have achieved is very important,” Santos, sitting with a Greece scarf draped around his neck, told a news conference. “Greece has huge pride for its history. Everyone has to respect Greece.” Russia, who had raised hopes of emulating their run to the semifinals four years ago, appeared to have their destiny in their own hands as they topped the group coming into the game. But despite the best promptings of Andrei Arshavin, their woeful finishing let them down and fate conspired against them elsewhere, with the Czech Republic’s victory over the Poles ensuring it was the final match in charge of Russia for Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. — Reuters
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Italy may fall into Irish trap
Krakow, June 17 Italian media is obsessed with fears Spain and Croatia will play out a 2-2 draw in the other Group C game and knock out the Azzurri even if they beat the Irish in Poznan. Such is 73-year-old Trapattoni’s standing in the game, though, that no one is questioning his loyalties. Ireland have been eliminated after two heavy Group C defeats and Monday’s swansong in the final group match could be the last major tournament appearance for the likes of 31-year-old Robbie Keane who will not want to bow out with a whimper. Trapattoni, who managed Italy at Euro 2004 when they suspected a never-proved fix when Denmark and Sweden drew 2-2 to eliminate them, will make sure his troops are motivated despite only having pride to play for. “It would not be fair to the other countries in the group if I did not select my best team,” said Trapattoni. “With this team, and these players, I am proud.” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is sure Ireland and Spain will be totally professional. “I know we have to believe right until the end. I don’t believe in any suspect goings on,” Prandelli said. “It all depends on us, we need to deserve the win, it won’t be easy.” A victory would be enough for Italy to reach the quarterfinals in second place if Spain or Croatia win the other match. However, an Italy win and a draw in the Spain game makes the situation complicated because all three teams would then be level on five points and head-to-head results come into play. A ‘mini-league’ between the three would be the deciding factor, with Italy having drawn 1-1 with both. A 0-0 draw between Spain and Croatia means Italy would go through with a win while a 1-1 draw would bring group goal difference into play. A scoring draw of 2-2 or higher between Spain and Croatia, though, and Italy are out whatever the do against the Irish. Prandelli is set to make changes with forward Mario Balotelli possibly being replaced by Antonio Di Natale and Alessandro Diamanti in the running for a spot in midfield or as a second striker after impressive form in training. Defender Andrea Barzagli is almost fit after a calf problem. The Italy coach was annoyed that the players sat on their 1-0 halftime lead over Croatia last time out only for Mario Mandzukic to equalise. “It’s not a matter of fitness, it’s more a mental thing,” Prandelli said. “This is the mentality we have to change. We are a good team, we’ve got to believe it a bit more.” Ireland winger Damien Duff may wear the captain’s armband to mark his 100th cap for his country while normal skipper Keane said the squad were determined to put on a show. “The mindset is we are not going home without any points,” Keane told reporters. — Reuters
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Jakarta, June 17 The fifth-seeded Indian, who had won the Thailand Open last week, defeated China's Li 13-21, 22-20, 21-19 in 64 minutes to win her third title of the year. "It was a really, really tough and I love the crowd here,” said the 22-year-old, who had won this title in 2009 and 2010 too and was a runners-up last year.It was a battle of attrition for Saina against an opponent who she had lost to four times and won just once — way back in 2010. Saina didn’t start too well, conceding four successive points to Li. The two players seemed engaged in a battle of smashes and were at par with each other when it came to baseline rallies. But it was the net play in which Li enjoyed the upper hand. Li took an 11-6 lead with her seventh smash winner, as she engaged Saina in rallies before forcing her to commit errors from close range. The Indian could not catch up and although the Chinese floundered a bit in the middle of the game, Saina failed to capitalise and lost the opener in 15 minutes. In the second game, Saina staged a recovery and finally got into the lead at 7-4 after a couple of miscued shots by the fourth seeded Li at the far court. Fortunes fluctuated sharply in the exhausting second game. An erratic Saina, who led 11-7 and 18-14 at one stage, lost her way for a while before saving a championship point at 18-20 and going on to win the game and stay afloat. Pumped up after equalising, Saina started dominating in the decisive third game and took a 5-2 lead. But after that it became a see-saw battle, with Saina trailing 10-11 at break. The Indian managed to nose ahead, though, to grab a 19-16 lead. Saina let slip a championship point before clinching the game, match and the trophy when Li smashed a backhand into the net. "She played on Sunday last week and reached here on Monday night,” national coach Pullela Gopichand said. “From Wednesday onwards, to put up the same intensity and physical effort match by match each day and go through so many ups and downs... It was good to see her managing all that well.” — PTI
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Punjab cops rule in Mandi
Chandigarh, June 17 The title clash witnessed a power-packed game, with the Punjab Police winning 3-2. DFA Hoshiarpur started off without three regular members of the squad. According to sources, this was necessitated by the fact that three of their players were not registered with the association and were not eligible to play. An objection by Punjab Police led to DFA pulling them out of the XI. This change did not seem to hamper DFA, who scored the first goal in the seventh minute when Harvinder Singh smartly guided the ball into the goal off a free-kick. Punjab Police did not let the early goal disorient them and started using their wingers to good effect. When their defence began to concentrate on holding the touchline, the half-backs smartly involved their forward-line to make forays into the DFA area. Their efforts found success when, after getting a direct free-kick at the top of the penalty area, skipper Sumit Bali drove the ball in in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, ace striker Rohit displayed a perfect combination of skill and power to put Punjab Police into the lead. He beat two defenders before blasting in a powerful volley from 25 yards out to make it 2-1. Punjab Police team dominated the second half and hardened their grip on the match with their effective strikers. The score became 3-1 when Baljit Mahay struck in the 48th minute. DFA’s Harvinder scored again in the 60th minute to reduce the margin.
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Life after Russia’s Advocaat
UEFA probes attempted pitch invasion Expectant father Olsson back home
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Greece gave their troubled country a lift it desperately needed by stunning Russia 1-0 against the odds to reach the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Saturday and send their opponents out of the tournament. Facing a tense election back home and mired in a deep financial crisis, Greece secured victory with a Giorgos Karagounis goal deep into first-half stoppage-time to put his side through as Group A runners-up.
Poland, so full of joy and youthful exuberance during this tournament both on and off the pitch, can also look back on wasted opportunities in the opening draw with Greece and coach Franciszek Smuda said he was stepping down. 
The Czech Republic, thrashed 4-1 by Russia in their opening game, beat Poland 1-0 to reach the last eight as group winners on six points. 
WARSAW
