UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A Date: Wed 11 June Kick-off: 1700 BST Venue: Stade de Geneve, Geneva
Group A favourites Portugal or Czech Republic could on Wednesday become the first team to book a place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals. Portugal, who impressively beat Turkey 2-0 in their opening match, and the Czechs, less than convincing 1-0 winners of the tournament opener against co-hosts Switzerland on Saturday, meet at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva (1600 GMT).
Team facts - Czech Republic Deployed their oldest starting line-up in this competition in their opening match against Switzerland. At 29 years and 298 days, their line-up beats the previous oldest starting eleven from 1980 by more than a year. The win against Switzerland was Karel Bruckner's 50th victory in his 74-match reign as Czech national team boss. Won their last six competitive matches and are unbeaten in their last eight.
Team facts - Portugal By beating Turkey in their opening match, Portugal extended their unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 12, their joint second best ever. Between September 2004 and July 2006, Portugal were unbeaten in 17 competitive matches. Their last defeat in a competitive match was in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Poland (2-1) on 11 October 2006.
Never been awarded a penalty at European Championships. This running streak of 20 matches is a tournament record.
Player facts - Czech Republic Goalkeeper Petr Cech will meet his Chelsea team mates Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho.
Player facts - Portugal Against Turkey, Nuno Gomes equalled a Portuguese record by appearing in his third European Championship, a total also achieved by Fernando Couto, Luís Figo and Rui Costa. If Nuno Gomes scores, he will become the third player to score in three different European Championships, joining Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) and Vladimir Smicer (Czech Republic). Thierry Henry (France) and Henrik Larsson (Sweden) can also achieve this feat at Euro 2008.
Vaclav Sverkos' second-half strike ensured Czech Republic opened their Group A campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over co-hosts Switzerland.
Sverkos struck in the 71st minute after taking advantage of some slack defending, but in truth the much-fancied Czechs struggled to stamp their authority on a match that they were expected to win comfortably.Swiss captain Alexander Frei provided early evidence that the home side were not simply happy to make up the numbers at their own party as he fired a 25-yard shot wide of Petr Cech's upright in the third minute.
They also went close through further long-range shots from Gokhan Inler and attacking full-back Valon Behrami inside the first 20 minutes, but both times the impressive Cech stood firm.The Chelsea keeper saved his best for the 22nd minute when he saved with his legs as a long clearance from goalkeeper Diego Benaglio found Frei and he attempted to stab the ball home from eight yards after ghosting in behind the defence.
Ten minutes later, and with the Czechs slowly gaining the upper-hand, Cech clawed away another shot from distance by dangerman Frei, before Tranquillo Barnetta was flagged offside when attempting to slot home the follow-up.However, the turning point in the match came on the stroke of half-time when Frei twisted his knee and was forced off.
From that moment onwards the Swiss visibly wilted and the Czech Republic slowly took a stranglehold on the match.Disappointing lone striker Jan Koller was substituted on 57 minutes and his departure led to the arrival of eventual match-winner Sverkos.First Libor Sionko should have converted a pinpoint free-kick which found him unmarked, but he failed to get his head to the ball from close range.
Substitute Hakan Yakin missed a similar opportunity at the other end for the home side, before Sverkos struck in decisive fashion just moments later.The Swiss defence half-cleared a corner, but when the ball was sent back over their own heads, it fell to the alert Sverkos and he picked his spot before slipping a low shot past the keeper and into the far corner from 12 yards.
Switzerland refused to throw in the towel and could have been back on level terms nine minutes from full-time when first Barnetta drew a fine save from Cech with a powerful shot from the edge of the box before Johan Vonlanthen smashed the follow-up against the crossbar.In stoppage time they also had a penalty appeal turned down when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Tomas Ujfalusi just inside the box.
But although the Czech Republic were hardly convincing in victory, the home side lacked any real quality in the final third and their participation in the tournament seems unlikely to stretch beyond the group stage.
Vaclav Sverkos Goal
Full Highlights
Petr Cech admits the Czech Republic had some luck against Switzerland
Impressive Portugal made the perfect start to their Euro 2008 campaign as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory against a lack-lustre Turkey side in Geneva.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side dominated the match from virtually the first whistle while the Turks looked toothless in attack and never really looked like getting back into the game once Portugal had taken the lead.Turkey were quite content to soak up the Portugal pressure and play on the break but they seemed to have no Plan B after Pepe had fired Scolari's team ahead in the 61st minute.Portugal also hit the woodwork three times as they showed the quality that could lead them to success four years after they were beaten in the Final by Greece on home soil.
Portugal always looked dangerous at dead-ball situations and they came within a whisker of taking a 38th-minute lead when Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick was superbly tipped on to the post by Turkey keeper Demirel Volkan.Early in the second half it was Nuno Gomes' turn to hit the woodwork. The referee waved play on after Gokhan Zan had dithered at the back before bringing Sabrosa Simao down. The ball broke to Nuno Gomes who could only fire his shot against the post when he seemed certain to score.
However, Portugal took a deserved lead just after the hour mark when a brilliant one-two between Pepe and Nuno Gomes on the edge of the area ended with the Real Madrid defender running on and stroking the ball past the stranded Volkan.The goal effectively ended Turkey's challenge as they seemed incapable of lifting themselves enough to grab an equaliser.
Ronaldo made space for himself in the 66th minute before curling in a cross that Nuno Gomes headed on to the crossbar, while Turkey's best chance of grabbing an undeserved equaliser came with eight minutes left when the unmarked Emre Asik headed wide from a corner.With virtually the last kick of the encounter, the scoreline was given a more realistic look when a swift Portugal counter-attack ended with Joao Moutinho slipping a pass to Jose Raul Meireles who swept the ball home.
1st Half Highlights
2nd Half Highlights
Pepe Goal
Raul Meireles Goal
Portugal's Paulo Ferreira was happy with his side's perseverance
Luka Modric's early penalty secured Croatia a scarcely-deserved 1-0 opening group stage victory over tournament co-hosts Austria in Vienna.
The attacking midfielder coolly slotted home a fourth minute spot-kick after Rene Aufhauser clumsily brought down Ivica Olic in the penalty area to settle an entertaining Group B clash.However, Slaven Bilic's much-fancied side were fortunate to hold onto their slender lead and failed to test home keeper Jurgen Macho for the remainder of a match in which Austria grew in self-belief.
Following the early shock, Austria steadily gained a foothold in the game and, although they lacked any real quality in the final third, it was they who carved out the best opportunities. The closest Croatia came to a second goal was a snatched volley from Mladen Petric from a tight angle on 35 minutes when he had beaten the offside trap.
At the other end, Joachim Standfest guided an angled header from 15 yards over the bar three minutes from the half-time interval, before Martin Harnik failed to make contact with a low cross from the right byline as Austria visibly grew in confidence. Dangerman Harnik went close in the 78th minute as he profited from substitute Roman Kienast making a nuisance of himself in the box but could only drive a shot from 18 yards over the crossbar.
Ivica Vastic's header from distance soon after was claimed by an uncertain Stipe Pletikosa at the second attempt, before the keeper was forced to palm away a shot from lively substitute Umit Korkmaz which would have crept inside the far post from just inside the area.Kienast glanced an eight-yard header wide in stoppage time and with that went Austria's best chance of a deserved point after a spirited performance against disappointing opposition.
Germany coach Joachim Low paid tribute to Lukas Podolski after his double strike gave them victory in their opening Euro 2008 clash with Poland.
Two strikes from Lukas Podolski ensured Germany got their Group B campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 success over Poland.The Bayern Munich striker found the net midway through each period as Joachim Low's pre-tournament favourites cruised to victory against a side who were predicted to push them all the way.Low started with an attacking formation with Miroslav Klose, Mario Gomez and Podolski named in a three-pronged frontline.
But Poland refused to be overawed and gave as good as they got for long periods of the match without ever really threatening Jens Lehmann's goal.It might have been different had Jacek Krzynowek converted a difficult half-volley from 20 yards after Maciej Zurawski prevented Lehmann from claiming an up-and-under after just two minutes.
But Germany fired a signal of their intent when Klose, who won the Golden Boot at the 2006 World Cup, opted to pass rather than go for goal after beating the offside trap only to over-hit his ball to Gomez with goalkeeper Artur Boruc grounded.However despite his early aberration, Klose made amends on 20 minutes when he again profited from slack defending from the two Poland centre-halves to again spring the offside trap.
This time he correctly opted to square to Podolski, who swept the ball into the unguarded net for the simplest of openers.Poland refused to give up heart and their energetic play was almost rewarded on 36 minutes when Zurawski met Wojciech Lobodzinski's pinpoint cross from 12 yards with a first-time shot which he dragged just wide of the far post.
Leo Beenhakker's side started the second period in a positive fashion and Ebi Smolarek was flagged marginally offside after being played in one-on-one on Lehmann. But after slowly regaining their control of the match, Germany stepped up through the gears midway through the period as the impressive Michael Ballack saw a thunderous strike from 15 yards tipped over the crossbar by Boruc.Two minutes later, Podolski wrapped up the win as he profited from a slice of good fortune to double the advantage.
Klose's mis-hit fell perfectly for the diminutive frontman and has crashed home an unstoppable 12-yard volley into the top corner of the net to end Poland's resistance.Bastian Schweinsteiger, Podolski and substitute Thomas Hitzlsperger also had chances to extend the lead in the closing stages as Germany sent out a message to the rest of their rivals that they are genuine challengers for Euro 2008 glory.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced a moment of magic to put Sweden on the path to a crucial Euro 2008 victory against holders Greece in Group D.
Reigning European champions Greece slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden in Salzburg, as the defence of their title started in disappointing fashion. Greece coach Otto Rehhagel still had a number of the heroes from four years ago in his starting line-up, while the Sweden attack was led by Henrik Larsson, who had come out of international retirement to feature.
The early minutes saw some bruising clashes in midfield, before Greece had the first shot on goal after seven minutes. Angelos Charisteas made a superb run down the right, beat a couple of defenders and fired a low left-foot shot straight at Andreas Isaksson from 15 yards.Anders Svensson belted a left-foot volley narrowly wide of target soon after, after a corner was only half-cleared, before the game slowed down and became mired in a midfield battle.
Just past the half-hour mark Larsson found space on the right and his cross was cleared by Traianos Dellas. When the ball was played back into the area, Zlatan Ibrahimovic nodded just over with a back-header as keeper Antonios Nikopolidis charged off his line.
Greece responded as half-time approached as Charisteas again found space down the inside right and fired a right-foot shot at Isaksson from just inside the area.Angelos Basinas then tried his luck from 35 yards and Isaksson had to get down to turn the ball away from his far post.
Early in the second half the ball drifted into the Greek area on the right and Nikopolidis wandered off his line, but Christian Wilhelmsson lifted his shot over the unguarded net.
The game then drifted for long periods, but midway through the second period Petter Hansson almost headed past his own keeper as he met Dellas' cross.Sweden then scored twice in five minutes to make sure of victory. First Ibrahimovic played a one-two with Larsson and thundered a 20-yard right-foot show across Nikopolidis from the right and into the top corner of the net.
Then Hansson bundled the ball home from close range to make it 2-0, after Freddie Ljungberg had a shot blocked and sub Johan Elmander lifted the loose ball high towards the Greek goal.Vassilios Torosidis almost grabbed a late consolation, but Isaksson make a solid block at his near post to ensure that Sweden kept a clean sheet and secured a well-deserved victory.
David Villa scored the first hat-trick of Euro 2008 as Spain lived up to their pre-tournament billing with a fine victory over Russia in Group D.
Thrilling match In a high-quality Group D encounter, Russia provided moments to indicate that Luis Aragonés's side may still be vulnerable at the back and gained consolation with Roman Pavlyuchenko's 86th-minute header. But Villa's second goal in particular was a stunning team move which may already be one of the goals of the tournament. Only the seventh player in finals history to score three in a game, the 26-year-old's treble was the first in a EURO since Patrick Kluivert's against Yugoslavia eight years ago. Villa then utterly stamped his class on the match, crossing for Xavi Hernández to volley and substitute Cesc Fàbregas to head in the fourth in stoppage time.
Unerring finish Torres has always asked for a quick supply of the ball at international level and in the 20th minute he got it. Courtesy of a Joan Capdevila interception and a notable right-footed pass from the left-back, the Liverpool FC forward was left one on one with his marker. Torres used good upper body strength to put Denis Kolodin under immense pressure and when the Spaniard skipped clear he allowed goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to try and dive at his feet before slipping the ball to the right, into the path of Villa who finished unerringly. Such was the drama of the contest that within seconds Russia nearly equalised. Their love of overlapping full-back play had already caused havoc in the jumpy Spain back line, but instead of Aleksandr Anyukov this time it was Dmitri Sychev whose right-wing cross drifted, agonisingly, across Carles Puyol, Marcos Senna and even Andrés Iniesta before Konstantin Zyryanov cracked the ball off the post.
Second goal Instead of daunting Spain, it seemed as if the players in red took their luck as an indication that this was their night. Within six minutes of Villa's first goal, he and Torres had created three outstanding opportunities – two of which needed smart blocks by Akinfeev. Russia, for their part, were fighting like terriers to impose themselves, repeatedly catching Iniesta in possession, and Pavlyuchenko even hit the bar with a left-footed shot though referee Konrad Plautz had already called a foul. Villa closed a sparkling 45 minutes with Spain's second, however, following a brilliant move. Zyryanov attempted an ambitious pass across the Spain box and David Silva ran to retrieve it, sparking a lightning-quick passing movement through Silva, Capdevila and Iniesta which left Villa sprinting into the box where he slipped the ball between Akinfeev's legs.
End to end The introduction of Vladimir Bystrov for Sychev made an impact as Russia sought a way back. Guus Hiddink's men pushed forward relentlessly and Bystrov's header from Zyryanov's cross in the 51st minute brought Iker Casillas into action before Diniyar Bilyaletdinov shot narrowly wide eight minutes later. However, Spain were irrepressible. Fàbregas came on for Torres as Aragonés chose to rest his striker and give the Arsenal FC man a taste of the action. Villa almost had his hat-trick in the 66th minute but was prevented by a superb Anyukov tackle, yet the forward did not have to wait much longer. With 15 minutes left, he turned Roman Shirokov inside out and finished expertly with his right foot. It was just that Russia's commitment to attack eventually won some reward in the final minutes. Zyryanov, culpable for the second goal but Hiddink's best player, took a corner which Shirokov nodded on and Pavlyuchenko headed in at the back post. Even then Villa had the last word, though, creating Spain's fourth and Fàbregas's first for his country.
Spain 4 - 1 Russia Shots (on Goal) 20(16) - 12(6) Fouls 21 - 15 Corner Kicks 4 - 6 Offsides 1 – 4 Time of Possession 43% - 57% Yellow Cards 0 – 0 Red Cards 0 – 0 Saves 6 – 9 Goals: David Villa (20) - Roman Pavluchenko (86) David Villa (45) David Villa (75) Cesc Fábregas (90)
UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
