Monday, June 25, 2012

Foul-mouthed Nasri disciplined by Blanc

Following France's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, Samir Nasri launched a foul-mouthed tirade against some of the journalists covering the game.
The Manchester City star certainly wasn't holding back, but could he be in trouble with manager Laurent Blanc?

Sunday, June 24, 2012

England next on Low's hitlist

After a comfortable 4-2 win over Greece in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Friday night, Germany are on course to make the final of the tournament and have now won a record-setting 15 consecutive competitive games.
Joachim Low's men will face either England or Italy in the last four, and the Mannschaft coach is ready to add another major European nation to his list of defeated opponents ahead of the tournament decider in Kiev....
 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Ronaldo winds down with team-mates after Portugal winner


After last night's stellar performance against Czech Republic in the first quarter final, there's no denying that Cristiano Ronaldo is beginning to take Euro 2012 by storm.

Having shaken off the shackles he seemed encumbered with in the opening two group games, the Portuguese maestro has been in fantastic form, bagging a pair in the Group B decider against Netherlands before netting the winner for the Seleccao in Warsaw last night.

On the back of two scintillating displays, the Real Madrid star would be forgiven for wanting to put his feet up before his side's semi-final next week - and his teammates are certainly indebted to him after his moment in the sun ...

 

The Old Lady fails to woo Van Persie

The Netherlands international, who unfortunately had an eye-catching Euro 2012 campaign for the wrong reasons despite scoring against Germany, has just one year left on his current contract with the Gunners and finds himself in a similar situation to Samir Nasri last summer.
Manchester City have also been linked with the 28-year-old, but it appears a move to the Serie A champions is not on the card after The Old Lady failed to lure the hitman to Turin...
 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Hapless fifth official gives England a slice of luck

England progressed to the last eight of Euro 2012 as winners of Group D on Tuesday night, but the 1-0 victory over Ukraine did not come without controversy.
Leading through Wayne Rooney's header early in the second half, John Terry looked to have saved the day with a fantastic goal-line clearance for the Three Lions, only for replays to show Marko Devic's effort should have counted.

The incident not only sparked memories of a similar decision that went against England in the World Cup two years, but it is also set to strengthen calls for the introduction of technology within the game ...
 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Spain & Italy scramble into the Euro 2012 quarter-finals

Spain and Italy both secured their place in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Monday night, but neither side qualified from Group C with the ease that had been expected.
After draws in their opening two games, the Azzurri secured a 2-0 victory over the already eliminated Republic of Ireland, while Vicente del Bosque's men left it late to see off Croatia and in turn knock Slaven Bilic's side out of the tournament.

With Spain and Italy having reached the quarter-final base point, both sides will now be focused on reaching the peak of the Euro 2012 mountain...

Monday, June 18, 2012

Ronaldo passes Euro 2012 exam with flying colours to send Dutch & Danes packing

Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics in stunning style on Sunday night with his virtuoso performance in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Netherlands at Euro 2012.

After enduring a difficult start to the competition, the Real Madrid star scored both goals to book his side's place in the quarter-finals against Czech Republic - sending the Dutch and Denmark home.
That took Ronaldo's tally for the season to an astonishing 65 for club and country, although the 27-year-old will know that his work has only just begun if he is to deny arch-rival Lionel Messi yet another Ballon D'Or.
 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Euro Hero! Karagounis keeps Greece currency high as Germans await

Greece booked their quarter-final place at Euro 2012 courtesy of Giorgos Karagounis' strike which dumped Russia out of the competition.

Germany are likely to be Greece's opponents in the next round, while the nation who were triumphant at Euro 2004 are today voting whether to stay in the eurozone.

Angela Merkel has warned that Greece's bailout is not negotiable and the German chancellor is lying in wait - along with Joachim Low...

the Arab Spring

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Zlat's amazing Carroll (are you Ibrahimovic in disguise?)

Much has been made of England's tactical approach to Euro 2012, but their conservative approach went out of the window against Sweden as the Three Lions roared to a 3-2 victory.

Striker Andy Carroll came into the team and made an instant impact, heading home the opener with a towering header from a Steven Gerrard cross.

However, the Swedes took the lead, thanks to a double from Olof Mellberg before goals from Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck sealed victory for England and a good night for Hodgson and his men.