Platini turns from Euro '84 hero to Euro 2012 fat cat

 

Michel Platini, once a magician on the pitch, fired France to victory in the 1984 European Championship having displayed some of the finest football the world had ever seen.

Cut to a scene 28 years later, however, and the same man was sat in a press room packed with journalists, being told that players at Euro 2012 will face a booking if they walked off the pitch in protest of racist abuse.
Platini's demeanour on Wednesday cut a stark contrast to the one during his playing days, as the Uefa president offered a prickly response to questions regarding racism during the tournament...
 

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me Omar Momani picture

 

I guess many are wondering how I look like, here I am, I took this shot while I was working, I usually put headsets while working, as I consider myself a music addict.

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Blanc puts his Euro 2012 cards on the table...

 

France capped their Euro 2012 preparations with an impressive 4-0 victory over Estonia on Tuesday as Laurent Blanc's side look in good shape for their Group D opener against England next Monday.

Blanc's charges started their European Championship warm-up in unconvincing style as they found themselves two goals behind in their first friendly against Iceland, but second-half strikes from Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami secured victory and boosted confidence within the French camp.
A tricky tie against Serbia was next up for France, but Les Bleus grabbed a 2-0 victory courtesy of early goals from Ribery and Florent Malouda.

Ribery was on target once more as he got his French side on their way against Estonia before Karim Benzema's double and a late strike from Jeremy Menez sealed Tuesday's convincing win.

With France looking so strong, can they brush aside England, Sweden and Ukraine to top Group D and make a challenge on Spain's Euro 2012 crown?

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Euro 2012 squads arrive in need of an immediate health check

 

Euro 2012 has yet to get underway but various nations are already smarting from injuries and withdrawals.

England are first in the casualty queue as Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and, most recently, Gary Cahill have all been ruled out of the tournament, leaving Roy Hodgson reaching for cover.

Yann M'Vila is a doubt for France's opener against England after suffering from an ankle sprain, while Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has only recently returned to training following a thigh problem.
Elsewhere, Italy defender Andrea Barzagli is a doubt for the tournament due to a calf problem, while Nani is Portugal's biggest injury concern with a knock to his right foot.

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The Reds bid a fond farewell as Kuyt departs for a snip

 

The Brendan Rodgers revolution has begun at Anfield, with Dutchman Dirk Kuyt the first casualty as the new Liverpool boss starts the rebuilding process on Merseyside.

The 31-year-old's move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce was confirmed on Sunday, with the hardworking forward leaving for the cut price of £800,000, owing to a clause in his contract concerning European clubs.

Although the figure is a notably low one, the move does not exactly come as a surprise, with the former Feyenoord man becoming an increasingly peripheral figure during the last campaign as he slipped behind Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy in the pecking order.

However, there is little doubt that Kuyt will be sorely missed at Anfield, as he leaves behind a six-year legacy in which he made 285 appearances, netted 71 goals, and lifted the League Cup in February this year. Time will tell if Rodgers is right to cut him loose.
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