EU-DIGEST

European Soccer - Netherlands beats Sweden 3-1 in friendly

Robin Van Persie scored two goals Wednesday to give the injury-depleted Netherlands a comfortable 3-1 win over Sweden in an international friendly.

Wesley Sneijder took a short corner and then exchanged passes with Ryan Babel on the left flank before crossing for Van Persie, who put the Netherlands in front with a header in the 33rd minute. Van Persie scored his second in the 48th, beating Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson from 15 meters (yards) after he was played in by substitute Rafael van der Vaart. Kim Kallstrom pulled one back for Sweden in the 50th, scoring from the edge of the box, but Dirk Kuyt headed in Tim de Cler's cross in injury time to wrap up the win.

Labels: EU, Netherlands, Soccer, Sweden

European soccer - Why Karl Marx would love America's sports -- and hate Europe's - by Steven Stark

When it comes to big-time sports, it's Europeans who are the real free-market meritocrats - rewarding success, leaving failure behind, and letting every man fend for himself. By comparison, American professional sports is organized as a giant welfare state, where wealth is shared, luxury spending is taxed and passed to the poor, and even the weakest are never allowed to fail.

The contrast is most striking in football. To many abroad, the National Football League is America. And the NFL is about as redistributive an enterprise as one can imagine - a living example of "share and share alike." The league's revenue-sharing provisions mean that its massive television revenues go into a huge pot, which is handed out evenly regardless of success - the bigger, successful teams essentially subsidizing the smaller failures. There are also salary caps, and scheduling and draft mechanisms that empower the poor at the expense of the rich - all in the name of equality, otherwise known as "parity."

Labels: American Football, European Soccer, National Football League, Soccer, UEFA

Embarrassing loss for Real Madrid and scare after Ruben De La Red faints on the field

Third-division Real Union upset Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, continuing the Spanish league champion's poor record in the knockout competition it hasn't won since 1993. Juan Dominguez scored twice and Inaki Goikoetxea netted the winner for Real Union. There was a scare in the 14th minute when Madrid's Spain midfielder Ruben De La Red fell as he walked away from the Real Union penalty area. De La Red was carried off on a stretcher after being treated for two minutes. Madrid medical chief Carlos Diez said De La Red suffered a sudden fainting fit brought on by exertion and was not in danger.
The 23-year-old Spain international was taken to hospital and will spend the night there as a precaution. Diez said De La Red has undergone tests which have produced normal results and he was expected to be released on Friday.

Labels: EU, Ruben De La Red, Soccer, Spain

Olympics Soccer: Nigeria: Dream Team Cruises to Olympics Soccer Final against Argentina - by Aliou Goloko

Nigeria qualified for the final of the soccer tournament at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday by defeating Belgium by four goals to one, 12 years after winning the gold medal at the Atlanta games. They will be playing Argentina which won a 3-1 victory over Brazil for the gold medal.

Labels: Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Olympics, Soccer

Soccer - Russia score late to hold Dutch to 1-1 draw

Robin van Persie's first-half strike gave the visitors a deserved 1-0 lead with the Dutch eager to avenge their defeat by Guus Hiddink's men in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals two months ago. The Arsenal forward beat Russia keeper Igor Akinfeyev, curling a delicate left-footed shot into the top corner from just outside the area in the 25th minute. The Dutch dominated for much of the lively encounter at Moscow's Lokomotiv stadium on Wednesday, with van Persie being the most active for the visitors until he was substituted by Ibrahim Afellay midway through the second half. But Zyryanov calmly fired from the spot for the equaliser 12 minutes from time after Giovanni van Bronckhorst fouled Dmitry Torbinsky inside the box.

Labels: EU, Netherlands, Russia, Soccer

EURO 2008 - Turkey and Russia worthy of top billing - by Andrew Warshaw

While the semi-final line-up tomorrow and Thursday might not exactly set the pulses racing or fill the coffers of either the joint hosts or Uefa, especially now that an estimated 120,000 Dutch fans have left town, no-one can say that the four teams involved don't deserve to be there – and that includes 66-1 outsiders Turkey. With his trademark unbuttoned white crisp shirt and Mediterranean tan, Terim's emphasis on team play has paid off big-time. He has developed a squad with the mental resilience of a club side, a player's coach who treats them as soldiers going into battle. Whatever happens in Basel tomorrow night, his cult status can only be enhanced.

Five times Hiddink has taken teams to major tournaments, and five times he has successfully steered them out of the group stages. Russia may have started badly against Spain but the way they responded had the purists purring with delight. Hiddink may have already exceeded expectations but there is a train of thought that suggests Russia are the growing force in European football following Zenit St Petersburg's Uefa Cup win over Rangers. But good enough to beat Spain? No one , least of all themselves, expect Luis Aragones' team to have anywhere near as comfortable a ride as they did in the group phase when Russia were raw and nervous. But having broken their jinx against Italy in the quarters, the great under-achievers of European football believe their time has come.

Labels: EURO 2008, Russia, Soccer, Turkey

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Soccer

Labels: EURO 2008, Soccer

Labels: EURO 2008, Russia, Soccer

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Netherlands, Soccer

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Germany, Portugal, Soccer

Hopp Suisse! becomes Hup Holland! for Swiss fans

Switzerland loves Oranjes as from now on it will be supporting the Dutch at Euro 2008. With the Swiss bowing out of the tournament, the country is looking for another team to support - and it looks as though the Dutch have won their hearts. With four official languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh, and around 10 per cent of the population speaking other languages - there would seem to be plenty of scope for partisanship.

Why Holland? "Because I like flowers," she said. "They play good football, and they like to party. They are very nice." Similar views on the Oranje are held by a great deal of her countrymen and women at the Euro 2008 tournament. According to a survey carried out for SonntagsBlick newspaper by Le Matin Dimanche and Il Caffe, around one in four of Swiss fans are now supporting the Netherlands, far more than any other team.

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Netherlands, Soccer

EURO 2008 - Soccer: Turkey completes stunning rally - by John Doyle

A full hour after Turkey stunned the Czech Republic with a last-gasp 3-2 victory, most of the thousands of Turkish fans were still inside the stadium, celebrating. They could hardly believe it. Neither could anyone else. This was a game for the ages. An epic, come-from-behind victory for an unheralded team that had already dispatched co-host Switzerland from the tournament. For the Turks celebrating in the stands, it was another rebuke to their rude hosts.

Those fans, who had been prepping all day in Geneva outside Turkish coffee houses and kebab shops, knew that every game played in Switzerland, and every goal scored, transcends soccer. The Turks have a complicated, resentful relationship with the Swiss. There are scores to settle, on a sporting and sociological level. It matters that Turkey beat the Czech Republic, but it mattered even more that it happened in Switzerland.

Labels: EURO 2008, Soccer, Turkey

Soccer - EURO 2008 - Buffon and Sacchi plea to Netherlands to help keep Italy in Euro 2008

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has a message for the Netherlands: the Dutch beat his team and France so easily in the first round that they ought to help out the World Cup champion and runner-up so they can face them again in the semifinals. Italy is worried that the Netherlands will let Romania win in the final round of Group C games at Euro 2008 because the Dutch have already advanced and the result would eliminate both Italy and France — both possible semifinal opponents.

Labels: EURO 2008, Netherlands, Soccer

EURO 2008 - Soccer - Austria-Germany tie stirs memories of the shameful carve-up of 1982 - by Pat Nevin

T IS fair to say that most footballers aren't generally renowned for their deeply held political viewpoints. My experience was that beyond discussing which party would lower the maximum tax rate and wouldn't hinder them squirrelling some of their cash abroad to a convenient tax haven, few were interested in the subtleties of foreign or fiscal policy.

I can't wait for the spectacle tomorrow as I originally suspected this would be a dead rubber. Instead there is an outside chance of the biggest upset of the tournament. There is also the chance that this could be the start of a deep and unhealthy rivalry between two nations that were once just too close for comfort, and that has to be a good thing.The Austrians also have the advantage of a vociferous 50,000 crowd that makes the most astonishing noise inside the Ernst Happel Stadium. Just like the Tartan Army at Hampden these days, they keep the players going through their unswerving support when the legs would otherwise have packed in, hence the 92nd minute equaliser against Poland.

Labels: Austria, EU, EURO 2008, European Soccer, Germany, Soccer

Netherlands beats France 4-1 to qualify for Euro 2008 quarter-finals

Substitute Arjen Robben set up one goal and scored another Friday to lead the Netherlands to a 4-1 victory over France and a place in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. While the Dutch clinched first place in Group C, the result left France needing a win over World Cup champion Italy in its last match to stand a good chance of advancing at the tournament. With a second classic performance in as many games, the Dutch again produced the sparkle any championship craves, compiling a total of seven goals against World Cup finalists Italy and France. The Netherlands beat Italy 3-0 Monday.

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, France, Netherlands, Soccer

Soccer - EURO 2008: Spain and Dutch impress, Italy and Greece not so much - by Aaronstampler

Eight matches in and what have we learned? The Netherlands are perhaps far more dangerous than we could have imagined and the Italians transition defense can be had. Spain possesses the most dangerous, skillful and deep attack in Europe but still have their issues in the back. Portugal and Germany are what we thought they were. Sadly, most of the lesser teams are what we thought they were as well. France (as was the case in World Cup '02) are going to struggle mightily for goals without Zizou and hierry Henry.

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Soccer

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Soccer

Euro 2008 - Soccer: Dutch pull off Euro stunner over Italy

It took the Netherlands eight years, but they finally exacted revenge on Italy. The Dutch rolled to a 3-0 victory Monday over world champion Italy in Berne, Switzerland, in the opening Group C contest for both nations at Euro 2008. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder scored for the Netherlands, who lost the last competitive game between these two nations in the semifinals of Euro 2000.Monday's victory was also the first for the Dutch over the Italians in eight games, dating back to their second-round encounter at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

The Netherlands leads Group C with three points. Romania and France (one point each) are tied for second after battling to a 0-0 tie earlier in the day in Zurich. Winless Italy is in fourth place.

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Italy, Netherlands, Soccer

Euro 2008 Previews: Holland, Germany, Croatia, France - by Duane Rollins

Oh, the Dutch. If Holland didn’t invent sexy football, it perfected it. And, in doing so have become the hottest bridesmaid in international football. Everyone has a secret crush on the Dutch. But, the Dutch always leave the party alone, having once again failed to be the No. 1 attraction.There is little reason to suggest that 2008 will be any different. Actually, being drawn into the Group of Death makes this year the least likely that Holland will finally make the breakthrough. To even make the quarters one of France or Italy will need to be shown the door. And, Romania—the crazy, unpredictable drunk uncle of this affair—could end up screwing everything up even if the Dutch get it done against that powerful duo.

Expectations are likely as low as they have ever been in Holland. But, maybe that’s a good thing. Perhaps it will allow Holland to play a less sexy, more defensive style—a style that doesn’t create crushes, but gets the job done.

Labels: Euro 2000, Soccer

European Soccer Championship - All million tickets for 2008 European soccer championship sold out

All 1.05 million tickets for the 31-match soccer tournament in Austria and Switzerland that starts Saturday have been sold. "All tickets have been sold, not one single one left - and haven't been so for a while," Euro 2008 chief operating officer Martin Kallen said Sunday. "We are obviously trying to stop tickets from being sold on the black market. But all tickets now being sold are black-market tickets."

Euro 2008 organizers said 38 per cent of the tickets went to national football federations, 33 per cent to the general public, 14 per cent to sponsors and TV partners, with the remaining 15 per cent being broken up between hospitality, UEFA members and host city and stadium owner factions. A ticket for the June 29 final at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna will cost between 160-550 euros ( US$ 250-855)

Labels: European Soccer, Soccer, UEFA

Soccer - Netherlands Beats Wales in Final Euro Warm-up; England Wins 3-0 - by James Cone

The Netherlands beat Wales 2-0 in its final warm-up match for soccer's European Championship yesterday, while Sweden lost 1-0 against Ukraine. Arjen Robben put the Dutch ahead after 35 minutes in Rotterdam, with his Real Madrid teammate Wesley Sneijder doubling the home team's lead in the 54th minute.

Labels: EU, Netherlands, Soccer, Wales

PSV wins 4th straight Dutch league title after beating Vitesse 1-0

PSV Eindhoven won its fourth straight Dutch league title Sunday by beating Vitesse Arnhem 1-0.
Jefferson Farfan set up Danko Lazovic for the game's only goal in the 46th to give PSV its 21st "Eredivisie" title, eight fewer than Ajax, which finished second in the standings despite beating Heracles Almelo 5-1.

Labels: EU, PSV Eindhoven, Soccer

European Soccer - Deivid crowns Fenerbahçe fightback

Fenerbahçe SK 2-1 Chelsea FC. Having scored an early own goal, Deivid redeemed himself with a superb late effort to settle the first leg of their European Cup quarter finals match.

UEFA club competition record
Competition Pld W D L GF GA
eccc 78 26 11 41 87 137
ecwc 9 3 1 5 11 11
ucup 54 18 10 26 72 91
scup 0 0 0 0 0 0
uic 0 0 0 0 0 0
eusa 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 141 47 22 72 170 239

Labels: EU, Europe, Soccer

SOCCER - AUSTRIA STUNNED BY DUTCH RESISTANCE

Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria let a 3-0 lead slip away as they were edged out 4-3 by Holland in a seven-goal thriller. Andreas Ivanschitz gave the hosts a shock lead after five minutes before twice setting up Sebastian Prodl from two corners to put Austria three goals in front. Holland responded through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar before the break, and second-half strikes from Johnny Heitinga, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Huntelaar again sealed the win.

Labels: Austria, EU, Euro Cup 2008, Netherlands, Soccer

EURO teams sign anti-doping charter

Soccer Europe : The UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists have signed a ground-breaking Anti-Doping Charter paving the way for blood tests to be carried out on players for the first time. The heads of the national associations of the 16 participating teams put pen to paper in Vienna during the finalists' workshop, allowing for both blood and urine samples to be taken in some 300 tests before and during this summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. The stringent new measures will enable the identification of banned substances, including the blood-boosting drug EPO, while a new technique to test for growth hormones will be used at an international event for the first time. Experts will also be able to determine whether a player's blood has been abnormally manipulated by means of a transfusion. "What is happening today is a very strong signal from all the associations to say that we are fighting against doping in football," said UEFA President Michel Platini ahead of the signing ceremony at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, which will stage the EURO final on 29 June.

Labels: EURO 2008, European Soccer, Soccer

Soccer- No easy road to Euro glory - by Morris dalla Costa

It's less than 100 days to the start of Euro 2008 -- the European championships for national teams -- and the serious handicapping is beginning. For the soccer neophyte, the Euro 2008 championship is regarded as the best soccer tournament in the world.

Labels: EU, EURO 2008, Euro Cup 2008, Soccer

Soccer in the Netherland - Johan Cruyff the Saviour has come back to Ajax

Amsterdam's top soccer club Ajax is at the mercy of football legend Johan Cruyff once again. Following a crushingly critical inquiry into the management of the football club, the members of Ajax called in honorary club member Cruyff, who is 60, to revamp the club's organisation. He will again make football itself the core business of Ajax. Cruyff has made it clear that he will only act as an advisor. He has ruled out that he will be a member of the management board, nor will he be technical director.

On Tuesday the Ajax members' board asked Mr Cruyff for his views on the technical approach that Ajax should take. In a brief interview on Dutch tv he explained that he will "simply say how things should change, making projects and finding the right people for that".

Labels: EU, Johan Cruyff, Netherlands, Soccer

Soccer - Netherlands - Van Basten: We Aim To Win Euro 2008

Speaking to UEFA.com, Marco van Basten is eager to repeat as manager his feat as a player 20 years ago. Back then, the gifted forward put his side on track for the winners' medal in West Germany. Now, he's anxious to do the same from the hotseat. He said, "We are now preparing for the final mission. "The friendly matches like this against Croatia are to practice and prepare, but at the European Championship we will go for the main prize. We want to win."

Labels: Netherlands, Soccer, van Basten

For all your Instant European Soccer updates

Not only will Milan take on 2006 runners-up Arsenal, but in another Ango-Italian contest last season's finalists and five-time winners Liverpool FC will play FC Internazionale Milano, who have won their last five UEFA Champions League matches and lead Serie A. FC Barcelona, who lifted the trophy in Paris in May 2006, will face Scottish champions Celtic FC while 1999 winners and English title-holders Manchester United FC were pitted with their French counterparts Olympique Lyonnais, in the last 16 for the fifth successive season.

Labels: EU, European Soccer, Soccer

Soccer - European Economy to Receive €1.4 Billion Boost from UEFA EURO 2008™

Based on the EURO 2008 draw, Professor Chadwick anticipates the games with the greatest economic impact will be France vs Italy in Zurich, the Netherlands vs France and Italy vs the Netherlands both in Bern – all from Group C – which alone could be worth more than a combined €168m to the European economy. The most lucrative games from other Groups are predicted to be Switzerland vs Portugal in Basel (Group A), Austria vs Germany in Vienna (Group B), Spain vs Russia in Innsbruck (Group D). Professor Chadwick also predicted that the 'ultimate' games to deliver the greatest economic impact would all involve Germany: Germany vs Italy, Germany vs France and Germany vs the Netherlands, should these ties occur at some stage of the tournament.

Labels: EU, EU Economy, Soccer

EU, soccer officials team up to issue crackdown on fan violence

EU, soccer officials team up to issue crackdown on fan violence

The European Union and UEFA have agreed on a joint Europe-wide crackdown on soccer violence in the wake of recent unruly and even deadly incidents involving supporters and police. Franco Frattini, the EU's top justice official, said he would push the launch of new police teams to help curb fan violence at soccer events, even before next summer's European Championship in Switzerland and Austria. "I am hoping that we can have a pilot project for training before Euro 2008, so that we can look at the results," Frattini said. "This is exactly the step toward the creation one day, of a true European police (force) for sports."

He said an initial 10 million euros (C$14.7 million) was being set aside from the EU budget next year for the training plan as part of new joint initiatives proposed by EU and UEFA officials at a conference on violence in sport, which drew 150 police and sport experts from across the continent.

Labels: EU, Soccer

Soccer: Croatia gets heroes' welcome after eliminating England

Thousands of fans sporting team shirts and flags welcomed Croatia at Zagreb airport on Thursday following their victory over England at Wembley, which prevented the home side from qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals. "It was a splendid show by Croatia whereas England should bow to our lads and feel blessed to have seen a team of such quality play at Wembley," said daily Vecernji List.

"We are on our way to Austria and Switzerland with our heads up and fire in our hearts, needing no gratitude or presents from the fortuitous Russians," the paper said. Jutarnji List called the outcome "a spectacular win" and said Mladen Petric's winner was "the killer punch" that meant "lights out for England" and "steered Russia across the Alps into the finals."

Labels: Croatia, EU, Soccer

Soccer: England crashed out of Euro 2008 and loses 2-3

England crashed out of Euro 2008 to leave coach Steve McClaren's future in grave danger after Croatian substitute Mladen Petric grabbed a late winner at a stunned Wembley.With 13 minutes remaining, Croatia regained the lead through Petric whose angled drive beat the dive of Carson who got a hand to the ball but could only help it into the net. McClaren brought on Darren Bent for Cole with 10 minutes remaining in a last throw of the dice. Bent came close to equalizing but lofted his drive over the bar and England could not find a way through. England wil not participate in EURO 2008.

Labels: Britain, Croatia, EU, Soccer

Soccer - Euro 2008 - Lippi: Italy Could Win Euro 2008

Marcelo Lippi believes that Italy can go all the way at next summer's UEFA European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland. The veteran boss, who won the World Cup with the Azzurri last year, remarked, "This Italy squad comprises fantastic players who haven't given up their hunger for victory. Italy scraped past Scotland at Hampden yesterday, shattering the hosts' 100% home record in qualification and, moreover, sealing Italy's place in next summer's tournament.

Labels: Euro Cup 2008, Italy, Soccer

Netherlands/Soccer - Van Basten Gets The ‘Thumbs Down’

an Basten is considered to be one of the best strikers the world has ever seen, but his approach to the game as a manager has earned him few admirers – in the Netherlands, at least. A poll issued on telesport.nl, the online version of ‘De Telegraaf’ newspaper, only hours after the national side beat Slovenia 2-0 leaves little room for doubt. According to the poll, Foppe De Haan is a better coach than Van Basten – or at least so think an impressive 79% of the people who voted.

Having transformed modest Heerenveen into a household name in the Dutch game between 1985 and 2004, now 64-year-old De Haan took over the reigns of Jong Oranje, the Netherlands U-21 side, guiding them to two consecutive European Championship triumphs within a year.

Labels: Foppe De Haan, Netherlands, Soccer, van Basten

UEFA EURO 2008 SOCCER - Standings

The groundwork for a European national-team competition began in 1956, two years later the first European Nations' Cup, now known as the UEFA European Championship, was under way.

EURO 2008 Qualifying - 50 teams are divided into 7 qualifying groups (A-G) , with each group having 7 teams except group A (8 teams). The winners and runners-up in the seven qualifying groups will go through to the UEFA Euro 2008. Austria and Switzerland will qualify automatically as co-hosts of UEFA Euro 2008.
Final Tournament - 16 teams (14 + 2) will qualify for final tournament. Teams will be divided into 4 groups (A-B), with each group having 4 teams. Winner and runner up from each group will go through to the eliminations starting with quarter finals.

Labels: EURO 2008, Soccer

Soccer-Artists of the beautiful game: 338 non-British players in the Premier League, 16.9 on average per club, by far the highest in Europe - by David Conn

Fans seem to have grown used to the high number of foreign players and dwindling number of local lads scampering into Premier League first teams. World Soccer magazine this month noted there are 338 non-British players in the British Premier League, 16.9 on average per club, by far the highest in Europe.

Now Sepp Blatter, president of football's world governing body, Fifa, has called for quotas to be imposed, to preserve a set number of places in squads for domestic players, which would require an exemption for the sport from the European Union's laws on free movement of labour. Blatter told the BBC: "You cannot consider a footballer like any normal worker," which is certainly true - they mostly work mornings only; although Blatter chose to stress another point: "They are more artists than workers."

Labels: Britain, Europe, Soccer

Five Greek soccer teams advance to UEFA Cup's group stage

Greek soccer has produced another surprise in Europe, this time sending all five participating teams into the group stage of the UEFA Cup. The five clubs from Greece represent the most from any country in the 40-team group stage of Europe's No. 2 competition. And, more amazingly, four of the teams got through despite losing Thursday in the second leg of the first round.

"They're all through!" Athens daily Ta Nea wrote. "It was a magic night for Greek soccer."

Labels: Europe, Greece, Soccer

Europeans Oppose FIFA's Planned Cap on Foreign Players

Sepp Blatter, the president of world soccer's governing body, FIFA, plans to challenge EU law and cap the number of foreigners in club teams. The move is strongly opposed by European soccer officials and top clubs. In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Oct. 5, Blatter said soccer clubs should have no more than five non-nationals on the pitch at any time even if it contravenes EU labor rules. Blatter said he wanted to cap the number of non-nationals in a team's starting 11 at just five per match from 2010.

Labels: Europe, Soccer

Becks Is Biggest Thing in US Since Beatlemania

David Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles has been likened to the wild hysteria of Beatlemania.In amazing scenes echoing the Sixties arrival of The Beatles, screaming fans have jostled to catch a glimpse of Becks, 32, and his wife Posh, 33. The England star was hailed as "the saviour of US soccer" when he was officially unveiled by his new team LA Galaxy on Friday.

Labels: Beckham, Soccer, USA

UEFA European Under-21 finals go global

The UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands has attracted worldwide television coverage - giving extensive exposure to the finals both in and outside Europe.

As far as the