Europe 2008 Best Football Tournament

Most Appearances for Italy

2009-01-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Rank	Player	# Appearances
1	Maldini	126
2	Cannavaro	115
3	Zoff	112
4	Facchetti	94
5	Del Piero	85
6	Baresi	81
7	Bergomi	81
8	Buffon	81
9	Tardelli	81
10	Albertini	79

Brazilian Escape : Italy draw with Cameroon

2008-08-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Italy have avoided tournament big guns Brazil, Argentina and Holland until the final. The Azzurrini face Belgium in the quarter final on Saturday. Draw with 10 men Cameroon, secure their top position in group D.

“We must avoid Brazil,” said Casiraghi in his pre-match press conference.

“Cameroon will put us under pressure in terms of physical strength and will play to win. They won't make any calculations, because it just isn't in their attitude to football.”

It just that they should performed better to win gold this olympic. Brazil and Argentina has shown improvement after day 1.

Azzurrini to watch for

Sebastian Giovinco, Juventus (age 21) – A sensational young talent with almost perfect technique - there is no doubt that Giovinco has the potential not only to go to South Africa, but to be a star there too. His size shouldn’t matter as he has a brilliant footballing brain. 8/10

Italian Men Soccer Team

2008-08-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

With Brazil stil struggling to find its true form,Italy has showed that their young stud is reliable and can finish the job.

Italy outclasses Honduras in Olympic opener 3-0

QINHUANGDAO, China (AP)—Italy got first-half goals from forwards Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi, and Robert Acquafresca added another in the second as Italy beat Honduras 3-0 in its opening Olympic soccer match.

Giovinco put the Italians ahead in the 41st with a powerful left-footed strike from 30 meters out into the top left corner.

Four minutes later, Slovakian referee Damir Skomina awarded Italy a penalty after defender Quiarol Arzu’s handball in the box, and Rossi slotted the ball inside the right post just before halftime.

Acquafresca then converted a penalty minutes into the second half after being taken down inside the box by Hernandez to finish off the scoring.

Honduras should have pulled one back late in the game, but Carlos Pavon knocked a penalty kick over the bar.

Italy Olympic Soccer Squad

2008-08-04T23:52:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

ROME (AFP) - Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi unveiled his 22-man squad for next month's Beijing Olympics here on Thursday.

The Azzurrini (the little Azzurris) will undergo their pre-Games medical examinations on Monday before heading off to their training camp at Coverciano near Florence.

They have a warm up game against Romania scheduled for July 22 and are due to arrive in Beijing four days later.

A genuine waiting room for the senior line-up, the U-23 team is composed almost entirely of Serie A representatives, which unsurprisingly gives them solid experience of top-level football. The star of the side is nonetheless Giuseppe Rossi, who plies his trade in Spain with Villarreal and forms one third of Italy's formidable attacking trio alongside Sebastian Giovinco and Robert Acquafresca. Meanwhile, captain and Torino prospect Marco Motta looks to be the natural successor to a long line of talented Italian defenders.All that remains to be seen now is whether Casiraghi decides to bolster his squad with three older players, as the rules permit.

Facts and figures

Former stars
Franco Baresi (1984), Demetrio Albertini (1992), Andrea Pirlo (2000), Alberto Gilardino (2004)

Key players
Giuseppe Rossi (forward), Marco Motta (defence), Claudio Marchisio (midfield)

Qualifying statistics
Placed third in a strong group after one win, one draw and one defeat, Italy finally won through on penalties in a play-off contest with Portugal (0-0; 4-3 on penalties).

The numbers game
19: the number of goals scored by Alberto Gilardino, the top scorer in the history of the team, with a record three superior to that of his AC Milan colleague Andrea Pirlo, who fired 16.

Italy Olympic squad

Italy U-19 lost in Euro Champions Final

2008-08-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaFrancesco Rocca's Under 19 boys were defeated 3-1 in the finals of the European Championship despite having more men on the pitch for a good part of the game. A well deserved win for the Germans, who played better.

JABLONEC (Czech Republic), 26 July 2008 - This time around, it's the Germans who win. Italy Under 19 team see their golden dream vanish. Germany win the finals of the Under 19 European Championship. And they do it leaving no room for doubt: the final score is 3-1, although it could have been more. It's a pity, because Francesco Rocca's lads have played almost one half of the game with the numerical advantage (after Jungwirth was sent off in the 36th minute).

DARN IT, PALOSCHI - Italy dominate at the beginning of the game: Paloschi, taking advantage of a gap in the German defence, prods a shot over Zieler that barely misses the goal. The Germans don't seem irresistible; but every time they advance, they create confusion in the Italian defence. The most "inspired" player in Hrubesch squad is Gebhart, a real playmaker who keeps drilling into the defensive lines.

BENDER, WHAT A GOAL - Half an hour into the game, Germany open the score. It all begins with a couple of kicks in the area: no one sends it out and Lars Bender lashes a left-foot shot that leaves Fiorillo motionless. A well deserved advantage, soon "levelled" by Jungwirth's dismissal, who knocked Okaka down twice in no time, earning a couple of yellow cards and the subsequent red card.

FEW CHANCES - Despite having more men on the pitch, Italy do not create great chances. Rocca leaves Poli on the bench at the half. The forward is replaced by Bonaventura, a centre-half. Few chances to score. Germany are well organized and they punish the Italians with their breakaways. Gebhart gives an excellent pass to Sukuta-Pasu, who catches Fiorillo by surprise with his shot. The game is almost over, although in the meantime Italy are down to ten men due to Gentili's dismissal.

THE GEBHART PUZZLE- The only Azzurro goal comes 15 minutes from the final whistle. Not randomly from Forestieri, who was the most toned down today, also considering the expectations about him. The German goalkeeper makes a save with his fists in front of Okaka; the ball is lost in the area and Raggio Garibaldi strikes it into an empty goal. This would be the time for a comeback, if it weren't for Gebhart (him again). Two minutes after the Genoa centre-half's winning shot, the playmaker from Monaco 1860 overtakes Bruscagin and heads in a free-kick, defeating Fiorillo. It's the final verdict, and our goalkeeper has to avoid a 4-1 in the 90th minute, with a desperate save, again against Gebhart. The game ends with a well deserved German victory. This time around, they were better than us.

Alessandro Ruta

Cristiano Ronaldo's rude gesture

2008-07-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo's rude gesture at photographers. La Fata

The Portuguese player, on holiday in Sardinia with his girlfriend Nereida, has shown signs of impatience. First a friend of his flooded a boat carrying some photographers, then he made a rude gesture in their direction

VILLASIMIUS (Sardinia), 1 July 2008 - Up until now things had gone smoothly. But yesterday Cristiano Ronaldo, in company with his girlfriend Nereida and friends, showed the first signs of impatience. It mustn't be easy to endure the continued presence of the photographers. Spotting some photographers in a small boat in front of the Pitrizza hotel, one of his entourage took a jet ski and began to circle the boat at high speed, before making a sharp turn to flood the boat with water and ruin the paparazzi's equipment. Cristiano Ronaldo observed the scene from the beach, and further insulted the photographers with a rude gesture.

from our correspondentFrancesco Velluzzi

Tomorrow we start again and look forward

2008-06-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Donadoni's lady of luck is not with him during this Euro campaign. Lost his captain, Cannavaro day before the tournament.Pick up the wrong player for defence and even worse choosing underfiring Luca Toni.

After this Euro 2008, hopefully Italy with new coach will sit down and have a deep discussion on Itali soccer future. First of all, they need to invest and look for new promising player.We need a new fresh player. Just look at Holland, they don't bring Seedorf or Staam anymore. Italy need to wake up from this mess.

Last 2006 World Cup Trumph recipe will not be the same as 2010. Now we are embracing total football, fast counter attack and all out defence. Italy need more Gattuso in the team but plus with scoring ability. With Andrea Pirlo as the server for passing the ball, on target strike is a must. Donadoni should replace Toni after missing too many chances. His dissapponting display make him the only top striker in Europe that did not even score in thie tournament.Sadly he is not playing as he used to be with Ribery in Bayern .

Lack of finishing is the main factor why Italy fail this Euro 2008. For the next World Cup Qualifying campaign, Italy will bring this defeat as a moral boost for them to be the next champion again.

Forza Italia !
lankapo

Arshavin and Co. the Holland Slayer

2008-06-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Image via Getty Image

Russian Army has invade Euro 2008 and paint it red. With master tactician Gus Hiddink, genius playmaker Arshavin and finally on target Pavlyuchenko made Russian to the semi final.This is the second upset in EUro 2008 after Turkey defeated Croatia.

The oranje who won all grouping matches,with high scoring record but failed to repeat their success. Goal from Van Nistelrooy at 86 cannot save Holland from goal Pavlyuchenko 56, Torbinski 22 Ex., Arshavin 26 Ex.

So, who will face Russia in the semifinal ? Italy who struggle to in their grouping mtches or Spain who win all matches. Will Spain learn from other team that topping the group.

Italy will be without Gatusso and Andrea Pirlo, the two mian anchor in the midfield.Massimo Ambrosini should return while Pirlo's place could go to AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani – a decision Donadoni will only make on the morning of the match.

"We played Spain recently and they are a great team," the coach said. "They haven't always done well in big tournaments but this will spur them on, so we must be just as motivated as them. They are not very physical but they have great pace.

We've learned a lot from each other but you can't compare a friendly with the quarter-finals of a EURO. And we have our strengths too. The boys must remember to enjoy themselves, because to enjoy yourself you have to play well. If they do that they can achieve anything."

Don't mess up with a wounded lion

2008-06-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

"Because they will fight to the end to survive"

Germany lost to Croatia and need a win/draw against Austria has shown us what they are made of. Against favorites team Portugal in the quarter final, aerial power is the their key to success.

Team line up here

Bastian Schweinsteiger,Klose and Ballack are the goal scorer for German. While Nuno Gomes and Hélder Postiga score for Portugal. This will be Philipe Scolari last game with Portugal before taking Chelsea as his new club. The best achievement for him was in the final against Greece in Euro 2004.

Miracles do happen in Euro 2008

2008-06-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry France, I hope you will remember this Euro 2008 is not for Les Blues. With no win and only one goal, France is unlikely to repeat World Cup 2002 history. France really miss their talismatic captain Zinedine Zidane. Hopefully with their new emerging talented young player, like Nasri and Benzema, France will be a solid team for World Cup 2010.

Italy will learn a lot from this group and should thanks to Buffon for his fantastic display against Romania. Saving penalty and a few shot from Muthu. Against France, lady luck is with them I guess. With Ribery injured and red card for Abidal, Italy is on soft cushion to win this time.

photos from eufa.com

A big thanks to Holland for playing at their best and keeping their words. Hopefully we will meet again in semi. Just wait and see Orengie ;)

I just hope against Spain in the quater final, Luca Toni will improve his scoring instinct. I am so dissapointed with his performance lately. If he can finish the job, then the defence will do the rest. Anyway, congratulation to Italy for qualifying from the group of death.

FORZA ITALIA !!

Italy will bounce back!

2008-06-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

A sanguine Roberto Donadoni admitted that he was "hardly expecting flowers" in the wake of his side's worst result in the history of the UEFA European Championship finals but he insisted that with "hard work" Italy could learn from the harsh lessons of their 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands and yet emerge from Group C smelling of roses.

Rising temperatures
While Oberwaltersorf bathed in sunshine for the first time since Italy's arrival at their Austrian retreat, the temperatures in the packed press conference room reached stifling levels at Casa Azzurri, where vexed Italian journalists subjected the coach of the world champions to a demanding interrogation. Not one to get easily flustered, though, Donadoni was measured in his analysis of the night before. "It was not the most positive result last night but we need to put it into perspective," he said. "I was hardly expecting flowers from the press because the score looks bad but we created several chances ourselves. Unfortunately we also made some mistakes but we have two matches left in which we can put things right."

Shades of '94
Donadoni was in the Italy side that lost their opening match to the Republic of Ireland at the FIFA 1994 World Cup, but they bounced back from that setback to reach the final, and he is hoping his players have learned their lesson from Monday's similarly chastening experience. "We got out of that situation in America in the only way you can – by working hard, having the desire to hit back and understanding the mistakes that you've made," he said. "We must do that again. Last night we conceded too many goals. One of them could have certainly have been avoided because weren't quick enough in reacting to their counterattacks. But we had as many shots on goal as the Netherlands and the same possession and, you know, sometimes you have an off-day and things don't go your way."

Positive impact
One of the few positives drawn from the defeat was the impact Fabio Grosso, Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano made as second-half substitutes and it is possible that there could be changes for Friday's crunch match with Romania. "The players that came on in the second half played really well and I was impressed with their attitude," said Donadoni. "They made an immediate impact, creating chances straight away and they will certainly come under consideration for the next game. One match cannot wipe out everything we have achieved over the last two years. Remember we lost our first and drew our second qualifying match in reaching the EURO finals but turned it around. It was one of our worst ever defeats and we weren't at our best, but now we must roll up our sleeves and right the situation in the next matches [against Romania and France]."

Play EURO 2008 Fantasy Football and win

2008-06-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Maybe you cannot manage any Europe team in real life, but you can be one if you join this Fantasy Football Game. You can pick the best player in Europe to gain as much point as you can.

Good Luck..Join my league at Liga Lankapo :)

Liga lankapo — Code to join this league: 96164-24801

UEFA EURO 2008™ begins on Saturday 7 June – and you have until Switzerland's opening match with the Czech Republic kicks off at 18.00 CET that day in Basel to pick your team for McDonald's Fantasy Football and maybe win a JVC Home Cinema system.

Prizes
That is the first prize for the overall winner but with consolation and daily prizes including Canon Cameras, adidas team shirts, adidas EUROPASS official matchballs and official EA Sports computer games, there are plenty of reasons to get in your team – especially if you were among the 100,000-plus managers in the friendly version of the game that has been running. All you have to do is pick a squad of one goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders and three forwards, with no more than two players from a single nation for the initial group stage, using your €100m transfer budget to select from this list.

Rules and tips
Click here for the rules and get the inside track by following this link to read the thoughts of Tipster, who will be casting an expert eye on proceedings from the heart of the finals. Good luck!

The Italian without the Kapitan

2008-06-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Image by NaturalBlu via FlickrI am quite shock when I read Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out from the tournament. Giorgio Chiellini was the one responsible for the tackle to the Capitan. He even cried and Fabio have to calmed him down. Fabio said that loosing one player doesn't mean that Italy cannot win this Euro Cup.

Gamberini joins up with the squad having won two previous caps. The 26-year-old may have big boots to fill – Cannvaro skippered Italy to FIFA World Cup glory in 2006 – but the former Bologna FC defender can take confidence from a consistent season during which he appeared 40 times in Serie A and the UEFA Cup for the Viola.

I still remembered Euro Final 2000, Italy vs France. Cannavaro with his head bandage guarded his post vigorously but a slip from Panucci allowed Trezeguet to score. France win with goal by Wiltord. I was so disappointed at that time. Italy nearly win but anything can happen at last minute.

Anyway hopefully, Italy will manage to wake up from this misery. Italy have a long history producing World Class Defender.

Keeping the faith
Donadoni said: "This team has its own identity and we are not going to change it because we have lost one player, albeit an important one. I have complete faith in the players here. Both Barzagli and Materazzi have done well in recent years. I am confident in the options I have and whoever replaces Fabio will know exactly what they are doing. We have experienced players who are ready to step up."

EURO 2008 ONLINE CONTEST

2008-05-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with Euro 2008 Footbal Tournament in Austria-Switzerland this June.

I and my friend Mr Right from akubetul.com will host a contest just for fun.

Euro Football Tournamnet is once in 4 years so why not make it happening and a lil football crazy . I know a lot of you guys will have less sleep and more MC this June hehe

Here is the thing; Just give us your prediction the winner of Euro 2008 and Top Goal Scorer of this tournament. Simple

Rules;

1. Just submit your comment and give us your combination etc. Spain will win this Euro 2008 and Torres is the top scorer. You can eleborate more if you want such as why you think your team will win and your selected player is the best striker etc.

2. Provide your email and blog address (if you have one), so I could link you to my blog and contact you if you win.

3. If none of you get the combination right, we will choose the second best. Means,who ever choose it right either top scorer or country that win. If we have two or three people with one answer rite, we will compare head to head the performance of player or country each of the person choose. I hope it is clear for you.

4. No fees or subscribe to my feeds or click my ads . It is FREE and for FUN.

The Price

USD 25(thru PayPal) or approx RM 80 (local Bank) and a 125 x 125 card on my web for a month…

Hope you guys enjoy this contest and make it really happening for this Euro 2008. But no offence ok, since Italy will win and Luca Toni will be the top scorer heehe. Just wait and see .

p/s to England supporter, of course you can join but please don’t vote for England or Rooney hehehe

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
POST YOUR COMMENT AND SHOW YOUR FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE :)

Contest Update:

1) Only ONE entry per person (I am trying to be fair)

2) Particapants cannot change their entry after submitting it
(So tell your friend to join in)

3) Final day for your entry is 19 June (Last Grouping Match),
so decide wisely :)

Thanks,
Lankapo.com

Full Italy Squad for Euro 2008

2008-05-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Cristian Panucci (Roma), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Midfielders: Rino Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta, Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro German Camoranesi (Juventus)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

Standby: Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)

Inzaghi is left our from Italian team for Euro 2008

2008-05-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Milan striker Pippo Inzaghi has reacted angrily to being left out of the Italy squad for Euro 2008.

Azzurri boss Roberto Donadoni today named a provisional 24-man squad for Austria and Switzerland, a number which will then be reduced to a final 23 next Wednesday.

Many people believed that AC Milan veteran Pippo Inzaghi should have earned a call-up after a quite stunning end to the season, during which he scored 10 goals in his last seven games.

However Donadoni opted to select Luca Toni, Alessandro Del Piero, Antonio Cassano, Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella, and the seemingly out-of-form Marco Borriello instead.

“Evidently my injury was enough to mean that I didn’t even deserve a phone call and to cancel out what I thought was a mature, adult relationship,” stated a bitter Inzaghi, who did then go on to say that he hoped Italy would still do well without him.

“I am disappointed to have been left out, but I sincerely wish all the best to the Azzurri for the European Championship.”

Inzaghi, who scored 18 goals in total this season in all competitions, was Italy's second top-scorer in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, but like the Euros four years earlier he will not get the chance to appear in the finals.

With the prolific bomber set to turn 35 in a few months, we may have now seen Inzaghi for the last time in an Italy shirt. The former Juve man has scored 25 goals in just 57 games for his country and was part of the 2006 World Cup winning squad in Germany.

Roberto Rossi

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

2008-05-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Rossi Set For Euro 2008 after left out from Italy Under-21

2008-05-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Giuseppe Rossi has been left out of the Italy Under-21 squad for the Toulon tournament next week, sparking rumours that he will be selected by Roberto Donadoni for Euro 2008.

The Toulon Tournament takes place in Southern France from May 20-29, and will serve as a warm-up for the Azzurrini prior to their participation in the Olympic games in Beijing later in the summer.

Italy Under-21 boss Gigi Casiraghi has named the 22 players who will travel to Toulon, and a notable absentee is Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi.

Rossi’s surprise exclusion may indeed mean that Italy boss Roberto Donadoni is preparing to select him for Euro 2008. Another play who was absent from the list if midfield star man Riccardo Montolivo, which once again may mean he is in line for a senior call-up.

Donadoni names the 23-men he will be taking to Austria and Switzerland on Tuesday at 15:00 CET.

Italy Under-21 Squad for Toulon Tournament

Goalkeepers: Alfonso (Venezia), Bassi (Empoli)

Defenders: S. Bocchetti (Frosinone), Canini (Cagliari), Coda (Udinese), De Ceglie (Siena), De Silvestri (Lazio), Dellafiore (Torino), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Torino)

Midfielders: Abate (Empoli), Cigarini (Parma), Dessena (Parma), Galloppa (Siena), Guarente (Atalanta), Marchisio (Empoli), Nocerino (Juventus)

Forwards: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Giovinco (Empoli), Lanzafame (Bari), Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Pelle' (AZ Alkmaar).

Anthony Sormani

I am too tired to play for Euro 2008 - Bojan Krkic

2008-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Valencia striker Fernando Morientes has been left perplexed after Bojan Krkic decided not play for Spain at Euro 2008.
The Barcelona forward has represented Spain at Under-17 level and he was supposed to be a part of the senior squad for this summer’s Euro 2008 tournament.

However, he kindly declined the offer and instead has preffered to put his feet up for the summer. His decision has left everyone perplexed, including Morientes, who cannot understand the player’s bizarre u-turn.

“I really don’t understand why he would do that,” Morientes told Marca.

“It seems very strange to me that a player would turn down the chance to play at the European Championships.

“It’s hard to understand because normally a 17-year-old would jump at that sort of chance because it’s not often that someone his age gets called up to the senior squad for a major tournament.

“Who knows what’s happened, it could have been the club’s decision or his fathers or maybe even he is just anxious.”

Morientes also spoke ahead of this week’s clash with Atletico. The two sides meet at the Mestalla on Sunday evening.

“Everyone is aware about the bad season that we have had but now we just have to put it behind us and try and get the right result on the weekend.

“I still have one year left on my contract and I hope I can remain here even longer.”

Morientes will be hoping his side finish the season on a high against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, following a less than perfect run this term, for much of which he was injured.

Salvatore Landolina

Euro 2008 - Del Piero out of Italy squad again

2008-03-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

Alessandro Del Piero's Euro 2008 hopes suffered a fresh blow when Italy coach Roberto Donadoni left the striker out of his squad for Wednesday's friendly in Spain.
FOOTBALL 2006-2007 Euro 2008 qual. Italy Italien Del Piero - 0

The 33-year-old Juventus captain has not played for the world champions since his poor performance in a goalless Euro 2008 qualifier against France in September when Donadoni used him out of position on the wing.

Donadoni's 21-man squad for Italy's penultimate test before the Euro finals contained no major surprises.

Striker Marco Borriello kept his place after making his debut in February's 3-1 friendly win over Portugal.

Borriello, who has scored 17 league goals for Genoa this season, is expected to understudy Bayern Munich's Luca Toni in Austria and Switzerland in June.

Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi is in line to make his first appearance for Italy since injuring his thigh in the 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary in August.

He was called up for the Portugal game but had to pull out with a back problem.

Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano seems to have blown his chances by picking up a five-match ban for verbally abusing a referee in a recent Serie A game, the latest in a series of incidents of indiscipline.

Forward Alberto Gilardino, like Del Piero a member of Italy's World Cup winning squad, also looks to have fallen out of contention after a disappointing season with AC Milan.

Italy host Belgium in Florence on May 30 in their final Euro 2008 warmup.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyon), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).
Reuters

Nike is new team sponsor for France

2008-02-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

You will expect to see new jersey design from the LesBlues as Nike has officially become their new sponsor.

The contract (which should run from the period of 2011 to 2018) has apparently been reported to amount €320m (£240m) for the period of 7 years, making the French blue shirt the most expensive ever in the history of football.source

It seem that Adidas 40+ years relationship would end. Well, Adidas has two sweet memories when France won the World Cup 1998 and Euro 2002.With Zidane as their maestro. Hopefully this new sponsor and cash from the sponsorship would bring back glory to the Frenchie. As new young gun such as Kareem Benzima, Samir Nasri and Ben Arfa are emerging to replace veteran players.

Will France win this Euro 2008 ? We will have to wait and see

Euro 2008: Prize Money

2008-02-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

UEFA announced that total of €184 million has been offered to the 16 teams competing in this tournament, increasing from €129 million in the previous tournament. The distributions as below:[11]

Participating fee: €7.5 million
Extra payment based on teams performances:

Group stage (a match):
Win: €1 million
Draw: €500,000
Quarterfinals: €2 million
Semifinals: €3 million
Runner-up: €4.5 million
Winner: €7.5 million
If the winner of tournament win all the three matches in the group stage, they will receive total prize of €23 million.

Euro 2008: Group A

2008-02-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Base on the current performance, Portugal would have no problem to move the next round.With Ronaldo, Quaresma and co would be the best bet to score goal.

Euro 2008: Van Basten join Ajax after Euro

2008-02-23T06:06:00.001-08:00

[نثرلندس] قد وقع عرضة [مرك] [فن] [بستن] صفقة لمدّة أربع سنوات أن يصبح مديرة [أجإكس].
كرة قدم [مرك] [فن] [بستن] - 0

[فن] [بستن] يعلن في ديسمبر - كانون الأوّل هو [ستب-دوون] من الفريق وطنيّة بعد أوروبيّ 2008 في نمسا وسويسرا.

[أجإكس] قال استلم هو في يوليو-تمّوز [1ست] من [أدري] [كوستر] الذي نجح [هنك] عشرة [كت] على أساس مؤقّت عقب هو تلاقى [شلسا] أكتوبر - تشرين الأوّل متأخّر.

هو سيكون ال 43 [ير ولد] [فن] [بستن] نوبة ثالثة في أمستردام ناد حيث هو بدأ ه يلعب مهنة في 1981 وبقي حتّى 1987 عندما هو تلاقى [أك] ميلان.

هو أحرز 151 أهداف في 172 لعب ل [أجإكس], يربح العنوان [دوتش] عدّة أوقات [أس ولّ س] الجامعة ويكوّن ضعف في 1983 وال [إيوروبن] فنجان رابحات فنجان في 1987.

بعد مهنة [تروف-لدن], بما في ذلك اثنان فناجين [إيوروبن] مع ميلان وبطولة [إيوروبن], عتّق [فن] [بستن] يتقاعد من يلعب في 1995 28 بعد [سري] من كاحل عمليات.

هو أعاد [أجإكس] في 2000 كشباب عربة.

في 2004 السابقة [إيوروبن] وعالم نجح لاعب من السنة ديك [أدفوكت] ك [نثرلندس] عربة ويقود الفريق وطنيّة إلى ال 2006 عالم فنجان وأوروبيّ 2008.

[فن] [بستن] سيكون عربة مساعدة في [أجإكس] الناد سابقة لاعب جون [فن'ت] [سكهيب] وسيسرق [ويتسكهج].

"نحن جدّا مسرورة مع ثلاثة عربة طموحة الذي يتلقّى تاريخ في [أجإكس]," يقول مدير فنّيّة مارتن [فن] [جل].

"سيحضر هم كلّ يتلقّى مهن دوليّ كلاعب والخبرة ضروريّ كعربة."
[ريوترس]

Euro 2008

2008-02-23T06:06:00.000-08:00

1	Emiliano VIVIANO
2	Marco MOTTA
3	Paolo DE CEGLIE
4	Antonio NOCERINO
5	Luca CIGARINI
6	Domenico CRISCITO
7	Riccardo MONTOLIVO
8	Claudio MARCHISIO
9	Tommaso ROCCHI
10	Sebastian GIOVINCO
11	Giuseppe ROSSI
12	Daniele DESSENA
13	Andrea CODA
14	Robert ACQUAFRESCA
15	Salvatore BOCCHETTI
16	Lorenzo DE SILVESTRI
17	Ignazio ABATE
18	Andrea CONSIGLI