Euro 2008: Croatia Caused Upset Defeating Germany 2-1

Croatia created the first biggest upset of Euro 2008 defeating title contender Germany 2-1 in a Group B match today. With this victory, Croatia secured a quarter final place, leaving Germany’s fate in an uncertainty. Germans now require a victory against co-hosts Austria in the last group match. A draw could also give them a place in the last eight, but then they would need the result of the other match go their way. Austria vs Poland match ended in a 1-1 draw tonight, thus keeping both the sides in the running for a quarter final place.

Darijo Srna opened scoring for Croatia in the 24^th minute of the match. After receiving Danijel Pranjic cross, Darijo Srna executed the ball well for the first goal of the Croats. In the first half, both Germany and Croatia created some other goal scoring chances, but the score remained 1-0 at the half time. Then in the second half, Germany could not make a solid start what could have been needed for them to come back in the match. Rather, they conceded another goal thanks to Rakitic in the 62^nd minute. With 11 minutes off the match, Podolski scored for Germany reviving their hope to avoid defeat in the match, but nothing happened as Croatia kept the score line 2-1 to clinch their second victory over Germany since their 3-0 triumph 10 years back. At the closing minutes of the match, Germany’s Schweinsteiger was sent off after he pushed Jerko Leko of Croatia.

Well, still Germany has the chance to make it to the next round if they a win over Austria. Though it would not be that easy for Germany as Austria will have home advantage in the match, Germany has no other option available other than defeating Austria or at least making a draw with Austria. Now, let us see if Germany can survive in the competition and get into the quarter final of the tournament.

Related article:

AFP

Euro 2008: Greece and Sweden Facing Each Other in Their Opening Match

Defending Champion Greece starts their Euro 2008 mission on 10 June 2008 in a Group D match against Sweden. Greece stunned the football world winning the Euro 2004 title four years back in Portugal thanks to their excellent defensive approach that worked well for them. Last time Greece came as an underdog side and surprised the football powerhouses to become the winner of the competition, but this time they are considered as one of the favorites of Euro 2008 and share the lime light with some other big names like Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands etc. So, they have got to prove that whatever they did four years ago was not fluke and show that they have enough talent to be considered as one of the big names of Europe. So, the opening match against Sweden is very important for Greece.

Do you know the head to head record of the two sides till date? Well, that would not talk in favor of the Greeks as Greece was demolished 0-9 by Sweden on 28 August 1920 in a Summer Olympic match. This is the only time Greece faced Sweden in the history of football. However, many things have been changed in these long spell of time. Greece is no more an underdog of Europe, while Sweden has also lost many of its past glory by this time. So, Sweden can not take any inspiration from that emphatic victory.

Following Greece’s Europe win, Greece went through a bad spell of time, from where they bounced back in Euro 2008 qualifying round and won a ticket to make it to the Euro 2008 final. Their national hero coach Otto Rehhagel is now gearing up to show another impressive performance in Euro 2008 finishing off all the talks regarding Greece’s ability at these level of tournament.

There is no major injury woe in Greece squad and the good news for Greece fans is that Panathinaikos central midfielder Yorgos Karagounis will be in the starting line up against Sweden, after recovering from knee injury. Captain Angelos Basinas was in excellent form four years back in Portugal. Sweden’s main strength perhaps lies in their star studded attacking line up including Henke Larsson and Ibrahimovic. However, striker Ibrahimovic is not yet sure for the first match due to his minor problem to his knee. Whatever it is, Sweden is expected to throw a strong challenge for Greece in the match.

Related article:

Goal.com

Joe Cole Says, Winning Champions League is a Massive Achievement

English midfielder Joe Cole termed Champions League the top of the mountain and he is now interested to reach over there. To Cole, winning Champions League is a massive achievement for any club. The Chelsea player has provided his support to his coach Avram Grant amid huge speculation over his fate at Chelsea. He hopes that the Israeli coach of Chelsea does not bother about anything else except Chelsea’s Champions league showdown with Manchester United in Moscow.

UK Press reported:

But Cole believes Chelsea have the perfect blend for success with Grant in charge and said: "It is part and parcel of being a manager or a footballer - there is always someone ready to have a pop at you."

He added "I don't pay any attention to what those people think of me, and I am sure Avram doesn't either. He has got broad shoulders."

Manchester United will be striving for their third European title, while Chelsea will be looking to win their first ever title of Champions League. Manchester United has just ended up winning the title of Premier League. So, they have enough confident, while Chelsea has enough to take inspiration as it is their first ever Champions League final.

I think, fans and critics did not like the way Chelsea played this season even though they pushed Manchester United all the way and finished being second in the league with two points behind the winner. So, this time Chelsea wants to turn it on their way and become the Europe Champion for the first time in the history of European football.

Do you think, Chelsea can win the match over Manchester United and win the Champions League title?

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2007: Australia Squad

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2007 is going begin from 10 September 2007 in China. 16 teams will participate in this fifth women’s world cup. All the participating countries will attend at the group stage first. The teams will be divided into four groups in which each group includes four teams. Top two teams of each group will qualify for the quarter final round. Now, all the teams are busy with their final preparation. Coaches are busy in finalizing the squad for the women’s world cup. Germany is the defending champion of the women’s world cup.

Many teams have already declared their final 21 ahead of the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2007. Australia has recently unveiled their 21 member world cup squad. The squad seems balanced as their Scottish coach Tom Sermanni included both youth and experienced players in the squad. Captain Cheryl Salisbury is the most experienced player of the squad holding the record of most appearances and goals for both male and female. She appeared in 113 matches and scored 29 goals for Australia. It is interesting that a solid defender is now the highest goal scorer for the team. Australia has some promising young players like Sally Shipard, Collette McCallum and Kylie Ledbrook who participated in FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship Russia in 2006.

As a coach, this is the second term of Tom Sermanni with Australia’s women national football team. He coached Australia in 1995 world cup as he was the coach of Australia women’s football team from 1994-1997. Tom Sermanni started his second term with Australia in 2005. According to many Australia’s main problem is that Australia does not have any women’s football league which is very much needed for an side who plays at the top level of the sports.

Australia could not qualify for the first world cup in 1991 but from 1995 world cup they have been participating in women’s world cup. However, their performance was not satisfactory at all. They could not go beyond the group stage of Women’s World Cup. Now, in the coming Fifa Women’s World Cup 2007, Australia will play in Group C where they have to face former champion Norway, 2003 semi finalist Canada and Ghana. So, to be honest, it would not be so easy for Australia to qualify for the quarter final stage but they can show their capability to the football world in Women’s World Cup 2007.

Here, I am giving the names of the players of Australia’s women’s world cup squad below:

Goalkeepers – Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne), Lydia Williams (Canberra), Emma Wirkus (Adelaide)

Defenders – Di Alagich (Sydney), Rhian Davies (Sydney), Heather Garriock (Sydney), Kate McShea (Brisbane), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane), Cheryl Salisbury (Newcastle), Thea Slatyer (Sydney)

Midfielders – Lauren Colthorpe (Newcastle), Alicia Ferguson (Brisbane), Collette McCallum (Perth), Joanne Peters (Newcastle), Sally Shipard (Canberra), Danielle Small (Sydney)

Forwards – Joanne Burgess (Sydney), Lisa De Vanna (Perth), Kate Gill (Newcastle), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra), Sarah Walsh (Sydney)
(current home city)

Source:

Footballaustralia.com

Fifa.com