UEFA charges Serbia, England as police probe brawl

Photo: AP Serbian player Milos Ninkovic, left, and England player Danny Rose, right, react during their 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off, second leg match between Serbia and England, in Krusevac, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct .16, 2012. The British government has written to UEFA President Michel Platini demanding "tough sanctions" against Serbia following the racial abuse of England.

LONDON (AP) — UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against both Serbia and England and a police probe was ordered from Belgrade on Wednesday after alleged racist chanting and brawls at an ill-tempered under-21 match.

The Serbian hosts were charged by UEFA with misconduct over the racial abuse its fans allegedly hurled at England players from before kickoff in Krusevac on Tuesday night. But both federations face action for "improper conduct" over the scuffles that broke out on the pitch between the teams after the match, which England won 1-0 to secure qualification for the 2013 European Under-21 Championship.

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The cases will be heard by UEFA's control and disciplinary board on Nov. 22. In Belgrade, Serbia's prime minister Ivica Dacic ordered a police probe, saying all those who took part in the scuffles must be identified and brought to justice.

The bitterness between the two nations was emphasized by their respective statements Wednesday, with the English Football Association suggesting it might decline to send teams to the Balkan nation in the future and the Serbians emphatically denying racism and denouncing the visiting players.

But the FA was backed by the British government strongly condemning Serbia and writing to UEFA President Michel Platini on Wednesday demanding "tough sanctions." "A number of England players were subject to extreme provocation and racism," sports minister Hugh Robertson wrote to Platini.

British Prime Minister David Cameron was also said by his Downing Street office to be "appalled by the scenes." "We are determined to stamp out racism overseas and at home and we are giving full backing to the FA's complaint," said Cameron's spokesman, Steve Field. "If we are going to stamp out racism from football then it is no good handing out derisory fines as has happened in the past."

In 2007, UEFA fined Serbia €24,000 (then $32,600) after its players and fans hurled racist abuse during another under-21 game against England. In a reference to a much-criticized suggestion by FIFA President Sepp Blatter last year, Field said: "It is no good telling players to shake hands and forget about it."

Blatter said later on Twitter that he is "saddened every time I hear about racist incidents in football." But the Serbian FA denied in a statement that there was any racial abuse "before or during the match" of England players, who had extra security personnel brought by the FA due to fears about their safety.

Serbia laid the blame for the incidents after the final whistle squarely on England defender Danny Rose, claiming he "behaved in inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar manner towards the supporters for which he was shown a red card."

"Unfortunately, that led to the incident that followed," the Serbian FA statement said. The English FA responded with a statement insisting its players and staff "were subjected to racial abuse, violence as well as missiles" throughout the match.

"FA officials made UEFA officials aware of racist abuse from sections of the crowd aimed at a number of England's black players at halftime on Tuesday evening," FA General Secretary Alex Horne said. "This matter was discussed again during a meeting with UEFA after those disgraceful scenes which followed the final whistle.

"No football team should be asked to play in any environment where racial abuse, violence and threatening behavior are prevalent. We must question the validity of sending a team to Serbia in the future."

Horne also stressed that "we must defend Danny Rose, who was sent off due to the frustration of being a target of racial abuse." Rose complained that trouble had been brewing throughout the evening. He was sent off after kicking a ball into the stands after the final whistle following apparent provocation, gesturing to the crowd that he was racially abused.

"The monkey chanting started long before I got sent off," Rose told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "After 60 minutes my head wasn't really on the game. They have to be banned. I don't understand how else they can learn from it. They have to be banned."

Rose said he complained to assistant coach Steve Wigley about problems when the team went out to warm-up before the game. "They started the monkey chanting straight away. I asked the lads if they could hear it and they said they could hear it," Rose said. "Halfway through the warm-up I went to 'Wigs,' the assistant manager, and told him what was happening. He said I had to try my best to get through it and they would deal with it straight away after the game.

"In the first half I went down to get the ball for a throw-in and the fans started again with the monkey chants, but the first half was nowhere near as bad as the second half. In the second half I had two stones hit me on the head when I went to get the ball for a throw-in. Every time I touched the ball there was monkey chanting again."

But Serbia captain Slobodan Medojevic accused the English players of triggering the incident at the end of the game. "My teammates told me they were provoked by the gestures of the English players toward our fans at the stadium," he said. "I don't think it's only our fault for the incidents, but also of the English players ... even if there were such chants, they could have been made by maximum five or six people."

2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League media rights deals announced in Switzerland

UEFA announced today the award of certain media rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in Switzerland to SRG SSR.

In respect of the UEFA Champions League, the best match each matchnight will be broadcast on free-to-air channels RSILa2, SF2 and RTS2 followed by a highlights programme.

With regard to the UEFA Europa League, SRG SSR has been granted the rights to the best live match per kick-off slot. Local club participation will be shown on RSILa2, SF2, and RTS2.

All rights have been granted on a platform-neutral basis, with the rights also being exploited on the internet via www.rts.ch, as well as on mobile.

Commenting on the award of these rights, UEFA said:

“UEFA is delighted to extend its partnership with SRG SSR for both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. SRG SSR has proven its dedication to both competitions and UEFA looks forward to continuing this successful partnership.”

The rights granted to SRG SSR for both competitions have been granted on a co-exclusive basis with pay television operator Teleclub. This announcement concludes the sale of the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in Switzerland.

article source:  http://www.uefa.com/uefa/mediaservices/mediainformation/newsid=1859931.html?rss=1859931+2012-15+UEFA+Champions+League+and+UEFA+Europa+League+media+rights+deals+announced+in+Switzerland

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE (QUALIFYING PLAY OFF ROUND)

Aug 22, 2012 - Like the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League has a playoff round for clubs attempting to qualify for the group stage. Unlike the Champions League, the Europa League's playoff round features lots of teams that even hardcore followers of European football have never even heard of.

This year's playoff round also features some good matchups between teams that probably should not have been matched up against each other. Anzhi Makhachkala and AZ Alkmaar, both of whom would be favorites to make the knockout stages if they got through to the group stage, have to go through each other. The same can be said about Stuttgart and Dinamo Moscow.

Then, there are the awesome teams that you'll never hear from again. APOEL Nicosia should probably dispatch of Neftchi Baku of Azerbaijan. Don't expect to see too much more of Luxembourg's F91 Dudelange, or Georgia's Dila Gori. And congratulations to Moldova's FC Sheriff, who somehow get here every year.

Schedule (all times ET)

Tuesday

Stuttgart vs. Dinamo Moscow - 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday

Anzhi Makhachkala vs. AZ Alkmaar - 12 p.m.
Neftchi Baku vs. APOEL Nicosia - 12 p.m
Tromso vs. Partizan Belgrade - 12:30 p.m.
FK Ekranas vs. Steaua Bucharest - 12:30 p.m.
AIK vs. CSKA Moscow - 1 p.m.
Atromitos vs. Newcastle United - 1 p.m.
Legia Warsaw vs. Rosenborg - 1 p.m.
Liberec vs. Dnipro - 1 p.m.
Molde vs. Heerenveen - 1 p.m.
FC Sheriff vs. Marseille - 1 p.m.
Bursaspor vs. FC Twente - 1:30 p.m.
Dinamo Bucharest vs. Metalist Kharkiv - 1:30 p.m.
Lucerne vs. Racing Genk - 1:30 p.m.
F91 Dudelange vs. Hapoel Tel-Aviv - 2 p.m.
Feyenoord vs. Sparta Prague - 2 p.m.
Trabzonspor vs. Videoton FC - 2 p.m.
FC Midjytlland vs. BSC Young Boys - 2:15 p.m.
Debrecen vs. Club Brugge - 2:30 p.m.
KSC Lokeren vs. Viktoria Plzen - 2:30 p.m.
PAOK vs. Rapid Vienna - 2:30 p.m.
Crvena Zvezda vs. Bordeaux - 2:45 p.m.
FC Vaslui vs. Inter Milan - 2:45 p.m.
Heart of Midlothian vs. Liverpool - 2:45 p.m.
Motherwell vs. Levante - 2:45 p.m.
Slask Wroclaw vs. Hannover 96 - 2:45 p.m.
AC Horsens vs. Sporting Lisbon - 3 p.m.
Athletic Bilbao vs. HJK - 3 p.m.
Maritimo vs. Dila Gori - 3 p.m.
Mura vs. Lazio - 3 p.m.
Zeta vs. PSV Eindhoven - 3 p.m.

Wigan vs. Chelsea Match Preview

With Chelsea losing the community shield they will want to start the new Premier League campaign with a win. So I have them to score more than 2 here at Wigan.

Chelsea looked good in the first half against City causing a few problems for City but with the sending off City were just to strong to hang on to the 1-0 lead they had.

Maybe more importantly was seeing Torres net a goal, after last season he will want to start off well here and Wigan will be a perfect opportunity for him.

Wigan, while last season miraculously survived the drop with a great run of form towards the end but I can't see them starting as well this season.

Chelsea squad has strengthened in an attacking sense and Wigan are shaky at the best of times at the back so I see Chelsea scoring 2 or more here with ease. Wigan may get one back but they will need to out score an attacking Chelsea to stay in the match.

Soccer-European season kicks off after 48-hour break

(Reuters) - The new European season kicked off with three embarrassingly one-sided matches and two goalless draws on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after Spain won Euro 2012.

Malta captain Michael Mifsud produced the outstanding performance of the evening with four goals as Valletta crushed hapless Lusitans of Andorra 8-0 in one of three Champions League first qualifying round first-leg ties.

Lusitans, who won the Andorran league for the first time last season, were quickly in trouble as Jonathan Caruana gave Valletta a fourth minute lead.

Former Kaiserslautern, Lillestrom, Coventry City and Barnsley forward Mifsud and Brazilian striker Jhonnattann, signed from Volta Redonda earlier this year, added two goals apiece as the hosts raced to a 5-0 lead after only 23 minutes.

Mifsud made it 6-0 and completed his hat-trick on the stroke of halftime and added another to his tally with a solo goal in the 70th minute before Edmond Agius rounded off the scoring two minutes later.
Luxemburg's FC Dudelange, who got the 2012-13 season rolling as their game kicked off first, thumped San Marino's Tre Penne 7-0 while Northern Ireland's Linfield were held to a goalless draw by B36 Torshavn from the Faroe Islands.

Dudelange's match kicked off only two days after Spain lifted the Euro 2012 trophy in Kiev to bring the curtain down on the previous season.

Sofian Benzouien and Aurelien Joachim both scored twice for the Luxemburg side who have been domestic champions 10 times in the last 13 seasons.

The Champions League will take nearly 10 months to complete, with four qualifying rounds, a group stage and three more rounds of of knockout games, before ending on May 25 with the final at Wembley.
There were also two games in the mind-bogglingly complex Europa League where Gomel won 6-0 at Vikingur in a meeting of the teams who finished third in Belarus and Faroe Islands respectively.

Portadown of Northern Ireland drew 0-0 at Macedonia's Shkendija in the other match, with 35 further ties to be played on Thursday.

Defending champions Spain win Euro 2012 to complete historic treble

(CNN) -- Defending champions Spain claimed an historic third successive major international trophy with a 4-0 rout of Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev Sunday.

It was a breathtaking display from the 2010 World Cup winners, with victory all but sealed by halftime as goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba gave them a 2-0 lead.

Substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata rounded off the emphatic win with two late strikes.

Victory in the final also represents a triumph for 61-year-old coach Vicente Del Bosque, the first man to lead teams to the World Cup, European Championships and European Champions League crowns, the latter with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002.

"This success in Spanish football is something historic, and now we have to look to the future and try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil," he told gathered reporters.

But for Italy and their coach Cesare Prandelli it was a bitter end to a tournament which they had earlier graced with their imaginative performances.

"We came up against a terrific side," Prandelli admitted.

Euro 2012 LIVE: Spain vs Italy

La Roja shone brightly from the start and with a cutting edge, despite again starting the match without a recognized striker.

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez brushed the crossbar with a fierce shot in the 10th minute after dazzling interplay but it did not take long for the pressure to pay off.

Xavi's club teammate Andres Iniesta threaded a perfect pass through for Cesc Fabregas to cross for David Silva to head home on 14 minutes.

Italy, who caused such a shock with a 2-1 win over Germany in the semifinals, responded with a pair of Antonio Cassano efforts, but with Mario Balotelli unable to make much impression they always looked second best.

Spain went further ahead just before halftime and the goal was typical off their all round teamwork.

Defender Jordi Alba exchanged passes with Xavi and burst through the center of the Italian defense before easily beating Gianluigi Buffon.

After the break, Italy responded with a pair of chances for Antonio di Natali, the first a header, the second with a clearer sight of goal only to be denied twice in quick succession by Spain captain Iker Casillas.

Italian hopes of a comeback took a further dent when their final substitute, Thiago Motta, lasted only five minutes before being stretchered off.

Against a tiring team with only 10 men, Spain eventually took full advantage after the introduction of Chelsea's Torres.

Xavi found him with another superb pass and he slotted home the third on 84 minutes, becoming the first man to score in two successive European Championship finals.

He had grabbed the only goal of the 2008 final win over Germany.

Torres then cleverly set up his club teammate Mata to score with virtually his first touch of the ball.

In doing so, Torres clinched the tournament's Golden Boot for his joint leading three goals and that final assist.

It left Casillas to lift the trophy in the magnificent Olympic Stadium, the Real Madrid goalkeeper reveling in yet another showpiece triumph for a team many are calling the greatest in history.

"This is such a truly wonderful moment. The second goal from Jordi (Alba) clinched it really," he told Telecinco television.

"It's been four marvelous years. You might think that a 4-0 margin against Italy means it was easy -- but we have been gradually stepping up as the tournament went along."

Sunday's final set the seal on three weeks of competition in Ukraine and Poland at eight match venues and involving 16 teams.

Twenty four national sides will take their place in the next finals in France in 2016 and they will do well to match the overall high standard of attacking play in Euro 2012.

Incidents of racist chanting and violent clashes between supporters from Poland and Russia marred the group stages, but fears of widespread fan violence proved just fears.

Ukraine's alleged mistreatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko also led to threats of a boycott by European political leaders, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended their quarterfinal victory over Greece.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rayoy were guests at the final, a welcome distraction perhaps from the economic turmoil engulfing their austerity-hit countries in the Eurozone crisis.

More controversially, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was also among the dignitaries, despite being the subject of a European Union travel ban.

His invite sparked a protest from a feminist group in Kiev before the final.

Euro 2012 Germany vs Italy: Live Report

AFP IS CLOSING THIS LIVE REPORT AFTER Italy upset the odds as two goals from Mario Balotelli saw them beat Germany 2-1 in the second Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw.

The enigmatic Manchester City striker powered home a header from an Antonio Cassano cross after 20 minutes to send the Azzurri into the lead, before doubling their advantage with a resounding right-footed strike 16 minutes later.

"He (Balotelli) was excellent, just like the entire team were," said coach Cesare Prandelli after what was Italy's third win over Germany in a major tournament semi-final.

"I really believe that a team needs to have an idea in the way they play and he really subscribed to this playing style. He was high up the pitch and available and I think he put in a very good performance this evening."

A much-fancied Germany team struggled to contain Italy's attacks in the first half and found their defenders in miserly mood at the other end, despite an improvement when Marco Reus and Miroslav Klose were brought on at the interval.

A penalty converted by Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil two minutes into injury-time after Federico Balzaretti's hand-ball was scant consolation for Joechim Loew's side.

Read on to find out how all the action unfolded in the National Stadium in Poland's capital and join us again on Sunday as the Italians take on defending champions Spain in the final in Kiev.

2055 GMT: Scenes of unbridled joy amongst Italy fans - the famous Tifosi - are beaming in from Rome - flares have been lit, flags are being waved and they are looking forward to a shot at glory in Sunday's final.

2046 GMT: Italy's players are dancing with delight on the pitch, and why not -- not many people backed them to get past a Germany side that had won their last 15 competitive games.

That's now eight times Germany have played Italy in major championships and failed to win - what's the Italian for bogey team?

ITALY WILL PLAY SPAIN IN THE EURO 2012 FINAL IN KIEV ON SUNDAY!

90 + 5 mins: FULL-TIME: Germany 1 Italy 2

90 + 3: YELLOW CARD - Germany's Hummels in the book for dissent after a dramatic Italian dive.

More from Barnaby in Warsaw: "Loew's chewing his lips, Ozil's hanging his head, Neuer's coming up for corners with five minutes left. Germany have lost their heads and Italy are in total command? until they give away a penalty. Spanner, works??

90 + 2 mins: GOAL! Germany 1 Italy 2 - Penalty after a Balzaretti hand-ball and Ozil smashes it home! Lifeline for Germany!

90 mins: Germany's 'keeper Neuer went forward for a corner there - it falls to Ozil on the edge of the area but he can only fire wide.

88 mins: YELLOW CARD - Italy's Thiago Motta

85 mins: It opened up in the area for Germany's Reus there but Balzaretti gets across to block him. He punched the air with delight at that intervention.

82 mins: Surely Antonio Di Natale has to kill the game off now - Balotelli puts him through and he's one-on-one with Neuer but can only side-foot the ball into the side-netting. Wasteful.

Federico Balzaretti then thinks he has scored after curling it around Neuer but he's flagged offside.

YELLOW CARD - Italy's Danielle De Rossi in the book.

77 mins: This from AFP's Barnaby Chesterman at Warsaw's National Stadium: "Old habits die hard and Italy are taking no chances here. They've switched to a five-man midfield, taking off both forwards and trequartista Montolivo. They certainly don't intend to try to kill off this game."

And for those who don't know, a trequartista is a playmaker...

75 mins: Germany centre-back Holger Badstuber stumbles in the area and Claudio Marchisio has a chance to finish Germany off - but he drags his shot wide of Neueer's lefthand upright. Excellent chance.

71 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Bayern striker Thomas Mueller on for Jerome Boateng - Loew has gone for it with that change.

69 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Antonio Di Natale replaces Mario Balotelli. The striker had pulled up with cramp and was chuntering as he went off but he's put Italy in charge of this game.

67 mins: Claudio Marchisio plays it into Alessandro Diamante who returns the favour with a measured pass but the midfielder can only slice wide of Neuer's goal. That would have sealed it for Italy.

64 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Cesare Prandelli makes a change for Italy - defensive midfielder Thiago Motta on for playmaker Riccardo Montolivo.

62 mins: Germany are knocking at the door here - Kroos curls in a delightful right-footed free-kick from outside the area and forces Buffon to palm it onto the crossbar. Good effort.

60 mins: Balotelli has got the bit between his teeth - he cuts in from the righthand touchline and fires in a powerful right-footed shot but it's well wide of Neuer's goal.

57 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Italy's Antonio Cassano is replaced by Alessandro Diamante who is earning just his fourth cap.

52 mins: Another opening for the Germans - Ozil makes a thrusting run to the right-hand touchline and pulls it back to Khedira but he's crowded out by Italian defenders.

49 mins: Great chance for Germany's captain Philipp Lahm on the edge of the area... but he blazes over! He played a lovely one-two to set the chance up.

Joachim Loew's side have started this half with more conviction but can't afford to miss too many of those if they're going to get back into this.

46 mins: Promising early run at the Italian defence from Reus, who cuts in on his left foot on the edge of the area but can only mishit a tame shot.

1949 GMT: SUBSTITUTIONS - Two changes for Germany for the second half - Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus on for Lukas Podolksi and Mario Gomez.

We're under way again in Warsaw...

1945 GMT: Just to put the 2-0 scoreline into some kind of context, my colleague Ryland James at the game in Warsaw has sent me this little nugget:

"This is the first time Germany have been behind at a European championships game since the Euo 2008 final.

"That includes 10 qualifiers, three group matches and the quarter-final win over Greece."

1936 GMT: News from Berlin -- AFP's Raphaelle Logerot in the fan zone at the Brandenburg Gate: "Some German fans have stood up and walked out of the zone, disgusted by that second goal from Balotelli."

45 +2 mins: HALF-TIME Germany 0 Italy 2

36 mins: GOAL! Germany 0 Italy 2 - a screamer from Balotelli and Italy have doubled their lead!

A simple ball over the top from Montolivo splits the two German centre-backs and picks out Balotelli, who bears down on goal leaving Philipp Lahm in his wake before lashing a vicious shot past a stationary Manuel Neuer.

Joachim Loew on the Germany bench looks shell-shocked.

YELLOW CARD - Balotelli was booked for taking off his shirt to celebrate the goal but I doubt he's too bothered after that pearler...

34 mins: Big chance for Italy to make it 2-0... but Montolivo's wasted it! Cassano found him with a cunning pass into the area but he tries to cut onto his right foot rather than shooting first time with his left and is tackled.

28 mins: Italy are getting a good deal of possession in midfield - Pirlo is central to some tidy passing moves as he was against England in the quarter-final.

Forgot to mention that Lukas Podolski has come back into Germany's starting line-up on the left wing at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schuerrle, who played in their 4-2 win over Greece in last Friday.

26 mins: Powerful centre-forward play from Germany's Mario Gomez, winning a long ball which he controls and rolls to Mesut Ozil only to see the midfielder fire in a tame shot that doesn't trouble Buffon.

20 mins: GOAL! Germany 0 Italy 1 - a towering header from Balotelli and Italy are in front!

Italy worked it well down the left, Antonio Cassano beat two defenders before getting a good cross to Balotelli in the middle who rose highest to power a header home from six yards out.

Simple but deadly.

12 mins: Sami Khedira passes it out to Jerome Boateng on the right, who whips in a low cross and Buffon can only fumble it awkwardly against defender Andrea Barzagli - he is relieved to see the ball roll just past his righthand post.

More early uncertainty from the veteran Italian shot-stopper.

Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos fires in a powerful shot rom the resulting corner that Buffon parries away.

10 mins: A reminder that Germany have won their last 15 competitive games, a new world record according to UEFA. So the Italians are going to have to spring a real shock to get past them...

6 mins: Nervous moments for Italy there though - a corner is whipped in from the left and Mats Hummels knees it towards goal. It beats 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon but Andrea Pirlo is on the post to clear it. Lucky escape!

3 mins: Riccardo Montolivo steals possession in the Germany half and tries to slips it through to Mario Balotelli - but it's just out of the striker's reach in the area... Promising opening for the Italians.

1847 GMT: KICK-OFF: We're under way in Warsaw...

1844 GMT: Both captains, Gianluigi Buffon and Phillippe Lahm talk to the fans over the PA about the importance of UEFA's 'Respect Diversity' message, which is received to resounding applause.

1840 GMT: Both sets of players have filed out and are lined up for the national anthems - Italy's tub-thumping one first, 'Il Canto degli Italiani'...

1830 GMT: "As soon as he came onto the pitch, Mario Balotelli went over the corner of the stadium where his friends - and his brother Enoch - are sitting to greet them," my colleague Emmanuel Barranguet writes from the National Stadium.

Balotelli has friends? Remarkable (nb - I'm sure he's just misunderstood...)

1820 GMT: ...and this has just landed from AFP reporter Laurent Geslin in Berlin: "The atmosphere is building around the famous Brandenburg Gate as small groups of swap thoughts about the upcoming match as a few beers are sunk.

"Germany's fans seem certain that 'Die Mannschaft' are going to win... 'You have to be optimistic and ignore the statistics which point to an Italian victory,' says Dennis Schiller a 25-year-old Berlin-born entrepreneur, referring to the surprising fact that Germany have yet to beat Italy in seven meetings at major championships.

'Tonight it's Germany's turn as they have the better team - we've never had such a good team.'

1810 GMT: My colleague Françoise Kadri has sent me this little snippet about the atmosphere that's building among fans in Rome's Piazza del Popolo (or People's Square): "There are already hundreds of (exclusively) Italian supporters, mostly young men, getting excited in the build-up to kick-off.

"We're in the middle of a heat wave here and it's nearly thirty degrees at 8pm local time! There are lots of trumpets, Italian flags being waved and faces -- not to mention several torsos - painted in the red white and green of Italy..."

1804 GMT: The starting line-ups for the game are in - it looks like Mario Gomez has reclaimed his striker's spot from Miroslav Klose while Toni Kroos also comes in:

Germany (4-2-3-1)

Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm (capt); Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos; Mario Gomez

Coach: Joachim Loew

Italy (4-3-1-2)

Gianluigi Buffon (capt); Federico Balzaretti, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi; Riccardo Montolivo; Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (FRA)

1750 GMT: AFP's Emmanuel Barranguet has been in touch from Warsaw: "On the streets of the city on Thursday afternoon, hundreds of Germany fans have been teasing their Italian counterparts by singing "Arrivederci Italia!" to the Seven Nation Army tune ("Po popo po popo pooooo...")

In the face of such inventive musical mockery the 'tifosi' may as well pack up and go home...

WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the second semi-final of the Euro 2012 football championships which sees Germany take on Italy for the right to play Spain in Sunday's final in Kiev.

Kick-off at the National Stadium in the Poland's capital Warsaw is just over hour away at 1845 GMT - stay with us for all the team news and build-up with input from our reporters at the game Barnaby Chesterman and Ryland James. -- AFP

Semi-finals. Portugal - Spain

In the semi-finals UEFA EURO 2012 in Donetsk, European and world champions from Spain could not print the gate of contenders from Portugal for 120 minutes. However, in the penalty shoot-out proved to be more successful competitors and earned a ticket to the finals.
In terms of Paulo Bento was not able to surprise his counterpart does, but Vicente Del Bosque a surprise. In the "basis" for the position of center-forward Fernando Torres does not appear, or Cesc Fabregas, and Alvaro Negredo. The Spaniards entered the match with mourning ribbons in memory of Miki Roque, 23-year-old defender, "Betis", who died of cancer, the official site of UEFA.
But with the starting whistle the game with the composition and the thought of the tragedy have gone away - in the first place out of His Majesty the football. Contrary to expectations, the Portuguese did not play a "number two" from the very beginning, and pressed the Spaniards to the gate, one after another, by submitting a couple of corners. However, it quickly returned to normal - Spanish "tick-tock" went to the move, European and world champions took possession of the ball, and most of all for some time in the spotlight turned out to Pepe, who had to work up a sweat in the center of the Portuguese defense.
Spanish perepas nearly led to big trouble for Rui Patricia is the ninth minute when Alvaro Arbeloa punched over the crossbar, ending mnogohodovku, which originated on the left flank. Characteristically, in a potentially goal-attack has participated almost the entire Spanish team. Ronaldo said Portugal shed from the left flank, but, again, speaks volumes, gave the captain to Nani, who was surrounded by four defenders.
Yet already in the debut it was clear that far from the Spaniards in order to feel as comfortable as in the quarterfinals against France. At times world and European champions simply outplayed, and keep the ball in the corporate style they could not always. But these episodes were enough to create moments. For example, in the 29th minute, Andres Iniesta struck a blow with a dangerous free kick almost on the border standing ball and almost hit the target.
Of course, on the edge of the injection response was Ronaldo. The ball after it hit another from the penalty literally licked the bar, and attack the Portuguese to be not less acute. Then the game settled down, and the remainder of the first half was a completely equal to the positional struggle, a kind of chess. In the first half, Spain showed the lowest for itself in the UEFA EURO 2012 the percentage of accurate transmission.
The second half began in similar vein, which was completed first. The Spaniards did not work to dominate the same way as in all previous matches at Euro 2012, with the exception of the game with Italy, but Portuguese is still unable to create enough about them to the gate intensity. From polumomentov the first half of the second half, it may be noted that a couple of really scathing attacks Hugo Almeida missed the target.
Already at the end of hours of play Del Bosque left to fight Cesc Fabregas and Jesus Navas instead of Negredo and David Silva. Tangible dividends to no avail - can recall except that a tight kick Xavi straight at the goalkeeper in the 65th minute. Once again, the entire Portugal Ronaldo answered - in the 73rd minute penalty it could be very dangerous, but the ball flew over the crossbar. The same thing happened after the "standard" in the 85th minute - again higher. As a result - equal to almost no points a game in which the Portuguese looked at least as good a formidable opponent.
The moment of truth could come to pass in the 90th minute - in the course of four to three counter-attacks, which could well prove to be scoring, Raul Meireles gave a pass is not too convenient Ronaldo, who on the run from the border sent the ball into the heavens. The match went to the endgame - the extra time, which does not help figuring out who among semifinalists stronger.
Until I came 104th minute when Rui Patricia pulled Iniesta strike that hit a few meters, it seemed certain. To reinforce the impression, in the end of the first additional half-time with a penalty kick shot Ramos - in centimeters from the cross. Ten minutes before the end of the meeting was the moment of Navas, but his kick from an acute angle took Rui Patricia.
The result - a series of penalties, and even the first two shots did goalkeeping heroes. First, Rui Patricia did not give Xavi Alonso to score and then Iker Casillas has done the same thing with Jose Moutinho. The following are not scoring defender of "Zenith" Bruno Alves, shot in the woodwork. After that, Fabregas of Spain recorded a victory in the hardest for the world and European champions match.

UEFA Euro 2012 Semifinals

 Can anyone stop Spain? After winning the UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, Spain looks poised to win their third straight major international tournament and cement the place in history as the greatest national team of all-time.
Spain has been playing in their typical Spanish style; steady as a rock. Aside from a 4-0 thrashing they dished out to a weak Irish squad, Spain has muddied along with a 1-1 tie against Italy and a 1-0 win against Croatia before defeating France 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Meeting Spain in the semifinals is Portugal. After slipping 0-1 to Germany in their opening match; Portugal has been a runaway freight train. The Portuguese squad has won three straight, including wins over Denmark (3-2) and Netherlands (2-1) in the group stage and Czech Republic (1-0) in the quarterfinals.
Spain will be the clear cut favorite in the semifinals. As defending Euro and World Cup champs, they have earned the right to be called "world's best" until they can be defeated. But one can't help but think that perhaps now is Portugal's time. After many disappointing performances in recent major tournaments, this might be their time to breakthrough and make their mark on the world stage.
Here is the information you need to know for the first semifinal match between Spain and Portugal:

Event: UEFA Euro 2012 Semifinals
Stadium: Donbass Arena - Donetsk, Ukraine
Date: Wednesday, June 28

Time: 2:45 AM GMT(+8:00)
Teams: Spanish National Team vs. Portuguese National Team
Winner: Advances to the finals to face the winner of the Germany-Italy semifinal match

Semifinal 2 - Germany vs. Italy
Germany is on a roll. After dominating the group stage with impressive wins over Portugal (1-0), Netherlands (2-1) and Denmark (2-1), the Germans took their play to a whole other level by crushing a feisty Greece squad 4-2 in the quarterfinal round.
Waiting Germany in the semifinal round is Italy. The Italians have had a tougher time making it this far in the tournament. Italy tied both Spain and Croatia with 1-1 scores and beat a hapless Irish team 2-0 to advance to the knockout stage. In their quarterfinal against England, Italy played well but needed to come from behind in PKs to advance onward.
Germany will be the clear favorite in this match, but Italy will be tricky. Expect the Italians to sit back and play a ball-controlling style to counter the impressive team speed of Germany. Even if Italy plays well, it is hard to imagine anything but a Germany - Spain final.
Here is the information you need to know for the second semifinal match between Germany and Italy:
Event: UEFA Euro 2012 Semifinals
Stadium: National Stadium - Warsaw, Poland
Date: Thursday, June 29
Time: 2:45 AM GMT(+8:00)
Teams: German National Team vs. Italian National Team
Winner: Advances to the finals to face the winner of the Spain-Portugal semifinal match

 

England's penalty curse strikes again at Euro 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — It was the same old penalties heartache for England. This time, though, there was no hard-luck story to accompany the loss.

Defeat by Italy in the European Championship quarterfinals made it six losses in seven tournament shootouts as England's curse struck again on Sunday. Outclassed and outplayed comprehensively by Italy, Roy Hodgson's side clung on to a 0-0 draw. But in Kiev, there were no near misses, no decisions by the referee to bemoan, just a timid display from a weary team.

And one that's going home on Monday. "We might have to accept that we weren't quite good enough to win it over 120 minutes," Hodgson said. "Penalties is the same road we have been down before." The only victory when England players have been put on the spot from 12 yards (meters) came in the Euro '96 quarterfinals against Spain.

The English penalty jinx started in the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup against West Germany and the unified Germans ousted them at the same stage in Euro '96. Argentina was the shootout victor in the second round at the 1998 World Cup, and Portugal ousted England at the quarterfinals at both Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

"It's obviously a hard way to go out," England striker Wayne Rooney said. "And it's maybe happened too many times now." How different it might have been in Kiev as Sunday turned to Monday. Rooney put England 2-1 in front in the shootout after Riccardo Montolivo missed his penalty.

But England's dreams soon ended up in ashes. Both Ashley Young and Ashley Cole failed to score as the Italians converted their penalties, allowing Alessandro Diamanti to net the decisive kick that secured a semifinal with Germany.

"The two Ashleys are strong enough lads to come back from this and the lads will be with them," winger Theo Walcott said. Cole scored in Chelsea's Champions League-winning shootout last month, but couldn't reproduce such accuracy for his country.

"Penalty-taking has become a bit of an obsession for us, and those players have done extremely well," Hodgson said. "But you can't reproduce the tension, you can't reproduce the nervousness and you can't reproduce the occasion (in training). The sort of, cool, calculated way that (Andrea) Pirlo had the confidence and chipped the goalkeeper is something you either have as a player or you don't. There is no amount of training or coaching that can teach a player that.

"We saw Ashley Cole take a penalty in the Champions League final. We have seen Ashley Young convert penalties for Manchester United and Watford. We were confident we had five very good penalty takers. Unfortunately two missed."

England's tourist board made light of more shootout misery on Twitter, writing: "England lose on penalties. For more on our culture and traditions go to visitengland.com." But any culture of playing football was largely lost on Hodgson's side on Sunday.

One statistic exposed England's anxieties in front of goal. The Italians produced 20 shots on target — one more than England managed in all four Euro 2012 matches, with only five coming Sunday. Italy also had 64 percent of possession and a pass completion rate of 81 percent compared with England's 61.

"I don't begrudge Italy their victory but I thought for long periods of time it was an interesting tactical battle," Hodgson said. "When we got into one or two good occasions, we didn't do as well as we could."

It didn't help that Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker in England's midfield engine room were struggling with injuries. Gerrard stayed on the pitch to score in the shootout despite struggling with cramp in his hip and calf. Parker was forced off early in extra time with a reoccurrence of an Achilles' injury.

"We had three very tough games before this one," Hodgson said. "At least we go away unbeaten during normal time." England opened with a draw against France but beat Sweden and Ukraine to advance to the quarterfinals as group winners.

But that feat couldn't disguise tepid displays when they failed to keep hold and relied on ultra-defensive tactics. While Rooney returned from suspension to clinch the victory over Ukraine in the final group match, the striker lacked sharpness against Italy, spurning several chances including an early header.

"We had lots of players out there running on empty, with very tired legs, fighting off cramp," Hodgson said. "But they kept us in there until the end and when you go to penalties you do have a chance."
Italy seized the chance. But just reaching the quarterfinals could be considered a success for a side Hodgson only took charge of last month following Fabio Capello's resignation in February.

source: mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1384732-englands-penalty-curse-strikes-euro-2012.html#.1258-stage-set1-2

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Greece v Germany, the bailout game

When Germany was pitted against Greece in Friday's quarter-final of Euro 2012, the subtext was obvious. And as German journalist Paul Ronzheimer discovers, based in Athens for Bild newspaper, few people are talking about the football.

For almost three years, Greece has been going through one of the worst crises it has ever experienced. Since the 1-0 victory against Russia and the entry into the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, euphoria is in evidence again for the first time.

Of all the teams they could have faced, Greece plays Germany, in the most political match a European tournament has seen for a long time.

The Greeks are looking for payback against the Germans. They feel that a duel between Greece and Germany has been going on for much longer, an unequal duel.

Since the start of the crisis, they think they have been insulted and dictated to by German politicians, as the country has had to introduce sweeping austerity in return for bailout payments. 

They criticise the fact that Chancellor Merkel is sticking to the austerity plan, even though the situation in Greece is worsening and homelessness is on the increase.

The arguments have already escalated to the extent that Ms Merkel has been depicted time and again in an SS uniform on the front page of Greek newspapers.

And over 70% of Greeks now believe that Germany wants to bring in a "Fourth Reich".

On the German side, incomprehension reigns at the Greek reaction to the policies introduced after the crisis, and they refuse to send further billions to a country which is clearly overburdened with the reforms.

Many Germans who in previous years spent their holidays on Greek islands have booked their holidays elsewhere this time.

And now, the football.

One of the few Germans still considered untouchable in Greece is Otto Rehhagel.

He led the Greeks to victory in Euro 2004 and since then has been a popular hero. In an interview with the Bild newspaper, Mr Rehhagel said: "Germany shouldn't underestimate Greece."

In fact, numerous players in the Greek squad have already announced that they will be especially motivated against Germany.

German Otto Rehhagel was revered after masterminding Euro 2004 success

Ahead of the duel, Greece's newspapers have been taking aim at Ms Merkel once again. Hardly anybody is talking about the German team and its footballing abilities.

The Live newspaper quipped: "The referee should give Merkel a fright and toss a drachma coin at the beginning of the match."

And Gata sports newspaper joked: "The first measure that our new government has to push through on the urging of Merkel: we have to lose against Germany on Friday."

The German press has also drawn on the eurozone crisis. Bild newspaper said on Tuesday: "Be happy dear Greeks, the defeat on Friday is a gift. Against Jogi Loew, no rescue fund will help you."

And Berliner Kurier newspaper printed a cartoon depicting a government spokesman telling the German press "our stance on Greece remaining in the eurozone depends entirely upon how the quarterfinal goes".

People in the streets of Athens are also feverishly awaiting the game - and repeatedly drawing parallels with politics. So far, Greece's matches have hardly been accompanied by any big celebrations, but the bars are expected to be full on Friday.

Nikos Petsas, a 56-year-old salesman, says: "I'm worried that a lot of Greeks are confusing politics with sport with this match. I've put money on the Greek team, because we're in a better position psychologically. Our players have lots of fire in their bellies."

Postman Dimitris Tzikas, 46, says: "There are no problems between Germany and Greece. But with the crisis, Mrs Merkel has chosen to break us as a country.

"The Greek players must run and fight against Germany, so we can win the match. For our country it's much more than a football match."

The news that Merkel was going to be sitting in the stands caused much joy among Greek journalists.

They now hope that new Greek PM Antonis Samaras will also travel to Poland to be at the match.

But whatever the outcome, the politicians will still have a crisis to solve. And that's no laughing matter.

source: bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18532321

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