Falta saber quem é que foi considerado culpado, e se a FPF pagou alguma coisa...

Ah, well, brighter days ahead, right? The club is back on solid financial footing and emerging AEK talents are forcing their way into the national spotlight. Papastathopoulos came very close to making the Euro 2008 squad before becoming the last man dropped by Otto as he needed to reduce the squad from 24 to 23 men pursuant to tournament regulations. Furthermore, AEK's Pavlis is leading the Under 19 squad on their own European ascent. Let's hope to see more of these two youngsters in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Πριν τέσσερα χρόνια ήταν κάτι Έλληνες που τους άρεσε το ποδόσφαιρο, αλλά ακόμα περισσότερο τους άρεσαν τα ταξίδια.

Αποφάσισαν λοιπόν να ξοδέψουν λίγες ημέρες από την καλοκαιρινή άδειά τους, Ιούνιο μήνα, στην Πορτογαλία. Κατά μία ευτυχή συγκυρία η εθνική μας ομάδα του ποδοσφαίρου είχε προκριθεί στην τελική φάση του Ευρωπαϊκού πρωταθλήματος και σκέφτηκαν να συνδυάσουν τον τουρισμό με τις... αθλοπαιδίες.

«Μια βδομαδούλα είναι μόνο, σιγά μη συνεχίσει τους αγώνες της η εθνική» σκέφτηκαν και αποφάσισαν να μπουν στον κόπο να ψάξουν για εισιτήρια και να κάνουν τα έξοδα. Πήραν και άδεια από τις δουλειές τους, αψήφησαν τις Ευρωεκλογές και κίνησαν κατά Πορτογαλία μεριά, που είναι και ωραία χώρα.

Είχαν δε δει στην τηλεόραση ότι όταν οι φίλαθλοι ακολουθούν τις εθνικές τους ομάδες σε διοργανώσεις, βάφουν και τα πρόσωπά τους με τα χρώματα της σημαίας τους. Αυτό όμως δίσταζαν να το κάνουν.

«Ασε, μην αρχίσουμε και τρώμε τις πεντάρες όπως στο Μουντιάλ του 1994 και μείνουμε με τις μπογιές στη μούρη» σχολίαζαν. Έτσι, οι περισσότεροι πήγαν στον πρώτο αγώνα της Εθνικής μας με την Πορτογαλία κρατώντας δειλά μία ελληνική σημαία, κανένα κασκόλ, άντε με κανένα λευκό φανελάκι, μια και τα κυανόλευκα δεν ήταν εκείνη την εποχή της μόδας.

Βέβαια, λίγες ημέρες πριν ο Σάκης Ρουβάς είχε εμφανιστεί στον διαγωνισμό της Eurovision με αμάνικο λευκό φανελάκι που είχε τυπωμένη μια μικρή ελληνική σημαία. Αλλά αυτός είναι ο Ρουβάς, φοράει ό,τι θέλει. Αλλωστε, που να βρει κανείς αντίστοιχο μπλουζάκι. Αυτά τα κάνουν οι Αμερικάνοι και οι Αγγλοι..

Ήρθε λοιπόν η ώρα του πρώτου αγώνα και κατά ένα  περίεργο τρόπο η εθνική μας νίκησε... «Τυχαίο ήταν. Είχαν άγχος οι Πορτογάλοι» είπαν οι περισσότεροι. Λίγες ημέρες μετά ήρθε η ισοπαλία με την Ισπανία. Η ροή των γεγονότων εξακολουθούσε να μη δείχνει φυσιολογική αλλά αυτή τη φορά στις εξέδρες το κυανόλευκο χρώμα ήταν εντονότερο. Εάν θυμάμαι καλά, άρχισαν να εμφανίζονται και κάτι... τσαρούχια στις κερκίδες!

Ήρθε το ματς με τη Ρωσία, ήρθε και το γκολ του Βρύζα, ήρθε και η πρόκριση στα προημιτελικά. Όχι, τίποτα άλλο, αλλά οι περισσότεροι δεν είχαν προνοήσει να κλείσουν ξενοδοχεία για περισσότερες ημέρες! Τα ρούχα ήταν άπλυτα, τα λεφτά τελείωναν.

Πίσω στην πατρίδα, κάποιοι άλλοι έπαιρναν την απόφαση να αναζητήσουν την τύχη τους  στην Πορτογαλία. Αυτοί ήταν πιο οργανωμένοι. Πριν φύγουν, είχαν πάει στα μαγαζιά για προμήθειες. Μπογιές προσώπου, φανέλες του Ζαγοράκη, περικεφαλαίες... Ε, έναν αγώνα έχουμε ακόμα να δώσουμε - γιατί σιγά μην περάσουμε τη Γαλλία - ας κάνουμε τουλάχιστον εντύπωση!

Σε κάθε είδους μπουτίκ... έσκασαν μύτη λευκά μπουζάκια με τυπωμένη την ελληνική σημαία. Σαν και αυτό που φορούσε ο Ρουβάς! Όσοι έμειναν εντός συνόρων, τα φορούσαν για να πάρουν και αυτοί μια γεύση από Πορτογαλία. Αρχισαν να κυκλοφορούν στην αγορά και στιγμαία τατουάζ με το εθνικό μας σύμβολο.

«Εντάξει, μπορεί να πάμε απλώς μέχρι το σπίτι του Τάκη για να δούμε εκεί τον αγώνα, να μη στολιστούμε όμως ανάλογα στην περίσταση; Οι άλλοι, δηλαδή, που πήγαν στην Πορτογαλία, είναι καλύτεροι;»

Ήρθε ο αγώνας με τη Γαλλία, ήρθε και η προσποίηση του Ζαγοράκη στον Ζιντάν, ήρθε η πρόκριση, ήρθε και το παραλλήρημα. Στην Πορτογαλία άρχιζαν να σκάνε μύτη τσολιάδες και Μεγαλέξανδροι! Στην Ελλάδα, κάθε μπαλκόνι και σημαία! Εξαντλήθηκε το στοκ και ούτε τις σημαιούλες που βάζουν στα παγωτά δεν έβρισκες!

Τα εισιτήρια για τον ημιτελικό αποδείχθηκαν ελάχιστα για τη ζήτηση. Τα 2/3 των Ελλήνων ήθελαν να ταξιδέψουν στην Πορτογαλία. Για πότε βρήκαν τα αναγκαία χρήματα, για πότε εξασφάλισαν τις απαραίτητες άδειες, παραμένει μυστήριο.

Γάμοι και βαφτίσεις κινδύνεψαν να ματαιωθούν. Αντί για το «Ησαΐα χόρευε», άκουγαν τις ραδιοφωνικές μεταδόσεις των αγώνων. Μέχρι και οι έγκλειστοι του Fame Story απέκτησαν τηλεόραση για να δουν τον ημιτελικό με την Τσεχία.

Ο Τάκης Φύσσας ανέβαλε τον γάμο του. Είχε καλή δικαιολογία! Του είχαν υποσχεθεί ότι θα πιει σαμπάνια μέσα από το τρόπαιο.

Έτσι και έγινε!

Η εθνική πέρασε στον τελικό και με την κεφαλιά του Χαριστέα νίκησε την Πορτογαλία. Αποσβολομένοι οι «οικοδεσπότες» έβλεπαν τον Ζαγοράκη να παίρνει την «κούπα» μέσα από τα χέρια του - έτοιμου να κλάψει - Εουσέμπιο. Ο Καραγκούνης φορούσε τιάρα και η Βανδή κυκλοφορούσε με... σημαία της μια φούστα!

Οι Έλληνες φίλαθλοι πανηγύριζαν αγκαλιά με τους πικραμένους Πορτογάλους. Αλλωστε, εάν θέλουμε να τσακωθούμε, το κάνουμε καλύτερα μεταξύ μας!!! Να καταλαβαίνουμε και σε τι γλώσσα βρίζουμε!!!

Στην επιστροφή των θριαμβευτών, το πούλμαν της ελληνικής αποστολής έκανε... δύο φορές το γύρο της Ελλάδας (χρονικά) για να φτάσει από το αεροδρόμιο στο Καλλιμάρμαρο.

Εκείνο το βράδυ είχαμε πάει όλοι για ύπνο, νομίζοντας ότι ήδη ονειρευόμαστε!

Επειδή αυτές τις στιγμές θέλουμε να τις ξαναθυμηθούμε και ακόμα περισσότερο, θέλουμε να τις ξαναζήσουμε, σκοπεύουμε να πορευτούμε παρέα μέχρι τη λήξη του Euro 2008.

Εάν έχετε σκοπό να ταξιδέψετε στα γήπεδα της Αυστρίας και της Ελβετίας, μη μάς ξεχάσετε!

Στείλτε μας τις φωτογραφίες σας, τα βίντεό σας, τα κείμενά σας - ό,τι έχετε τέλος πάντων ευχαρίστηση - και εμείς θα τα δημοσιεύσουμε.

Ακόμα, όμως, και εφέτος δεν προτιμήσετε τα γήπεδα της Αυστρίας και της Ελβετίας, αλλά θέλετε να μάς στείλετε υλικό από τις ημέρες του 2004, μη διστάσετε! Για να μαθαίνουν οι νέοι και να θυμούνται οι παλιοί!

απο το www.in.gr

O GRANDE HOTEL DE 5 ESTRELAS, LICENCIADO PELA AUTARQUIA, 

QUE ERA PARA SER INAUGURADO POR OCASIÃO DO EUROCOIMBRA 2004

Greece played sloppy football much like the team that rated 61st in the world many years back, not the 8th in the world, one behind France team they are now. It was only a friendly, a game planned simply to help prepare the team before the EURO which is good thing. Clearly, the team isnt as flawless and perfect as many fans had expected. But, as Coach Otto Rehagel said, hopefully this defeat will turn out to be a well timed wake up call.

The only two goals came from Amanatidis and AEK striker Nikos Lyberopoulos. The first goal came after Gekas lost his footing inside the penalty box and Amanatidis was quickly able to get to the ball and easily hit it into the net to put Greece up 1-0 before the break.

Greece then allowed 3 goals in in 18 minutes. Greece however managed to pull one goal closer with a Lyberopoulos header in extra minute however it turned out to be too late.

The only injuries were to keeper Antonis Nikopolidis and possible future AEK midfielder Angellos Basinas.

England qualified for the last tournament (World cup 2006) and Scotland didn't. When it started and Andy Murray the Scottish tennis player said he wouldn't be supporting England there was a massive fuss in the English tabloids - and he reportedly received hate mail about the Dunblane massacre (that is where he is from). Murray had previously been reported as walking on the court when being introduced as 'Andy Murray from England' whereupon he corrected the umpire and walked off again and returned when reintroduced as 'Andy Murray from Scotland'.

Murray eventually made a joke about his statement about not supporting England but I suspect this may have something to do with where he gets some of his funding.

When it happens that England qualify and Scotland don't, the BBC in particular tend to start publishing opinion polls saying that X% of Scots are supporting England. Where they find these people I have no idea. I challenge anyone reading this to go into a pub full of Scottish people when there is an England game on the TV (doesn't really matter what sport) and see who people are supporting.

You will find that the vast majority, like myself, would not only not be supporting England but will be actively supporting Englands opponents, probably going as far as to sing the national anthem of the other team (in a 'da da da da' style obviously).

The BBC, ably assisted by the tabloids, tend to paint the people doing this as ungrateful degenerates hellbent on causing unnecessary discord.

There is an obvious response to it all, which is simply..

It's my support and I shall apportion it however I see fit.

But here are the things they usually say...

1) We're all British.

2) The English support Scotland when they play.

3) Scotland don't have a hope of ever winning the entire tournament.

4) If you don't support England it means you are a racist.

Replies...

1. Geographically yes, but culturally we are not and politically we don't all want to be...a large percentage of Scots want out.

2. We didn't ask them to.

3. That is not the point and it is just the sort of arrogant attitude that makes me want them to lose - badly.

4. Behave.

With regard to point 2, this is often said but I have been in pubs in England and watched England and Scotland games (though not a Scotland V England game) and what I found was extremely far from universal support for Scotland.

With regard to point 4, are Dutch racist for not supporting the Germans? Are the Belgians racist for not supporting the French? Are the Koreans racist for not supporting the Japanese? Are the Ukrainians racist for not supporting the Russians? And so on and so on and so on. Can you find many examples of countries that actively support their neighbours?

There are some interesting other little stories I heard about all of this.

There was an English-owned sports store in Inverness that was told to play the England world cup CD in the run-up to the tournament. Due to the staff receiving verbal abuse daily from customers who didn't want to listen to it the manager stopped playing it. She was then sacked for doing this.

A journalist put on an England strip when the tournament was on and walked around town in Scotland to see what would happen to him. Aside from a few shouts of 'english bastard' from some people going by in cars the funny part was a 70-odd year old man shuffled by him and said the same thing!

To finish, I just want to say it is obvious what the people are thinking. If Argentina beat England you suddenly see loads of Argentina shirts around the streets, if Portugal beat them then you see Portugal everywhere. I read a fantastic thing that sales of Argentinian wine in Scotland briefly doubled when Argentina beat England.

Scotland has been greatly oppressed by England through history - does one ask a slave to support his 'owner'?

O "Filme" está por aqui:

http://sic.sapo.pt/online/noticias/pais/20080317+Financiamento+polemico.htm

 O dirigente do PSD Paulo Pereira Coelho foi responsável, na condição de presidente da Associação para o Desenvolvimento Turístico da Região Centro (ADTREC), a 4 de Maio de 2004, pela adjudicação de um contrato de mais de 700 mil euros a uma empresa a que ficaria ligado, cerca de um ano depois. A ligação, assumida na declaração de interesses do deputado apresentada no início de 2005, foi formalizada por via de um contrato de consultoria com a holding presidida pelo amigo, sócio e antigo deputado do PS António Calvete, que controla a empresa adjudicatária.

Leia o resto aqui:

http://jn.sapo.pt/2008/03/17/primeiro_plano/fundos_europeus_causa_propria.html

PEREIRA COELHO E CALVETE -  UM ROMANCE ANTIGO E QUE TEM PERMANECIDO FORA DOS MEDIA, GRAÇAS À CUMPLICIDADE DE CERTOS ADEPTOS DA DUPLA MARAVILHA. AGORA, NELSON MORAIS, LEVANTOU A PONTA DO VÉU... VIVA A IMPRENSA LIVRE!

• Um indivíduo propôs-se apresentar uma candidatura a fundos comunitários para  um projecto de € 5,4 milhões, para promover o Centro, com a marca Lusitanea, no âmbito do Euro 2004.
• A entidade gestora e zeladora pela boa utilização destes fundos comunitários - CCDR Centro - era então presidida por esse mesmo indivíduo [??].
• Na auditoria às contas do processo Lusitanea, que Bruxelas financiou com € 3,7 milhões, foram consideradas irregulares, e daí não-elegíveis a apoios comunitários, 100% das despesas (€ 2,7 milhões)  justificadas como:
• Decoração urbana (€ 704,6 mil)
• Relvados sintéticos a instalar em municípios do Centro (€ 678,4 mil)
• Ecrãs gigantes a instalar nas cidades para a população visionar os jogos - e que nunca foram colocados (€ 433,2 mil)
• Criação da marca Lusitanea pela agência Brandia Novodesign (€ 318,5 mil, mas a proposta inicialmente admitida era de € 2,37 milhões)
• Contratação de espectáculos pela Bioevent (€ 267,7 mil)
• Material de informação (€ 190 mil), do qual não houve provas de existência física
• Cinco documentos de despesa, três dos quais  pagos à Bioevent (€ 127,6 mil)
• Serviços de consultoria e elaboração da candidatura pagos à Bioevent (€ 96,8 mil), quando esta empresa foi constituída 25 dias depois da candidatura apresentada.

O valor destas despesas consideradas irregulares, no valor total de € 2,7 milhões, deveria ter sido devolvido a Bruxelas.Abril/2007: Após contraditótio [??] é apurado como montante a devolver € 1.656.166.24/Julho/2007: Como a ADTRC nunca mais pagava, a CCDR Centro comunica este montante ao Ministério das Finanças, para execução fiscal.25/Julho/2007: É constituída nova Associação para a Promoção do Turismo na Região Centro, com a mesma direcção da anterior, entretanto extinta [terá sido pelo peso da dívida].25/Janeiro/2008: A Turismo de Portugal contrata as verbas de € 600 mil com a nova associação [vocês que são ssérios e bons rapazes, tomem lá mais dinheiro]30/Janeiro/2008: Organismo Europeu de Luta Anti-Fraude (OLAF) pede esclarecimentos sobre o processo à CCDR Centro. [coitados, pensam que lidam com outro tipo de gente]7/Fevereiro/2008: A CCDR responde ao OLAF dando conta das indefinições que ainda pesam sobre o processo. [tomem um exemplo de uma resposta demagógica, na mais fina burocracia à nossa moda: é a resposta do costume para fazer atrasar os processos até ver se quem tem o direito de inquirir se cansa]Fonte: ExpressoCom isto tudo alguém agiu fraudulentamente, ninguém pagou, se é que alguma vez pagará e ainda vai sobrar para as contas públicas, isto é para nós, os tansos do costume.O indivíduo referido no início é Paulo Pereira Coelho, da CCDR Centro, desde Janeiro de 2004, decidiu presidir à ADTRC. Em Julho de 2004, foi chamado a integrar o governo de Pedro Santana Lopes, como Secretário de Estado da Administração Interna. Actual deputado do PSD e vereador da Câmara da Figueira da Foz.Sobre tudo isto, declarou, segundo o Expresso:

Quem tem que se pronunciar sobre isso é a actual direcção da associação. Ouvi falar sobre o assunto [conteúdo da auditoria]. Estive lá quatro meses como presidente, e já lá vão uns anos.

???Pois claro, isto faz todo o sentido.

Cristiano Ronaldo contemplates Portugal's exit from Euro 2008.

LISBON -- For any child developing an interest in football over this past year, you could forgive them for believing Cristiano Ronaldo to be the greatest player the game has ever seen. The popularity of the Portuguese winger's club, Manchester United, combined with the generally over-hyped Premiership coverage on Sky Sports would be enough to fool any impressionable youngster. But the fact that the football media can so strongly influence adult fans is much more surprising. Following Ronaldo's fine form for United this season -- in which he scored 31 goals (a Premiership record for a midfielder) -- there was much talk amongst fans and journalists before Euro 2008 that the player might "do a Maradona", and single-handedly (no pun intended) lead Portugal to European glory.

Of course, this suggestion was both unlikely and pointless, least because Portugal need not rely solely on one player. Deco, the naturalised Brazilian, is a playmaker in the South American mold, combining a compact physique with fine control and vision. But he can drift in and out of big games, often without ever leaving his mark. When I first saw Deco play -- for José Mourinho's FC Porto side which won the UEFA Cup and Champions League in successive seasons -- I was impressed. He was skillful and tricky, and the team revolved around him. At star-studded Barcelona he was one of many, sharing top-billing with the more imaginative (and popular) Ronaldinho. A similar fate may await him at Chelsea, for whom he signed following Portugal's lacklustre quarter-final exit from Euro 2008 at the hands of Germany, and where he will be reacquainted with the now ex-Portugal coach, Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari.

Portugal's two biggest stars enjoyed their best performance against the Czech Republic at Euro 2008.

At Euro 2008 Portugal perhaps peaked too early, making them early favourites. Ronaldo and Deco combined well in the 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic, but neither player could galvanize the team enough to overcome the might of a German team in its stride. Though I risk descending into common football cliché by saying so, both Ronaldo and Deco also suffer from attitude problems, particularly when it comes to winning a free-kick, feigning injury, and, at worst, ensuring an opponent is booked. These cynical tactics are obviously common-place in football in all countries, but I find it unfortunate for a country that is renowned for its attractive football, that its two most celebrated players should adhere so closely to this ugly stereotype. Each is no stranger to controversy, on and off the pitch. At the 2006 World Cup Deco received a red card in the match with Holland, and Ronaldo was seen as provoking the dismissal of Wayne Rooney in the quarter-final with England. Meanwhile, both players have been involved in incidents concerning prostitutes and organized sex romps.

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Deco scored a great goal against Iran, but saw red in the next match with Holland.

None of this does anything for either player's likability -- both Ronaldo and Deco are far too talented to resort to such lowlife behaviour, yet perhaps simply too stupid to recognize how they are tarnishing their image. This, for me, is one of the primary differences between the current Portugal team and the oft-heralded "Golden Generation" which helped win the World Youth Cup in 1991 and afforded the senior team the title of "Brazilians of Europe", which had to do with much more than historical connections between the two countries.

By the late-1990s this crop of talent had spread itself throughout the best leagues in Europe, ensuring Portugal's position as serious contenders at major championships. The national team's two biggest stars in this period were Luis Figo and Manuel Rui Costa, without doubt the two finest players Portugal has produced since Eusebio. Like Ronaldo, Figo began his career at Sporting Lisbon, before making a name for himself at Barcelona and, in a controversial move, Real Madrid. A marauding winger in the old-fashioned sense, his slightly hunched-over forward stance meant he could beat players with just a drop of the shoulder and shove of the ball. He wasn't as fast as Ronaldo, nor did he share the United star's heading ability, but he won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, and the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2001.

Figo at Euro 2000; the Portugal captain embraces former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane after Portugal's defeat to France in the World Cup semi-final, Munich, 2006.

Rui Costa was Portugal's heart and soul, a serious man who lived and breathed football -- the very first word to come out of his infant mouth was "Benfica." (Cristiano Ronaldo was named after President Reagan -- who do you prefer now?) After several fine seasons at the top in Lisbon, Rui Costa joined Fiorentina in 1994, where together with Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta he shared an excellent understanding on the pitch, and idol status off it. Perhaps unlike Figo, Rui Costa was an elegant playmaker in the mold of a classic number ten, and a joy to watch in full flight. The Florence club's bankruptcy caused Rui Costa to somewhat reluctantly transfer to Milan in 2001 -- he famously broke down in tears trying to explain his move to disappointed fans on a local radio station. He was also hugely popular at San Siro, but after an instrumental Champions League-winning season in 2003, he became marginalized by the arrival of an extraordinarily talented young Brazilian named Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite -- otherwise known as Kakà.

Rui Costa's joy after his spectacular goal against England was forgotten following Portugal's painful home defeat to Greece in the Euro 2004 final.

Portugal were semi-finalists at Euro 2000 but flopped at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea. Deco and Ronaldo overlapped with the older generation at Euro 2004, which was held in Portugal, although the host's campaign was marred by behind the scenes bickering. Figo allegedly disapproved of Deco's presence within the squad, stating that he wanted to win with a team that was "100% Portuguese". Despite the tension within the home side -- and coach Scolari's indecision over whether to field Deco or Rui Costa -- this was undoubtedly Portugal's best ever chance to win a major tournament. They almost did it, reaching the final only to lose 1-0 to surprise package Greece (for the second time in the competition).

Figo left Madrid in 2005 to sign for Inter, where he has won three consecutive Serie A league titles (although Inter's detractors would recall the effects of calciopoli on these successes). In 2007 he even changed his mind on lucrative transfers to Saudi Arabia and the United States in order to stay with the Milanese giants for another season. Rui Costa left Milan in 2006, taking a significant salary-cut in order to fulfill a boyhood dream and end his career at Benfica. He made a final emotional farewell to football in May of this year at the age of 36, making his last appearance in front of Benfica's home fans in a 3-0 victory over Vitória de Setubal at Lisbon's Estadio de Luz.

An emotional Rui Costa salutes the public as he prepares to play his final professional match in the colours of Benfica, Lisbon, May 2008.

Spain captain Iker Casillas raises aloft the Henri Delaunay trophy (top) before his team-mates join in the fun under a shower of ticker-tape (above).

VIENNA -- A goal by Fernando Torres ensured Spain became European Champions for the second time in their history tonight, defeating Germany 1-0 in the final of Euro 2008 at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. It's Spain's first title since they won the European Championship back in 1964 in Madrid; as goalkeeper captain Iker Casillas raised aloft the Henri Delaunay trophy into the Austrian evening, he must have hoped this victory will perhaps lay to rest Spain's unwanted tag of perennial underachievers which has plagued its national side ever since. It is certainly a greater achievement than Greece's entirely unexpected win four years ago, in that the pressure on the Spaniards to go far in becomes is greater with each passing tournament. The title of Spain's official Euro 2008 song roughly translates as, "Let's Get Beyond The Quarter-Finals", revealing an element of self-deprecating humour not always evident in much of Spain's sporting media.

A nervous royal couple King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (suitably dressed in all-red) stand for the national anthem.

History was definitely against Spain before the match, as they faced Germany, a nation which knows better than any other what it takes to get to a tournament final and win it. Germany's captain, Michael Ballack, instrumental in his side's run to the final, had partly recovered from a calf strain and was passed fit to at least start the match. Spain were without their top scorer, David Villa, who had been injured in the semi-final. Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas -- who as a substitute had transformed the game with Russia -- came in to the side. Although they would inevitably miss Villa's trickery, I sensed his misfortune might prove a blessing in disguise. Fabregas' inclusion meant Spain would play with a lone striker -- the powerful Fernando Torres -- with Fabregas sitting behind in a playmaking role. I felt this move could work to their advantage in a tight final against the robust Germans.

Spain's starting eleven (without David Villa) line-up before the final.

Spain appeared nervous in the opening moments, and Sergio Ramos was nearly punished after gifting possession to Miroslav Klose in his own half. But once the game settled Spain began to assert themselves. Lehmann pulled off a fine one-handed save from his own defender, as Xavi Hernandez' cross pinged off Christoph Metzelder. The German goalkeeper was nowhere to be seen minutes later as Torres climbed high to reach Fabregas' cross and direct his header onto the foot of the post. Germany's defence was struggling to cope with Torres, whose strength and pace led to the opening goal. The Liverpool striker latched onto a through-ball from Xavi, and somehow muscled his way around Philip Lahm to lift the ball over the onrushing Lehmann and into the net.

Fernando Torres leaps over Lehmann as the ball sails into the German net for the opening goal.

A Spanish lead would inevitably make the Germans come out and play, and my feeling was almost that the goal had arrived too early for Spain, allowing Germany a whole hour to get back into the match. It was imperative for Spain to arrive at half-time ahead: an equalizing goal before the break would have shattered Spanish exuberance and restored Germany's infinite self-belief. But barring a Ballack volley which Sergio Ramos skillfully blocked, Germany had offered little threat as the sides walked back to the dressing rooms. On the basis of enterprise and chances, Spain were deservedly in front, although Germany felt unfortunate when Roberto Rosetti failed to award them a penalty after Marchena had controlled the ball with his hand in the area. The Italian referee instead showed a yellow card to an agitated Ballack, who at one point had to leave the field to receive stitches for a cut above the eye.

Germany captain Michael Ballack approaches a linesman to protest a decision.

The second half began as expected. Spain relented allowing Germany to apply increasing pressure to their defence, and though Ballack miscued a shot into the side netting, it seemed a German goal was not far in coming. The longer the game remained at 1-0, the more likely I imagined the Germans to claw their way back, as they have in so many matches of this kind. Between 1966 and 1996 the German national team reached ten international finals, winning half of them. Only in the last ten years has its machine-like dominance of international competition grinded to a halt, and even in that period they reached another World Cup Final. But somehow Spain were determined to defy history and stereotype, and came closer themselves to adding a second goal. An unmarked Sergio Ramos saw his diving header saved by Lehmann, and then the industrious Brazilian-born Marcos Senna -- one of the tournament's revelations in Spain's midfield -- started a move which very nearly ended in his own personal triumph.

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas punches clear from a rare German attack.

In the remaining minutes, Spain's aging coach Luis Aragonés removed Fabregas and the plucky David Silva, plugging the midfield with the more workman-like styles of Güiza and Xabi Alonso. Germany's Joachim Löw threw on his reserve forwards, the ineffective Mario Gomez and another nationalized Brazilian, Kevin Kuranyi, in an attempt to cause Spain problems at the back. But together they combined nothing, and Casillas was left with little to do for much of the second half. Oddly, the final five minutes were Spain's most comfortable of the match, and Los Rojos seemed the more likely to score in the dying stages.

A dejected Bastian Schweinsteiger lies exhausted after the final whistle.

After so many years of never quite living up to expectations, I think few people would begrudge Spain their moment of glory. They have proved to be the most consistent side at Euro 2008, winning all six matches and outlasting early favourites Holland and Portugal. Much like Italy's World Cup victory in Germany two years ago, Spain's success is certainly a triumph of collective team spirit and tactical maturity. And like Marcello Lippi's Italy in 2006, Aragonés' Spain did not have the luxury of a Maradona or even a Zidane in their squad, that one player they look to to pull the side through the tournament. Even UEFA president Michel Platini -- the last player whose class and goals dominated a European Championship in 1984 -- must have recognized that these days no tournament can be won single-handedly. But to win a final it sometimes only takes one individual to produce a very special moment: tonight it belonged to El Niño.

Fernando Torres celebrates Spain's remarkable triumph: the 24 year-old saved his only goal of the tournament for the final.

Still four month's shy of his nineteenth birthday, Rooney's
four Euro goals ..... two against Switzerland (including his
shot that rebounded off the post only to hit the Swiss
keeper and bounce into the net) and two further superb goals
against Croatia, set English hearts racing with hopes of a
first major tournament win since holding the World Cup aloft
in 1966.

Those hopes, of course, were eventually brought crashing to
earth by a combination of a Wayne Rooney injury, an
extremely dubious disallowed goal and traditionally poor
penalty taking by the English team (including one from our
Captain that Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of!)

No-one can question Wayne Rooney's performances for his
country, the quality of his football at international level
or his incredible goalscoring ability, but have Rooney's
performances in the blue shirt of his own club, Everton,
been as sparkling as those when wearing his national
colours? ....... And what does the future hold for our
'Roonaldo'?

Rooney's Premiership debut arrived early in the 2002/2003
campaign when he became the youngest Premier League player
at the tender age of sixteen. Two other records quickly
followed ..... Firstly, the two goals he scored in Everton's
Worthington Cup victory over Wrexham gave Rooney the title
of Everton's youngest-ever goalscorer, a record that had
previously been held by Tommy Lawton. Secondly, in October
2002 and at the age of 16 years and 360 days, a cracker of a
goal that beat the England goalkeeper David Seaman in the
last few seconds of the game against Arsenal, made Rooney
the youngest-ever Premiership scorer!

Many England fans will be surprised to hear however, that
apart from a few very notable occasions, Wayne Rooney's
performances in the Premiership have been less than
spectacular as he has often seemed unable to duplicate his
England form on the domestic stage!

In his first season of Premiership action he made fourteen
full appearances for Everton and came on as a substitute a
total of nineteen times. During this season Rooney scored a
total of six Premiership goals which included the goal in
November 2002 that gave Everton their first win at Leeds
United for 51 years. A month later, Wayne Rooney was sent
off in a game that Everton drew with Birmingham City.
Ironically, this was on the very same day that James Milner
of Leeds United broke Rooney's youngest Premiership scorer
record by the tiny margin of just three days!

During the 2003/2004 season Rooney was certainly catching
the eye of Sven Goran Erickson, the England team manager,
but statistical records of his season show possibly a lower
tally in the goalscoring department than many England fans
would have expected. In fact, from twenty-six full
appearances and eight as a substitute, Wayne Rooney scored
only nine Premiership goals.

But as for the past, who cares? As the whole of Europe saw,
Rooney was masterful during Euro 2004 and if it wasn't for
his broken metatarsal who knows how far he and his England
teammates could have progressed?

As for the future, there is talk in the press of massive
bids in the region of 50 million from either Chelsea or
Manchester United. Rooney himself is said to prefer the
Manchester option which would keep him close to his North-
West roots but it is possible that the deep Chelsea pockets
may force United out of the bidding.

Wherever Wayne Rooney ends up playing his football for the
next few seasons, let's hope that for the sake of the
English game his progress continues and that he reaches the
heady heights that have been forecast for him and really
does become England's 'Boy Wonder'!

Chris Towland
June 2004

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Arrigo Sacchi (former AC Milan and Italy coach) predicts that the tournament will be won by the teams with the best individuals rather than the most organised or systematised. Slaven Bilic, coach of Croatia, agrees, saying “Systems are dying. It’s about the movement of 10 players now.”

Results so far would seem to bear this out. The domestic European competitions and Champions League commitments are so hectic these days that international sides rarely get the chance to get together to work on specific systems or styles of play.

Greece’s Euro 2004 victory was the result of an extremely well-organised but not particularly gifted group of players following their coach’s instructions to the letter, stopping their opponents playing, and nicking the odd goal to secure victory. You can’t fault their approach. It’s not a million miles away from what Italy have done so successfully for so many years (with all due respect to Italy’s great players, and Greece’s for that matter).

So far both Greece and Italy (the reigning Euro and World Cup holders of course) have lost their opening games. In both matches both teams attempted to play their traditional holding games and both teams failed to score, Greece losing 2-0 to Sweden and Italy losing 3-0 to Holland.

That’s not to say that tactics and formations aren’t important. But the teams who are doing well are made up of players with all of the following three key attributes - the ability to follow tactical instructions, high levels of physical fitness, and crucially, a willingness to play at a high tempo and attack, attack, attack.

No team in Euro 2008 is sent out to play without specific tactical and formation instructions. But the successful teams are the ones who will allow their most gifted players to fully express themselves - the teams that are less concerned with the opposition and more concerned with doing their own thing.

That’s the way it should be. That’s why this has been such an entertaining tournament so far, and that’s what I hope to achieve with my own young teams in the future. Just tell them to play their own game.

Having said all that, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Greece or Italy go on to win the whole thing. That’s called hedging your bets.

Dwyer Scullion, Publisher, Better Soccer Coaching

Now, not for a minute am I suggesting that the quality in this game should have been equal to David Villa's fantastic hat-trick, but this is Europe's elite tournament, so you would expect the games to be high on quality and contain excitement.

Already, we've had a candidate for the most boring game at a major finals as France and Romania battled out a dour 0-0 draw in Group C. But to eradicate that, we had the magnificent Holland and Italy clash, providing a high point of the tournament along with the performances of Spain, Portugal and Germany.

As artistic and full of individual brilliance that these teams are, the same cannot be said of the reigning European Champions Greece. They shocked the continent by winning Euro 2004 but did not endear themselves to neutrals in doing so.

The Greeks deployed a rigid defensive strategy, which invited teams to try and break them down and if they failed to do so, they would hit them on the counter attack. It worked for them in Portugal four years ago, frustrating teams into submission, most notably the hosts in the final, before emerging triumphant.

So I wasn't exactly looking forward to a free flowing game between them and the colourful Swedes, who had Henrik Larsson back in the side. Before the match, I expected Lars Lagerback's side to make the running and attack, while Otto Rehhagel's would defend in numbers in an attempt to stifle the game.

I have nothing wrong with playing defensively per se. Defending is an important part of the game, and has as much skill involved as a Marco Van Basten screamer. Indeed, I have watched Scotland play a cautious game on many occasions, most notably against France at Hampden Park in the qualifiers- and we emerged victorious.

But, my friends, the Greek philosophy on football plumbed to such a depth that I turned the game off at half time in favour of a round of Mario Golf on my Nintendo Gamecube. Yep, that's right, you did just read that- me, football nutter extraordinare, switched a game off in favour of playing a video games console.

I somehow had watched France and Romania in full, but this game was even worse. Sweden to their credit tried to make things happen, with Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic busy up front, but failed to really penetrate a well marshalled Greek backline. But the holders, apart from a shot from Euro 2004 goal hero Angelos Charisteas, created nothing and indeed seemed to be happy with making no effort to attack.

There were 2 incidents towards the end of the opening period which caused my turn off. The first was the sight of the Greek back 3 playing keep ball between them for about a minute in their own half, with no intention of moving forward. Someone should've told them that this isn't a passing exercise in training- this is match one of the European Championships, where a win will go a long way to securing qualification.

The second saw a Greek player (forgive me for forgetting who it was) booting the ball from around half way out of play down by the corner flag, almost like a rugby player kicking for touch to gain yardage. It was unbelievably infuriating to watch and the crowd made their displeasure known.

Not only was it poor that they were seemingly happy to do nothing in a constructive sense and try to hold on for a draw, they were cheating the millions watching across Europe, and most importantly their own fans, who have travelled to the tournament in large numbers to see their side play and hopefully progress.

I earlier made the point that I have watched Scotland play defensively, so you could accuse me of being hypocritical. However, I will counter that point with the fact that Scotland play to a much higher tempo and use their pacy, energetic midfield players and full backs to push forward when breaking forward to create chances of their own. Scotland play an exciting game, particularly at home- Greece I'm afraid do not.

I was only inclined to switch back on once I'd heard Ibrahimovic had shot Sweden into a second half lead with a fine goal, and the second, a real comedy scrap of a goal which you can enjoy here, was one I was pleased about. Pleased that a team who could be so negative at a major international tournament had their fate sealed by a woeful goal to lose from a defensive stance.

So Spain thrill, Greece turn off. Greece V Romania in the quarter finals? That's a terrifying thought, but one which we needn't worry about. The Greeks negative, boring style will not see them through. In my humble opinion, take Spain and Sweden's attacking intent and ability to progress to the quarter finals.

Após o grande sucesso que o EURO 2004 foi no nosso país, Madaíl apresenta números favoráveis para que o Mundial 2018 seja realizado também pelo nosso país, desta vez, em conjunto com Espanha, numa candidatura a que se chama Iberia...

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