Podolski wants to stay at Bayern

Bayern Munich’s trainer Jürgen Klinsmann has reiterated that German international Polish born striker Lukas Podolski is not for sale and that the player will be staying at the club. The 23 year old German international has been continuously linked with a move away from the Bavarian club this summer and was rumored to be going back to his former club Cologne.

However, new Bayern trainer Klinsmann stated that he sale of Podolski does not come in any way into the question. “We need at least three top strikers – and Lukas is one of the three.”

“He has a duty to challenge the other two (Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni), to provide them with competition. Lukas will get his games” Klinsmann has vowed to take Podolski’s career to the next level stating that “I told him what I told him before the European Championships: that he has a lot of talent, that he has already shown a lot in his young years, but also that he still has some more steps to take in order to become better.

“I would like to and will help him with that.”

Euro 2008 Prematch Analysis: Spain vs Italy Live Online

Euro 2008 Championships, Quarter Final
Teams: Spain vs Italy
Date and Time: Sunday 22 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Match official: Herbert Fandel

Youthful Exuberance

The Spanish team whose average age is approximately 24 have been in no uncertain terms fabulous throughout the Euros with a host of young players that are at the top of their game and ready to lay their tag as the “biggest underachievers” to rest and at the helm is coach Luis Aragones. They qualified for the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with maximum points from three games; finishing top of Group D. They have scored eight goals in three games, and will go into this match as favorites to progress to the semi-finals.

We have seen on many occasions that Spain are not capable of playing as they can when it really matters and the question on everyone’s lips is; will Spain fail to deliver when it really matters?
This was the case at the last World Cup, when Spain played some delightful football in the group stages, only to then lose 3-1 to France in the second round.

The Spanish are certainly in better form than their Azzurri opponents, but they have a dreadful competitive record against their Italy. There is also the small matter of the June 22 curse. It is important to note that Spain has been eliminated three major tournaments on penalties on this date in recent times, losing to Belgium at World Cup ’86, England at Euro ’96, and South Korea at World Cup 2002.

Slow Starters

The Italians have always been slow starters in every major tournament and Euro 2008 was no exception; the Azzurri confirmed their place in the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with a 2-0 victory over France in a repeat of the 2006 world cup final; after losing 3-0 to Holland and drawing 1-1 with Romania.
Roberto Donadoni’s men were much improved against Les Bleus, and they will now be hoping that they have started to hit form at just the right time.

Italy is also a team that plays when they should and it is no doubt Spain are in for the fight of their tournament when they face the Azzurri.

A Look at the teams

Spain

Defender Carles Puyol was thought to be a doubt for this game due to injury, however he will be fit enough to start. Luis Aragones will bring back all of his key players after resting many of them during Spain’s final group game against Greece on Wednesday.

Possible Starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Silva; Villa, Torres

Italy

The AC Milan-duo Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended. Coach Donadoni will probably choose his best four from Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta, Alberto Aquilani, Massimo Ambrosini and Mauro Camoranesi to replace them. Defender Andrea Barzagli picked up an injury in training on Thursday and is out for the rest of the tournament.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Perrotta; Cassano, Toni

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Spain

Fernando Torres: Coming off an outstanding club season for Liverpool, Torres has been overshadowed at Euro 2008 by his strike partner David Villa; however the 24-year-old has the pace and trickery to trouble the Italy backline if he is afforded the space to do so. This could open up space for Villa who is Euro 2008 leading goal scorer on 4 goals.

Italy

Luca Toni: The Bayern Munich hit man has failed to score in Euro 2008 so far and missed numerous chances in the 2-0 win over France. However he has played well and many feel it is only a matter of time until he finds the back of the net. If anyone is to score against Spain surely it will be Toni. With his height, ball control and skill; the Spanish defense will not stand a chance if he is given a proper supply of the ball and with Pirlo out, it could be up to him.

PREDICTION

This game will certainly be close and one should not rule out the possibility of extra time or even penalties. Clinical finishing could a major difference between both teams. With Pirlo and Gattuso out for Italy they really have no antidote for the Spanish attacking midfield. It will be tight but the youthful Spanish will conquer.

Spain 2-1 Italy

Watch Spain vs Italy Live Online

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Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Italy vs France Live Online

European Championships, Group C
Teams: Italy (3rd, 1pt) vs France (4th, 1pt)
Date and Time: Tuesday 17 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich

On the brink of elimination

The Azzurri and Les Bleus are both on the brink of elimination from the group stages of Euro 2008, with both teams booked as possible favorites for Euro 2008, neither has lived up to their expectations. As such neither team thought qualification for the knockout stages of Euro 2008 would be up to a repeat of the Euro 2000 final.

If the Romanians beat Holland who have already qualified in the other match in the group, then the result in the Italy-France match would be irrelevant as neither would qualify.

With neither the world champions nor the French assured a spot in the quarter final, winning tomorrow’s game must be the last chance for either team, who have looked a shadow of themselves throughout the competition. Both teams however, have been plagued by injury to key players ahead of their opening matches and will feel that this may have affected their team performance.

France will feel confident they can beat the world champions having beaten them 3-0 in qualifying and drawn the return tie 1-1.

A Look at the teams

Italy

Roberto Donadoni made five changes for the Romanian game, and it is possible he will make changes to the team for the repeat of world cup 2006 final with France. The two players who seem certain to be dropped are Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Del Piero, with Antonio Cassano definitely coming in for the latter. Even though it is a speculative move to drop Pirlo, Coach Donadoni may be trying fresh tactics, but with no one to replace Pirlo, he could start.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Pirlo, De Rossi, Aquilani; Cassano, Toni

France

Raymond Domenech could make some changes following a disastrous 4-1 thumping by Holland. Veteran defender Lilian Thuram could be axed but will probably be saved, while Samir Nasri is being tipped to return to the side to support veteran striker Thierry Henry. Patrick Vieira may play his first game of Euro 2008 if he can prove he is fit following his thigh injury, but he is still a doubt. William Gallas will start despite an ankle injury.

Possible Starting XI: Coupet; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra; Ribery, Makelele, Toulalan, Malouda; Nasri, Henry

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Italy

Luca Toni: Has failed to make his mark on Euro 2008, but he was incredibly unlucky not to hit the back of the net during the draw with Romania, having a valid goal wrongly disallowed, and also seeing a header miraculously saved by Bogdan Lobont. If any Italian is to score against France surely it will be Toni.

France

Franck Ribery: Like his Bayern Munich team-mate and friend Toni, Ribery has also not really shone at the Euros but his class is without question. The only real creative force in the French team, Ribery must lead from the front. The pressure will be on Ribery as he aims to keep the French in Euro 2008.

PREDICTION

Games between the French and the Italians are always close encounters, and although both need to go for the win, these two teams know each other quite well and the possibility of a draw cannot be ruled out. However if the scores are level late in the game, and both know that a win will be enough to take them through, there could be chances as men are thrown forward in search of a goal. Neither wants to be eliminated and so it will come down to the team who wants it more, the Italians have not shown that they are ready for Euro 2008, nor has the French but the French will be victorious.

Italy 1-2 France

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Look out France, Italy killed in “Group of death” by the Oranje’s

The world champions Italy were today mercilessly demoralised with a 3-0 whipping by the Dutch. Problems came early for the Italians who looked flat at the back and out classed in midfield, when on 24 minutes Marco Materazzi must have thought he had scored a brilliant goal as he back flicked a header from Sneijder’s free kick just inches wide of his own post.

Their problems were compounded even further when a dubious decision by the match officials, allowed a goal scored by the ever lurking Van Nistelrooy which was clearly offside.

Twelve minutes later Wesley Sneijder scored a brilliant goal to enter the changing rooms at half time with a 2-0 advantage. Antonio Di Natale had absolutely no effect on the game for Italy who looked at little demotivated at the resumption and tried constantly to get a goal but all their efforts were nullified by a Dutch defense that never looked bothered by Bayern Munich’s Luca Toni or his strike partner Antonio Di Natale, Del Piero’s injection into the game at the cost of Di Natale gave the entire Italian team a shot of adrenaline and they took the game but Del Piero failed to convert any of the few chances he had created.

Something needed to happen for Italy and it did as Andrea Pirlo’s free kick was brilliantly saved by the Dutch skipper Edwin Van Der Sar and on the counter the Dutch grabbed their third goal scored from a header by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. Italy were truly out played and out classed by a Dutch team who looks like Euro 2008 champions. Looking on from the bench injured Italian captain and central defender Fabio Cannavaro who a few days ago said ” the Azzurri will do fine without me” must surely have wished he could play.

The Dutch will next play beaten world cup 2006 finalist France who had a dismal start to their Euro 2008 campaign will a lackadaisical display in a goal-less draw with a Romanian team that looked like their were just passing time. Could the Oranje’s paint the “Group of death” orange? France nervously awaits?

“We are the world champions and it is normal we are expected to win,” -Del Piero

Motivated a wonderful season with the Bianconeri, Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero has enjoyed a stunning season in which he scored 21 goals to lift the Capocanoniere title as well as earn a place in Roberto Donadoni’s squad.

Del Piero is looking forward to a good tournament and he is hoping his Azzurri emerge victors come June 29 but he admits that it will not be easy. But with troubles in the middle fo defense with Captain Cannavaro out and problems with Panucci, the Azzurri looks to be in a spot of bother in the Group of death.

Del Piero has even statedly vehemently that he wants to captain the Azzurri and stated “So many things have happened over the past couple of years, such as two extraordinary seasons with Juventus and Italy with a new Coach and style of play,” “These 24 months have strengthened me and now here I am, happier than ever. ”

My role could well be that of Toto Di Natale, but I would not be upset at playing behind Luca Toni or as a second striker. Clearly Del Piero is ready to give 110 percent but are in his teammates willing to support him? we shall see as the take on the Dutch on June 09.