Posts Tagged ‘UEFA’
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Few days before the opening of the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and just looking at the Euro Cup history it is easy to understand why it has become so popular. The European Championships were first held in 1960 and were originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup. Initially it was hard to get many teams to compete, but by 1968 the tournament when it changed its name to the European Football Championship becomes very popular.
Since its creation the team winners have been: 1960 USSR, 1964 Spain, 1968 Italy, 1972 Germany, 1976 Czechoslovakia, 1980 Germany, 1984 France, 1988 Holland, 1992 Denmark, 1996 Germany, 2000 France and 2004 Greece.Let’s go now through some remarkable facts along the 12 championships played until now. 1960: Spain was eliminated from the tournament when General Francisco Franco’s government refused to let the Spanish team travel to Moscow. 1964: Largest crowd in championship history — 125,000 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the final match (Spain-USSR). 1968: Name was changed from the Nations Cup to the European Championship. 1976: Czechoslovakia won on penalties. 1980: The final field was increased to eight teams from four. 1984: Spanish ‘keeper Luis Arconada knocked the first goal over his own line. 1988:Only three of the eight finalists from ‘84 qualified, including France. 1992: U.N. sanctions forced out war-torn Yugoslavia. 1996: First Golden Goal in a major international championship. 2000: Sylvain Wiltord shocked Italy by scoring the game 3 minutes into injury time when the Italians were leading the whole match with David Trezeguet scoring the Golden Goal winner 13 minutes to win.
Tags: Italia, Santiago Bernabeu, UEFA
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Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Zenit St. Petersburg became the second Russia squad in the last four seasons to win football UEFA Cup, defeating Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers 2-0 in the final match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.
Igor Denisov staked Zenit to a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute and Konstantin Zyryanov completed the scoring in injury time.It marked the first UEFA Cup for Zenit coach David Advocaat, who, ironically, coached Rangers from 1998 to 2002. “I feel very happy winning the prize like this,” he said. “The way we played in this tournament, we really deserved this.”Glasgow Rangers has failed to win a European championship since capturing the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972.”Over the tournament, we have worked very hard to get to the final,” Rangers coach Walter Smith said. “There was not that much in it overall and we had a few chances ourselves. Zenit looked the more offensive team. But obviously, at this stage, I’m disappointed to have lost.”Zenit controlled the first half, but Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander kept it scoreless with saves on Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Radek Sirl, Zyryanov and Alexander Anyukov. Zenit attacked more and when they were successful against their opponent’s goal, it was quite clear that they will maintain this advantage. Anyway was Zenit who controlled all the match from the very beginning and everybody was convinced that finally Zenit would win.CSKA Moscow was the first Russian team to win the UEFA Cup in 2005.
Tags: Old Trafford, UEFA, Zenit
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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
In all European countries the second important competition, after the National Leagues, is the Cup. This competition is not only closed to First Division clubs but it is open to clubs playing in Second and Third Division Leagues.
In three of the most important European Football countries – Spain, Germany and Holland – the final match of their respective National Cups have already been played and therefore they already have the winners of their Cup.
So let’s go to check what has already happened in the Cup competitions in Spain, German and Holland.
Spain – After winning in the semi-finals matches to FC Barcelona (4-3 aggregate) and to Racing Santander (4-2 aggregate) respectively, Valencia CF and Getafe CF played the final match in Madrid on 16th April where Valencia CF defeated Getafe CF (3-1). Therefore Valencia CF, that has been fighting this season to avoid relegation to Second Division, will play the UEFA Cup competition next season.
Germany – After winning in the semi-finals matches to Wfl Wolfsburg (2-0) and FC Carl Zeiss Jena, last in the 2.Bundesliga (3-0) respectively, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played the final match in Berlin on 19th April where Bayern Munich defeated Borussia Dortmund (2-1). As winner of the 1.Bundesliga, Bayer Munich will play the Champions League next season whilst Borussia Dortmund – number 13 in the table – will play the UEFA Cup competition.
Holland – After winning in the semi-finals matches to NAC Breda (2-0) and Heracles Almelo (2-2 p) respectively, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Roda JC Kerkrade played the final match on 27th April. Feyenoord Rotterdam who defeated Roda JC Kerkrade (2-0) will play the UEFA Cup competition next season.
Tags: Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, UEFA
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Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Referees at Euro 2008 will come down hard on players who use excessive force or show dissent if they follow instructions they were given on Thursday. The 12 referees who will officiate at the June tournament in Austria and Switzerland were handed a six-point list of instructions at the end of a four-day workshop at their Euro 2008 base near Zurich. The instructions, compiled by European soccer’s governing body UEFA, order referees to ‘act firmly (red card) against challenges involving excessive force…including the illegal use of arms and elbows.’ UEFA said that players would also be expected to respect officials’ decisions. ‘Referees can accept a spontaneous expression of frustration from players,’ the instructions state, ‘but will firmly sanction players who show dissent to the referees by word or action.’ The referees have also been instructed to control holding or pushing in the penalty area prior to corners and free kicks and to punish ’simulation intended to deceive the referee’ with yellow cards. The list ends with a note to team coaches, advising them that they will be ‘left to do their jobs’ in the technical area immediately in front of the team bench provided they act responsibly. ‘If a coach openly criticises the referee, action will be taken to curb his behaviour,’ the instructions add. The list of the 12 Euro 2008 referees is the following: Konrad Plautz (Austria), Frank de Bleeckere (Belgium), Howard Webb (England), Herbert Fandel (Germany), Kyros Vassaras (Greece), Roberto Rosetti (Italy), Pieter Vink (Netherlands), Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway), Lubos Michel (Slovakia),
Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain), Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden) and
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
Tags: England, Spain, UEFA
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Saturday, April 26th, 2008
Have you ever been to the Theatre of Dreams? No, what a pity! Is a wonderful place! Instead of a proper stage there’s a field full of the greenest grass you’ve ever seen. Instead of actors and actresses there are the greatest players you’ve ever seen. Instead of a theatre there’s the nicest stadium you’ve ever seen. Instead of costumes there are the reddest t-shirts you have ever seen. Instead of Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando or Meryl Streep there are Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney… on stage. Would you waste the chance of dreaming awake? In the theatre of dreams everything is possible.
After a good match in Barcelona (the European semi-final’s first leg), you’ve got a second opportunity to watch one of this year’s greatest match. In Camp Nou, Barcelona was superior. FCB did know how to play this complicated match. Not loosing any balls in the midfield with the return of Deco and the security given by Yaya Toure. Good transitions to the forward players. And good chances of scoring goals. Eto’o, Messi, Henry, Bojan played good but didn’t find how to create serious problems for United’s goalkeeper, Van der Sar.
Ferguson didn’t transmit to ManU players all the intentions he had planning the game. Maybe when Cristiano Ronaldo missed the penalty kick everything went upside down for Ferguson’s plans.
But now we’ve got a second chance of enjoying (in the theatre of dreams – Old Trafford) the second leg of what was a marvellous game of football. The dice are thrown and there’s only an aim: Moscow!
Buy tickets!
Tags: Champions League, semi-final, UEFA
Posted in FC Barcelona, Manchester United | No Comments »