UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 4

Euro 2008 | Matchday 4: Greece vs. Sweden Highlights

Full Match

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source Eurosport

European Champions Greece began their Euro 2008 campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Sweden.

In what has to be called one of the least entertaining matches of the tournament, neither team showed the capability or motivation to take the initiative.

Sweden, who did seem slightly more inspired than their Greek opponents, finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. A great diagonal shot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic left goalkeeper Nikopolidis without a chance.

And only five minutes later, the Scandinavians added a second. Freddie Ljungberg had a perfect opportunity to score but had his effort blocked. However, defender Petter Hansson stood in the right spot to take advantage in the following chaos.

It's not all good news for Sweden though, as Wilhelmsson suffered a serious leg injury and the question is whether he will make his return for a later match in this tournament.source www.soccerway.com

Euro 2008 | Matchday 4: Spain vs Russia Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport

A hat-trick from David Villa and typical Spanish technique lifted Luis Aragonés' men to a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Russia in their Group D opener at Euro 2008 on Tuesday.

Spain took the lead in the 20th minute as Fernando Torres took down a long ball and got a lucky bounce to put it by a defender before laying back for the trailing Villa to slot home past Igor Akinfeev.


Twenty minutes later, Villa doubled his account and the Spain lead as Andrés Iniesta on a counter played a beautiful ball into the area for Villa, and the Valencia striker again made no mistake in timing his run to stay onside and slotting home for 2-0.

Russia started the second half a bit stronger, but lacked the last touch and the crisp play that the Spaniards had for 90 minutes, and the match was put out of reach on 75 minutes as Villa completed the treble after yet another pinpoint pass to put him through, this time by Cesc Fabregas.

Russia were able to get one back four minutes from time when Konstantin Zyrianov's corner kick was deflected onto the head of striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who powered a header past a helpless Iker Casillas to add some respectability to the scoreline, but Fabregas added a header in stoppage time to complete the scoring. source www.soccerway.com

UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 3

Euro 2008 | Matchday 3: Netherlands vs. Italy Highlights

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Two swift counterattacks and a controversial goal led the Netherlands to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Italy in their Group C opener at Euro 2008.

Ruud van Nistelrooy had the best of the early chances for either side in the 18th minute when he was put in on goal against a charging Gianluigi Buffon, but the striker stumbled trying to go around him and the chance went begging.

It wouldn't remain scoreless for long though as van Nistelrooy scored in the 26th minute. Buffon punched away a corner kick as far as Joris Mathijsen who played the ball back to Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The defender then fired in a shot that was directed in by van Nistelrooy, who appeared to be offside by a wide margin, but the flag stayed down.

Replays showed Christian Panucci lying beyond the end line, but the rules indicate that he was still an active player and, thus, van Nistelrooy was not offside and the goal stood.

Five minutes later, the Dutch extended the margin with a great counterattack. Van Bronckhorst cleared a corner kick off of the line before racing down the left flank. He crossed to the right onto the head of Dirk Kuyt before Wesley Sneijder volleyed brilliantly past Buffon for a 2-0 lead.

Missed chances by the Dutch in the first half kept it at 2-0 until the break, before the Italians came out strong in the second period. Substitute Alessandro Del Piero had two great chances and Andrea Pirlo saw a brilliant free kick saved well by Edwin van der Sar.

On the ensuing counterattack, Kuyt crossed into the area after Buffon saved his first effort, and the ball found the head of van Bronckhorst who put in off a deflection for the third.source www.soccerway.com

Euro 2008 | Matchday 3: France vs. Romania Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport

Romania and France failed to score in their Euro 2008 Group C opener. France were the stronger side but had difficulties creating chances.

Throughout most of the match, the French dominated at the Letzigrund stadium of Zürich.

But Domenech's men were kept away from keeper Lobont's goal by his defense, who turned out to be hard to get past.

Every now and then, Romania managed to put some pressure on 'Les Bleus' but real, clear chances never really appeared.

Romania will be the happier side after this draw, which was the first goalless result at the 2008 European Championships. source www.soccerway.com

UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 2

Euro 2008 | Matchday 2: Germany vs Poland Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport

Germany have won their first Euro 2008 Group B match against Poland. Lukas Podolski scored twice to help his team to a 2-0 victory.

Miroslav Klose found his Bayern Munich teammate Podolski in the penalty area after 20 minutes and the latter only needed to put the ball into the empty net as Boruc had already been played out.

Poland gained some strength in the second half but never managed to put one past Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The match was decided in the 72nd minute when bad defense first gave Klose the opportunity to shoot, after which Podolski scored from the rebound.

Thanks to these two goals, Podolski moves into first place in the top scorers classification. source: www.soccerway.com

Euro 2008 | Matchday 2: Austria vs Croatia Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport

Croatia have won their first match at Euro 2008 against tournament co-hosts Austria, thanks to an penalty kick. Referee Pieter Vink awarded the penalty after just three minutes as Aufhauser fouled Olic, and Modric made no mistakes from eleven meters.

Croatia initially pushed to score another goal but left more and more of the initiative to Austria.

In the second half, Austria were arguably even the better side and began creating real chances, but Croatia goalkeeper Pletikosa made sure to defend the slender lead.

Although Austria probably deserved an equaliser, Croatia got away with the three points and begin their Euro campaign in a positive manner. source www.soccerway.com

UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 5

Euro 2008 | Matchday 5: Switzerland vs. Turkey Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport

A dramatic late winner by Arda Turan lifted Turkey to a 2-1 victory over co-hosts Switzerland in Basel, eliminating the Swiss from Euro 2008 on Tuesday night. The win for Turkey also booked Portugal's passage into the quarter-finals.

The storyline in the first half was the driving rain pouring down in St. Jakob Park causing footing and passing to go by the wayside, but the Swiss seemed to thrive in it with Tranquillo Barnetta firing in a shot that had to be parried away by Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

In the 32nd minute, the Swiss finally opened their goalscoring account in the tournament as a looping ball found 19-year-old Eren Derdiyok onside and he laid it back into the six-yard box for a charging Hakan Yakin to slot home.

Switzerland had a couple of chances to add to the lead, but Turkey found themselves level in the 57th minute when Nihat's cross from the left finds the head of substitute Semih Sentürk to beat Diego Benaglio.

Nihat almost had the go-ahead for Turkey when he slid for a pass from Tuncay, but it was just out of reach. Switzerland also came close to taking the lead in the 84th minute when a counterattack led to an open shot by Yakin, but Volkan Demirel saved well from that shot and the rebound.

But three minutes into added time, Turan ran down the left flank on a counterattack, turned inside two defenders and fired a shot that deflected off a Swiss player and into the net for the winner.source www.soccerway.com

Euro 2008 | Matchday 5: Czech Republic Vs Portugal Highlights

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source Eurosport
Portugal have a very good chance of advancing to the next round after a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Playmaker Deco scored the opening goal for Scolari's team after just eight minutes, but a header from Libor Sionko levelled the score nine minutes later.

From here on, the two teams were practically equal but it was Portugal to be the happier side at full time as Cristiano Ronaldo struck home from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute and allowed substitute Quaresma to net his side's third in stoppage time.

If Switzerland and Turkey draw their match later on Wednesday, Portugal are already certain of a spot in the next round.

The Czechs meanwhile, have to achieve a good result against Turkey on Sunday to earn their quarter final berth.source www.soccerway.com

UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 1

Euro 2008 | Matchday 1: Portugal Vs Turkey Highlights

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source Eurosport

Day 1 of Euro 2008 continues with the Group A clash between Portugal and Turkey. ortugal claim three points in their opening match, and the result is somewhat fair in the sense that the woodwork prevented them from three other goals during the 90 minutes. Turkey will need to regroup and find some better attacking options in their next two games. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time for Turkey to make a move in Group A.

Euro 2008 | Matchday 1: Switzerland Vs Czech Republic Highlights

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source Eurosport

Euro 2008 kicks off with the Group A clash between Switzerland and the 2004 semi-finalists the Czech Republic. Having dominated for long periods, the Swiss were floored by Vaclav Sverkos's superbly taken but scarcely deserved late winner for the Czechs on Saturday evening.

The disappointing end to an evening that promised so much more was compounded for the co-hosts by the loss of captain and leading goalscorer Alexander Frei to an injury that ended his involvement in the tournament.

The Czech Republic claim their first three points of the tournament as Switzerland's chances of reaching the quarter finals have been reduced significantly with Portugal and Turkey still ahead. The Swiss were the stronger side today, but failed to take advantage.Switzerland have been left with a mountain to climb at Euro 2008 but head coach Jakob Kuhn insists his side can recover from a heartbreaking defeat to the Czech Republic in the tournament's opening match. source [www.soccerway.com]

UEFA Euro 2008 | Day 6

Euro 2008 | Matchday 6: Austria vs. Poland Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport
A late penalty goal by Ivica Vastic helped Austria to a 1-1 draw in Euro 2008 Group B with Poland after they had earlier missed a host of chances.

Austrian striker Martin Harnik got in behind a porous Poland defense and had a clear run at goal, but he was distracted by a charging Artur Boruc in the Polish goal, and he dragged the shot wide.

In the 14th minute, Harnik again wasted a chance when a cross found him in point-blank range of the goal, but he fired the shot right at Boruc. Two minutes later, Boruc again came to the rescue when he thwarted a break by Roland Linz on a swift counterattack.

Those mistakes came to haunt Austria on the half-hour when Roger Guerreiro tapped home from close range after Marek Saganowski's ball was deflected into his path by the fingertips of Austria goalkeeper Jürgen Macho.

Austria looked like they had no answers against an improved Poland side in the second half, but they had a never-say-die attitude and won a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time when Mariusz Lewandowski tugged down Sebastian Prödl in the area, and Vastic made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The result clinched first place in Group B for Croatia, as well.source www.soccerway.com

Euro 2008 | Matchday 6: Croatia vs. Germany Highlights

First Half

Second Half

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source Eurosport
Croatia have won their second match at Euro 2008, against tournament favorites Germany. Bilic' men achieved an impressive 2-1 result.

Dario Srna opened the score from close range in the 24th minute, and the Germans lacked the inspiration to do something back in the remainder of the first half.

And just after the hour mark, Lehmann deflected a cross onto the post and the ball ended up in front of Ivica Olic who easily doubled Croatia's lead.

Lukas Podolski struck home in the 79th minute to bring back some hope but the Croatians remained calm and avoided further chances.

Substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger became the first player to be red-carded at this tournament after pushing Leko in stoppage time.source www.soccerway.com