Merkel all in, to much of Greece chagrin
GDANSK/BERLIN/ATHENS ● Greek soccer fans whistled and jeered at Angela Merkel, but the German chancellor had the last laugh, jumping to her feet in joy every time her team scored. After a year in which the Greek economy imploded and Germany insisted on deep austerity measures in return for bailout funds, Greeks were yearning for [...]
Italy, Netherlands pay solemn visit to Auschwitz
AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU ● All 23 Italy players, coach Cesare Prandelli and team staff toured the system that Nazi Germany operated during World War II. They were escorted by three Italian survivors of the Holocaust 81-year-old Samuel Modiano, 84-year-old Hanna Weiss and Piero Terracina. At Birkenau, Italian players sat on rail lines once used to bring prisoners [...]
Psychic pig? Who gives an elephant?
WARSAW, Poland ● Who’s going to win the European Championship? Time to ask an elephant — or a pig. Poland’s answer to Paul the Octopus — the tentacled tipster who gained worldwide fame for his 2010 World Cup predictions — is Citta the elephant. Ukraine, however, will probably go for an enormous beer-loving pig — [...]
Raul seals Qatar switch
DOHA, Qatar ● Former Real Madrid striker Raul has joined Al Sadd of Qatar after leaving Schalke 04 at the end of his contract. “Al Sadd Club will hold a news conference on Sunday to introduce Raul Gonzalez to the media after signing the player who will join the team starting from next season 2012-2013,” [...]
Messi breaks Mueller’s goals record
BARCELONA, Spain ● Barcelona’s triple Ballon d’Or-winner Lionel Messi broke Gerd Mueller’s record for goals in a European season here on Wednesday as he scored a hat-trick in the game with Malaga to take his tally to 68. The 24-year-old Argentinian’s eighth hat-trick of the season was enough to overhaul Mueller’s record, which the German [...]
England starts new 4 year chapter with Hodgson
LONDON, England ● Roy Hodgson was appointed England manager on a four-year contract, the Football Association announced Tuesday. The West Bromwich Albion boss emerged as the surprise front-runner for the England job on Sunday as the FA confirmed it had ignored the popular clamour for Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp to be appointed. Hodgson [...]
Reality check Newcastle
WIGAN, England ● Newcastle’s bid for Champions League qualification suffered a reality check on Saturday as Wigan eased their relegation fears with a thumping 4-0 win over the Magpies. Newcastle had dared to dream of winning a place in European football’s elite competition after moving into the top four of the Premier League last week [...]
Gomez inks new Bayern contract
MUNICH, Germany • Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez has extended his contract by three years to 2016 the day after his club booked a place in the Champions League semi-finals, the forward said on Wednesday. The 26-year-old, who was Bundesliga top scorer last season and jointly leads this season’s charts with 23 goals, has been [...]
Wenger to appeal ban
LONDON, England • Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger vowed to appeal on Friday as he was given a three-match ban by UEFA following a charge of improper conduct during a Champions League game. Wenger, who was also fined 40,000 euros, will miss Arsenal’s next three European matches following the suspension, which stemmed from a confrontation with referee [...]
