‘Half of Spain won’t show up for work tomorrow’
MADRID, Spain ● Spaniards blasted off fireworks and jumped for joy after their soccer team won the European Championship on Sunday night, giving the country a burst of national pride and temporary relief from the crushing economic woes that have engulfed the nation. Tens of thousands gathered in central Madrid to watch their team beat [...]
Del Bosque playing ‘cat and mouse’
DONETSK, Ukraine ● Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admitted on Friday that he is still to decide how to configure his team for Saturday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final against France. The reigning world and European champions, Spain will start as favourites at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, where both teams will be competing for the right to [...]
Czechs need to stop Ronaldo
WARSAW, Poland ● Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek says his team must stop Cristiano Ronaldo running at them or he will be “impossible” to stop. The Czechs tackle the Portuguese at the National Stadium here on Thursday in the first of the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. Portugal are clear favourites even though it is the Czechs [...]
Injured Nani may miss Portugal game with Germany
LVIV, Ukraine ● Portugal winger Nani is struggling to shake off an injury to his right foot and may miss his country’s opening Euro 2012 game against Germany, coach Paulo Bento said on Friday. Nani, one of his team’s major talents, was hurt during a 3-1 defeat against Turkey in a friendly game last [...]
Anelka player-coach at Shenhua
SHANGHAI, China ● French striker Nicolas Anelka will become a “player-coach” at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, the club said Thursday while insisting French head coach Jean Tigana remained on board. A Shenhua official confirmed reports they had sacked three assistant coaches after winning only two of their five matches so far [...]
Aston Villa captain diagnosed with leukaemia
LONDON, England – Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia on Friday, leaving English football in shock over a player’s ill-health for the second time this month. The 32-year-old Bulgaria international has not trained since playing against Arsenal on Saturday. The condition was diagnosed following tests after the midfielder developed a fever. [...]
