Dutch fans eagerly await opening Euro 2008 match

The Swiss city of Bern is slowly turning orange as hundreds of Dutch football fans descend on the city to watch the Netherlands play its first Euro 2008 match. The Dutch squad faces Italy on Monday evening. The Swiss authorities expect around 30,000 Dutch football fans to come to Bern to support their team. Most of the fans don't have tickets for the match but will follow the action on large outdoor screens throughout the city.

Marco van Basten, coach of the Dutch squad, says that striker Arjen Robben will probably miss the Netherlands' second match against France on Friday as well as tonight's opening game. The striker suffered a groin strain during training on Saturday and will need about a week to recover. It is possible that Robin van Persie will be in the starting lineup for this evening's match. Earlier, coach Van Basten said van Persie would not be fit but he is making a rapid recovery from his thigh injury.

Source: radionetherlands.nl

Euro 2008 special bets

Euro 2008 is starting this week, and we would like you to take the opportunity and place your bets now! We managed to make a list with some interesting bets and their odds from Expekt, one of the bookmakers we recommend most for Euro 2008.

Euro 2008 winner of group A:

Portugal - 2.35
Czech Republic - 3.50
Switzerland - 3.85
Turkey - 7.50

Euro 2008 winner of group B:

Germany - 1.70
Croatia - 3.25
Poland - 6.75
Austria - 17.00

Euro 2008 winner of group C:

Italy - 2.75
France - 3.05
Holland - 3.10
Romania - 11.00

Euro 2008 winner of group D:

Spain - 1.85
Greece - 5.00
Sweden - 5.00
Russia - 5.50

Euro 2008: Which group does the winner belong to?

Group A - 4.00
Group B - 3.40
Group C - 3.10
Group D - 4.25

Euro 2008 winner:

Germany - 4.50
Spain - 6.00
Portugal - 7.50
Italy - 7.50
France - 9.00
Holland - 11.00
Croatia - 12.00
Czech Republic - 16.00
Russia - 20.00
Switzerland - 23.00
Greece - 26.00
Sweden - 30.00
Turkey - 34.00
Poland - 34.00
Romania - 34.00
Austria - 76.00

Euro 2008 UEFA Player Of The Tournament:

C Ronaldo - 5.50
M Ballack - 8.00
F Torres - 8.00
C Fabregas - 11.00
M Klose - 15.00
L Toni - 15.00
F Ribery - 15.00
D Villa - 21.00
R van Nistelrooy - 26.00
T Henry - 26.00
A Pirlo - 26.00
Deco - 26.00
K Benzema - 29.00
L Podolski - 34.00
Z Ibrahimovic - 34.00
A Del Piero - 34.00
I Casillas - 34.00
G Buffon - 34.00
R Van Persie - 34.00
N Kahveci - 51.00
M Gomez - 51.00
A Frei - 67.00
A Mutu - 67.00
H Larsson - 67.00
P Pogrebnyak - 67.00
L Modrić - 67.00
T Sanli - 81.00
N Kranjčar - 81.00
M Petrić - 81.00
E Smolarek - 101.00
J Koller - 101.00

Source: Expekt.com

Kuyt Hoping For Euro 2008 Place

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is hoping that his goal-scoring return to the Netherlands national side will secure a place in Marco Van Basten’s Euro 2008 squad.

Kuyt scored the opener in his nation’s 3-0 over Ukraine on Saturday evening, but is still not guaranteed to be on the plane to this summer’s championships. Coach Marco Van Basten still has one more cut to make before the announcement of a 23 man panel on Wednesday. FC Twente goalkeeper Sandor Boschker and Feyenoord midfielder Denny Landzaat were the victims of Van Basten’s decision to cut his provisional panel from 26 to 24 in the wake of the Ukraine win, and the 36 times-capped Kuyt will not rest on his laurels.

The 27-year old had been largely ignored in favour of Klaas Jan Huntelaar of late, and the ex-Feyenoord man is eager to grasp the chance to make a positive impression before Wednesday’s squad deadline. With Van Basten’s decision imminent, Kuyt’s seventh international goal may earn him a place in the manager’s final plans. He told Dutch newspaper De Telegraf: “I am glad that I am part of the Holland team again. I think we made a good impression as a team. Only at the end of the match we got tired. That is logical looking at the efforts of the last weeks.”

Although a prolific front man in his native country, since his 2006 transfer to Liverpool, Kuyt has toiled mostly as a right winger. His work-rate and attitude have endeared him to the Anfield crowd but his goal scoring record plummeted. However, the former Feyenoord man seems happy in the role, despite admitting to being unsure at first. "It's gone well for me," he said of his right-wing berth. "Sometimes things just fall into place. I had the feeling when it started that it was temporary, but it went so well we carried on. The way we play now for the Netherlands is very similar to the Liverpool system, and I think I have shown I can play there. You have players who can turn a match with one touch and players who perform in service to the team. I have no problem playing for the team. I feel really strong. That is the advantage of playing in the Premier League. It is the physically toughest league in the world and you only get better and stronger from playing there."

Author: Peter Staunton
Source: goal.com

David Beckham scores from 60 yards!

David Beckham scored an amazing goal from a 60 yards distance in the MLS away game against Kansas City Wizards. In the 90th minute Galaxy were leading 2-1, and Wizards' goalkeeper came for a corner. Galaxy recovered the ball and Becks scored from his own half with an amazing 60 yards shot! Here is the video with the most important match facts of this spectacular game:

Anelka questions Blues role

Striker Nicolas Anelka has warned Chelsea that he is unhappy after being asked to play out of position since joining the club. The France international has scored just two goals since joining the Blues from Bolton Wanderers in a £16million deal during the transfer window.

But speaking after making a brief cameo appearance at the end of Champions League Final defeat to Manchester United, the well-travelled striker has revealed his disenchantment with his start to life at Stamford Bridge. Anelka has been employed in a wide role on the few occasions he has started games for Avram Grant's side.

"I didn't come here to play on the left or right," he told L'Equipe. "When I came here, people told me I would play in a 4-4-2. "In England, I no longer need to prove that I am better through the middle. Since I arrived, I haven't played in my position. Never as a number nine, always on the left or the right. Until now, I haven't said anything. I was a newcomer, I haven't wanted to make a story out of it because I still didn't know the club. But from next season, I insist I will no longer be the little newcomer."

Source: http://www.football.co.uk

Champions League Final Preview

FA asks Grant to explain himself

The Football Association have written to Chelsea coach Avram Grant to ask him to explain his remarks about referee Steve Bennett.

Grant called Bennett's integrity into question after Manchester United's 2-0 win at Wigan last Sunday earned a 10th Premier League title for Sir Alex Ferguson. Chelsea, level on points with United before kick-off, could only draw at home with Bolton.

But Bennett came under fire for not awarding the home side a penalty for handball and then opting not to send off Paul Scholes for a second bookable offence when he fouled Wilson Palacios. At his Champions League media conference on Wednesday, Grant said: "I told you that I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it. But what happened is what I expected. In England there are very good referees, but there are some - a few that you can influence, like you saw. I think in our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the referee (Mike Dean) influenced the result for sure. We know that. I think the red card for Mikel John Obi in that game should not have been a red card, I think that Paul Scholes should have had a red card on Sunday and Wigan a penalty also. But it is finished. I congratulate Manchester United."

Grant has until May 28 to reply.

Source: teamtalk.com