euro2008: Viva España!

euro2008: España la mejor

euro2008: A la final por la puerta grande

euro2008: Lahm mete a Alemania en la final

Championnat d'Europe des nations 2008

UEFA Champions League: Sir Alex Ferguson thanks fate for truimph - United bring cup home to Manchester

sources: reuters via yahoo! sports, pix: uefa Sir Alex Ferguson said "fate had played its hand" after his Manchester United side had defeated Chelsea FC on penalties to win the UEFA Champions League and bring cup home to Manchester...

Barca begin comeback bid

Barca begin comeback bid

MADRID: Barcelona must produce one of the biggest comebacks in history if they are to snatch the Spanish title this season with just 11 games left to overturn Real Madrid's commanding eight-point lead at the top.
Barcelona's shock 2-1 defeat by Villarreal last weekend allowed Real to surge eight points clear and bookmakers have Real as red-hot favourites to retain the championship. "There are still 33 points to play for," said Barca's defiant coach Frank Rijkaard. "Of course the gap has widened, but that is no reason to give up. "Nothing is decided in March and we need to fight on."Barcelona travel to Almeria, who have already beaten Real this season, tomorrow as their version of mission impossible begins.
While the focus is on Real, Rijkaard's team should also keep an eye on Villarreal who are now just four points behind in third. Villarreal host Real Zaragoza tomorrow looking to build on their historic Nou Camp victory. Real have been top for virtually the whole season after racing out of the blocks and Argentine Gabriel Heinze is dreaming of winning the title with victory over Barca when the two teams meet at the Santiago Bernabeu at the beginning of May."I hope we win the league at home against Barca so we can celebrate that bit more," said Heinze.Real, still without the injured Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy, travel to struggling Deportivo La Coruna today although history has shown that the three points are anything but a formality.Incredibly Real have not won at Depor's Riazor Stadium in 17 years with the last victory way back in the 1991/1992 season."We know it will be complicated to win there," admitted Brazilian defender Pepe. "Deportivo recently defeated Sevilla and they have improved a lot."They will also be extra motivated to face the league leaders." Depor, Champions League semi-finalists in 2004, are just two points off the relegation zone after a torrid season.

TODAY: Recreativo v Real Murcia, Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao, Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid, Valencia v Sevilla; TOMORROW: Espanyol v Mallorca, Valladolid v Osasuna, Getafe v Racing, Villarreal v Real Zaragoza, Almeria v Barcelona, Atletico Madrid v Levante. -- AFP

source: AFP via nstonline - http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Sport/2186996/Article/index_html

Shaken Real face test of confidence

MADRID: Spanish champions Real Madrid, still shellshocked by their Champions League exit at the hands of Roma in midweek, must restore their morale quickly for today's home match against Espanyol. Real had high hopes in this season's Champions League but a 2-1 home defeat to the Italians on Wednesday saw them crash out at the last 16 stage and the league is now the sole focus.Real stretched their lead over Barcelona to five points last weekend but fifth-placed Espanyol, who have already beaten Real in the league this season, are a difficult opponent. Espanyol will hope they do not feel the backlash of Real's anger at being eliminated from Europe.Barcelona are now Spain's sole representative in the Champions League, having overcome Celtic over two legs, but it came at a cost with Argentine sensation Lionel Messi out for six weeks after tearing a muscle in his left leg.Barca host Villarreal, who beat them 3-1 earlier in the season, tomorrow aiming to bounce back after a 4-2 loss at Atletico Madrid last weekend. It was Barcelona's first league defeat since the painful 1-0 reverse against Real on Dec 23 last year.Villarreal lie third, seven points behind Barca, and are one of five teams gunning for two Champions League spots.Atletico, three points behind in fourth, are one of those sides and travel to Real Zaragoza today. It is a first match in charge for new Zaragoza coach Manolo Villanova who replaced Javier Irureta this week.Sevilla, five points off fourth place, are also targeting a Champions League berth and entertain bottom side Levante tomorrow.Like Real, Sevilla suffered European heartache with Turkish side Fenerbahce defeating them at home on penalties after the two-legged tie had finished 5-5.
TODAY: Real Madrid v Espanyol, Real Zaragoza v Atletico Madrid; TOMORROW: Sevilla v Levante, Osasuna v Almeria, Athletic Bilbao v Valladolid, Racing Santander v Real Betis, Real Murcia v Getafe, Real Mallorca v Recreativo Huelva, Valencia v Deportivo La Coruna, Barcelona v Villarreal. - AFP

A REAL SHOCKER

Real's worst fears realized
Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:55am GMT

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid's worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday when they exited the Champions League at the first knockout round for the fourth year in succession.
The nine-time champions were ruthlessly exposed by a high-quality Roma side who beat them 2-1 at the Bernabeu, completing a 4-2 aggregate victory that will have major repercussions at a club that measures success in terms of European trophies.
"We didn't have that magic we've shown on other nights," said skipper Raul, whose 61st Champions League goal was to no avail.
"It's a very heavy blow, a really big disappointment because the Champions League was one of our big objectives this season and now we are out of it.
"We were the better side in the first leg, but we came back with a very dangerous result and we weren't able to impose ourselves on opponents who showed themselves to be a very good team. We struggled to create any scoring chances."
Real were simply not as sharp, as hungry or as skilful as Roma and although they can point to the sending off of Portugal centre-back Pepe as the turning point in the tie, the defeat revealed more serious weaknesses.
The absence of leading striker Ruud van Nistelrooy through injury exposed the team's lack of alternatives up front, while the midfield once again looked short of pace and ideas.
SHARP PASSING Continued...

Woodgate winner signals Spurs' new dawn

Woodgate winner signals Spurs' new dawn
By Henry Winter at Wembley Stadium
Last Updated: 10:11am GMT 25/02/2008
Page 1 of 2
Have your say Read comments
Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 1 Aet 2-1
Jonathan Woodgate should be able to climb on to the London property ladder now. In the house of the rising sums, the £757 million Wembley residence that is the symbol of an exorbitant market that has so shocked Woodgate, the new arrival from Middlesbrough surely earned the deposit for a 'des res' in the capital.
· Alan Smith: Robinson vindicates Ramos
· Alan Hansen: Spurs show their mettle but Grant's is rusty
· Tottenham v Chelsea player ratings In pics: Spurs lift the Carling Cup
Woodgate certainly bought a place in history yesterday.
Having surprised many with his comments about how even wealthy footballers found London expensive, Woodgate will not be short of offers of spare rooms in the Tottenham area. Goals pay the rent and match-winning headers like Woodgate's are priceless.
To Woodgate the spoils, to Avram Grant the brickbats. Like a profligate heir, Grant has now squandered half the family silver he inherited from Jose Mourinho. Like a startled fawn, Chelsea's manager failed to react when the team cried out for guidance, for inspiration. Steve Clarke delivered the rallying cry before extra-time. Grant listened.
A manager who never lost a cup final in England, Mourinho would have raged against the dying of the light, exhorting his players to find something extra, enacting one of his substitute master-strokes to vary Chelsea's danger. The Blues' huge army of support, who became so used to trophies under Mourinho, deserve better than Grant. MORE

Pharaohs seek to tame indomitable lions

CAMEROONS are quietly confident but it will take a brave man to bet against Egypt retaining the African Nations Cup today.
The 4-1 demolition of favorites Ivory Coast proved just how ruthless Egypt can be and a sixth title beckons the Pharaohs.

Saudi prince gives Egypt 1 million Egyptian pounds: RIYADH, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has donated African Nations Cup holders Egypt one million Egyptian pounds ($180,400) before their final against Cameroon on Sunday (1700 GMT).

"This gesture was in support of the team reaching the finals after winning their match against Ivory Coast," said a statement from Kingdom Holding <4280.se>, owned by the Muslim world's wealthiest Muslim.

The Pharaohs are hoping to win a sixth title when they face four-times champions Cameroon. http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7297934,00.html

Premier fools

The Premier League could have their bombshell proposals for an 'International Round' of matches around the globe killed off by FIFA in just five weeks — before the plans have even left the drawing board.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is known to be strongly opposed to the scheme that has been greeted by waves of negative reaction, has demanded that official documents relating to the planned project be sent to the world governing body.

They will discuss the ramifications that threaten to change the face of football at their next executive committee meeting in Zurich on March 14. Such is the initial FIFA furore to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore's brainchild that there was even talk at their headquarters yesterday that the influential supremo might be forced to step down from his position on the FIFA strategic committee, which was set up last year.

UEFA president Michel Platini tore into the plan with a withering attack. He said: 'You already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no club playing in England. It's a joke.'

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Former F1 driver Schumacher to race in Touring Cars

Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher looks set to continue his career with Mercedes-Benz in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), according to reports here.
The 32-year-old had his second test drive for Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday at Estoril, Portugal, and was positive about his experience. "I wouldn't be driving here if the DTM car wasn't a great deal of fun for me," Schumacher told German tabloid Bild on Wednesday. "And, it goes without saying, if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't seriously consider racing in DTM."
Having won six Grand Prix in his 11 years in Formula One, Schumacher had his first test drive for Mercedes in mid-January and now wants to make sure he puts the experience to good use. "Now, I want to use every minute for getting to know the car," said Schumacher, whose Toyota contract expired at the end of last season. "After all, I'm new to the DTM business and would have to get to know everything and used to racing the car."
And after such a positive start, Mercedes bosses in Stuttgart are expecting an answer by the end of the month.