Crushed Portugal should be proud, says Ronaldo, Nani

Portugal should be proud of their performance at Euro 2012, even if their campaign ended in the crushing defeat in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals to holders Spain, forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani insisted.

"We didn't lack for conviction but we were unlucky. That's penalties for you," said Ronaldo, whose frustration was apparent after he did not even get to take his kick as Portugal's final penalty-taker, Cesc Fabregas had already wrapped things up at 4-2 to Spain, meaning there was no way back.

Spain keeper and Ronaldo's Real Madrid clubmate Iker Casillas had ensured as much by saving from Joao Moutinho while Bruno Alves hit the crossbar.

"We really gave it all we had, and it's difficult to go out on penalties. We showed a lot of quality," said Manchester United star Nani, who put away his kick after appearing to push Alves down the pecking order.

"In the end Spain simply had more luck than we did. But people in Portugal can be proud of their team. We are sad as we deserved to be in the final - but we can go home with our heads held high," Nani insisted in an echo of England coach Roy Hodgson, whose own side tasted defeat in a penalty shootout against Italy in the quarter-finals.

The loss after 120 tense minutes had ended goalless meant Portugal failed to reach only their second trophy match after Euro 2004 on home soil.

Yet it appeared their penalty-taking strategy had backfired with Ronaldo saved until last - too late to make a difference.

Ronaldo's and Casillas' clubmate Pepe insisted penalties could have no bearing on who was the better team.

"Spotkicks are always a lottery. During the game we were organised and they hardly had a shot on goal - it's so sad we lost the shootout," said the central defender.

"I think people will be proud of us, even so, for what we achieved here.

"We are a young group and we will have other opportunities in future."

Striker Nelson Oliveira insisted that the Portuguese could not be faulted for their showing against the world and European champions.

"Of course we are unhappy we didn't make it but we should hold our heads high. We did all we could but sadly that wasn't quite enough to get to the final.

"We played very well and absolutely matched Spain all the way."

Euro soccer: Spain faces sternest test against Portugal in first semi-final

DONETSK (Reuters) - Holders Spain will be given their sternest Euro 2012 test yet against Iberian rivals Portugal and their in-form forward Cristiano Ronaldo in the first semi-final later on Wednesday.

All eyes will be on Spain coach Vincente del Bosque to see if he continues his policy of not starting with a striker.

The scampering Ronaldo is set to be marked by Real Madrid team mate Alvaro Arbeloa in Donetsk.

Germany and Italy will meanwhile be continuing their preparations for Thursday's second semi-final in Warsaw.

The final is in Kiev on Sunday.

Italy advance as England pay penalty once more

England's penalty curse struck again as Italy advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2012 with victory in a shoot-out after a tense quarter-final duel finished 0-0 following extra-time.

The Italians will face Germany in the semi-finals in Warsaw on Thursday after England's campaign came to a bitterly familiar end with their sixth defeat in a penalty shoot-out in seven attempts since 1990.

Italy clinched a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win after Ashley Young sent his spot-kick against the bar and Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon saved from Ashley Cole to seal England's fate.

The winning penalty was struck by substitute Alessandro Diamanti to leave England desolate once more at Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

England coach Roy Hodgson said his side had given their all.

"We've gone out without being beaten with our heads held high and making the country proud," he told BBC television.

"Both Ashleys were knocking in the penalties in practice but in reality practice doesn't translate into the real thing as you can't take into account energy levels that are run down, tired legs and minds.

"They got their bit of luck and it wasn't to be for us."

England skipper Steven Gerrard was equally dejected.

"The players have given eveything," he told the BBC. "I thought we might have the luck in the penalty shoot-out but it wasn't to be. The lads at the back were fantastic, we have done the country proud but we go home heartbroken and that is hard to take."

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli agreed that penalties were a lottery but insisted the better side had won.
"We did the things we were supposed to do but then we had some luck and we did well," he said.
"When you have penalties anything can happen but we really deserved it."
England had taken a 2-1 lead in the shoot-out after Riccardo Montolivo hit his spot-kick wide but Young ceded England's advantage when he crashed his penalty off the bar.

Antonio Nocerino scored to restore Italy's advantage and when Buffon saved from Cole, Diamanti stepped up to clinch victory.

The defeat extended England's poor record of never having won a knockout game on foreign soil against a top-level football nation.

But England could have few complaints after being comprehensively outplayed over the 120 minutes of normal and extra-time, Italy with 35 attempts to England's 9 while enjoying 64 percent of possession.

The tone for a surprisingly open first half had been set after only three minutes, when Daniele De Rossi rattled the woodwork with a thumping shot from 25 yards that had Joe Hart beaten.

England responded immediately and squandered a golden chance to take the lead when Glen Johnson's effort was superbly saved by Buffon.
With their confidence lifted England enjoyed their best spell of the match and a curling Johnson cross saw Wayne Rooney's diving header fly over with the Manchester United striker under pressure from Ignazio Abate.

But having soaked up the early English pressure, Italy soon got into their stride with man-of-the-match Andrea Pirlo springing England's offside trap to send Mario Balotelli racing clear on 25 minutes.

The Manchester City striker took just a fraction too long, however, and John Terry was able to snuff out the danger with a fine cover tackle.

Italy finished the half the stronger of the two sides, Antonio Cassano testing Hart with a long-range effort which was parried wide.

Cassano then turned provider when he headed back across goal for Balotelli, only for Joleon Lescott to get a vital touch ahead of his City team-mate.
Italy's dominance stretched into the second half, and England continued to live dangerously.

De Rossi wasted a golden chance to put his side ahead when he hooked wide after Claudio Marchisio headed Hart's punched clearance into the box.

Hart then rescued England with a fine double double-save, parrying De Rossi's long-range effort before blocking Balotelli's follow-up. Montolivo shot over the bar but England breathed again.

Hodgson made a positive double substitution on the hour-mark, bringing on Andy Carroll for Danny Welbeck and replacing James Milner with Theo Walcott.

The changes had little effect, however, with England unable to exploit Walcott's pace, leaving the Arsenal winger a frustrated spectator.

Prandelli meanwhile rang the changes for Italy, bringing on Diamanti for Cassano and Nocerino for De Rossi.

Diamanti was soon into the action testing Hart with a firm low shot. Nocerino also had a chance to snatch victory two minutes from time, latching onto Marchisio's lovely pass only for Johnson to block.

Italy again dominated in extra-time, Diamanti's curling cross eluding the entire English defence and hitting the post.

Then with five minutes remaining Nocerino had the ball in the net from Diamanti's across only to be correctly ruled off-side.

Ronaldo roadshow blitzes Czechs

Portugal fans and neutrals hoping for a splash edition of the Cristiano Ronaldo roadshow had their appetite satisfied as he single-handedly steered his country into the Euro 2012 semi-finals by beating the Czech Republic 1-0.

Ronaldo showed the same kind of sparkle that saw the Portugal captain dominate play and claim a brace in his team's 2-1 defeat of the Netherlands last Sunday - goals he had dedicated to his son, who turned two the same day.

So often maligned for failing to recapture his Real Madrid form when wearing the Portugal shirt, Ronaldo's 79th-minute header took his Euro 2012 tally to three, making him joint top scorer with Germany's Mario Gomez - plus Russia's Alan Dzagoev and Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, whose teams failed to advance from the group stage.

And he was delighted at sending the Portuguese into a semi-final against either titleholders Spain or France.

"Our great aim is to get to the final. We have a great squad and now I'd say the chances are 50-50 and we just have to believe in it," Ronaldo said afterwards.

"I think it was a fantastic game for Portugal. In the first 20 minutes we weren't that good but we improved a lot. It was a perfect game for us, with a lot of opportunities. The Czechs didn't have one opportunity.

"We had the quality to reach the semi-finals. We are happy but know the next match will be difficult but the team is very mature and we are ready," Ronaldo added.

Defeated Czech captain and goalkeeper Petr Cech hailed Ronaldo, despite the player having ended his country's Euro 2012 dreams.

"It's not a good feeling. We lost. We're out. They were better, and they deserved the win," he said.

"Ronaldo is one of the top two players in the world, and he proved it with his goal, with that great header. It's really difficult to defend against him. He has shown again that he is one of the best players in the world.

Czech coach Michal Bilek said that even the intense preparation they had made to try to stifle Ronaldo was insufficient.
"We really prepared hard to cope with him, but he is a player of the greatest class," said Bilek.

"He was able to rise to the occasion."

A divisive figure around whom Portugal are often accused of creating a cult of personality, Ronaldo won the loudest cheer from his fans in Warsaw's National Stadium when the announcer reeled off each squad, but earned catcalls from Czech supporters when he stepped up to take free kicks.

The high-profile player - officially the most-tweeted at Euro 2012 according to UEFA - is often a target for his opponents' supporters.

Denmark's fans even tried to get under his skin by chanting the name of his nemesis in the Spanish league, Lionel Messi, during their country's 3-2 loss to Portugal last week.

That, coupled with repeated media criticism, has led Portugal to rally round their captain and, earlier in the tournament, to shun the press in protest - though the man himself did speak to Portuguese television.

The 27-year-old striker struggled early in the half against the Czechs in part because of the lacklustre performance of his team-mates.

The frustration showed as he and Czech midfielder Petr Jiracek avoided a booking from referee Howard Webb after they angrily pawed at each other in front the Czechs' goal.

He was finally to find his stride 25 minutes in, when midfielder Joao Moutinho fed him the ball, only for Czech keeper and captain Petr Cech to block his strike.

Eight minutes later his attempted bicycle kick went wide, followed almost immediately by an off-target free kick.

Seconds into stoppage time, he produced a sublime piece of skill in turning Michal Kadlec and chesting the ball down before letting rip only for it to hit the post.

After the return from the dressing room, Ronaldo was everywhere, hitting the post again with a free kick, and setting up a string of further attacks.
Dominating play, Portugal continued to pound the Czech defence, and Moutinho's cross found an advancing Ronaldo, who dived to head past a floundering Cech and put Portugal through.

His winning performance in the match had an extra edge because he had failed to shine in the same stadium when Portugal met Poland in a February 29 friendly that marks the arena's opening.

Spain united as French squabble

GNIEWINO, Poland (Reuters) - Spain must beat France in a competitive match for the first time if they are to reach the Euro 2012 semi-finals and the latest French squabbling can only have boosted their chances of finally vanquishing Les Bleus in a major tournament.

Off-pitch quarrels among the French players led to an ignominious early exit from the 2010 World Cup and officials and players have admitted that fur was flying again after Tuesday's 2-0 Group D loss to Sweden.

Holders Spain, by contrast, have presented a typically upbeat and united front ahead of the quarter-final in Donetsk, the winners of which will meet Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal or the Czech Republic in the last four.

Of the six tournament meetings between Spain and France, the French have won five, including a 2-1 quarter-final victory at Euro 2000 when Spain's Raul missed a late penalty and a 3-1 success in a last-16 clash at the 2006 World Cup.

Raul's successor at centre forward Fernando Torres believes his team learned a lesson from the World Cup reverse that helped turn them into world champions and said it was high time Spain ended their poor run against the French.

As well as Torres, goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina, midfielders Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta and defender Sergio Ramos all survive from the squad for the France match in Hanover six years ago.

DEFYING PREDICTIONS

"We hope that this time our experience will tip the balance in favor of Spain," Torres said on his personal website (www.fernando9torres.com) on Thursday.
"It's always a good time to end a negative streak and this national team is used to breaking records and defying predictions," the 28-year-old added.
"We are hoping that France do not rediscover their best form but if they do we will be prepared. Today, Spain is very tough to beat when on top form."

While Spain have a full squad available, France coach Laurent Blanc will have to do without the suspended Philippe Mexes and the inexperienced Laurent Koscielny will pair up with Adil Rami in central defense.

Blanc is expected to field Yohan Cabaye again in the midfield with Alou Diarra and Yann Mvila, with Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery playing with Jeremy Menez up front and Samir Nasri on the bench, at least at the start.

Real Madrid's Benzema, who knows the Spanish players well from La Liga, told reporters after the Sweden game that one positive about Spain's possession-based playing style was that there was usually plenty of space and France would be trying to exploit it.

"Spain will be the favorites, they are one of the best teams in the world," he added.

Midfielder Florent Malouda picked out his Chelsea team mate Torres, who appears to be coming back into form after a long fallow period, as Spain's dangerman.

"He ended the season very well and he will be looking to show he is one of the best strikers in the world," Malouda said on Wednesday.

"He is a threat. He can score two or three goals and blow up the whole defense on his own."

Portugal in semis; tops Czechs 1-0 on Ronaldo goal

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — After his powerful header lifted Portugal into the semifinals of the European Championship, Cristiano Ronaldo looked ahead at the possibilities, not behind at his achievement.

Ronaldo scored in the 79th minute for a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday. The Portuguese dominated the action and Ronaldo hit the post twice, then finally delivered. He headed a cross by Joao Moutinho straight at the ground and up past the flailing hands of Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was spectacular in defeat.

"Expectations are high," the Real Madrid star said. "We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and take one step at a time. We have to win the next game. The goal is to get to the final."

This was Ronaldo's third goal in two games and it rewarded the Portuguese for the relentless pressure they applied all match.

"I remember in the last game I hit the post twice, too," Ronaldo said. "But the most important thing is I managed to score this time, we won and are in the semifinals. Now it is big smiles and good music."

Portugal will play Spain or France in the semifinals in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Wednesday. It is one victory from its second European Championship final in eight years; the Portuguese lost at home to Greece in the 2004 title game.

Ronaldo already provided some leadership and two goals to get past the Netherlands in group play, and his encore Thursday was huge.

"It's just that Ronaldo is better. He can play with his head, with both feet," Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek said. "That decided the match."

His goal finally punished the tactics of the Czechs, who had parked most of their players in front of Cech for much of the game.

The Czechs did not have a shot on goal, and only two attempts during the match. The Euro 2004 runners-up had 20 attempts.

"The Czechs didn't have a single chance," Ronaldo said.

The strategy worked for a while. In first-half injury time, Ronaldo deadened a cross from Raul Meireles on his chest, turned and with two touches set up a right-foot shot that had Cech beaten before it crashed against the near post.

In the 49th, Ronaldo again clipped the post on a free kick from 25 yards.
"In the second half, we lost our strength and determination and they had one chance that decided the match," Bilek said.

By then, Ronaldo had hit the post four times in two games. When he finally scored and was mobbed by teammates, he went over to the TV camera with a beaming smile and offered a victory kiss.

"We have suffered," Portugal forward Nani said. "But we always wanted to win and that's what we showed. We were superior, then we scored and we really deserved this result."

At the final whistle, Ronaldo dropped to his knees with clenched fists, then rose as Miguel Veloso jumped into his arms in celebration. For the second match in a row, Ronaldo has dominated for Portugal. And as a result, Portugal is still in the hunt for its first major title.

"We had a lot of chances," Ronaldo said. "We had a great unity on the pitch and that is why we have reached our goal."

The Czechs started without captain Tomas Rosicky, who hadn't recovered from an Achilles tendon injury to start in the country's most important game since it lost in the Euro 2004 semifinals

German spot-kick kings eager to avoid penalties

Germany may be the tournament spot-kick kings, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has insisted he would rather avoid a penalty shoot-out against Greece in Friday's Euro 2012 quarter-final.

The Germans have an incredible record when it comes to penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments, while Greece have failed to convert all three of their most recent spot-kicks.

Germany last lost a spot-kick contest in the 1976 European championships final when they were beaten by Czechoslovakia in a penalty shoot-out decider.

Since then they have won five straight spot-kick contests at major tournaments.

Few English fans will need reminding of their semi-final shoot-out defeat at Wembley to Germany at Euro 96, while the Germans have vanquished in all four penalty shoot-outs at World Cups - though Neuer said he would prefer no penalties

"We wouldn't want penalties, we want to decide the game over 90 minutes. Everything is possible, including penalties and we'll do our best," said Neuer, with memories of the Champions League final loss no doubt fresh for several Germans.

The 26-year-old was in goal when Bayern Munich lost to Chelsea last month at the Allianz Arena when Blues veteran Didier Drogba fired home the winning spot-kick past Neuer on a miserable night in Munich for the Germans.

Germany vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is fit to face Greece after an ankle strain, was the Bavarians' fall guy as his spot-kick hit the post against Chelsea which set up the Blues victory.

Greece coach Fernando Santos has said his team will be ready for a penalty shoot-out, despite their lack of luck when it comes to penalties recently.

Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis missed a penalty as their Euro 2012 opener ended in a 1-1 draw with Poland, which was Greece's third straight penalty failure after they missed two in a warm-up match against Armenia.

But Santos said his team are ready to go toe-to-toe with the Germans if their quarter-finals is decided on penalties.

"Things are really simple, if we have a penalty shoot-out, we will have five players ready and a goalkeeper who will be ready to save from the Germans," said the 57-year-old.

"We haven't been that good at penalties lately, but we saw the Chelsea and Bayern Munich final, some players make it, some don't.

"There is a great deal of luck needed in a shoot out and we will need a bit of that."

Hodgson happy with Rooney's return

England manager Roy Hodgson has brushed off concerns over the form and fitness of Wayne Rooney after the striker's ring-rusty comeback in the victory over Ukraine.

England returned to their Krakow training camp in buoyant mood on Wednesday after Rooney's goal in his first game back since suspension steered Hodgson's side into a Euro 2012 quarter-final meeting with Italy.
Although Rooney's 29th goal for England proved the difference between the two teams, it was a far from vintage display by the Manchester United striker, who had not played a competitive game since May 13.
The 26-year-old squandered a straightforward chance to head England into the lead in the first-half, and struggled to locate the sureness of touch he can usually take for granted when on form.
Hodgson acknowledged Rooney was some way off his best but believes the England striker will be better after ending his enforced exile.
"In training he looks terrific but there's always that little difference between training performances and then having to go out in an important match where there's big pressure from everybody," Hodgson said.
"The important thing he did was perform really well for the team, the goal is fine and, to be fair, you don't need to be Wayne Rooney to score that goal.
"But you do need to be Wayne Rooney to give the type of performance he gave throughout where he and Danny Welbeck both worked so hard to make sure we got the defensive organisation that we wanted."
Hodgson was also unconcerned by an incident in the second half on Tuesday when Rooney surged clear of the Ukrainian defence only to be forced to check back as the cover caught up with him.
Rooney's failure to elude the Ukraine defence was attributed to a miscommunication with Welbeck rather than any problem with the player's fitness, Hodgson said.
"He was trying to play Danny Welbeck in and unfortunately Danny didn't make the right run in that situation, he cut across him rather than pulling away," Hodgson said.
"I think Wayne was actually waiting for him to pull away so he could slip him in, but he decided to make a run across and take the take the defender in the same area.
"But I don't have any doubts about his physical fitness. I don't have any doubts about his mental fitness."

Patient Germany plan to outrun Greeks

GDANSK (Reuters) - Germany are planning to bide their time and eventually wear down defensive-minded Greece when they meet in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Friday.

The Germans advanced through Group B with three wins from three games but are bracing for a much tougher defense than what they faced against Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark.
Greece conceded only five goals in 10 qualifiers, though they also let in three goals in three Group A games, advancing as runners-up behind the Czech Republic.
"We got a small taste of what we can expect when we faced the Danes," said Germany holding midfielder Sami Khedira of their 2-1 victory on Sunday.
"Greece are a very compact team, tactically very strong, well organized and aggressive. They are also fast on the breaks and if you see that they had three or four chances in the tournament so far and scored three goals you can tell they are masters of efficiency.
"So patience will be necessary from our side. We have to move because if we remain static it will be very difficult against them. We have to wear them out, tire them out and keep moving."
Germany have yet to find the form that took them to third place in the World Cup two years ago but they have shown they have matured into a team who may lack spark but can be equally effective when it comes to winning games.
"We are calmer now, more clever and we keep our composure for longer," said Khedira when asked to compare this team with that of two years ago. "We are more concentrated over 90 minutes," he said.
BOATENG BACK
The Germans, who will have defender Jerome Boateng back after missing the last game through suspension, will meet either England or Italy in the last four should they advance against the seemingly weaker Greeks.
Asked whether he was happy to have avoided a potential match-up with world and European champions Spain in the semi-finals if they beat Greece, Khedira refused to speculate.
"Our focus is only on Greece because you know surprises happen in football."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a fervent supporter of the team, will be hoping there are none as she attends the game but her presence could trigger the ire of Greek fans, angered by Berlin's backing of an austerity plan for the debt-ridden nation.
Both teams have played down the political connotations of the game and Greece will be looking to cause an upset only on the pitch, even without suspended captain Giorgos Karagounis.
Greece coach Fernando Santos has yet to reveal who will replace the inspirational midfielder but it is likely to be Grigoris Makos, a more defensive player, who will try to break up German attacks early.
"There is an atmosphere of self-sacrifice in this team," said midfielder Kostas Katsouranis. "All 11 players will give it all we have got. We have been successful as a team where each one player plays for the team, and that is what we will do again."
             

Italy through as Spain edge Croatia at Euro 2012

Italy put behind them a nightmare run-in both on and off the pitch to reach the Euro 2012 quarter-finals with a 2-0 defeat of Ireland - 18 years to the day that the Irish had stunned them with an opening 1-0 victory in the 1994 World Cup finals.

Italian fears that they would fall victim to a biscotto - or a biscuit - stitch up in Group C's other game also failed to materialise as holders Spain defeated Croatia 1-0 to top the group and leave the Croatians to take an early flight home.
It also marked a flat end to their 43-year-old coach Slaven Bilic's reign as he leaves to take over at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Spain will face the Group D runners-up in their quarter-final while Italy will play that group's runners-up.
Goals by Antonio Cassano and substitute Mario Balotelli ensured that the two most controversial players on the squad made headlines for the right reasons - though the latter looked to be keen on ruining his moment with some choice words.
Fellow substitute Leonardo Bonucci looked to have done him a favour by covering his mouth.
However, the victory and the place in the last eight put to bed their poor form coming into the finals and it said it all that this was their first win since last November.
With the added pressure of the matchfixing scandal that blew up just as they were settling into their pre-tournament training camp coach Cesare Prandelli could be rightly proud of his players.
However, Prandelli - who replaced Marcello Lippi after the humiliating first round exit at the 2010 World Cup finals - took note of the worrying fashion in which his side slowed considerably in the final quarter as they have done in their previous two games.
"Yes, I suffered a lot, but there was qualification at stake! Until the 75th minute we were comfortable, but after that, the Irish finished really strongly," said Prandelli.
The Irish - who wore black armbands in remembrance of six people killed when loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force sprayed a pub in Northern Ireland the day of the 1994 World Cup game - finished without a point.
However, they could take some heart out of the manner in which they upped their performance against the Italians - though it didn't take much to do so.
It was a sad way to end for what is likely to be the final bow at this level for veterans such as goalkeeper Shay Given, winger Damien Duff, who captained the side on his 100th appearance, and regular skipper Robbie Keane.
Their 73-year-old Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni was nevertheless happy with their final performance.
"We played much better this evening than we did against Spain and Croatia, we played with more personality and respected what we had said about credibility and commitment," he said.
Spain didn't produce one of their most scintillating performances against the Croats and could count themselves a little fortunate not to have come off worse had the Croats not had a worthy penalty appeal turned down by Wolfgang Stark.
"It was a difficult, intense match," admitted Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, the man who led the Furia Roja to World Cup glory in 2010.
"They got men behind the ball and stayed back and kept their shape well, only coming out on the counter-attack. Yet we had expected as much."
Bilic accepted that Spain had been the better side and instead bid a moving farewell to the side.
"We have a great team and this team hasn't said their last word, they have stil more to come and I just want to say a big thank you to my players, I have enjoyed the six years, every moment.
"I will never be as proud as I am now as being coach of Croatia is a unique experience."

Euro soccer: Germany, Portugal secure quarter-final berths

KIEV (Reuters) - Cool-headed Germany extended their Euro 2012 winning streak to reach the last eight with a solid 2-1 victory over Denmark on Sunday as two goals from an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo put Portugal through and sent the Dutch packing.

Lukas Podolski marked his 100th appearance for Germany with a 19th-minute goal in Lviv, before Michael Krohn-Dehli leveled for Denmark five minutes later.
Conceding an equalizer briefly threatened the Germans with a shock elimination depending on the outcome of the other Group B decider but defender Lars Bender scored a clinical late goal to set up a quarter-final clash with Greece.
"There were positive spirits out there tonight. We were focused on getting a goal. It was a bit of luck that the ball came to me but you don't think a lot about it, you just shoot it in," Bender said.
In Kharkiv, Portugal eliminated the Netherlands to the dismay of their thousands of orange-clad fans who had made their team's three group games in the city virtual home matches.
Ronaldo cancelled out Rafael van der Vaart's sweet early goal for the Dutch with a 28th-minute equalizer and the world's most expensive player lashed in the winner 16 minutes from time.
"This tournament we were just not good enough to reach the knockout phase," Van der Vaart told Dutch TV.
The Netherlands, runners-up in the 2010 World Cup, lost all three group games, the first to Denmark and the second to bitter rivals Germany.
"Our confidence was gone since the opening match and now we just have to start all over again," said Van der Vaart.
PERFECT RECORD
Germany completed the European Championship group stage with a perfect record for the first time after Joachim Loew's team had set a German record in qualifying, winning all 10 games.
Germany now face Greece, who pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament when they beat Russia 1-0 and sent Dick Advocaat's side home.
Striker Fernando Torres called Russia's surprise elimination a "wake-up call" for defending champions Spain who play their last group match against Croatia on Monday.
The Germany v Greece fixture pits two countries against each other whose ties have been stretched to breaking point during the last two years of economic turmoil.
A win for Greece over the euro-zone paymaster, which has forced a strict austerity program on struggling Athens, would delight the economically suffering Greeks.
Thousands of broken-hearted Poles who had watched their team exit the tournament the night before after a 1-0 defeat by the Czechs turned out to applaud their team in Warsaw's giant fan zone.
"We realize we could have done more, but we thank you for the positive energy you gave us, that you came and were with us," said captain Jakub Blaszczykowski.
"Never mind, never mind," chanted the crowd.
The English FA became the latest football authority to have disciplinary proceedings launched against it by UEFA following an attempted pitch invasion by fans at the Group D match against Sweden.
Spain play Croatia in the Group C decider on Tuesday and Italy face eliminated Ireland. Italy lie third on two points and will be knocked out even if they win if Spain and Croatia play out a scoring draw of two goals each or more.
The fear that Spain and Croatia will contrive a 2-2 draw is growing among the Italian media.
With Croatia under investigation by UEFA over charges of racism, coach Slaven Bilic appealed to racist fans to stay way.
"I don't like these people, I don't want these people supporting us," he said. "We don't want them in the stadium. We are angry with these stupid fans as well. We need to stop them forever."
Injuries also began to mount on the 10th day of the tournament.
England winger Theo Walcott suffered a hamstring tweak in a practice session and is struggling to be fit for the final Group D match against Ukraine whose leading striker Andriy Shevchenko missed training with a knee problem and is also doubtful.

Impressive Egypt adjust sights to Cup of Nations

Egypt switch attention from the World Cup to the Africa Cup of Nations Friday when they host the Central African Republic behind closed doors in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The Pharaohs share with Tunisia the distinction of being the only 2014 World Cup hopefuls with perfect records after two rounds of mini-league action this month.
An expected 2-0 home win over Mozambique was followed by an unexpected 3-2 away win over Guinea through a brace from midfield talisman Mohamed Aboutrika and a late Mohamed Salah winner.
Egypt have reached the World Cup just once since Africa launched its own qualifying competition for the 1962 finals -- slim pickings given the North African nation have captured the Cup of Nations a record seven times.
"Every Egyptian dreams that we will qualify for the World Cup in Brazil," says former USA coach Bob Bradley, who succeeded Hassan Shehata after Egypt surprisingly failed to make the 2012 Cup of Nations finals.
"But now we must change our concentration toward the Cup of Nations and two matches against the Central Africa Republic. We made a good start in the World Cup and now we continue to work hard," he told domestic television.
The first leg 2013 qualifier against the Wild Beasts was scheduled for late February but had to be cancelled when rioting in Port Said after a league match involving local club Al Masry and Cairo giants Al Ahly claimed 74 lives.
Egyptian authorities have permitted only international fixtures since the tragedy with spectators barred, and the national team plays at the Borg El Arab military stadium in Alexandria to ensure security.
A lack of domestic football may have blunted the competitive edge of his largely local-based squad, but Bradley gets to spend far more time with his stars and numerous warm-up games were played in the Middle East and Sudan.
The American coach has recalled Belgium-based striker Mohamed Al Gabbas after a near three-year absence in place of unavailable Emad Moteab for a first round encounter likely to end in a home victory.
Central African Republic launched their World Cup campaign two weeks ago with a 2-0 home victory over Botswana only to lose by the same scoreline last Sunday away to Ethiopia.
The other 13 fixtures this weekend are second legs with former title holders Algeria, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria among the sides in action.
DR Congo appear 'bankers' to reach the round of 30 having built a 4-0 lead in the Seychelles and it is hard to see Algeria or Cameroon failing after establishing one-goal advantages in the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau respectively.
Improving Congo Brazzaville take a 3-1 lead to Uganda, Nigeria enjoy home advantage over Rwanda after a goalless first encounter, and Ethiopia appear in gravest danger of elimination having been held 0-0 by Benin in Addis Ababa.
Benin and Ethiopia, often little more than African football cannon fodder, lead their World Cup groups with a win and a draw each and can boast in-form strikers in Razak Omotoyossi and Saladin Said.
The 16 participants in the Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea this year received byes into the final round scheduled for September and October and hosts South Africa qualify automatically

Dutch on the brink, Portugal's hopes at Euro 2012 revived

Holland were left on the verge of exiting Euro 2012 at the group stage on Wednesday just two years after they looked set for a golden era when they reached the World Cup final.

Two goals by German striker Mario Gomez proved enough as the Euro 2008 finalists saw off the Dutch 2-1 and left them pointless after two games of Group B.
The Dutch will have to beat Portugal in their final group game.
That looks an even tougher task after a stunning strike by substitute Silvestre Varela three minutes from time gave them a 3-2 win over a resilient Danish side that had come back from 2-0 thanks to two Nicklas Bendtner headers.
Germany lead the group on six points while the Danes and the Portuguese have three apiece.
Gomez struck twice in the first-half, both goals created by Bastien Schweinsteiger, to take his tally to three for the tournament and level with Russia's Alan Dzagoev at the top of the scoring charts.
Whilst Robin van Persie got one back in the second-half, some relief for coach Bert van Marwijk whose loyalty to the Arsenal star had started to look foolhardy in the extreme after a woeful first-half, the Dutch still came up short.
More worrying still ahead of a must win game was Arjen Robben's show of petulance when he was replaced late on.
He showed his disgust by walking off the opposite side of the pitch and sullenly walked round to the side of the dugout.
Added to the discontent publicly expressed by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart it does not augur well for the lead-up to the Portugal clash, though, the coach tried to drum up some enthusiasm for the challenge.
"We still have a chance to go through and we have to believe in it," said van Marwijk defiantly.
"Thousands of fans have come here and we have to do well for them, we have to beat Portugal now to have a chance."
For his German counterpart Joachim Loew the 'door was now open to the quarter-finals' and he did not exactly give a ringing endorsement of Holland's chances of getting the win they need at the very least.
"Holland created a few chances, which our defence dealt with, but I had the feeling Holland were physically dead after 60 minutes."
Portugal made life more difficult for themselves than they shoudl have done and would have been easy winners had not their start player and captain Cristiano Ronaldo not missed a hatful of chances.
The Real Madrid hotshot was also ridiculed after the last of his misses by hearing the Danish fans chant the name of his Argentinian nemesis in the Spanish league scoring charts Lionel Messi.
But he had a pithy riposte.
"Do you know what he (Messi) was doing this time last year? He was going out of the Copa America in the quarter-finals."
Ronaldo will hope that his campaign lasts even that far.

Messi haunts misfiring Ronaldo even at Euro

Cristiano Ronaldo could do with a goal -- and without mention of Lionel Messi at Euro 2012.

The 27-year-old Portuguese superstar has yet to score in the tournament and a succession of missed chances in the thrilling 3-2 win over Denmark ended with Danish fans chanting 'Messi! Messi!'.
It was the last thing the Real Madrid player needed to hear the name of the three-time world player of the year being chanted after the Argentinian superstar left Ronaldo trailing in second place in the La Liga scoring charts last season.
Needless to say Ronaldo fired off his own riposte -- hitting its target more effectively than he had done in the match.
"Do you know what he (Messi) was doing this time last year? He was going out of the Copa America in the quarter-finals."
Ronaldo's lack of goals should not come as a complete surprise as he has scored just five times in 15 games at major finals since appearing at Euro 2004 in his homeland.
With the added burden of the captaincy on his shoulders many have wondered -- probably the same people who say that like Messi he leaves his best form at home when he dons his national jersey -- whether he could handle that as well.
However, Portuguese coach Paulo Bento dismissed such thoughts as rubbish.
"I don't like talking about individuals after a match, I always analyse the team performance as a whole.
"We have put together two good performances against two good sides and we are on the right road and we will continue to score goals whether it is Cristiano or someone else.
"Is he wilting under the pressure? That is not my impression.
"He is under the same pressure as the other players, who want to contribute to victory.
"From our point of view he has played two good matches and I am certain that there is not a player in our team who is unhappy with him."
Ronaldo's Real team-mate Pepe -- who did get on the score sheet with a first-half header -- said he had contributed in other ways to the team's crucial victory that kept their hopes alive of reaching the last eight.
"He is one of the best players in the world, in this tournament," said the 29-year-old defender.
"We are happy to help him. He has a lot of responsibilities with regard to us and to Portugal. Today, he wasn't able to score but he has done on other occasions.
"He helped the team and showed his professionalism."
Ronaldo's former Manchester United team-mate Nani said he had no concerns about his skipper.
"Cristiano Ronaldo? He's fine, he is happy like all of us over the victory," said Nani, who created the second goal for Helder Postiga.
"Everyone misses chances. He had good opportunities, but there is still one group match (against Holland), maybe he can score then."

Euro soccer: Germany beat Dutch, Portugal strike late

KIEV (Reuters) - Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday to move within touching distance of the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and Portugal kept their chances alive with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Denmark.

Mario Gomez scored twice for Germany, taking his tally to three goals in two games and leaving the Dutch needing victory over Portugal in their last Group B match to have any chance of progressing.
They are also dependent on Germany beating Denmark. The Danes came back from 2-0 down against Portugal thanks to two close-range headers by Nicklas Bendtner, before substitute Silvestre Varela smashed in the 87th-minute winner.
Germany have six points from two games, Denmark and Portugal have three and the Netherlands none.
Off the pitch, tension was growing between Russia and co-hosts Poland over fighting in which police fired rubber bullets and tear gas and detained 184 people before the countries' Group A match in Warsaw on Tuesday.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had told Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk by telephone that Warsaw bore "full responsibility" for fans' safety and Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Polish fans of provoking the violence.
Ukraine, co-hosting the month-long tournament with Poland, also faced controversy when Germany's foreign minister urged fans not to forget the plight of the former Soviet republic's jailed former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.
"I hope that amid all the enthusiasm focused on the leather ball, the destiny of Yulia Tymoshenko and of all other Ukrainian opposition activists sitting in jail will not be forgotten," the minister, Guido Westerwelle, said.
Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv where Germany played the Netherlands. Like some other European Union countries, Germany is boycotting matches in Ukraine in protest at a case they say is politically motivated.
DUTCH FACE EXIT
Gomez fired the Germans into a 24th-minute lead after turning in the area and firing past keeper Maarten Stekelenburg following a superb Bastian Schweinsteiger pass.
The pair combined again 14 minutes later, with Gomez scoring from a narrow angle on the right before Robin Van Persie cut the deficit with a sweet right-foot shot 17 minutes from time for his team's first goal of the tournament.
Portugal went ahead in Lviv when defender Pepe lost his marker from a corner by Joao Moutinho and headed powerfully past Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.
Portugal doubled their lead in the 36th minute when striker Helder Postiga got in front of defender Simon Kjaer and shot past Anderson from close range after a pass by Nani.
But it looked initially like Portugal, beaten 1-0 by Germany in their opening match, had let the Danes off the hook.
Bendtner scored from almost on the goalline in the 41st minute after Michael Krohn-Dehli looped a header over keeper Rui Patricio, and he nodded powerfully home in the 80th minute.
But three minutes after coming off the bench, Varela took full advantage when he was given time and space and scored from eight meters at the second attempt after fluffing his first shot.
"Their equalizer was unfair at that stage of the match. We could have won the game more comfortably and with less suffering," said Portugal coach Paolo Bento.
The Danes need to pick up at least a point against Germany in the final match on Sunday and hope other results go their way.
"It's a horrible feeling to lose so close to the end ... the Portuguese were a bit luckier. Maybe they were a bit better," coach Morten Olsen told reporters.
Although Nani had an excellent game, making one goal and generally tormenting the Danish defense, Cristiano Ronaldo misfired in front of goal.
The world's most expensive player missed two good scoring opportunities and under-performed in a big international yet again.
TOUGH PUNISHMENT
Tuesday's clashes in Warsaw were an embarrassment for Poland, which apologized for the first serious violence of the tournament.
Many Poles still resent decades of Soviet domination after World War Two and what they regard as Moscow's increasingly nationalistic tone.
Poland promised tough punishment over the clashes, which began as Russian fans marched towards the stadium before the match which ended 1-1. Masked groups attacked the Russians, some of whom fought back, and both battled the police.
Eight people were sentenced on Wednesday, with punishments ranging from fines of 500 zloty ($150) to suspended jail terms of three to 12 months.
Interior Minister Jacket Cichocki said the detained Russians would probably be expelled from Poland and banned from Europe's border-free Schengen area for five years.
UEFA said it was determined the violence would not be repeated, condemning the clashes but also implying that the police show of strength had been over the top.
The Russians were in further trouble when European soccer's ruling body said they would be docked six points in qualifying for the next European Championship if their fans stepped out of line again following disturbances, including setting off fireworks, at their opening match against the Czech Republic in Wroclaw.
             

England hold France, Ukraine win at Euro 2012

Experimental England held in-form France to a 1-1 draw on Monday as Roy Hodgson's patchwork side showed they have every intention of making an impact at Euro 2012, while co-hosts Ukraine thanked two goals from veteran Andriy Shevchenko as they edged Sweden 2-1.

Joleon Lescott's header drew first blood for England before his Manchester City teammate Samir Nasri thundered an equaliser past another club colleague, England keeper Joe Hart.
Group D now looks wide open after England kept pace with the stylish French, unbeaten in 22 games, in sultry conditions at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk.
Hodgson, brought in to replace Fabio Capello barely a month before the event, saw the result as a point won - even though they could only hold the lead for nine minutes after Lescott's opener.
"I think we played well as we played against a tough team," said Hodgson.
"We were very disciplined and to finish 1-1 and ask the questions of them we did we've got to be happy.
French coach Laurent Blanc said the result was a fair one.
"We're not entirely thrilled, but we're not entirely disappointed either," Blanc said.
"We could have lost this game had we not reacted (after England scored), so that's one of the positives. But I think if you look at the game, the side that played the most football was France."
A bright point for England was a strong showing by 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a surprise starter on the left side of midfield ahead of Stewart Downing.
With a useful point under their belts England next face Sweden in Kiev on Friday while France take on Ukraine in Donetsk.
The mood in those respective camps will be markedly different after Ukraine came from behind to score a 2-1 success over Sweden where a former and a current AC Milan star hogged the headlines.
Current San Siro favourite Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the Swedes ahead seven minutes after the break following a tense opening period after Andriy Yarmolenko failed to cut out Sebastian Larsson's cross. Kim Kallstrom squared for Ibrahimovic and the Milan forward scored from close range.
Then former Milan superstar Shevchenko, given a vote of confidence by coach and fellow former European Player of the Year Oleg Blokhin, turned the match on its head with two headers which belied the fact the 35-year-old Ukraine captain had missed more than half the season through injury.
He headed in the equaliser three minutes after Ibrahimovic's goal and then made it 48 goals in 108 international appearances with the winner on 62 minutes.
First, he beat marker Olof Mellberg to head powerfully home and then outjumped Ibrahimovic to head in at the near post following a Oleg Gusev corner.
Shevchenko immediately raced down the touchline to embrace Blokhin.
The Swedes should have levelled at the death as Ibrahimovic flicked on for Johan Elmander, but the former Bolton man just returning from injury flashed his shot off target.
Afterwards Shevchenko was ecstatic.
"I feel great - it was an historic game for us, it's a great victory.
"I feel like 20 years, not 35!"

France reflect on what might have been

France's players admitted frustration after failing to turn their dominance into victory against England in their Euro 2012 opener but took heart from their reaction to falling behind.

Laurent Blanc's side enjoyed 60 percent of possession and registered 15 shots on target to England's one at Donbass Arena on Monday but had to settle for only a point after Samir Nasri cancelled out Joleon Lescott's opener.
Pre-match predictions had centred around the likelihood of England being made to defend for long periods and although they started the game brightly, Roy Hodgson's men were forced to retreat in the second half as France took control.
Both teams had insisted in the build-up that their opponents were the favourites but Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda admitted that his side might have come away with all three points had they been more clinical.
"We're not really satisfied -- it's a bit frustrating," said the 31-year-old, the most experienced player in France's squad with 78 caps.
"We wanted to win to start the competition well but looking at the start (of the match), it's a good result. We reacted well to England's goal.
"We had the possession but it wasn't enough. On a mental level, we weren't unsettled because the foundation of our play allows us to resume control at any moment. It was good to stay calm but we needed to do more."
His team-mate Yohan Cabaye admitted to feeling "a bit disappointed" but Karim Benzema said France's ability to rediscover their passing rhythm after a difficult start was a good sign.
"The first few minutes were a bit timid from us and we paid the price," said the Real Madrid striker. "But then we got into it bit by bit, we managed to come back and we made quite a few chances.
"We just lacked a bit of luck, because we moved them around a lot by playing one-touch football.
"It's not a relief (to have avoided defeat). I hope that next time we'll score one more goal than our opponents."
The draw extended France's unbeaten run to 22 matches -- the longest current stretch in international football and one which has helped erase memories of their disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign.
France had been buoyed by encouraging performances in their recent friendly wins over Serbia and Estonia but captain Hugo Lloris said being able to reproduce such a level against England was a real mark of the side's progress.
"We played some really good stuff when you think about the last two years," he said. "Against a really big country, it's a good point."
Blanc conceded he felt "slightly disappointed" and said that France had "played the most football" but he was encouraged by the displays of centre-backs Philippe Mexes and Adil Rami.
The pair have faced criticism over their recent performances and although they were tested by the movement and mobility of England forwards Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck, Blanc praised their application.
"We were aware that in the last two or three games they weren't at their best but we thought they would get back to fitness because they worked very hard," said Blanc.
"I'm very happy with the defensive pairing. They gave a great response. That's the best way to respond -- on the pitch."
France's next Group D assignment sees them tackle Ukraine in Donetsk on Friday. The tournament co-hosts are top of Group D after their 2-1 victory against Sweden in Kiev.

Gerrard salutes 'unbreakable' England

Steven Gerrard hailed England's "unbreakable" defence after managing to frustrate France to earn a crucial 1-1 draw in their Euro 2012 opener.

The England captain led from the front with a tirless performance in central midfield as Roy Hodgson's side dug deep to hang on for a share of the points in sweltering conditions in the Donbass Arena.
Joleon Lescott had headed England into the lead before Samir Nasir fired home a long-range equaliser.
France went on to dominate for long periods in the second half as England faded but Gerrard believes his team-mates' defensive resilience augurs well for the remainder of the tournament.
"I thought we defended really well and were resolute. When we turned over possession, we looked really dangerous so I'm satisfied," Gerrard said.
"Considering we haven't been together so long, I think the lads have taken the tactics on board really quickly.
"We're happy with the point but it only becomes a good point if we go and build on it now and try and we'll try to take the three points against Sweden."
Gerrard meanwhile praised Hodgson for managing to gel the squad together despite only having been in charge for just over a month.
Asked if he was surprised by the speed of England's progress, Gerrard replied: "I'm not, because I know the manager really well and he puts the message across really well.
"But the boys have got to listen and take it on board and I thought tonight, we were unbreakable at times.
"It's a very good sign. To do well in these tournaments, you have to be good defensively and we were tonight."
Gerrard's central midfield partner Scott Parker, who also put in a huge shift in the English engine room, praised the "heart and commitment" of his team-mates.
"I think the one thing we showed today was that we brought a lot of heart and a lot of commitment," the Tottenham midfielder said.
"I don't know if that wins you tournaments but it's certainly a base for us to build on.
"It was a very solid performance against a team that have undoubtedly very, very good individuals who seem to get into pockets all over the pitch; they're very free off their formation.
"It was big hearts and a lot of courage from everyone out there, man to man. Hopefully we can now build on that and get more going forward. The formation stayed tight and we limited them to not a lot of chances, which was pleasing."
Goalscorer Lescott meanwhile said the result would allow for England to look ahead to Friday's clash with Sweden with confidence.
"We can build on this," he said. "It is always nice to score and this was extra special. It is the sort of goal you dream about.
"It is nice to keep clean sheets. We had a gameplan today and we are confident going into every game. We should be confident of getting a win. Our work ethic was important tonight."
France's left-back Patrice Evra said Les Bleus were left frustrated at their failure to break down England, comparing their performance to Chelsea's defence-based victory against Barcelona in the Champions League.
"We are frustrated. I think we played much better. In the end it was a draw and we are a little bit frustrated," the Manchester United star said.
"At times it was like there were 15 bodies on the time at times. It was really difficult for us to find the space.
"They played in the way that Chelsea played against Barcelona. Maybe they want England to play more football but if they win the tournament like that, they will be happy."

Shevchenko delivers fairytale start for Ukraine

Ukraine's former European Player of the Year Andrei Shevchenko rolled back the years as his second-half double inspired the Euro 2012 co-hosts to a come from behind 2-1 win over Sweden in their Group D encounter.

The 35-year-old Ukraine captain took his tally to 48 in 108 international appearances with two superb headers within seven minutes of each other - his opposite number Zlatan Ibrahimovic's neat 52nd minute finish had give the Swedes the lead.
The victory sees Ukraine - who are co-hosting the tournament with Poland - top the table after the other group match between France and England ended 1-1.
"I feel great - it was an historic game for us, it's a victory," grinned Shevchenko, who made his debut back in 1995.
"I feel like 20 years, not 35!
"Thank you to everybody who supported me. It was a very long walk because I had a lot of problems before the European Championships.
"It's such an important competition - I feel fantastic!"
There had been little indication of the fairytale on the evidence of the first-half as Shevchenko looked way off the pace and when he was found free on the right of the box the 35-year-old, who has been struggling with injury for the past year, scuffed his shot and the ball went past the far post.
The Ukrainians carved out the best chances with another veteran Andrei Voronin forcing Andreas Isaksson to punch to safety from long range while one of the younger generation, Andrei Yarmolenko, was also denied by the Swedish 'keeper at closer range.
However, the Swedes should have broken the deadlock in the 40th minute but their captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw his free header just go the wrong side of the far post.
Ibrahimovic struck in the 52nd minute somewhat controversially as a Ukraine player was lying injured but the Swedes played on regardless.
The Ukrainians failed to clear their lines and Kim Kallstrom managed to lose his marker, collect Sebastian Larsson's cross and pass inside to Ibrahimovic, who coolly slotted it into the net and embarked on a typical flamboyant celebration, arm raised straight in the air.
The goal had been coming after the Swedes had come out pumped-up after the half-time break with Markus Rosenberg going close.
However, their lead last justed three minutes as Yarmolenko delivered a superb cross into the area and Shevchenko like days of old got ahead of his marker, veteran Olof Mellberg, to head powerfully into the net.
The crowd, the scorer and his team went beserk and they were to even outdo that noise seven minutes later as from an Oleg Gusev corner Shevchenko nipped in ahead of Ibrahimovic, this time to head in at the near post.
The charismatic striker charged down the touchline to embrace his fellow former European player of the year Oleg Blokhin.
Sweden kept pressing for the equaliser with Kallstrom going the closest with a fierce effort from outside the area which the not always convincing Andrei Pyatov fumbled away and was fortunate that Ibrahimovic was unable to put the rebound past him.
The Swedes should have levelled the game in the dying minutes as Ibrahimovic's divine flick on set up Johan Elmander but showing the rustiness that has seen him only return to action here after a month out he flashed his shot across the post

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says his team need to keep cool heads when they're under pressure late on in a game.

England and France launch their respective quests for major tournament redemption Monday in a high-stakes Group D collision that neither side can afford to lose.

Two years ago, England and France departed the World Cup in South Africa in disgrace after a series of abysmal performances that saw both teams making painfully early exits from the competition.
England were sent packing 4-1 by Germany in the last 16, while France's players triggered a national inquiry after a first-round elimination which followed Les Bleus' notorious training ground mutiny.
Since the nadir of South Africa, France have regrouped impressively, finding a greater sense of unity and cohesion under the guidance of coach Laurent Blanc, who replaced the hapless Raymond Domenech.
Blanc has overseen a resurgence in French fortunes since taking over, lifting them from the low of 27th in the FIFA rankings in 2010 to 14th.
More impressively, the French have arrived at the Euros with the look of a team that is hitting form at the right time.
A fluid 4-0 demolition of Estonia on Monday stretched France's unbeaten streak to 21 games, a run that includes 15 wins and only six draws, while their victims have included Brazil, Germany -- and England.
Blanc also has few selectorial issues to resolve, with only an ankle injury to Yann M'Vila giving him a headache ahead of Monday's opener at the Donbass Arena in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
Alou Diarra is expected to deputise for M'Vila as France line-up in a familiar 4-3-3 which will be spearheaded by the attacking triumvirate of Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery.
France comprehensively outplayed an under-strength England in a 2-1 friendly victory at Wembley in November 2010, but Blanc has sounded a note of caution heading into Monday's meeting.
"It's all well and good to say they're weakened, but what concerns me is that England will play in a certain manner, based on their qualities and their philosophy," Blanc said.
"They'll give everything because when the French are against the English, it raises the stakes. We'll have to be strong. It will be difficult."
Yet while France have enjoyed a steady resurgence since South Africa, England by contrast have spent two years lurching fitfully from one crisis to the next.
A chaotic build-up saw John Terry stripped of the captaincy, which in turn prompted the resignation of manager Fabio Capello in February.
The last-minute appointment of Roy Hodgson left many to conclude that England's Euro 2012 campaign has been holed beneath the waterline before a ball has been kicked, a feeling made more acute by a slew of injuries that have seen Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and Gary Cahill withdraw in the past fortnight.
Throw in the suspension which means Wayne Rooney is unavailable for the opening two games, as well as the long-term injury to Jack Wilshere, and the odds of Hodgson and England enjoying a successful tournament appear even longer.
However Hodgson insists his players believe they can inflict France's first defeat since 2010.
"The players think they can win, no question," Hodgson said. "There's no fear in that respect. There's healthy respect as they deserve to have.
"We know France's players -- many of them play in England -- we know the quality of those players. Our players have come across them week in, week out.
"And we must respect the fact that when you go 21 matches unbeaten you've got a pretty good team there. If you went 21 matches unbeaten in a league that's quite an achievement.
"But I don't get the feeling that our players are in any way cowed by the task ahead of them."

Italy coach looking for team to stay calm under pressure

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says his team need to keep cool heads when they're under pressure late on in a game.

Italy earned a creditable 1-1 draw with European and world champions Spain in their opening Group C match at the European Championship.
After having the better of the first half they came under increasing pressure in the second period and at times late on were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
They took a 61st-minute lead through Antonio Di Natale before Cesc Fabregas equalised just three minutes later.
But towards the end of the game they were allowing the Spaniards chances at an alarming rate.
And it is then that Prandelli says he needs cool heads.
"When you're struggling to get hold of the ball you have to be compact and you need reason not anger," he said.
"When you're tired, those who play with anger get in trouble."
Italy are unlikely to face as stern a challenge in their next two group games against Croatia and then Ireland but the coach believes they can still improve.
But mostly, after his players worked so hard against Spain, he wants them to recover physically before they play Croatia - who opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Ireland - in Poznan on June 14.
"We still have a lot of work to do, we'll analyse this game, every game has its individual story and you need to prepare for it in a certain way," he said.
"I hope we get all our players back to 100 percent."
Although Spain may well be expected to win their next two games, which would make this a point gained for Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says it hasn't changed much for his side.
"We played against a very good team but the result doesn't change much in terms of the table," he said.
"It was a good game, a good result but the truth is it doesn't change anything from before."
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque caused a stir by announcing a starting line-up without a recognised forward.
However, Spain did look more dangerous once Fernando Torres had joined the fray in place of Fabregas.
The Chelsea striker missed two clear chances though, the first when he overran the ball to Buffon and the second when he shot instead of playing in the better placed Jesus Navas.
But Torres - who had a torrid time at Chelsea last season - insisted that his mistakes were not due to a lack of confidence and were simply part of football.
"In the first chance (Buffon) was more ready than me, he touched it (the ball) with his heel, we see that on the replay, but that's football" said Torres.
"It's unfortunate and we all feel it inside but we hope next time it will go in."
Although he was hoping to start, Torres insisted he was just happy to have got some game-time.
"I'm happy for this moment. I felt good and I hope that I'll play in the next game so that I can do what the boss asks of me and that I can score my first goal in this Euros."
Fabregas admitted he was surprised to be in the first 11 but said he has the ability to play in a variety of positions and therefore he was always hopeful.
"There was always this possibility and I always thought I could play," he said.
"I believe I'm able to play in a variety of positions. It was a surprise to see that I was in the 11 but the important thing is the team."

Euro 2012 is crunch for Poland and Greece

Friday's Euro 2012 opener will have the feel of a final, with unheralded hosts Poland all too aware they must make their mark and Greece aiming to bring cheer to their crisis-ravaged homeland.

"The first step is always the most important step, and the first step is the Greece match," said Poland captain Kuba Blaszczykowski, fresh from a stellar season with German double winners Borussia Dortmund.

"I can't hide the fact that this is the most important tournament of my life," the midfielder added.

On paper, Poland are the European championship's weakest team, ranked 62nd in the world by FIFA. They earned their berth only as hosts, like fellow organisers Ukraine.

In contrast, Greece are 15th, while Group A rivals Russia and the Czech Republic stand 13th and 27th.

Greece qualified solidly for the tournament without losing a game, and opponents know it's risky to underestimate the surprise Euro 2004 winners.

The Greeks are mindful of the situation back home.

"We will give 100% in order to give joy to the Greeks who will be with us here and those watching back home," said goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias, of PAOK.

Club team-mate and striker Dimitris Salpingidis underlined the significance of the crunch Friday evening encounter in Warsaw's brand-new National Stadium.

"All three group matches are important, but a good start is half the battle," he said.

Monaco defender Giorgos Tzavellas said they were in fighting mood.
"We don't have anything to fear against Poland."

"I believe we can repeat our effort of 2004 when we spoiled the opener for the home team," he added, referring to Greece's 2-1 defeat of Portugal.

"We respect every opponent in our group. We don't fear anyone. Poland will have the stress and we hope to be the ones to spoil their celebration."
Greece meet the Czechs on June 12 and wrap up their group against Russia on June 16.

The Poles, meanwhile, face Russia on June 12 in one of the most politically-charged matches of Euro 2012, before finishing against the Czechs on June 16.

Blaszczykowski insisted the squad isn't thinking beyond Greece for now.

"It's the first match, and right now, the most important. Before the Greece match, we can't be thinking about the Russia match, and so on," he said.

Today's Poland generation know that fans long for a return to the glory days which saw them finish third in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups.
Over the past decade, Poland have raised and wrecked fans' hopes, with solid qualifying campaigns for the 2002 and 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 turning into poor finals performances.
Poland manager Franciszek Smuda has recrafted the team since taking over in October 2009 after a flunked campaign to reach the 2010 World Cup, with his side's average age now 25.
Having missed that tournament, and not having had to qualify for Euro 2012, Poland will have gone 968 days with nothing but friendlies by Friday.
Smuda, who acknowledges that Russia are the group favorites, has sought to lower expectations.
"It's up to us to give our all to clear the group hurdle. That in itself would be a great success for the lads," he said.

Greece's Portuguese manager Fernando Santos, in charge since 2010, avoided a forecast.

"It will be very difficult for any opposing team to beat us. Nobody is very much better than us," he said.
For Poland and Bordeaux midfielder Ludovic Obraniak, the match has an extra edge.

He made a splash on his debut in an August 2009 home friendly against Greece, scoring both goals in the Poles' 2-0 win.

"It's a crucial match for our team's confidence. Winning would really set us on the right track," he said.

Brazilian president sanctions 2014 World Cup law

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff sanctioned a contentious bill giving FIFA the required guarantees to organize the 2014 World Cup on Wednesday, but one of her vetoes will force football's governing body to negotiate the sale of discounted tickets with the states and cities.

Rousseff approved the sale of alcoholic beverages inside stadiums, the most contentious issue because such sales have been illegal in Brazil but were demanded by FIFA.

One of Rousseff's five vetoes related to 300,000 cheaper tickets being made available for students, the elderly and the poor. The veto allows discounted tickets to be sold in all categories, so FIFA will have to negotiate with local governments. In the original plan, the elderly were already allowed to buy half-priced tickets in all categories.

The Justice Ministry suggested the veto because the original text could go against the country's constitution, something Rousseff described as a "violation" of the federal pact with local governments.

FIFA will also have to negotiate the sale of alcohol inside stadiums with the provincial governments because the current laws in some states were not affected by the new legislation.

Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has said that FIFA's need to deal with local governments shouldn't be considered a problem since the states and cities signed agreements with the governing body and promised to abide by its demands when Brazil was picked as host in 2007.

Rebelo said Wednesday the federal government will work with FIFA to make sure all requirements are met.

"In our agreement with FIFA we assured the entity that the government would act to unify the legislation in cases where there were incompatibilities with the states and cities," he said.

The other vetoes by Rousseff included minor changes made to how visas are issued to foreign visitors, and to regulations affecting volunteer work during the World Cup. She also vetoed legislation that said 10 percent of the tickets for matches being played by the Brazilian national team would have to be made available in the cheapest category, citing operational difficulties because it's unknown where or when the team would play in the second round.

Congress now has 30 days to analyze the vetoes before the law can go into effect.

FIFA wanted the law in place earlier this year but the controversy over the sale of alcohol inside stadiums stirred a heated debate in the Brazilian Congress, with critics saying Brazil was giving FIFA too much power and bowing to its demands.

The bill was approved by the lower house in March and by the senate in May.
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Euro in Warsaw

People walk in a subway station decorated with football themes in the center of Warsaw, two days before the Euro 2012 football championships opening match on June 8 in Warsaw.

Benzema at the double for France

France thanked a brace from Real Madrid's Karim Benzema as they thumped Estonia 4-0 in an impressive Euro 2012 tune-up to give Group D rivals England food for thought.

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery set the ball rolling in the northern town of Le Mans with the opener on 24 minutes before Benzema made it 2-0 eight minutes before the break as the French found their form.

Benzema added another just two minutes after the restart before Paris Saint Germain forward Jeremy Menez made it four in stoppage time.

On the negative side for Laurent Blanc's men a central defensive partnership of Philippe Mexes of AC Milan and Valencia's Adil Rami had a few nervous moments but that failed to take the gloss off a morale-boosting win and, as a former stopper himself, Blanc should be capable of passing on some tips to his backline.

The coach said he was satisfied overall.

"It's three wins in three and so we can be satisfied. In some areas less so but overall it was a good evening," said Blanc, ho noted even so that "sometimes we put ourselves in difficulty" at the back.

He forecast that against England "it will be more difficult, a more rigorous test and we will have to play it in simpler fashion."

Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye was a driving force in midfield while Ribery bagged his third goal in as many outings after Benzema neatly set him up before bagging his own 14th and 15th goals for his country - the first a fine curling individual effort and the second laid on by Ribery.

Menez bundled in his late goal after coming on as substitute for Benzema along with Olivier Giroud, who replaced Florent Malouda.
France have now gone 21 games unbeaten and the memories of a disastrous 2010 World Cup are finally beginning to fade away.

They meet England next Monday as they open up their programme before further pool meetings with co-hosts Ukraine and Sweden and Blanc says they are showing signs of forming a dangerous unit.

On Benzema and Ribery's linking up well together on Tuesday's evidence he told reporters: "Ribery and Benzema have enormous potential and they have shown that with their clubs - though they still have to fulfil it with France.

"Collectively, we are moving forward (but) the moment of truth comes on June 11," he concluded.