The goals according to leagues and clubs

A post from the interesting blog The Best Eleven talk about what clubs and leagues did the goals come from during the last EURO.

Here we have all the goals by club:

8 - Bayern Munich (Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm)
6 - Real Madrid (Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Pepe, Wesley Sneijder)
5 - Valencia CF (David Villa, David Silva)
4 - Fenerbahçe (Semih Şentürk, Uğur Boral)
3 - Liverpool (Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt)
3 - BSC Young Boys (Hakan Yakin)
3 - Spartak Moscow (Roman Pavlyuchenko)
3 - Arsenal (Robin van Persie, Cesc Fàbregas)
3 - Zenit St. Petersburg (Andrei Arshavin, Konstantin Zyrianov)
3 - FC Barcelona (Deco, Xavi, Thierry Henry)
2 - FC Porto (Ricardo Quaresma, Raul Meireles)
2 - 1. FC Nuremberg (Jan Koller, Angelos Charisteas)
2 - A.S. Roma (Daniel De Rossi, Christian Panucci)
2 - RCD Mallorca (Dani Güiza)
2 - Werder Bremen (Ivan Klasnić)
2 - Inter Milan (Zlatan Ibrahimović)
2 - Villareal (Nihat Kahveci)
2 - Chelsea (Michael Ballack)
2 - Galatasaray (Arda Turan)
1 - Baník Ostrava (Václav Svěrkoš)
1 - LASK Linz (Ivica Vastić)
1 - Ajax (Klaas Jan Huntelaar)
1 - Getafe CF (Ruben de la Red)
1 - Panathinaikos (Helder Postiga)
1 - Hamburger SV (Ivica Olić)
1 - FC Lokomotiv Moscow (Dmitri Torbinski)
1 - S.L. Benfica (Nuno Gomes)
1 - Legia Warsaw (Roger Guerreiro)
1 - AC Milan (Andrea Pirlo)
1 - Fiorentina (Adrian Mutu)
1 - CA Osasuna (Jaroslav Plašil)
1 - F.C. Copenhagen (Libor Sionko)
1 - Stade Rennais (Petter Hansson)
1 - Manchester United (Cristiano Ronaldo)
1 - Shakhtar Donetsk (Darijo Srna)
1 - Feyenoord (Giovanni van Bronckhorst)
1 - Dinamo Zagreb (Luka Modrić)

Euro 2008 goals by league

20 - Spain La Liga
13 - German Bundesliga
9 - English Premier League
7 - Russian Premier League
6 - Italian Serie A
6 - Turkcell Süper Lig
3 - Swiss Super League
3 - Portugal BWINLIGA
2 - Dutch Eredivisie
1 - Czech Gambrinus liga
1 - Austrian Bundesliga
1 - Super League Greece
1 - Danish Superliga
1 - Polish Orange Ekstraklasa
1 - France Ligue 1 Orange
1 - Ukrainian Premier League
1 - Croatia Prva HNL


Clubs with a least 5 players represented with no Euro 2008 Goals:

11- Lyon
9 - Galatasaray
7 - Red Bull Salzburg
6 - Steaua Bucureşti
5 - CSKA Moscow
5 - Juventus
5 - Rapid Wien
5 - Stuttgart

Fabio Cannavaro replaced by Alessandro Gamberini

The Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro suffered an injury in the left ankle during the training of his National Team and he will not be able to be part of the EURO 2008.

The Real Madrid player, elected the best of the world in 2006, will not be able to dispute his third EURO in his career 37 years old.

The defender Alessandro Gamberini was summoned by Roberto Donadoni in replacement of the centre back. The Fiorentina team member play two match with the Azzurra t-shirt.

The FICG confirmed the information.

German Bundesliga, English Premier League, Olympique Lyon and Panathinakos most represented entities at EURO 2008

As you know, the 16 squads for Euro 2008 were completed last Wednesday.

That date gave us the statistics that Olympique Lyon and Panathinaikos provide the most players in those squads. Both clubs are represented by 10 players, one more than Bayern München. The Bundesliga is the league where most of the Euro 2008 players played last season.

The English Premier League will be the second most represented with 42 players, slightly ahead of Spain’s Primera División (41).

Clubs with most players at Euro 2008
10: Olympique Lyon
10: Panathinaikos
9: Bayern München
8: FC Barcelona
8: Galatasaray
8: Real Madrid
8: Werder Bremen
7: Arsenal
7: Chelsea
6: Hamburger SV
6: Liverpool
6: Steaua Bucuresti
6: VfB Stuttgart
6: Zenit St. Petersburg

Leagues with most players in Euro 2008 squads
56: Bundesliga, Germany
42: Premier League, England
41: Primera División, Spain
36: Serie A, Italy
29: Russian Football Premier League, Russia
24: Ligue 1, France
22: Super League, Greece
17: 1. Lig, Turkey
16: Bundesliga, Austria
13: Liga, Portugal
13: Liga I, Romania

I would like to thanks Infostrada Sports. Their work is always wonderful.

Austria did not have problems and was triumphant 5-1 but… which team is Malta?

Austria tried to recover the confidence for EURO 2008 vs. Malta, just in the last match before the most important tournament of the year.

Rene Aufhauser, Roland Linz (twice), Ivica Vastic and Martin Harnik scored for the squad coached by Josef Hickersberger, while Coventry City’s Michael Mifsud made Malta's only goal.

In order to know the dimension of this Austrian triumph, let’s know Malta: the first 45 games played by the Malta National Team from 1900, they won only 5 (Libya twice, Greece and Tunisia (twice). Its maximum star, in the 1970´s, was Joe Xuereb, nicknamed Diego Maradona at that time.

Today, according to FIFA, this team is ranked 135th behind selections like Kenya, Mauritania, Fiji and Kyrgyzstan. Almost players are totally amateurs and have a work activity every day. Only Justin Haber (Haidari), Nigerian Udochukwu Nwoko (Leixoes), Michael Mifsud and Andre Schembri (Eintracht Braunschweig) are professionals.

Austria hadn’t won ever since October 17th, against Cote D’Ivore.

Lineups:
Austria: Manninger, Garics, Stranzl (Prodl 84), Pogatetz (Hiden 84), Gercaliu (Katzer 76), Ivanschitz, Aufhauser (Saumel 76), Leitgeb, Korkmaz (Harnik 46), Linz, Hoffer (Vastic 58).

Malta: Hogg (Haber 46), Caruana (Frendo 46), Said, Dimech, S.Bajada, Briffa, Pace (Mallia 86), M. Mifsud (Barbara 64), Agius, Nwoko (Fenech 46), Schembri (Azzopardi 72).

The Austrian squad for the EURO 2008 is:
Goalkeepers: Alexander Manninger (AC Siena), Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Ramazan Ozcan (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Defenders: Gyorgy Garics (Napoli), Ronald Gercaliu (Austria Vienna), Martin Hiden (Kaernten), Markus Katzer (Rapid Vienna), Juergen Patocka (Rapid Vienna), Emmanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Proedl (Sturm Graz), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)

Midfielders: Rene Aufhauser (Salzburg), Christian Fuchs (Mattersburg), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Umit Korkmaz (Rapid Vienna), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg), Juergen Saeumel (Sturm Graz), Joachim Standfest (Austria Vienna), Ivica Vastic (Linz)

Forwards: Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna), Roman Kienast (Ham-Kam), Roland Linz (Braga), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen)

Tuncay Sanly and Semih Senturk justified Turks victory

Tonight, in Duisburg, Turkey finished their Euro 2008 previous matches with a 2-0 victory over Finland.

Middlesbrough midfielder Tuncay Sanli opened the match score in the 15th minute and Fenerbahce’s Semih Senturk closed it in the 43th minute during the second half.

I couldn’t watch the match on TV so I can’t tell you so much. If you watched it, please let me know if Turkey could, for example, reach the EURO 2008 quarterfinals.

Lineups:
Turkey: Volkan, Servet, Hakan Balta, Gokhan, Emre Belozoglu (Gokdeniz 89), Mehmet Aurelio (Mehmet Topal 88), Nihat (Semih 82), Tuncay (Arda 67), Hamit (Ayhan 79), Sabri, Mevlut (Kazım 75).

Finland: Enckleman (Frederikson 46), Nyman, Kallio (Moisander 82), Pasoja (Lampi 53), Kuivasto, Vayrynen, Eremenko Jr (Litmanen 61), Heikkinen (Johansson 61), Forssell (Sadik 79), Eremenko, Kolkka.

Terim decided to exclude Yıldıray Baştürk, Halil Altıntop and İbrahim Kaş from the original list.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored but Netherlands and Denmark drew

In a poor game played in the Philips Stadion, in Eindhoven, Holland and Denmark drew 1-1.

As part of the EURO 2008 preparation, Van Nistelrooy scored in the 29th minute. In the second half the Sevilla FC forward, Christian Bager Poulsen. Poulsen was named 2005 and 2006 Danish Football Player of the Year. But last two seasons he wasn’t the same one in the Spanish Liga.

Dutch players found a Danish team who never felt beaten. Now, Netherlands have reached four matches without defeats, after have won the last three friendly matches.

Netherlands: Edwin Van der Sar, Andre Ooijer (Nigel De Jong 46), John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Rafael Van der Vaart (Dirk Kuyt 65), Demy De Zeeuw, Wesley Sneijder (Ibrahim Afellay 82), Orlando Engelaar (Tim De Cler 65), Arjen Robben (Ryan Babel 77), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 65).

Denmark: Jesper Christiansen, William Kvist Jorgensen (Rasmussen 82), Leon Andreasen (Anders Moller Christensen 77), Per Kroldrup, Lars Jacobsen, Thomas Kahlenberg (Jon Dahl Tomasson 46), Christian Poulsen, Martin Jorgensen (Martin Retov 63), Dennis Rommedahl, Nicklas Bendtner, Kenneth Perez (Martin Vingaard 77).

Also, here we have Netherlands squad -without Khalid Boulahrouz- confirmed by Marco van Basten:

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United FC), Maarten Stekelenburg (AFC Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa FC), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Johnny Heitinga (AFC Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic FC), André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers FC).

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Hamburger SV), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid CF), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger SV), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool FC), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AFC Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool FC), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid CF), Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid CF), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic FC).

Djibril Cissé, Mathieu Flamini and Philippe Mexes are between the excluded players from France squad

French Coach Raymond Domenech needed another cut from the list that he had done 10 days before so, after match played vs. Ecuador, he decided to cut seven players for the EURO 2008 list.

Gomis production allows him to take part of this list, so the forwards Djibril Cissé of Olympique Marseille and Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique Lyonnais) won’t play the Euro 2008.

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini and Roma’s Philippe Mexes are the other main cuts. Also are out Mickael Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain), Julien Escude (FC Sevilla) and Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux).

France squad:
Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon)

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Samir Nasri (Marseille)

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (Saint Etienne).

Riccardo Montolivo cut by Roberto Donadoni

Last week Roberto Donadoni had named 24 players to be part of the provisional list for the EURO 2008. Today he gave the decision to cut a single player because only 23 of them could play in Switzerland – Austria European Championship.

The one was Riccardo Montolivo. ACF Florentina’s midfielder is enjoying his best season: he was part of the team that arrived to the UEFA Cup semifinal and was fourth in the Serie A 2007-2008 reaching a spot for the next Champions League. In the other hand, he is starting the experience with the Azzurri team that he represented only once.

By the way, he is only 23 years old and it is almost certainly that he will play the Olympics Games in Beijing on July and he will have more opportunities in the Road to South Africa 2010.

Euro 2008 Italy Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Cristian Panucci (Roma), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Midfielders: Rino Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro German Camoranesi (Juventus)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

Greece defeated Cyprus and Otto Rehhagel announced the EURO 2008 squad

In Patras, defending champion Greece got their Euro 2008 preparations off to a good start with a 2-0 friendly victory against Cyprus.

Greece dominated the game in front of 22,000 fans.18-year-old talent Sotiris Ninis was the best player and scored the opening goal in the fifth minute. Kostas Katsouranis scored the second in the 60th minute from a penalty shot.

Coach Otto Rehhagel gave six under-21 players a chance to play as several first team regulars were missing from the squad.

After the match, Rehhagel named the provisional EURO 2008 Squad including 24 players. Six of them are from Panathinaikos and four from Olympiakos. Greece will be playing a friendly match against Hungary in Budapest before training in Germany.

Greece Squad

Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos) Costas Chalkias (Aris), Alexandros Tzorvas (OFI)

Defenders: Nikos Spyropoulos (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Giannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Paraskevas Antzas (Olympiakos), Vassilis Torossidis (Olympiakos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiakos), Traianos Dellas (AEK Athens), Socratis Papastathopoulos (AEK Athens), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Midfielders: Angelos Basinas (Mallorca) Georgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Panathinaikos), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers), Costas Katsouranis (Benfica).

Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nurnberg), Fanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Georgos Samaras (Celtic), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Nikos Liberopoulos (AEK Athens), Ioannis Amanatidis (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Antonio Cassano election left out Filippo Inzaghi of Italian Euro 2008 squad

Roberto Donadoni presented 24 players whom will be training with the Italy National Team until May 28th, day that he will have to leave one of them because only 23 must travel to EURO 2008.

The maximum newness was the entrance of the forward Antonio Cassano and the exclusion of Filippo Inzaghi, which was the second Italian Top Scorer in EURO 2008 qualifying and made 10 goals in the last 7 matches in Serie A.

As it accustoms this team historically, very few of their players play abroad. This time they are only five. In addition, 14 players to this list was part of the Squad who was the World Champion in Germany 2006.

Also it was confirmed that FIGC (Italian Federazione Giuoco Calcium) will extend the contract of Roberto Donadoni until 2010.

Before the EURO 2008, Italy will play a friendly game against Belgium on May, 30th.

Italy Squad for Euro 2008

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Cristian Panucci (Roma), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Midfielders: Rino Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro German Camoranesi (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

Domenech named Bafetimbi Gomis and Trezeguet is left out of EURO 2008

The French coach Raymond Domenech presented a list with 30 players selected for the EURO 2008. Eight of the thirty footballers represent Lyon, consecrated French champion this weekend.

The trainer omitted the French-Argentinean David Trezeguet. “His” place is being taken by Bafetimbi Gomis, the Saint Etienne forward who today is pretended by Sevilla and Newcastle United, and with 14 goals was the third top scorer in Ligue 1, only behind Karim Benzema and Senegal´s Mamadou Niang. "There are four or five central strikers, you can't cram each position. You have to make choices", said Domenech.

In addition, unlike most of the trainers, Domenech mentioned 4 goalkeepers, so one would be discarded.

The French Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyonnais), Mickael Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain), Sebastien Frey (ACF Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Olympique Lyonnais), Francois Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Julien Escude (FC Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), William Gallas (Arsenal FC), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (FC Bayern Munich), Sebastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyonnais), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (FC Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal FC), Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Samir Nasri (Olympique Marseille).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC), Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique Lyonnais), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), Djibril Cisse (Olympique Lyonnais), Bafetimbi Gomis (AS Saint-Etienne), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Franck Ribery (FC Bayern Munich), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC).

Aragones confirmed the squad of 23 players without Bojan Krkic and Raul

Luis Aragones confirmed the 23 players who will be in EURO 2008 representing the Spanish National Team that will be playing in the Group D against Russia, Sweden and Greece .

The main absences are Bojan Krkic (FC Barcelona), tired, and Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid). Aragones preferred Zaragoza’s Sergio Garcia. It is hard to believe that Bojan, who is only 17 years old, has resigned the National Team due to fatigue.

As a result, the teams with more players in Spain are Liverpool and Valencia. Here we have the complete squad.

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel "Pepe" Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (FC Sevilla).

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Juan Gutiérrez Moreno "Juanito" (Betis), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Fernando Navarro (Mallorca), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal).

Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Ruben de la Red (Getafe), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Marcos Senna (Villarreal).

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Sergio Garcia (Zaragoza), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Daniel Guiza (Mallorca).

Marco Van Basten updated the squad: he called Khalid Boulahrouz

You know, it is time to reorganize the teams, just as puzzles. Now it is Netherlands time because the original list from Marco Van Basten has changed. The coach decided to cut Ajax defender Urby Emanuelson, AZ Alkmaar's Kew Jaliens, Valencia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro and PSV Eindhoven striker Danny Koevermans.

Also Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan) said goodbye, so he must be replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz who was part of the team during the World Cup Germany 2006 and was bought by Chelsea that year for a fee of £8.500.000, but he played only 8 matches defending Sevilla this season.

Here we have the updated Netherlands squad for EURO 2008:
Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United FC), Maarten Stekelenburg (AFC Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers), Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg), Denny Landzaat (Feyenoord), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

What a shock! Marko Marin called by Joachim Low. Timo Hildebrand not.

Marko Marin, who was born in Bosnia Herzegovina, admitted he was shocked by the inclusion in the Germany Squad for the EURO 2008.

But who is Marko Marin? Although he played In the U-21 team last year, this midfielder who is 19 years old didn’t play any cap with the “A” squad. By the way his performances in the Second Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach attracted Timo Hildebrand to be called surrounded by the 26 players that were chosen.

See the best of Marko here.

In the other hand, the Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand also felt a shock and he is surprised but because he wasn’t elected to play the EURO 2008. We are waiting his official speech in his blog.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Robert Enke (Hannover 96), Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen).

Defenders: Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), David Odonkor (Real Betis), Marko Marin (Borussia Monchengladbach).

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach), Patrick Helmes (FC Cologne).

Petr Cech is the captain; Pavel Nedved out

Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved was not included by the coach Karel Bruckner in the 23-member Czech national team for the EURO 2008. Also Brueckner announced that the captain will be Petr Cech or Tomas Ujfalusi. Tomas Rosicky, injured, was discarded few weeks before.

Before the tournament the Czech team will face Lithuania (next monday) and Scotland (on May 30th) both in Prague and during the EURO 2008 will share the Group A with Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey.

The squad:
Goalkeeper: Jaromir Blazek (FC Nuremberg), Petr Cech (Chelsea FC), Daniel Zitka (Anderlecht).

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Juventus), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Michal Kadlec (Sparta Prague), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Zdenek Pospech (FC Copenhagen), David Rozehnal (Lazio), Tomas Sivok (Sparta Prague), Tomas Ujfalusi (FC Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (FC Nuremberg), David Jarolim (Hamburger SV), Marek Matejovsky (Reading FC), Jaroslav Plasil (Osasuna), Jan Polak (Anderlecht), Daniel Pudil (Slavia Prague), Libor Sionko (FC Copenhagen), Stanislav Vlcek (Anderlecht).

Strikers: Milan Baros (Portsmouth FC), Jan Koller (FC Nuremberg), Martin Fenin (Frankfurt), Vaclav Sverkos (Ostrava).

Zenit is the new UEFA champion; six players in the Russia team

Russia's football coach Guus Hiddink has named a provisional squad of 25 players for the Euro 2008. He included six players from Zenit Saint Petersburg making good use of the great moment of the team that defeated Glasgow Rangers in Manchester.

In the other hand the surprise was that Dynamo Moscow striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov has been left out.

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Vladimir Gabulov (Amkar Perm)

Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vasily Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Kolodin (Dynamo Moscow), Renat Yanbayev (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergei Semak (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Pavlenko (Spartak Moscow), Oleg Ivanov (Krylya Sovietov Samara)

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Roman Adamov (FK Moscow), Ivan Saenko (Nuremberg).

Photo: F.C. Zenit Press

Mutu, Chivu and Marica lead provisional Romania Squad

Romania coach Victor Piturca has named 26 players who have chances to be part of the most difficult group of EURO 2008. They will play vs. France, Italy and Netherlands. Before the tournament the tricolorii will face the Montenegro Football National Team.

The 26 Romanians:
Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Danut Coman (Rapid Bucharest), Marius Popa (Politehnica Timisoara).

Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), Cosmin Contra (Getafe), Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), Stefan Radu (Lazio), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk).

Midfielders: Florentin Petre (TSKA Sofia), Paul Codrea (Siena), Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow), Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Petre (Steaua Bucharest), Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucarest).

Forwards: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Daniel Niculae (Auxerre), Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Florin Bratu (Dinamo Bucharest), Ciprian Deac (CFR Cluj).

Switzerland´s Kobi Kuhn named provisional Euro 2008 squad

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Pascal Zuberbuhler (Neuchatel Xamax FC), Fabio Coltorti (Real Racing Club Santander).

Defenders: Philipp Degen (BV Borussia Dortmund), Johan Djourou (Arsenal FC), Mario Eggimann (Karlsruher SC), Stephane Grichting (AJ Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (LOSC Lille Metropole), Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Müller (Olympique Lyonnais), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal FC), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Steve von Bergen (Hertha BSC Berlin).

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (S.S. Lazio), Ricardo Cabanas (Grasshopper-Club), Gelson Fernandes (Manchester City FC), Daniel Gygax (FC Metz), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel 1893), Gokhan Inler (Udinese Calcio), Johan Vonlanthen (FC Salzburg), Hakan Yakin (BSC Young Boys).

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (FC Basel 1893), Alexander Frei (BV Borussia Dortmund), Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente), Marco Streller (FC Basel 1893).

Henrik Larsson is welcome back to be the Ibrahimovich partner

Squads are coming and the surprises too. The 36-year-old forward Henrik Larsson was called by the Swedish coach, Lars Lagerback to play in the EURO 2008.

Henrik had said goodbye to the Sweden National Team when the 2006 World Cup finished, but the player that is representing Helsingborgs IF reply "yes" to the Lagerback call.

Many injuries during these weeks and the decision to have more experience in the team were the keys to have this great player that scored 36 times with this scandinavian t-shirt.

Larsson was named in 1995 as the best Swedish player in the history after being the most important player in the team that finished third in the World Cup 1994 in the United States.

Helsingborgs IF is the last Swedish club that play the UEFA Champions League and currently is 6th in the Swedish League. But now, his fans only enjoy that Henrik Larsoon will be international again.

Two friendlies will be very important for this legend who need more minutes beside Fredrik Ljungberg – injured - and the main star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Slovenia on May 26th and Ukraine on June 1st, both at Nya Ullevi Stadion in Goteborg, will be the matches before the EURO 2008.

The Swedish squad

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City), Rami Shaaban (Hammarby), Johan Wiland (Elfsborg).

Defenders: Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Petter Hansson (Rennes), Daniel Majstorovic (Basel), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg), Mikael Dorsin (CFR Cluj), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborg).

Midfielders: Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Tobias Linderoth (Galatasaray), Fredrik Ljungberg (West Ham), Christian Wilhemsson (Deportivo La Coruna), Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo FF), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).

Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen), Henrik Larsson (Helsingborg), Marcus Allback (FC Copenhagen).

23 names for Croatia

Slaven Bilic named the official squad for the EURO 2008, resigning Eduardo Da Silva:

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (Lens) y Mario Galinovic (Panathinaikos).

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Manchester City), Dario Simic (AC Milan), Robert Kovac (Borussia Dortmund), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Dario Knezevic (Livorno), Hrvoje Vejic (Tom Tomsk).

Midfielders: Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Niko Kovac (Salzburgo), Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb - Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dinamo Zagreb), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco)

Forwards: Mladen Petric (Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olic (Hamburg), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen), Igor Budan (Parma), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split).

Germany and Poland could be very difficult without Eduardo. So, a victory in the first match against the host team, Austria, is very important for Croatia.