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)

The gust of wind of Pavel Pogrebnyak also underwent Serbia; Guus Hiddink confirmed Russia squad

This night Russia defeated Serbia 2-1 looking for the best character with the mind in the European Championship. In Burghausen, Germany, today rival was sensibly more powerful the one than Russia faced last Friday.

Zenit forward, Pavel Pogrebnyak, opened the score in the 12th minute. But Marko Pantelic drew 5 minutes before the halftime. Spartak Moscow’s Roman Pavlyuchenko in the 3th minute of the second half, gave Russia victory 2-1

Outstanding is Pogrebnyak performance that in 3 months has scored 7 goals at international level, including Zenit matches in the UEFA Cup and the last friendly games with Russian Team.

Due to an knee injury Pogrebnyak had to quit the field. Football lovers are praising for his appearance in the EURO 2008.

The Lineups:
Russia: Akinfeev, Anyukov (V. Berezutski 46), Kolodin, Shirokov, Zhirkov (Yanbaev 80), Semak, Zyrianov, Semshov (Saenko 83), Bilyaletdinov (Torbinskiy 71), Sychev (Bystrov 67), Pogrebnyak (Pavlyuchenko 16).

Serbia: Dišljenković, Ninkov (Rukovina 71), Rajković, Vidić (Ivanović 46), Kolarov, N. Kovačević , Kačar (Kuzmanović 59), Milovanović (Ilić 76), Tošić, Despotovic (Jankovic 46), Pantelic (Žigić 46).

Also, Guus Hiddink confirmed the definitive squad for the EURO 2008. The coach excluded midfielders Samara’s Oleg Ivanov and Alexander Pavlenko of Spartak. The next test of Russia will be against Lithuania.

EURO 2008 Russia Squad:
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Perm), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg).

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

Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Dmitry Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Sergei Semak (Kazan).

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

Early goal of Maciej Zurawski allowed Poland victory

The last match played on Tuesday with at least a team that will be part of the EURO 2008, happened in Reutlingen, Germany between Poland and Albania. Maciej Zurawski scored the single goal in the third minute of the match.

Poland coach Leo Bennhacker tested vs. Albania (76th in FIFA Ranking) the habitual team contrasting the match played against Macedonia the night before.

Lineups:
Poland: Lukasz Fabianski, Marcin Wasilewski, Jacek Bak, Michal Zewlakow (Adam Kokoszka, 9), Jakub Wawrzyniak, Wojciech Lobodzinski (Marek Saganowski, 81), Dariusz Dudka (Michal Pazdan, 81), Mariusz Lewandowski, Jacek Krzynowek (Rafal Murawski, 81), Roger Guerreiro (Euzebiusz Smolarek, 46), Maciej Zurawski (Tomasz Zahorski, 61).

Albania: Isli Hidi, Andi Lila (Endrit Vrapi, 46), Armend Dallku, Debatik Curri, Kristi Vangjeli, Klodian Duro (Edmond Kapllani, 46), Ervin Skela, Altin Lala (Ervin Bulku, 71), Lorik Cana, Hamdi Salihi (Dorian Bylykbashi, 80), Erijon Bogdani (Jahmir Hyka, 46).

Juergen Macho came back, but Austria couldn’t defeat Nigeria

This night Austria and Nigeria drew 1-1 in Graz. Austrian goal were made by Roman Kienast in the 12th minute, but the Almeria player Kalu Uche drew seven minutes later.

It was the first match of Juergen Macho with Austria National Team after an injury suffered last November. Austria will play against Malta next Friday wanting, at least, Austria played last five matches without victories. The last joy was against Cote d’Ivore on October. This isn’t the best way to arrive to the EURO 2008 as a host country.

Lineups:
Austria: Juergen Macho, Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl, Sebastian Proedl, Christian Fuchs (Umit Korkmaz, 61), Andreas Ivanschitz (Ivica Vastic, 69), Rene Aufhauser, Juergen Saumel, Joachim Standfest, Roland Linz (Christoph Leitgeb, 81), Roman Kienast (Erwin Hoffer, 46).

Nigeria: Dele Aiyenugba, Taye Taiwo, Obinna Nwaneri, Yusuf Mohamed, Joseph Yobo, Victor Anichebe (Peter Odemwingie, 46), John Obi Mikel, Kalu Uche (Lukman Haruna, 79), Ikechukwu Uche, Aiyegbenji Yakubu (John Utaka, 76), Nwankwo Kanu (Kayode Odejayi, 84).

Samir Nasri technique and Gomis goals gave French victory

In Grenoble, France defeated Ecuador 2-0 searching the best team for the EURO 2008.

The French victory arrived thanks to two amazing goals from Bafetimbi Gomis responding Raymond Domenech expectations. The first goal was a shot from outside of the penalty area, and the second one was made by a volley shot hit without letting bounce after a delicious pass from Nicolas Anelka. This match was the first one of Gomis representing the French squad.

Mistakes in the Ecuadorian defense and good technique in French feet was the key of this deserved victory. Watch France Team in the midfield line it is a really good taste. Samir Nasri, Gomis and Anelka excelled on the rest of the players.

I think that it was the squad that showed best football during this week of friendly matches. One step closer I picked Czech Republic performance.

For my part, I feel very happy because I was able to watch almost both matches.

The lineups:

France: Sebastien Frey (Steve Mandanda, 46), Willy Sagnol (Francois Clerc, 74), Julien Escude (Patrice Evra, 46), Lilian Thuram, Eric Abidal, Lassana Diarra, Samir Nasri, Alou Diarra (Mathieu Flamini, 46), Hatem Ben Arfa (Florent Malouda, 78), Nicolas Anelka, Djibril Cisse (Bafetimbi Gomis, 46).

Ecuador: Marcelo Elizaga, Carlos Castro, Ivan Hurtado, Omar De Jesus, Isaac Mina, Jose Luis Cortez, David Quiroz (Felix Borja, 64), Segundo Castillo, Walter Ayovi, Luis Antonio Valencia, Carlos Tenorio.

Jan Koller is on fire and Czech Republic beats Lithuania

After some matches whom we saw more surprises than good football, Czech Republic beat Lithuania 2-0 in Prague.

Czech Republic showed superiority in almost all the game, even though when the match already was 2-0. Despite Tomas Rosicky absense for the whole EURO 2008, tonight it might win by more goals.

Koller is 35 years old and scored 54 goals in 86 matches representing the National Team. His average shows 0,62 goals per game! Disappointingly he already announced that the EURO 2008 will be their last championship with this t-shirt.

The lineups
Czech Republic: Petr Cech; Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi (Radoslav Kovac, 74), David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski (Michal Kadlec, 64), Jan Polak (Tomas Galasek, 46), David Jarolim (Marek Matejovsky, 83), Jaroslav Plasil (Rudolf Skacel, 79), Stanislav Vlcek, Milan Baros (Vaclav Sverkos, 46), Jan Koller.

Lithuania: Zydrunas Karcemarskas; Deividas Semberas (Tomas Zvirgzdauskas, 59), Ignas Dedura, Vidas Alunderis, Andrius Skerla, Aurimas Kucys (Audrius Ksanavicius, 46), Tomas Danilevicius, Arunas Klimavicius, Deividas Cesnauskis (Edgaras Jankauskas, 74), Marius Stankevicius (Andrius Joksas, 69), Robertas Poskus (Tadas Papeckys, 60).

We had the opportunity to watch the match but in a few hours maybe we will have another point of view in Czech Football Daily.

Ballack played, but Germany was surprised by Vitali Bulyga

In the Fritz Walter Stadion, in Kaiserslautern; Germany and Belarus tied 2-2 as part of the Mannschaft EURO 2008 preparation.

In 20 minutes Germany was winning 2-0, due to an attractive goal made by Miroslav Klose (10 minutes) and a Vladimir Korytko auto goal after an Odonkor possession.

In spite of Michael Ballack presence, two goals from Vitali Bulyga in the second half on 16th and 43th minute gave the tie to Belarus (60th in FIFA Ranking). Coached by German Bernd Stange they have been defeated Netherlands last November.

Bulyga, the player of the match, is playing in FC Luch-Energiya Vladivostok in the Russian League. The main stars from Germany couldn’t avoid his performance.

It was an interesting test for Germany that ussually burst out when the main important tournaments start. During the EURO 2008 the Teutons will face Poland, Croatia and Austria.

Lineups:
Germany: Jens Lehmann; Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder, Thomas Hitzlsperger, David Odonkor (Clemens Fritz, 77), Torsten Frings (Piotr Trochowski, 67), Michael Ballack (Jermaine Jones, 45), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Marko Marin, 45), Miroslav Klose (Patrick Helmes, 54), Lukas Podolski (Oliver Neuville, 54).

Belarus: Vasily Khomutovsky; Vladimir Korytko, Egor Filipenko, Dmitri Lentsevich, Sergei Omeljanchuk, Alexandre Hleb, Aliaksandr Kulchy, Anton Putsilo (Alexander Pavlov, 73), Maksim Romashenko (Pavel Sitko, 45), Viachaslau Hleb (Vitali Radzionau, 54), Vitaly Bulyga (Sergei Plaskonny, 89).

Radoslaw Matusiak penalty kick saved Poland of an historical defeat... And Georgiev wasn’t there!

In Reutlingen, Germany, Poland only drew against Macedonia 1-1. Coached by Srecko Katanec, Macedonia put itself in advantage when Goran Maznov scored in the 45th minute. At the end, lacking seven minutes, Radoslaw Matusiak turned a penalty kick in a goal to finish the match even.

Macedonia FYR, all known as The Red Lions or The Red-Yellows, is 56th in FIFA ranking but they have defeated Croatia last year during EURO 2008 qualifying. In 2006 they drew in Manchester against England, two points that the British suffered when they were out of the main important tournament in the continent.

The new star, seventeen year-old Dragan Georgiev, pretended by Manchester City, wasn’t part of Macedonian Team.

Tomorrow the Polish players will have another opportunity to convince the coach Leo Beenhakker. They will play another match against Albania in Reutlingen and then will take on Denmark next sunday, before leaving for Euro 2008, where they will play Germany, co-host Austria and Croatia in Group B.

Lineups:
Poland: Tomasz Kuszczak, Pawel Golanski, Adam Kokoszka, Mariusz Jop, Grzegorz Bronowicki (Jakub Wawrzyniak, 46), Radoslaw Majewski (Marek Saganowski, 59), Rafal Murawski, Mariusz Lewandowski (Dariusz Dudka, 46), Tomasz Zahorski, Lukasz Gargula (Michal Pazdan, 87), Radoslaw Matusiak.

Macedonia: Petar Milosevski, Goce Sedloski, Igor Mitreski, Vlade Lazarevski (Aleksandar Vasoski, 46), Goran Popov (Robert Petrov, 61), Nikolce Noveski (Slavco Georgievski, 46), Vlatko Grozdanovski, Darko Tasevski (Artim Polozani, 46), Vanco Trajanov (Stevica Ristic, 69) Goran Maznov (Ilco Naumoski, 46), Goran Pandev (Aco Stojkov, 61).

Tobias Linderoth goal allowed Swedish victory in Larsson comeback

In another match preceding the EURO 2008, Sweden defeated Slovenia 1-0 in Goteborg. Tobias Linderoth goal at 41 minutes sealed the victory that in the previous conversations Sweden be supposed to win by more goals against a team who is 74th in the ranking FIFA.

Tobias Jan Hakan Linderoth, central midfielder inGalatasaray, scored his goal number six with the Swedish t-shirt. 21.000 people in the Ullevi stadium watched Henrik Larsson return who had several occasions to score in the second half.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback rested some of his top players — Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Markus Rosenberg and Fredrik Ljungberg — who are recovering from injuries.

The last Scandinavians match before EURO 2008 will be next Sunday against Ukraine in Solna.

Lineups:
Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Fredrik Stoor, Olof Mellberg (Andreas Granqvist, 73), Daniel Majstorovic, Mikael Nilsson (Mikael Dorsin, 78), Sebastian Larsson (Niclas Alexandersson, 78), Tobias Linderoth (Anders Svensson, 46), Daniel Andersson, Christian Wilhemsson, Kennedy Bakircioglu (Johan Elmander, 46), Marcus Allback (Henrik Larsson, 46).

Slovenia: Samir Handanovic, Ilic Branko, Mitja Morec, Marko Suler, Bojan Jokic (Luka Elswer, 88), Miso Brecko (Zoran Zeljkovic, 82), Anton Zlogar, Dalibor Stevanovic (Darijan Matic, 60), Andraz Kirm, Mirnes Sisic (Miran Burgic, 71), Milivoje Novakovic (Zlatan Ljubljankic, 82).

In spite of Nihat Kahveci great goal, Uruguay defeated Turkey

In a friendly match played in Bochum, Germany, as part of the preparation for the EURO 2008 Uruguay defeated Turkey 3-2 . In a match that we had the opportunity to watched, Turks and Uruguayan faced after more than 20 years in which Real Murcia´s goalkeeper Héctor Fabian Carini played his 70th international match.

Arda Turan opened the match for Turkey at moments at which Kazim Kazim played in great way. But Luis Suarez tied for Uruguay after turning goal a penalty that we couldn’t watch infraction. Minutes before, the referee Florian Meyer hadn’t sanctioned an infraction in the Turkish area.

The second half began with a free kick that Villarreal’s Nihat Kahveci turned goal. But the entrance of “Onion” Cristian Rodriguez gave greater dizziness to the Uruguayan forwards. As a result the tie arrived from Luis Suárez, after a great play of Sebastian Fernandez.

Finally, another penalty kick in the Turkish area allowed that Benfica’s Cristian Rodriguez closes account 3-2 for the National Team coached by Oscar Tabarez .

The Line-ups:

Turkey: Volkan, Hakan Balta, Gökhan (Mevlüt 87), Emre Belözoğlu (Halil 65), Mehmet Topal, Nihat, Yıldıray (Tuncay 65), Arda (Tümer 60), Emre Aşık, Hamit (Sabri 46), Kazım (Ayhan 46).

Uruguay: Carini, Alcoba, Godín, Gargano, Caceres, Eguren, Suárez, Cavani, (Fernández 46), Pereira (Silva 68), Giménez (Rodríguez 56), González (Flores 75).