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Euro 2012 travel guide: Warsaw

The opening game of Euro 2012 kicks off in Warsaw a week today. Here is the first of five fans' guides to Poland's host cities, starting with the Polish capital, compiled by east Europe travel guide specialists inyourpocket.com

For fans visiting Poland during Euro 2012 there's more than just the football to look forward to. The best weather typically comes at this time of year; prices for food and beer are competitive compared with western Europe; and the hospitable locals are keen to show that they are more than ready and capable of hosting the tournament. Here's our fans' guide to the Polish capital.

Where to stay

Warsaw's position as Poland's business hub means you will have no problem finding an international brand hotel such as the Marriott, Intercontinental or Hilton. Finding a room in one though will be a problem as they have been booked out by officials, which means you'll have to delve deeper to find accommodation. Try to book a room at Castle Inn (+48 22 425 01 00, doubles standard rates from 305 PLN, around €69 though prices will be higher during the tournament), a welcoming boutique, mid-range hotel in Warsaw's picturesque old town from where you can look out across the river at the National Stadium where Poland will play in the tournament's opening game.

Depending on whether you have more or less to spend we'd also recommend the independent Art Deco Rialto (€110 a night without breakfast) or the charismatic Oki Doki hostel (+48 228280122, doubles from €34 B&B with shared bath, dorms from €9), both of which are a short walk from the main Fan Zone. The closest hotel to the Fan Zone and a five-minute tram ride from the stadium is the historic Polonia Palace (+48 22 31 82 800, doubles from €65).

Where to eat

Think Poland – think cold war, Warsaw Pact and communism right? Well, while the city has lots of "classic" brutalist, socialist-era architecture left, the city is more London than Minsk on the dining scene these days. There is one culinary relic left over from the old days however, and that is the milk bar (bar mleczny). These steamy cafeterias are more foreigner friendly than in the past but it is still likely that you'll have to decode the Polish-only menu. Our favourite for the full pre-capitalist experience is Mleczarnia Jerozolimska where the food is reasonable and the service authentic. For value-for-money Polish food in a great location try Pierrogeria on Pl. Konstytucji. Here you'll be able to sample pierogi, one of Poland's signature dishes, for a handful of zlotys while taking in a view of some of the best examples of socialist architecture in the city. Oberza Pod Czerwonym Wieprzem (The Inn Under the Red Pig) features staff in communist-era dress who serve excellent, trouser-busting portions of traditional Polish food such as sour rye soup and pork knuckle, under the painted gaze of some of the period's political leaders such as Brezhnev and Gierekgaze. Restauracja Polska Rozana, with its wonderful country manor house setting, proves Polish food isn't just huge portions at wallet-friendly prices. This place gives Polish cuisine a whole new look and will make you feel like an Uefa executive committee member.

Where to drink

The Warsaw stadium sits proudly on the east bank of the Wisla, directly across from the city, so it will be possible to relax in any city-centre bar before nipping across the river by train, tram, taxi or even on foot. A couple of places worth mentioning are the fan-friendly Warsaw Tortilla Factory or the Bierhalle restaurant and bar, which brews its own beers on-site. An outdoor option is the rotund bar Lolek in Pole Mokotowskie Park, which has a Munich beer-hall atmosphere with sausages and the like cooking on the grill around the clock.

The Warsaw Fan Zone

Located where once the tanks rolled, the armies marched and the commie leaders waved, up to 100,000 football fans will be accommodated with huge screens, food and drink and live music. Pl Defilad (Parade Square) sits in the shadow of the city's signature building – the Ghostbusters-like Palace of Culture and Science.

What to see and do

Warsaw is in the midst of a revival, and to truly appreciate why being chosen to host Euro 2012 was so important to the city it is worth spending a couple of hours learning about the city's traumatic history at the excellent Warsaw Uprising Museum. That Warsaw is even here today to host this tournament is a testament to the indestructible nature of its people – and the fact the national stadium couldn't be built until hundreds of 45m support pillars had been driven into the rubble of pre-1944 Warsaw on which it was to be built is a powerful illustration of what these championships mean to Warsaw and Poland as a whole.

Accommodation in Poland

Every city in the tournament has seen an increase in the number and quality of hotel rooms available since 2007 when Poland won the right to host Euro 2012. However many rooms, entire hotels even, have already been booked out by Uefa. While prices of accommodation are typically competitive compared with western Europe, it seems clear that the lack of availability has seen prices rise particularly around match days. In addition to the thousands of new hotel rooms which have been built, temporary accommodation such as the Carlsberg Fan Camps in the four Polish host cities has been added while in Gdansk the Polferries ferry which normally crosses between Poland and Sweden is to be moored around matchdays and become effectively a floating hotel.

Getting around Poland

The Polish stadia are all very impressive – Gdansk's PGE Arena, designed to look like a glowing piece of Baltic amber at night. However, if you are planning on watching a game in more than one city during your stay, getting between cities may cause some problems. Major road and rail building continues and the ambitious program will not be complete ahead of the Euros. Poznan airport's new terminal opened on 28 May, Poznan's new train station on 29 May. Wroclaw's main train station and the railway connection between Warsaw airport and the city centre will both open today (1 June).

Rather surprisingly, the composition of the groups has baffled some watchers with Wroclaw/Poznan and Warsaw/Gdansk far more natural partners in terms of infrastructure available and distances that will have to be covered. Driving in Poland, while not discouraged, is not as straightforward as in most western European countries; travel times can be long and journeys tiring. There is no direct motorway between Poznan and Gdansk for instance and the 300km journey will take at least four hours despite a stretch of 100km on the new A1 dual carriageway. Meanwhile, the Intercity train between Warsaw and Wroclaw is scheduled to take five hours during the tournament (and that has been speeded up).

• For further information visit In Your Pocket guides Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum
100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum - 100th Anniversary of the Pushkin Museum -
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday
Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday - Francisco Pascasio Moreno's 160th Birthday -
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Liverpool's new Anfield stadium is tale of lost years and lost homes | David Conn

Talk of surrounding demolition points to expansion rather than an entirely new place in Stanley Park for Liverpool

Liverpool's hardening plan not to build their interminably mooted new stadium on Stanley Park but instead to expand Anfield in a fashion eerily similar to a scrapped plan from 1999 might be darkly funny, were it not a tale of lost years, hope and money. Anfield has become a monument not only to Premier League football and a grand club's ambition to keep up with its rivals but also, sadly, to spectacular inequality. Outside the walls of the ground in which footballers play for multimillionaires' salaries, for a club owned principally by John W Henry, a billionaire in Boston, people are living amid dereliction and decline approaching the country's grimmest.

Liverpool city council still says the new stadium on Stanley Park is its preferred option, even while it presents plans for house demolitions behind the main stand, and on the corner opposite the main stand and Kop, which will enable the expansion of Anfield. Liverpool have declined to comment on those demolition plans being revealed or to respond to criticism from residents that they failed to communicate openly. But Henry has made it abundantly clear he wants to scrap the new stadium plan and take the cheaper option of expanding Anfield.

The proposed clearances of three rows of terraced houses on Lothair and Alroy Roads behind the main stand were revealed by Liverpool city council to the Rockfield Residents Association at a meeting attended by Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, on 15 May. The council's assistant director for regeneration, Mark Kitts, told the Guardian that the demolitions would make the number of houses more "sustainable" and allow for refurbishment. Kitts said Liverpool have confirmed, in discussions with the council, that these demolitions would meet the club's requirements.

"We have been working with the club very closely," Kitts said, "and they have said this will accommodate their needs if they stay at Anfield and refurbish the current stadium."

Liverpool's main physical difficulty expanding Anfield is not in enlarging the footprint, because their plan is understood to involve adding an extra tier, plus corporate facilities, to the Anfield Road and main stands. Building high, however, would block neighbouring residents' "right to light". Kitts, discussing the planned demolitions, told the Guardian: "My understanding is that this will solve the right to light issues."

Ros Groves, chair of the local Salisbury Residents Association, says her members who own their own homes are worried they will not be paid enough, if their houses are demolished, to buy a house outright elsewhere. Kitts confirmed homeowners will be paid the market rate plus 10% "loss of home payment" but said the council is "very sympathetic" and he hoped this would be enough.

Groves criticised Liverpool for not openly telling the residents what the club are now planning. Last week Ayre said Liverpool would "need to convince" residents if the club were to stay at Anfield, and said: "We're having some great dialogue with them."

Groves, whose association represents residents in the Baltic Street area planned for clearance nearer the Kop, said she "hit the roof" when she read that. "I cannot see how it can be called 'great dialogue' when Ian Ayre has been to one meeting with one residents group," Groves said. "Everybody can see which way this is going now. We just want Liverpool football club to be open with us."

Ann O'Byrne, the council's cabinet member for housing, said its priority is to "regenerate the area" for residents and she confirmed that Liverpool had said they could "work with" these demolition plans.

Building a brand new stadium was always not just about the football club but about trying to improve physically a sunken area and to generate a working economy. It was the conclusion reached after a painful process sparked by uproar when those original 1999 plans were exposed, involving an expanded Anfield, a commercial area for the club in the same corner proposed to be cleared now and the demolition of 1,800 homes about which no resident had been consulted.

After that a detailed community structure was established to ensure full consultation with the residents. The proposed new 60,000-seat stadium on Stanley Park emerged from that, approaching 10 years ago. Liverpool came to the conclusion they could build better facilities, including enough corporate dining to make money in Manchester United proportions, if the club moved from Anfield, its hemmed-in home since 1892. The site of the current ground was then going to be developed into "Anfield Plaza", with shops, restaurants and office space, to attract visitors and, it was hoped, generate jobs for local people.

Liverpool, then 51% owned by the Littlewoods Pools family scion, David Moores, and run by the chief executive, Rick Parry, were anxious, however, about borrowing the money to build it. Parry believed that, even if rich men taking over were not actually going to provide the money needed, they would at least stand behind borrowing it, and it is still remarkable to reflect that Liverpool was sold only to finance the new stadium. The result was the Tom Hicks and George Gillett takeover. They paid £174m for the club, Moores receiving £89m for his shares; they described it as a "multi-generational commitment" by their families but had borrowed the money from Royal Bank of Scotland for only 12 months. They promised a spade in the ground within 60 days to build the new stadium but then said global financial conditions meant they could not borrow the money required.

When RBS in effect installed Martin Broughton as the Liverpool chairman in April 2010 to sell the club, he said explicitly that he would seek new owners who would build that new stadium: "We want to do the right thing for Liverpool and a new stadium is doing the right thing," he said. "It will add long-term value to the club and, if we are looking for a new owner, that is something they will have to accept."

However, after Henry and his Fenway Sports Group emerged victorious from the bitter October 2010 court battle to buy Liverpool, Henry said from the beginning he did not want to build it. The economics of spending around £300m effectively to fund 15,000 new seats(although there would also be commercial areas in a new stadium) did not make financial sense, Henry said. Liverpool maintain they still have the new stadium option open but the demolition plans strongly point to Anfield being expanded instead.

In the club's accounts for 2010-11 £49m was written off relating to the new stadium, adding to £10m previously in 2010, making £59m seemingly wasted. The council, under these plans, would take care of the right-to-light issues and negotiate with residents, possibly backed by compulsory purchase orders if any stubbornly refuse to go. That is also a source of unhappiness among some, who believe Liverpool should negotiatie upfront themselves. Liverpool declined to comment, saying: "The private discussions and plans that Liverpool Football Club has or may have with residents or other stakeholders are, in our opinion, exactly that: 'private'."

Kitts said he is expecting the club to make an announcement by the end of June. It would be a great surprise if that heralds a new stadium, to be built on Stanley Park. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Euro 2012: Gary Neville – 'I won't hold back from England criticism'

England coach is adamant he will continue to point out players' errors in his dual role as a forthright TV pundit

There is only one flicker of awkwardness before Gary Neville – England coach, television pundit, former footballer and, increasingly, people's favourite – is back in control and you are reminded what a slick operator he is these days.

He has just been reminded that back in March he was asked in a magazine interview to select his England squad for Euro 2012 and advocated that they went almost exclusively with younger players or, as he put it, those "not tarnished by failure and cynicism". There was no place for John Terry or Frank Lampard. Neville wanted 4-4-2 to be abandoned and, when it came to his team, neither Andy Carroll nor Ashley Young made the cut. Which, as he knows now, is far removed from the thinking of the man who, two months later, would invite him to be part of his coaching staff.

Neville clearly has different philosophies from Roy Hodgson but, as he points out, that is not necessarily a bad thing. "In the past I think England managers have invited friends to be around them at times. The thing that Roy said to me was: 'I don't want someone to come alongside me and be a yes man.'"

Anyone who has caught Neville on Sky will know he is anything but the modern-day equivalent of Phil Neal, Graham Taylor's famously agreeable right-hand man on the infamous "Do I Not Like That?" documentary. There are 23 players in Hodgson's squad and, when Neville goes through the names, he eventually concludes "in one way or another, I've probably had to highlight every one of them for a mistake they've made or something they should be doing better".

It is just that Neville has become so revered in the world of punditry, added to his achievements over two decades at Old Trafford, he commands a rare level of respect within the game. So he is going to continue on Sky and if he has to criticise one of the England players, then so be it. "The mistake is highlighted anyway, there are probably 100 million watching around the world, the manager has probably pointed it out and the players will know in their own mind if they've made a mistake anyway. So the fact Gary Neville might be sat in the commentary box pointing out their mistake, I think it's the least of their worries, to be honest."

Hodgson, like so many others, could not help but be impressed by Neville's insight and opinion. But they had never properly met or spoken before. When the FA executive Adrian Bevington got in touch on Hodgson's behalf Neville admits he did not know what to think. "I got a text saying: 'I want to speak to you about something confidential.' I thought: 'What have I done wrong?'"

Neville has not, after all, always been a friend of the FA, although the politician in him now says "there are an awful lot of good people at the FA, and always have been". Hodgson rang him at home "and it felt like a special moment in my life; an important moment, is how I've described it. I don't get emotional, I've never cried at a football match, I've never been somebody who gets too overboard, or too down, but I knew it was something important and never in a million years would I have dreamt of not doing it."

He knew, too, that he should ask what his former manager at Manchester United thought about it. "I knew I wanted to do it but I also wanted Sir Alex [Ferguson] to be one of the first people to know. So I went to see him. I was panicking, as you do, walking into his office. It turned out he'd known about it 10 days before me, as per usual. Which is typical."

The misconception about Neville is that he did not enjoy his international career. Sitting in his England tracksuit, he reflects: "It hurt, absolutely, because it's a huge regret, a disappointment, a huge missed opportunity. You never like looking back and thinking [blows his cheeks out] … and that's what it is with England. You look back and think: 'If only we had done this, or done that.'" Yet England's failures would not hurt if he did not cherish his own involvement so much. "It was a completely different feeling to playing for United even though my life was United, as you know. Playing for England was a special thing."

The current squad, he admits, has brought "the lowest [public] expectation that I've ever known for an England team". He and Hodgson – one 37, the other 64 – have plenty they agree on, such as wanting nothing to do with England's Wag culture. "That won't happen again," Neville says, thinking back to the 2006 World Cup. "Between 2002 and 2007 everyone got carried away with everything in life. It is a different world now. We are here to play football. We are here to work."

Where manager and coach differ is that, before Hodgson's appointment, Neville was happily recommending that whoever took over from Fabio Capello (his choice was Harry Redknapp) should keep only Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney from the old guard because "now is the time to clear the decks and go in with a fresh approach". His own 23-man squad features only 12 of the players who will actually be on the plane to Krakow on Wednesday.

"I've said a lot over the years; if you went through my back catalogue you'd have some fun," he says. "But two things. One, Roy did want to get in the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck and Jones. The boy Butland is coming in now, when it would have been easy to bring in a more experienced goalkeeper, and there are other younger players who would have been in contention but are injured, like Walker, Smalling, Wilshere, Rodwell and others.

"Secondly, having spoken to, and listened to, the boss, he wanted to pay respect to the players who had got the team to the tournament and worked so hard over a two-year period. It makes sense when you listen to him. And you have to remember I'm not the manager, I'm the coach."

Possibly the first one who has been appointed, at least in part, on the back of his television work. "Twelve months ago people were asking how I would ever be able to commentate on a Manchester City or Liverpool match and praise them or criticise them without it being seen as pro-Manchester United. I'd like to think I've overcome those fears. I've been fair across the board with everybody and, seriously, if you'd said to me at the start of the season I'd be sat there, on 30 April, having to congratulate Manchester City, who had just beaten Manchester United, as well as being critical of the Manchester United players who had made mistakes ... Then two weeks later I'd be sat there again, in the last match of the season, and there are 40,000 people turning around to let me know [City had won the league] … I've proven I can be fair and honest and, as long as you do that, I don't think it's a problem." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Euro 2012: Germany have to work hard for 2-0 friendly win over Israel

• Mario Gomez and Andre Schürrle on target for Germany
• 'We've a lot of work next week,' says coach Joachim Löw

Germany had to work hard to record a 2-0 win against Israel in a Euro 2012 warm-up match on Thursday with Mario Gomez and Andre Schürrle on target late in each half.

The three-times European champions, among the title favourites, dominated with a performance that was a marked improvement on their 5-3 defeat by Switzerland on Saturday.

However, they wasted close to a dozen clear chances on a rainy evening in Leipzig in their last friendly before this month's finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Germany face Portugal on 9 June in their first match in Group B which also includes Netherlands and Denmark.

"I am not unduly worried but I am not relaxed either. We have a lot of work next week," Germany's coach, Joachim Löw, said. "We still need to improve, that's clear. We need to be more aggressive. Clearly the game against Portugal will be played at a different pace."

Kyriakos Papadopoulos scored with a first-half header as Greece beat Armenia 1-0 in a warm-up match on Thursday.

The Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovki saved two penalties. The Greeks had a run of early chances before Papadopoulos put a powerful header past Berezovki in the 23rd minute, meeting a free-kick from Giorgos Karagounis.

Facing Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic at Euro 2012, Greece hung on in the second half when the Armenians stepped up their attack. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
John Terry given three-match ban for red card against Barcelona

• The Chelsea captain's ban will run into next season
• Terry was sent off during second leg of semi-final

John Terry has been banned for three matches for his dismissal in the Champions League semi-final.

Uefa has confirmed that Terry will miss Chelsea's next two European matches following his red card in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona.

The defender missed Chelsea's victory over Bayern Munich in the final, as he served a mandatory one-match ban, but the ban has now been extended to include the first two games of next season's competition.

Terry was shown a straight red card for thrusting his knee into the back of the Barcelona forward Alexis Sánchez. At the time the tie was finely poised at 1-1 on aggregate and Terry's dismissal appeared to signal the end of Chelsea's hopes, especially as Barcelona made it 2-1 on aggregate soon after.

Chelsea fought back with goals from Ramires and Fernando Torres and went on to lift the trophy following their penalty shoot-out triumph over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
You are the Ref: Steven Gerrard, England

Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line. Keith Hackett's answers appear in Sunday's Observer and here from Monday.

Competition: win an official club shirt of your choice

For a chance to win a club shirt of your choice from the range at Kitbag.com send us your questions for You are the Ref to you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk. The best scenario used in the new YATR strip each Sunday wins a shirt to the value of £50 from Kitbag. Terms & conditions apply.

For more on the fifty year history of You Are The Ref, click here. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Liverpool to favour Anfield expansion

• Residents shown proposals to demolish nearby houses
• Liverpool council hopes to begin work on plan this summer

Liverpool, having decided on Brendan Rodgers as their manager, are expected to announce within weeks they intend to stay at Anfield, not build their long-planned new stadium on Stanley Park. Under plans drawn up by Liverpool city council and revealed to local residents, houses would be demolished to enable the club to expand Anfield's main stand.

At a meeting on 15 May attended by Ian Ayre, the Liverpool managing director, residents living in neighbouring streets to Anfield were presented with three worked-up options involving knocking down rows of houses. The council's assistant director for regeneration, Mark Kitts, told the Guardian that Liverpool have confirmed, in discussions with the council, that the demolitions would meet the club's requirements.

"We have been working with the club very closely," Kitts said, "and they have said this will accommodate their needs if they stay at Anfield and refurbish the current stadium."

Kitts said homes would be given "an open market valuation" – which he suggested could be upgraded to reflect an area in better condition – plus a 10% "home loss payment" and removal costs. Liverpool will not have to negotiate directly with residents or buy their houses. Kitts said the council has the option of applying for compulsory purchase powers, to force residents to sell, if necessary. Some home-owning residents are fearful that they will not receive enough to pay for a similar home elsewhere.

Liverpool's principal physical obstacle is not enlarging Anfield's footprint – their plan is understood to involve adding an extra tier, plus corporate facilities, to the Anfield Road and main stands. Doing so, however, would block the "right to light" of those neighbouring houses. Kitts said he believed the demolitions would "solve the right to light issues".

The plans, presented to a neighbourhood "stakeholders meeting", including the Rockfield Residents Association, all propose knocking down the row of terraces closest to the main stand, on Lothair Road. The second two options, more favoured, involve demolishing two additional rows of houses – both rows on Lothair Road, and the first on the next street, Alroy. The remaining houses are planned to be refurbished: one option suggests replacing the demolished houses with a commercial development, possibly a hotel.

Liverpool are still maintaining they are keeping open both their options – to expand Anfield or proceed with the new stadium on Stanley Park. However, the demolition plan, on which Kitts said the council hopes to begin work as soon as this summer, has convinced many local people that this is to facilitate Liverpool staying at Anfield. The council still favours the new stadium but Liverpool's owners, John W Henry's Fenway Sports Group, has made it clear since it bought the club that it would prefer to enlarge Anfield, mainly because it is cheaper.

Liverpool declined to comment on the revelation of the housing demolition blueprint, saying: "The private discussions and plans that Liverpool Football Club has or may have with residents or other stakeholders are, in our opinion, exactly that: 'private'."

Last week Ayre said Liverpool would "need to convince" residents if the club were to stay at Anfield, and said: "We're having some great dialogue with them."

However, Ros Groves, chair of the neighbouring Salisbury Residents Association, said she "hit the roof" when she read that. Her group has also been presented with demolition plans, for a corner opposite the main stand and Kop, which the club could develop commercially. But she said Liverpool have held no meaningful discussions with residents.

"I cannot see how it can be called 'great dialogue' when Ian Ayre has been to one meeting with one residents group," Groves said. "Everybody can see which way this is going now. We just want Liverpool football club to be open with us." Many houses around Anfield have been blighted for years – a significant number bought by the football club and left empty, a source of great resentment among residents left coping with the area's decline.

Some who own their homes, Groves said, fear were worried that that the money they would be paid by the council who will demolish them, will would not be enough to buy a similar home elsewhere.

"Everybody wants a solution to this area's problems," Groves said. "But people who have paid off their mortgages, and long-term tenants, are very concerned about the impact on them."

Liverpool was sold in 2007, to the Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, specifically so that finance would be found to build the new stadium on Stanley Park. After they failed to progress the new stadium, Martin Broughton, the chairman conducting the Liverpool sale, said any buyer would "have to accept" building a new stadium. But after FSG bought Liverpool, Henry always made it clear he favoured remaining at Anfield. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Chelsea agree £38m deal with Porto for Brazil striker Hulk

• Striker will shortly open discussions on personal terms
• £32m deal already in place for Eden Hazard

Chelsea have agreed a fee of £38m for the Porto striker Hulk and the deal is ready to be closed. The figure has been brokered by facilitators working on behalf on each club and, with the Brazil international's personal terms not expected to be an obstacle, it merely remains for the directors on both sides to sign the relevant paperwork.

The Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, as ever, will reserve the right to renegotiate until the last minute yet there is a confidence, not least on Hulk's part, that there will be no glitches, after what has been a lengthy process, and that he will get the move that he has craved, subject to a medical.

Porto have been happy to push the line about Hulk's release clause being €100m and although the Guardian has now learned that the figure is €60m [£48m], the Portuguese club have been forced to accept less, not least because only Chelsea have been willing to make a competitive offer. The release clause was never going to be binding. Porto had wanted no less than £40m but Chelsea have haggled them down.

The fee, however, represents an eye-watering outlay and, on the back of the £32m deal that Chelsea have put into place for the Lille attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, it is a serious statement of intent from Abramovich, who still does not have a permanent manager.

Roberto Di Matteo, the Champions League-winning interim coach, remains in the dark about his future, with his Stamford Bridge contract set to expire at the end of June. Abramovich has a frosty relationship with Di Matteo and it is clear that he is exploring other options, with the former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola his ideal candidate. Guardiola says that he needs a break from the game.

Abramovich, with the help of his influential technical director, Michael Emenalo, is calling the shots and the Russian drove the capture of Hazard, a player who stands to inject greater fantasy into Chelsea's game. Hulk is also considered a player to excite the crowd, a powerful and clinical presence, who can play as the centre-forward or off the right, where he is likely to feature for Chelsea.

Ron Gourlay, the club's chief executive, made it clear last Wednesday that Fernando Torres would start next season as the team's No9. Abramovich made it a personal mission to sign the Spain striker in January of last year from Liverpool for £50m and despite Torres's poor goals return – he has 12 in 67 appearances for the club – the owner is determined to see him prosper. "Fernando Torres is the man that we will go forward with and Fernando Torres will score us the goals," Gourlay said.

Torres's principal competition last season came from Didier Drogba but the 34-year-old has left the club as a free agent and he is ready to sign a contract at Shanghai Shenhua that is worth €300,000 a week after tax, which would make him one of the highest paid players in world football. The current leader is the Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who takes home €423,000 a week after tax at Anzhi Makhachkala.

John Terry, the Chelsea captain, has been banned by Uefa for three European club matches over his red card against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. Terry had to sit out Chelsea's win in the final against Bayern Munich and will miss the Super Cup match against Europa League winners Atlético Madrid in August, plus Chelsea's first Champions League group-stage match in September.

Chelsea's moves for Hulk and Hazard are a big part of the plan to rejuvenate a squad that lagged 25 points off the Premier League title pace. Along with Drogba, José Bosingwa and Salomon Kalou have been released while the club are open to offers for Florent Malouda and Michael Essien, both of whom have one year to run on their contracts. Chelsea have also added the young wingers Marko Marin from Werder Bremen and Kevin de Bruyne from Genk, each for £7m fees.

Hulk, 25, has been in Chelsea's sights all season. His record is outstanding – 57 goals in 91 games in the past two seasons – and there is the belief that he can improve at Stamford Bridge. Neither Hulk nor Hazard have allowed the uncertainty over the managerial position at Chelsea to deflect them. Together with the Spaniard Juan Mata, they stand to form a potent trio behind Torres. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Rodgers agrees to new structure

• Rodgers insists on appointing his own backroom team
• Swansea get go-ahead to talk to Wigan No2 Graeme Jones

Brendan Rodgers is due to be unveiled as Liverpool's manager on Friday having agreed to work within the new management structure that Fenway Sports Group has planned for Anfield.

The 39-year-old's move from Swansea City to Liverpool was unable to be ratified on Thursday as the two clubs agreed a compensation package that extended to members of Rodgers' backroom staff at the Liberty Stadium. Respective club officials then had to attend a Premier League meeting in London. Personal terms had previously been agreed between Rodgers and Liverpool and he is expected to put pen to paper on a three-year contract before taking his public bow as Kenny Dalglish's successor at Anfield on Friday morning.

Swansea have in turn been granted permission to speak to the Wigan assistant manager Graeme Jones about their vacancy. Jones was No2 to Roberto Martínez at the Liberty Stadium before following the Spaniard to Wigan in 2009.

Swansea were entitled to around £5m in compensation for Rodgers because of the three-and-a-half-year contract their former manager signed in January. Terms were also agreed for three members of the Swansea backroom team after Rodgers insisted on bringing trusted allies with him to Merseyside, illustrating that, although Liverpool's owners are overhauling the management system at Anfield, the manager selects his own staff and will not be subservient to a sporting director.

Rodgers will, however, be the lead part in a sporting director-type model at Anfield and accepted that framework during talks with John W Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool's principal owner and chairman respectively. Damien Comolli's former duties as director of football are expected to be fragmented into three new roles and further appointments are scheduled for the coming weeks.

Liverpool's new manager will retain a say on transfers although FSG, having paid excessive fees for Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, does not intend to allow one person to have overall control on transfer policy and fees. A new executive team, headed by Rodgers, will take on that responsibility.

FSG does not see the traditional British-style manager as the way forward for Liverpool but appears to have compromised on the authority between Rodgers and the sporting director figure. The former Watford and Reading manager's insistence on appointing his own backroom team may prompt the departure of Steve Clarke from Anfield and has also scuppered Louis van Gaal's prospects of joining Liverpool.

The Dutchman met Liverpool officials to discuss the sporting director role and also the managerial vacancy but, as talks progressed with Rodgers and Martínez, both of whom were reluctant to work with Van Gaal, FSG backed away from that appointment. Liverpool's owners considered several candidates as manager, including André Villas-Boas, before settling on Rodgers. Martínez was never offered the Liverpool job. Clarke, assistant manager to Kenny Dalglish, offered his resignation in the wake of Dalglish's sacking but that was rejected. The Scot has worked with Rodgers previously at Chelsea but tendered his resignation two weeks ago out of loyalty to Dalglish.

Rodgers is bringing his assistant Colin Pascoe, conditioning expert Glen Driscoll and chief match analyst Chris Davies with him to Anfield. He may also attempt to hijack Swansea's £6.8m deal with Hoffenheim for Gylfi Sigurdsson. Swansea agreed a club record transfer for the Iceland midfielder earlier this week but Sigurdsson has yet to sign a contract, though remain hopeful he will do so. Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and Ashley Williams, who all excelled under Rodgers in the Premier League last season, could also be of interest to the next Liverpool manager.

The Northern Irishman is prepared to give all Liverpool players the chance to be part of his long-term plans, a policy that will extend to Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani in the absence of any tempting offers for their permanent transfers this summer. Cole spent last season on loan at Lille while Aquilani did likewise with Milan, but did not play the required 25 games to trigger his £6.5m compulsory purchase.

"I'm waiting for Liverpool to decide the name of the new coach, then we will meet in order to understand their plans," Aquilani said on Thursday. "Only then will I be able to make the right decision. It is important that I have the opportunity to make a contribution, to be able to play well and play regularly. I need to understand whether there are conditions for an agreement that satisfies everyone."

Swansea, meanwhile, have held internal discussions over who will replace Rodgers at the Liberty Stadium, having begun to prepare for their manager's possible departure when he was linked with Tottenham Hotspur in February. Jones appears to be the leading candidate, although the Brighton manager Gus Poyet, Blackpool's Ian Holloway and Birmingham's Chris Hughton and former Denamrk international Michael Laudrup have also been linked with the vacancy.

Wigan's chairman, Dave Whelan, said of Jones: "He's worked with Roberto for a few years but I think he's up for the challenge and is a very good lad. Roberto would like him to stay – they've been a great partnership for quite a while and the first thing Roberto said was he'd miss him immensely.

"But you can't stop progress and it's unfair to say 'you can't take that job, you're under contract'. It's not fair." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Euro 2012: France fears over injury to midfielder Yann M'Vila

• M'Vila limps off early in 2-0 friendly win over Serbia
• France start Euro 2012 against England on 11 June

The midfielder Yann M'Vila limped off after five minutes of France's 2-0 friendly win over Serbia on Thursday after receiving a heavy tackle from behind.

The Rennes midfielder was hacked down by the Serbia forward Dusan Tadic one minute into the game. M'Vila, a key player who has been a near ever-present in the France coach Laurent Blanc's team over the past two years, got back up again and carried on playing.

But moments later he made a pass with his left foot and fell down again, clutching his right leg. He was helped off the field by two of France's medical staff and replaced by Alou Diarra.

M'Vila broke down in tears when he was taken off after twisting his right ankle, leaving the stadium on crutches before returning to the bench without them in the second half.

France open their European Championship campaign against England on 11 June and Blanc is confident M'Vila will be available for that match.

The 21-year-old has played 19 times for France in a deep-lying central midfield role, protecting the defence and using his crisp passing to move the ball out smoothly.

"We can think that he will be fit for the first game," Blanc said. "His participation in the tournament is not in question."

The France doctor, Fabrice Bryand, was more circumspect, though. "The ankle is not broken. It's reassuring. We, however, need 48 hours more to say if he will recover in time for the Euro," he said.

Franck Ribéry and Florent Malouda got the goals against Serbia to extend France's unbeaten run to 20 matches.

The performance was an improvement on Sunday's 3-2 win against Iceland, where France had to come back from 2-0 down to scrape a late win.

This time France went into the break two goals ahead as Ribéry scored with a clinical finish and then Malouda fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 30 metres.

France played eye-catching, free-flowing football in the first half. "In the first half we did a lot of nice things offensively, that was positive," Blanc told the French TV channel TF1.

"The players were in better shape than against Iceland. We were better physically but we are not ready yet, we suffered in the last 15 minutes." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Berbatov not keen on Leverkusen

• German club would only sign Berbatov on a free transfer
• Striker appears to be leaving Manchester United this summer

Dimitar Berbatov will not be returning to Bayer Leverkusen, though the Manchester United forward's future remains unclear.

Berbatov played for Leverkusen for five seasons before he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2006. But Wolfgang Holzhauser, the chief executive, said: "We are looking to find a striker, one that works well alongside Stefan Kiessling. However, the return of Berbatov is not an option for us. We are still on good terms with him but he would only be an option if he was available on a free transfer."

This will not be a possibility as Berbatov is signed on for another year at Old Trafford, and with him costing £30.75m four years ago United will be keen to try to recoup around half of that.

Berbatov does appear to be leaving at some point this summer, though, after he admitted frustration this week: "My time at United is running out, I no longer feel like a valuable part of this team. I think I did well in the few opportunities that I received. I am a little frustrated by the way this happened, I do not think I deserved it." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
League Cup will be known as Capital One Cup

• Credit card firm takes over sponsorship from Carling
• Football League announce a four-year deal

The League Cup will be known as the Capital One Cup from the start of the new season under a four-year sponsorship agreement with the credit card company, the Football League has announced.

Liverpool won the competition – then called the Carling Cup – in the season just concluded, beating Cardiff 3-2 on penalties at Wembley in February.

The value of the new sponsorship deal was not disclosed. The Football League's chief commercial officer, Richard Heaselgrave, said: "This is terrific news for clubs and a great way to conclude what has been a memorable domestic football season.

"The Capital One Cup is in great shape having been re-invigorated in recent seasons by a number of memorable finals, some thrilling midweek cup football and a first glimpse of the stars of the future."

The draw for the first round of the rebranded competition will be made on 14 June, with the final scheduled to take place at Wembley on 24 February. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Golf: Tiger in the hunt after opening 70

Tiger Woods carded a two-under-par opening round of 70 at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday to sit within striking distance of the early leaders.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Norwich reject Lambert's resignation

• Club express regret over move by manager
• 'We have fought hard to keep Paul at Norwich City'

Norwich City have issued a statement confirming that Paul Lambert has offered his resignation, but stating that they will not accept it while talks with Aston Villa continue.

Lambert is reported to have had a far from amicable meeting with the City board, over their refusal to allow him to talk to Villa. Nonetheless, the club expressed their gratitude to the manager for what he has achieved at Carrow Road.

The statement on the club's website said: "The club regrets to confirm that Paul Lambert has offered his resignation from his position as Norwich City manager.

"We have fought hard to keep Paul at Norwich City and have not accepted his resignation whilst discussions with another club are taking place.

"However, whatever happens, we want to place on record our sincere gratitude for everything Paul has done for the club over the last three fantastic seasons.

"When Paul joined us in August 2009 we were in 66th position in the English football pyramid and the club was on the brink of financial meltdown.

"Today we are a Barclays Premier League football club, on a financially sound footing and with a stadium full to capacity.

"Discussions with Paul throughout the last few days have been professional and amicable. Paul has already earned his place in Norwich City Football Club history and, no matter what happens, will always have a friendly welcome at Carrow Road." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Euro 2012: Portugal tactics and key questions – the expert's view | Vítor Hugo Alvarenga

If they are fit and on form, Paulo Bento's team could have a successful tournament. Up front they can match the best teams in Europe, but defence may prove trickier

This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2012 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 16 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine. guardian.co.uk is running previews from two countries each day in the runup to the tournament kicking off on 8 June.

The tactics

Paulo Bento's preferred formation is 4-3-3 with a twist in midfield. As Portugal do not have a natural playmaker at the moment, Bento normally uses three box-to-box midfielders in the middle, who swap places constantly.

Rui Patrício has had a superb season domestically and in the Europa League and will be the first choice in goal ahead of Eduardo (Benfica), who has not played for his club. The 24-year-old Sporting keeper Patrício has reached a level of maturity which allows him to travel to Ukraine and Poland with a lot of confidence. One save from this season stands out, when he denied Joe Hart in the last minute against Manchester City to take his team through to the next round in the Europa League at the expense of City.

The defence may be Bento's Achilles heel this summer. On the right, the coach has decided to do without the services of Chelsea's José Bosingwa after falling out with the defender. According to the coach, Bosingwa said he was injured so that he did not have to play in a friendly for Portugal, and he has not been called up since.

The 28-year-old Sporting defender João Pereira is the current holder of the right-back slot. He is a good player but has a suspect temperament, and has struggled to keep his anger in check domestically. For Portugal, he has been much better and has magnificent technique. He is a bit of a wild card.

In central defence, Bento has lost another player after a dispute. Ricardo Carvalho, after realising that he would lose his place to Pepe, walked out of training and has yet to return. Bento swears that the former Chelsea player will not play for Portugal again during his time in charge. So the two central places will go to Pepe and Zenit's 30-year-old stalwart Bruno Alves. They know each other well from their time at Porto and the only concern is that they are sometimes unnecessarily tough in their game. That could result in red cards. Carvalho's absence, meanwhile, is a huge blow to Bento as his presence at times allowed Pepe to play in defensive midfield.

On the left, Fábio Coentrão is the undisputed No1 choice and Portugal have great hopes for the Real Madrid utility man this summer.

In midfield, without players who are particularly attacking or defensive, Bento normally chooses three men who can all play a central role and create a triangle together. Chelsea's Raul Meireles often appears as the more defensive of the three despite not being physically imposing. João Moutinho (25 years, FC Porto) and Carlos Martins (29 years, Granada) are even shorter than Meireles and the lack of height could be a problem for Bento's team this summer. However, they are all technically very gifted and this offers Bento great fluidity. When Carlos Martins is lacking match fitness, Bento often opts for Miguel Veloso (25 years, Genoa), a left-sided player with more defensive characteristics who can help out Meireles.

Up front, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani are two world class players and here Portugal can match the best teams in Europe, if not the world. If they are fit and on form, Bento's team could have a successful tournament. However, the central striker position is a worry. Hélder Postiga (29 years, Zaragoza) has played better for the national team than for his clubs and is the favourite to start, but he is hardly world-class. The Besiktas striker Hugo Almeida is the alternative.

Portugal try to play nice football under Paulo Bento – and often succeed with their aim. The strategy is to rely on the movement of the ball between the three midfielders and Nani. Ronaldo has a free role to be able to create chances with a lot of support, especially from Coentrão. With Nani and Ronaldo on the wings, a midfielder usually appears on the edge of the box, ready to shoot, when the two wingers decide to pass. This midfielder is often Carlos Martins and/or Raul Meireles, two players with powerful shots. João Moutinho is the brain of the team and rarely misses a pass.

Who is the player who is going to surprise everyone at the Euros?

Rui Patrício. One of the few that still plays in the Portuguese League, the young Sporting goalkeeper has had a great season and some great performances in the Europa League. Not well known outside Portugal but with huge potential.

Who is the player who is going to disappoint the most?

João Pereira. Also a Sporting player, he is the No1 solution at right back. The big problem is trying to have him fully focused on the game, not on the opponent. At club level, he tends to be over-agressive and can lose control easily.

What is the realistic aim for your team at the Euros and why?

Getting out of the group. If we do that, winning the cup. Portugal shares a group with Germany and Holland, two favourites. Also with Denmark, who topped our group in the qualification phase. Worst perspective, we don't make it. Best perspective, we beat Holland and Denmark, gain confidence and only stop when Ronaldo lifts the cup.

Vítor Hugo Alvarenga is senior football writer for Maisfutebol Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Liverpool agree compensation with Swansea for Brendan Rodgers

• Deal clears way for Rodgers to take charge at Liverpool
• Rodgers wins battle to bring own backroom staff to Anfield

Liverpool have removed the final barrier in the way of appointing Brendan Rodgers as manager after agreeing a compensation package with Swansea City.

Swansea were entitled to around £5m in compensation for Rodgers due to the three-and-a-half year contract their former manager signed in January. The package includes payoffs for several members of the Swansea backroom staff – the clearest sign yet that the new management structure Fenway Sports Group envisaged for Anfield has been compromised to allow Rodgers the control he wants.

Rodgers' insistence on bringing his own team with him to Merseyside may prompt the departure of Steve Clarke from Anfield and also ends Louis van Gaal's prospects of joining Liverpool. The Dutchman was FSG's preferred choice in a sporting director-type role at Anfield but Rodgers, and Wigan's Roberto Martínez, who was also interviewed by John W Henry, Liverpool's principal owner, made it clear that a partnership was unworkable.

Clarke, the assistant manager to Kenny Dalglish, offered his resignation in the wake of Dalglish's sacking but that was rejected. FSG still intend to reshape the coaching structure at Liverpool but not to the same extent as they originally proposed.

Rodgers agreed personal terms on a three-year contract at Liverpool on Wednesday and is expected to bring his assistant Colin Pascoe, conditioning expert Glen Driscoll and chief match analyst Chris Davies with him to Anfield. He may also hijack Swansea's £6.8m deal with Hoffenheim for Gylfi Sigurdsson. Swansea agreed a club record transfer for the Iceland midfielder earlier this week but Sigurdsson has yet to sign a contract. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Euro 2012: Portugal profile – Fábio Coentrão | Vítor Hugo Alvarenga

The rebel kid from Caxinas hopes once again to prove his detractors just how good he is

This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2012 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 16 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine. guardian.co.uk is running previews from two countries each day in the runup to the tournament kicking off on 8 June.

If Fábio Coentrão had not become a professional footballer then it could well have been him on the boat that sunk outside Figueira da Foz in November 2011, leaving six fishermen fighting for their lives. Instead it was one of his relatives, José Manuel Coentrão. The crew on board Virgin do Sameiro disappeared without a trace on 30 November and the community where Fabio Coentrão grew up, Caxinas, feared the worst. One day passed without a sign from the crew and then another.

Then, the miracle. Fifty-seven hours after the last sign from the fishermen, they were found by the Portuguese air force. All six of them. José Manuel Coentrão, the owner of the boat, had taken his crew on to the lifeboat, where they fought for their lives for what seemed like an eternity. After the rescue, he said: "I was running out of hope. Fortunately, a miracle happened." Asked what he would do next, he said: "Certainly I will return to the sea because the sea is my life."

Coentrão has always said that he would have become a fisherman if he had not made it in football. He grew up in the fishing village of Caxinas, between Vila do Conde and Povoa do Varzim. "My father was also a fisherman. My childhood was hard and my father had to leave the country in order to try to make our financial situation better."

His mother worked with his father in France for long periods, together with two of their sons, and the young Fabio had to stay in Caxinas with an aunt. "I remember my mother working in a fish factory. I would go and visit her and stay there. I worked in a bakery and I tried being a painter and decorator and worked on a construction site as well. Finally, though, I was able to concentrate more on my football."

Coentrão's talents were first spotted by Rio Ave and after a handful of matches for the first team, at the age of 18, José Mourinho invited him to train with Chelsea. He was also tracked by Sporting and Benfica but was allowed to travel to London. There, however, he struggled. Baltemar Brito, a member of Mourinho's coaching staff, remembers the 18-year-old's visit well. "He was just a boy. It is very difficult for a kid to leave Caxinas and go to London, get there and prove his potential when surrounded by very famous players.

"He made only four or five training sessions with the first team but he was just too shy and embarrassed. Only in the last training session did he show what he could do. The people at Chelsea called him 'Marcello Lippi', because of his hair and some similarities with the Italian coach's features. He spoke no English and had some difficulties to understand what they were going on about. When he found out why they called him Lippi he began to feel more comfortable and that was when he showed something in training."

It was not enough to win a contract with Chelsea, however, and the winger returned to Rio Ave. Soon afterwards, Benfica pounced and gave him six appearances before shipping him out on loan to Nacional of Madeira. He spent six months there, six months in Spain at Real Zaragoza, six more back at Rio Ave, before finally settling down back at Benfica. The boy from Caxinas had spent a month in London, then half year in Lisbon and now another half on the island. And yet, his biggest challenge was yet to come: playing in Spain.

After a good six months at Nacional, there was even more travelling. Coentrão joined Zaragoza, where he, again, lasted six months. The coach at Zaragoza at the time, Marcelino Toral, remembers: "He was part of the deal that saw Pablo Aimar join Benfica. He never really managed to settle in and didn't look like he cared much for what happened at Zaragoza. I had the feeling that he never wanted to be at the club and he left again in January."

Coentrão, unsurprisingly, saw it differently. "I would quit football if I had to return to Zaragoza. They misjudged me as a player and a person. Now that I am at Real Madrid, maybe they can see they were wrong. Even worse, the coach or someone tried to tell people that I was a party guy, that I did not take care of myself. That was not fair," he said recently.

He returned to Rio Ave for another six months, before finally settling down back at Benfica. In the first game of the 2009-10 campaign, Coentrão came off the bench to play left-back. A new start and a new position. He has never looked back.

After a tremendous season at left-back, Carlos Queiroz took him to the World Cup in South Africa. By that time, Coentrão had got married and was expecting his first daughter. The kid had grown up and arrived at the competition as a man. "Before [when I was younger] I was thinking only with my feet. Nowadays, I am able to think also with my head. In the first half of the season I had some difficulties in adapting [to the left-back role], but since January I feel very comfortable. I think I did an excellent second half of the season and I have to thank [the Benfica manager] Jorge Jesus for having gambled on me after everything that had happened to me in the previous two years and for giving me the confidence to play like I know I can."

Coentrão had an outstanding World Cup and was included in many experts' team of the tournament. He stayed for another year at Benfica and said he would sign a contract for life there, but then Mourinho and Real Madrid came knocking, paying the €30m release clause in his contract. "I spent two great years at Benfica but I think it is time to leave and [I hope] the fans will understand my decision," said Coentrão at the time. "I would only leave Benfica for Real Madrid. They have the best payer in the world, Ronaldo, and the best coach, Mourinho."

For Coentrão this was the biggest challenge possible. The pressure of playing for Real Madrid. The competition for places. Playing in La Liga again, where he had failed with Zaragoza. In Madrid he has kept a low profile most of the time, and he even revealed some funny habits. "I live very close to Cristiano Ronaldo. Sometimes I go there to ask for some vegetables from his garden. When he isn't home, I have to climb the wall to get in."

Coentrão has improved further as a player under Mourinho, who has used him in central midfield at times with Marcelo keeping a firm grip on the left. But even in a year of upheaval and a new position, he has played more than 30 games for Real.

Despite his success, he is still the rebel kid from Caxinas. A pretty innocent kid in a city full of traps. When celebrating his 24th birthday he was pictured with a cigarette in his hand, standing next to Ronaldo. There was outrage in the media and Mourinho did not include him in the squad for the next game. Coentrão, however, hit back by saying: "It was my birthday and it was a one-off thing. I am very disappointed with what has been written in the press because no one can say anything bad about me. I am an excellent professional, I have always given everything for the clubs I have represented and it is not fair to put everything in doubt because of one isolated act."

As Portugal prepare for the challenge of facing Denmark, Germany and Holland at Euro 2012, the speedy fisherman hopes once again to prove his detractors just how good he is.

Vítor Hugo Alvarenga is senior football writer for Maisfutebol Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
Lukaku: Chelsea glory left me cold

• 'I don't like people talking to me about the Champions League'
• Striker prefers loan deal to remaining on the bench

The Belgium and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku said he felt no joy at his club's Champions League and FA Cup triumphs and would rather be loaned out than repeat a season warming the bench. The 19-year-old, who moved to Chelsea from Anderlecht a year ago, started only four times last season and came on as a substitute on eight occasions.

Lukaku told De Standaard newspaper that he would often leave a match after 70 minutes if he was watching from the stands and said he felt no sense of achievement when Chelsea won the FA Cup, in which he played only a few minutes in the third round.

"When [Salomon] Kalou put the cup on my lap in the bus I asked him to take it away immediately. I didn't want to touch it because just as with the Champions League I had no part in it at all," he told the newspaper on Thursday. "I don't like people talking to me about the Champions League. It wasn't me, but my team that won the trophy."

Lukaku said he had improved in training, was eating far fewer hamburgers and, despite good performances in the matches he had started, had failed to win a regular place in the team. "Chelsea really wanted me last summer and paid a lot for me but after a while I thought are you just throwing money around?" he said.

Lukaku said he would seek talks with Chelsea's manager, whether that was the incumbent Roberto Di Matteo or a successor. "During the conversation with the manager I will see whether he's serious about me or not. If not, I will go away on loan. I have to play," Lukaku said.

His fellow Belgian, the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, joined Chelsea from Racing Genk a year ago, but was immediately loaned out to the Spanish side Atlético Madrid and was part of their Europa League-winning team. Read More

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Manchester United to play Shanghai friendly

Manchester United are to play a friendly against Shanghai Shenhua as part of a pre-season tour of China in July the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday Read More

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Mata vows to improve next season

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has vowed to improve next season despite shining for the Blues since joining the club last summer Read More

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Whelan will do all he can to keep Martinez at Wigan

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has pledged to do all he can to keep manager Roberto Martinez happy at the club Read More

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Villa to meet with Lambert after he reportedly quits Norwich

Aston Villa are set to meet with Paul Lamberts representatives amid reports the Norwich manager has resigned from his post at Carrow Road Press Association Sport understands Read More

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Euro 2012: 'Playing England will be like a final' – Laurent Koscielny

• France defender says defeat would be 'a disaster'
• Wayne Rooney's suspension is 'a joy to France'

Laurent Koscielny has said France will be treating their Euro 2012 opener against England like a final. The Arsenal defender admitted defeat could have severe consequences for France in a group which also contains Sweden and Ukraine.

"Our first match is like a final for us," the 26-year-old said in the Daily Mirror. "To play against England is the worst possible draw but it will be a enormous chance for us to progress. We can't afford to lose. Normally you might expect France and England to qualify for the second phase but football never works like that. We know this is like a final because defeat would be a disaster."

Koscielny could find himself up against two of his Arsenal team-mates. One player he will not be facing is the Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the first two games.

"The absence of Rooney is a joy to us," Koscielny said. "He is a brilliant player, such a talent. But England have quality. It will be strange to play against Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But Arsenal is one thing, France another.

"We've had a lot of jokes about playing against each other from being on the pitch together and in training at Arsenal. But while we laughed and joked, when the game comes it will be very serious and we must win the game. We all know that." Read More

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Euro 2012: Fernando Torres aims for top three in Spain's goal chart

• Chelsea striker takes tally to 28 against South Korea
• Torres 'feeling very good' for Euro 2012 campaign

Fernando Torres has targeted more goals at Euro 2012 after his effort in Spain's 4-1 friendly win over South Korea. The Chelsea striker headed the opening goal for the world champions in the international in Berne on Wednesday night.

Torres won praise from his manager Vicente del Bosque for his display as he moved to fourth on Spain's list of top-scorers with 28 goals.

He has set his sights on climbing to third during the European Championship with Fernando Hierro one goal ahead. Spain begin the defence of their trophy against Italy on 10 June.

"I have been feeling very good," Torres said. "Training has gone well. What I want is for my goals to help the team. I hope we can celebrate in the final and that when we have finished the championship only Raúl and El Guaje [The Kid – David Villa] will be ahead in the list of scorers. I have got through complicated moments and I feel fine." Read More

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Zeman returns to coach Roma, says Pescara chief

Zdenek Zeman will be the new coach of Roma according to the 65-year-old Czechs current boss at Pescara Daniele Sebastiani Read More

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Lambert's Norwich success has 'made him a target'

Former Norwich winger Darren Huckerby feels the success Paul Lambert brought to Carrow Road made it inevitable he would move on Read More

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Given and O'Shea return to training ahead of Euro 2012

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been handed a double boost after Shay Given and John OShea both trained Read More

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Green wants SFA talks

Charles Green wants dialogue with Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan to prevent the dispute between Rangers and the ruling body spiralling out of control Read More

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Euro 2012: Germany – the secrets behind the players

Who is called 'Nemo' by his team-mates and which player 'cools down' by listening to AC/DC? Find out here.

This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2012 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 16 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine. guardian.co.uk is running previews from two countries each day in the runup to the tournament kicking off on 8 June.

Mesut Ozil

His team-mates at Real Madrid call him "Nemo", after the fish from the animated film Finding Nemo, because of his distinctive eyes. Ozil has admitted that he first learned of his nickname from the press.

Manuel Neuer

Germany's goalkeeper was already a club member at Schalke 04 at the tender age of four. Later he became a member of the "Buerschenschaft" ultras group, whose T-shirt he continued to wear under his jersey long after becoming the keeper in Schalke's first team. There was thus more than the usual commotion when he moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2011. The Schalke fans mourned the loss of their talisman, while some of Bayern's supporters didn't want to have Neuer at all, even though he was well on the way to becoming a world-class keeper – after all, he had once deliberately riled them after a Schalke away win in Munich with a parody of Bayern hero Oliver Kahn! Emotions have since calmed down: Neuer is a Bayern player like any other and the Schalke fans have found themselves a new hero in Raúl.

Neuer has also admitted he likes to listen to AC/DC before games. "With AC/DC I cool myself down and I won't risk a red card so that I weaken my team's chances to win the game. The last man must always project strength and that is what I try to do," he said.

Sami Khedira

The midfielder from Real Madrid recently became unwittingly embroiled in a media storm. In his father's homeland, Tunisia, three journalists were arrested because they had reprinted a photograph of Khedira in which his hand is covering the breasts of his girlfriend, the well-known model Lena Gercke. The picture, which had been produced for a German men's magazine, was evidently too explicit for the Tunisian authorities. Ultimately the publisher of the Attounissia newspaper was fined the equivalent of £400.

Lars and Sven Bender

Sven missed out on a place in the squad but should the twin brothers find themselves on the pitch at the same time for the national team in the near future, they would become the first twins to play together for Germany for nearly 40 years. Schalke's Erwin and Helmut Kremers played together in three internationals in 1973. However the Kremers twins never played alongside each other in a tournament: Erwin played in the finals of the European Championship in 1972 and Helmut at the World Cup in 1974.

Thomas Müller

The top goalscorer of the 2010 World Cup has a famous namesake and predecessor in the national side. Gerd Müller, a winner at the 1972 European Championships and 1974 World Cup. Gerd Müller is still the most successful German goalscorer ever, with 68 goals in 62 internationals. In 2010, the new and the old Müller appeared together in a commercial. The plot: Thomas catches Gerd as he sneaks to the fridge and pinches his milk. He reprimands Gerd, saying: "But it's specifically got my name on it!" Gerd replies: "And mine too!"

Maybe you have to see it to fully understand the, er, brilliance …

Müller had a fall with a mountain bike just before the 2010 World Cup but luckily enough recovered in time for the tournament. He also told his girlfriend Lisa that he thought he had "no chance" to get a place in Bayern's amateur team after signing a contract with them. Two years later he was playing in the World Cup.

Tim Jürgens writes for the German football magazine 11Freunde

Click here to read the tactical preview of Germany

And click here to read the profile of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski Read More

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Martínez battles Lambert for Villa job

• Norwich manager reported to have had bust-up with board
• Wigan's Martínez still in running despite Liverpool talks

Roberto Martínez is still in the running for the manager's position at Aston Villa, despite reports linking Paul Lambert with the vacancy.

Martínez turned down Villa last summer and recently had talks with Liverpool but that will not be held against the Wigan Athletic manager.

Lambert was understood to have had a far from amicable meeting with the Norwich City board on Wednesday night and has now joined his Wigan rival as a frontrunner to take charge at Villa Park.

Both Lambert (42) and Martínez (38) match Villa's criteria of wanting a young and ambitious manager with a proven track record of handling a Premiership club. The successful candidate must also be popular with Villa fans after the unfavourable reception the club's previous manager, Alex McLeish, received on his appointment last June.

Lambert is understood to have been angered by Norwich's refusal to allow him to talk to Villa, with the club having previously promised they would fight to retain his services. The Scot guided Norwich to back-to-back promotions before enjoying an impressive first season in the Premier League.

Randy Lerner, the Villa owner, stated when McLeish was sacked that he was looking to bring in a "new manager who sees the club's potential and embraces our collective expectations". Read More

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