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The final week of our international ground hopper's Euro 2012 adventure. See also parts one and two, and part three.

Sunday Lviv to Kiev

The Warsaw quarter-final trip has helped keep my mind off tonight but straight off the express I pick up my Italy ticket, with the aid of the police report into the theft I suffered in Poland. The FA's man swaps emails with Uefa then says: "You'll have to go through this procedure again before the next match." Alas, the slip does not prove to be an omen. Amid the afternoon optimism I advise friends hoping to fly out to our semi or the final, as I soak in the atmosphere; but after being soaked with tension in the evening, in the early hours it is with melancholy and beer. For five straight Euros I have seen an Italy goalless draw; and it's my fourth England penalty defeat.

Monday Kiev to Lviv

The capital seems quieter, not just because of hangovers; no game here till the final. On my journey west a smattering of English and Italians join locals getting used to the idea of expresses: promotional videos extol the country, the host cities and, at great length, every feature of the train. Green buttons with arrows on them open doors! My phone company texts me on the assumption I am coming home now England are out, to say I should turn off some features, but I am not done.

Tuesday Lviv to Warsaw

At 7am I board a sleeper from Kiev, having cheated with a proper night's snooze in a hotel. In doing so I wake two English women, heading home somewhat less rested. None of us look like smugglers – at least the alsatians don't think so – but the border guards are returning to form. The most stringent previous search has consisted of my being asked to remove my glasses for a passport check; now Ukrainians and Poles demand we open bags and rucksacks, though the woman who asks "Narcotics?" does so with a bright smile.

Wednesday Warsaw

In England's absence I have no ticket for tomorrow so spend the afternoon touring landmarks and looking for the usual suspects: not touts, but groups in team shirts or casually dressed and sat outside cafes with an air of nothing much to do. Some have scrawled signs and tickets in menu holders; one group attracts the eye but instead of a spare all I get a glimpse of is Adrian Chiles.

Thursday Warsaw

As kick-off arrives there are German and Italian fans without tickets and people with spares that will become expensive souvenirs if they are not sold soon. Prices are stubborn so I keep my money for the final and watch the game with a group of Poles who serenade me with God Save the Queen – and get the words right, unlike England fans who always sing "our" where it should be "the". As I head back into town Varsovians are taking farewell pictures of their stadium in its Euro 2012 livery. The show is almost over.

Friday Warsaw to the border

On the Kiev sleeper, hot, sweaty football fans sit around in their underwear after a mad dash from the wrong station. The air-con works only when the train is moving; as always it takes two sticky hours to change the gauge on the carriages at the border. It has been a wonderful month but as the climax beckons the travel is starting to pall.

Saturday The border to Kiev

Michel Platini says Euro 2020 could be held all across the continent; there speaks a man who is flown between matches on other people's money. Up against the Fan Zone, supporters of the imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko are making their case against President Viktor Yanukovych in various ways, a reminder that the face of a country presented in a tournament is dolled up. I have not sought the "real" Poland or Ukraine, sticking to and loving the football construct. But perhaps England's World Cup away qualifiers, in October and then September next year, when only we, not the world, are watching will give me a clearer glimpse of life beyond a party I have so much enjoyed.

Philip Cornwall writes about following England for Football365.com Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

In contract to his predecessors, Prandelli has brought a personal touch to the Italian squad and the transformation has been stark

Back home they had been christened l'Italia del sorriso some time ago, though the watching world is only just cottoning on as to why. Cesare Prandelli's Azzurri can claim the European Championship against Spain on Sunday night and, if they do so, they will have restored their national team's reputation in the process. Given the traumas endured two years ago, an Italy bursting with smiles feels wonderfully appropriate.

Theirs has been a renaissance at these finals, the story made all the more romantic when placed in the context of the desperate underachievement in a pathetic defence of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Italy finished bottom of their group, behind Slovakia, Paraguay and New Zealand, with Marcello Lippi's side humiliated and the nation outraged. Prandelli had agreed to take up the reins prior to the finals but effectively walked into a messy divorce with all faith in the national team eroded. Gianluigi Buffon, infamously, had expressed doubt as to whether Italy would even reach Euro 2012, yet this is now a team unbeaten in 15 competitive matches and thrust into a ninth major final.

The transformation feels staggering and reflects directly upon Prandelli. The 54-year-old had gleaned three Serie A titles, a European Cup-Winners' Cup and a European Cup – the Heysel final against Liverpool – with Juventus as a midfield artisan whose diligence freed up Michel Platini to play. He hardly came highly decorated as a manager, his nomadic career has yielded a Serie B title with Verona in 1999 and, at its height, five successful years at Fiorentina. Yet he was a figure to contrast markedly with his predecessors. Where Lippi was the old-school disciplinarian, Prandelli is charming. He laughs and jokes through his public briefings, shares a beer in celebration back at Krakow's Casa Azzurri with all and sundry and is forever claiming to be calm even ahead of the most daunting of occasions.

He was the right man to restore the national team's image off the pitch and build bridges with a disillusioned public, with his initial task a PR exercise. "I realised the first aim was not the results," he said. "I didn't know when, or if, we would start winning again but I knew the first thing I had to do was bring the national team closer to the people of Italy again."

There were gestures, from squad visits to a prison in Florence to training at Rizziconi in Calabria, on land confiscated from the local mafia, the 'Ndrangheta. If the country was moving on from past controversies then so too was their national team. For those on the outside looking in, it struck the right tone and offered a sense of the required fresh start.

The contrasts with his predecessors did not end there. Where Lippi and Roberto Donadoni had stuck with tradition and authoritatively expressed their demands through their captains, whether it was via Fabio Cannavaro or Buffon, Prandelli has been more hands on and has made a point of speaking to each of his players individually. That might be considered basic but within the Italian set-up it felt exceptional. He has been more psychologist than manager at times, an approach that has paid dividends, eking the best out of members of his squad – Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano principal among them – others doubted could be integrated at this level.

He has become a footballing father figure for Balotelli, spending hours speaking with the Manchester City striker and forever stressing the role he deems must be undertaken on the pitch for the good of the team. The forward's substitution in the opening two games and relegation to the bench against Ireland suggested dissatisfaction but the 21-year-old, rather than sulk, has reacted positively. He, like others, needed reminding both of his qualities and his requirements. His display against the Germans was a reward.

If there is a heavy reliance upon players from Juventus – seven of the squad went through last season unbeaten in claiming Serie A – then all members of this party have been made to believe they can be pivotal. There have been 25 different starting line-ups and four systems over Prandelli's two years in charge and he came into this tournament, albeit on the back of some dismal friendly results, insisting selection would be determined by performances in training. Everyone had a chance of featuring, a reality that has spurred on the likes of the inexperienced Alessandro Diamanti, who now feels that he "belongs".

They all seem to enjoy playing in this team. Prandelli is a reformist, insisting upon a fluid, attacking mind-set to the extent it will be intriguing to monitor the transition of possession against Spain, with both teams revelling on the ball. There is no Luca Toni-type leading the Italian line and no Gennaro Gattuso cloned midfield snarlers intent on niggly disruption of their opponents' rhythm. Instead, there is confidence in their own ability to pass and create. This team imposes its own style on occasions, rather than reacting to their rivals' tactics.

"We started off with the idea of involving the players in how we would play the game," Prandelli said. "Many of them felt the time had come to play, I won't say a 'different type' of game because in football there is nothing new, but something else. I have plenty of quality midfielders so we play to our strengths. With these players, that means a much more attacking game."

This squad retains four members of the party that claimed the World Cup in 2006 but there are others – from Riccardo Montolivo to Claudio Marchisio – who had been deemed disasters at the tournament two years ago. They are flourishing at present with the faith of the management bringing the best out of their form. Andrea Pirlo may conduct the collective on the turf but the team's strength is in its unity. "When we started on this journey we were convinced we could become a 'team'," the coach said. "The players have bought into our ideas and they see that our philosophy allows them to express their quality."

All of it is overseen with Prandelli's sense of perspective, not least in the lengthy overnight pilgrimages made on foot to churches in Poland after the team's progress in the finals. Italy's domestic game is gripped by match-fixing scandals but there is respect for and faith in the man in charge of the national team. People remember that in the late summer of 2004 he left Roma just two months into his role to be with his wife, Manuela, who was suffering from breast cancer. That decision was greeted with surprise as well as sympathy, – his wife passed away in 2007 after an illness that had dragged for eight years – prompting him to wonder how he had been expected to react. "But then football is afraid of normality," he said.

It is perhaps because Italy's support can consider the coach grounded that he arrived in Krakow carried on a wave of affection and sends his team out in Kiev with the country pinching itself to be in this position. The team is transformed, pleasing on the eye and joyous at its progress. L'Italia del sorriso has never felt more appropriate. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Uefa president wants to hold Euros across the continent
• Fans could travel on low-cost airlines, says Michel Platini

Michel Platini says the 2020 Euros could be hosted "by 12 or 13 cities" across the continent rather than one or two nations in what would be a radical change for the world's second biggest tournament.

Uefa's president claimed the idea as his own in Kiev on Saturday with the plan now to be discussed by the Uefa executive committee, who are due to make a final decision by January next year. Turkey had been considered favourites to host the event in eight years' time, although their bid has been complicated by Istanbul's efforts to stage the Olympic Games in the same year. Platini described their position as "ambiguous".

The financial demands on future hosts will increase with the format to rise from 16 to 24 teams from the finals in France in 2016, though Platini, when asked about potential costs to supporters if the tournament became pan-European, raised eyebrows when he asserted that "there are low-cost airlines".

"It is just an idea I came up with a while ago," he stressed. "It would be to have the European Championship not in one country, but all over Europe. The majority of the executive committee believe it's a good idea, and they spoke to the administration and said we should work on this idea, so we will meet with all the national federations in December.

"The tournament could either be in one country with 12 stadiums, or one stadium in 12 or 13 cities, with each venue getting four games. We have talked about 12 or 13 host cities because it could be a tournament of 24 or 32 nations. In these days of cheap air travel, anything is possible. It is easier to go from London to Paris or Berlin than Cardiff to Gdansk. We will discuss it very seriously – it's an idea I feel really passionate about, and it would be a lot easier from a financial perspective. It is not easy to build airports and 10 stadiums in a country. This would be an easier arrangement, especially when we are in the middle of an economic crisis. But it is just an idea."

Platini remains opposed to introduction of goal-line technology, however, with the Uefa general secretary, Gianni Infantino, expressing hope that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) would postpone Thursday's anticipated decision to authorise its introduction.

"I am not just wholly against goal-line technology," Platini said. "I am against technology itself because then it is going to invade every area of football."

The IFAB is expected to endorse two systems on Thursday – the Hawk-Eye and GoalRef systems – which have passed stringent tests to the satisfaction of the Board. Each is required to send an immediate message to a watch worn by the referee within one second of the ball crossing the line. Any amendment to the law needs at least six of the eight members of IFAB to vote in favour, which is widely expected will be the case in Zurich. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• The match-fixing crisis has made the national side stronger
• President sends message of team spirit and determination

Gianluigi Buffon believes Italy have been steeled in adversity by the match-fixing crisis gripping the domestic game at home, with the Azzurri intent on "showing just how great our country is" by defeating Spain to claim the European Championship.

Cesare Prandelli's side are re-establishing Italy's credentials after the embarrassment of their elimination in the group stage at the World Cup two years ago and will attempt to secure the trophy for the first time since 1968 at the holders' expense. The Italian domestic game has been tarnished by the latest match-fixing scandal to erupt, though Buffon, one of four present who had won the World Cup in 2006 in the wake of the calciopoli crisis, has sensed the controversy has brought the squad tighter together.

"There is something unique in the Italian mentality in situations like this," said the veteran goalkeeper and captain. "Despite everything that is being said, and all the rumours flying around, Italians have a lot of respect and love for the national squad which always goes above and beyond. We now have the opportunity to show just how great our country is. As a country, we always try and find a way of making the squad solid. There's a lot of solidarity here, we've been brought together, and that has become our strength."

Italy's head of state, Giorgio Napolitano, telephoned Prandelli on Saturday morning to wish the 54-year-old and his players luck ahead of the game against Spain, with the manager to read out a letter sent to him by the president before the final. The squad will visit Napolitano in Rome on Monday regardless of the result. "I have read the letter already and they are fantastic words," said Prandelli. "He's conveyed the idea of team spirit, determination and generosity, things we want for the nation as well as the team.

"We are proud and hope to be up to the task. We felt Napolitano's presence and closeness the first time he came to see us against Spain. He showed great faith in us when not a lot of people had confidence in this side. But now we play the best side in the world."

The manager will retain the system with which the Azzurri defeated Germany so impressively in the semi-final, rather than resorting to the three-man back-line employed in the 1-1 opening group draw with the Spanish in Gdansk. Daniele de Rossi is expected to shrug off a sciatica problem to play, with Mario Balotelli leading the line alongside Antonio Cassano.

The size of the task ahead is all too obvious. "I've said throughout the tournament that there was, and still is, one team that has proved itself to be above every one and we're coming up against them in this game," added Buffon, who revealed his passionate singing of Il Canto degli Italiani is delivered in memory of his two great-grandparents, who were killed in the Second World War. "The Spaniards have great players throughout their team, and have dominated world football for the last four to six years.

"The best footballing side should win this game, so perhaps Spain have more chances to do that because they've been working towards this for four years and have the individual talent and the trophies. But Italy have been the surprise team of this tournament. Let's hope we continue to surprise people now." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Sir Chris Hoy or Rebecca Adlington could lead out team
• Competitors vote for flag-bearer in opening ceremony

Sir Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, Ben Ainslie, Paula Radcliffe and Christine Ohuruogu. Now that David Beckham's sporting mortality has taken him from Stuart Pearce's Great Britain football squad for London 2012 these candidates' prospects of carrying the flag at the Olympic opening ceremony have been enhanced.

Beckham was the bookmakers' favourite to lead Team GB into the stadium, though he was no shoo-in as the selection process involves each athlete in the GB team casting a vote. The British Olympic Association is expected to name the choice on 23 July, four days before Danny Boyle's opening ceremony, a secret rehearsal of which involving 2,000 performers was understood to have taken place at Olympic Park yesterday.

As Kate Howey, the judoka who carried the GB flag at the 2004 Athens Games, says: "Had it been David Beckham I think it would have been a bit of a shocker because you've got Olympians in there who have achieved so much. I would love it to be someone like Chris Hoy [or] Rebecca Adlington."

Among the 35 nations that have already decided their standard bearers, Japan chose a female wrestler, Saori Yosihda, Greece Alexandros Nikolaidis of taekwando and Singapore a table tennis player, Feng Tianwei. These will make the walk alongside a clutch of tennis players: Spain's Rafael Nadal, the Russian Maria Sharapova, Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Switzerland's Roger Federer.

The swimmer Mark Foster carried Britain's flag in Beijing, four years after Howey became only the third woman after swimmer Anita Lonsbrough (Tokyo, 1964) and the three-day eventer Lucinda Green (Los Angeles 1984) to carry Britain's flag.

"It was scary because you have millions of people watching and you think: 'Am I going to trip over and make a fool of myself'," she says. "But about 50m through it I thought: 'This is amazing.' I was waving and everything, I absolutely loved it. I felt so honoured to lead them out. It was unbelievable, I couldn't actually believe I'd be chosen – it was an immense experience.

"At the holding camp the week before your name is put forward and then it's whittled down to about four people and about two or three days before there was a reception with Princess Anne where they announced it. I knew my name had been put forward in the first instance for my sport and then it's an athlete thing – they get to vote. It's a voice from the athletes." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Xavi says there are no regrets about Croatia game
• Midfielder disputes Spain's boring tag

The Euro 2012 final pitches Spain up against the team they could have conspired to knock out earlier in the tournament. But the midfielder Xavi Hernández insisted that there would be no regrets, even if Spain fail to beat Italy. The midfielder instead expressed his satisfaction at the chance to face Andrea Pirlo, a man for whom he has long professed admiration, and dismissed suggestions that Spain are boring and that Italy are proponents of catenaccio.

If Spain and Croatia had drawn 2-2 in the final game of Group C, Italy would have been powerless to prevent their elimination. But rather remove a dangerous rival from their path, Spain defeated Croatia 1-0. Now they must close the tournament against the same side they opened it with, the only one to have scored against them.

Sitting alongside the Spain captain Iker Casillas, with whom he has played international football since the age of 15, winning the 1999 World Youth Championships, Xavi said: "Lots of people talked about the [2-2] draw but as the manager said, we never regret playing to win. We would never have thought of [reaching a pact to draw] and we will not think that even if we lose. If you had said to us back then [1999] that we would win all of this," Xavi added, "we would not have believed you. To have achieved so much, not just at senior level but junior level too, to see a generation of fantastic footballers and make history is wonderful. It's boring for people that we always win? For us it's ideal. Our football does not bore us; it has given us a lot of success."

Spain's golden generation has been led by these two players but it did not always seem that way. In an interview with The Guardian in 2011, Xavi admitted he had felt like a player in danger of extinction as the game turned increasingly physical. The year 2008 proved a definitive turning point. There are certain parallels with Pirlo. Released by Milan, he led Juventus to the league title this season and has been the outstanding player at this tournament, playing the kind of football that Xavi identifies with.

"I feel very lucky," Xavi said. "A few years ago there was a tendency towards a more physical game, a game that was more defensive and more speculative. We have been lucky that players who were perhaps weaker physically have come through and now there is more of a trend towards playing a game that is more open, prettier, happier. That has been good for me and it has been good for Pirlo. The majority of our players and the Italian players fit that type of game.

"Italy are not the famous catenaccio of the past. One of the keys to this final will be the possession of the ball and that is something both teams want. They have a great team." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Lukas Rosol, who beat Rafael Nadal in one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history, came crashing down to earth Saturday with a straight sets exit to Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Yohan Blake stunned Usain Bolt over 100m in the Jamaica Olympic trials to signal his intent ahead of the London Games where they will battle again for gold medal glory.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Laurent Blanc stands down as coach of the French national team Saturday in the wake of their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2012.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Xavi says that Spain have not been jaded by four years of success and remain as hungry as ever ahead of Sundays meeting with Italy in the final of Euro 2012 Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Italy have a special ability to achieve beyond their means in times of difficulty according to captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Although coach Cesare Prandelli has vowed to try to attack Spain the wily tactician knows that his teams first challenge will be to win back the ball against the renowned pass-masters in their championship match on Sundau Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Despite their status as reigning world and European champions Spain coach Vicente del Bosque does not think his side will go into Sundays Euro 2012 final with Italy as overwhelming favourites Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini has caused a minor sensation by revealing a solution to who will host Euro 2020 could be for up to 32 cities across Europe to do the job Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Spain are control freaks who hold on to the ball and keep opponents from scoring by wearing them down

Who thinks Spain are boring?

Approximately 50.00% of the football-watching population. It's the philosophical debate that has defined Euro 2012. Mark Lawrenson says if they win it will be "a bad advertisement for football". Boris Becker says they're boring. In Italy, the Corriere dello Sport says they are "terribly boring".

And are they boring?

That depends. If you equate goals with excitement and interest, then Spain's games are boring. The average of 1.8 goals in each of their matches is 25% lower than the tournament average of 2.4. George Graham would surely approve.

They play without a striker?

Sometimes they play Cesc Fábregas as a "false No9", a nominal striker who wanders all over the pitch.

Nobody denies they are brilliant …

Everyone accepts they have achieved an unprecedented level of technical excellence. It's just that some people like salt in their paella.

So what's the counter argument?

That Spain are one game away from becoming the first side to win three major tournaments in a row. That they play a brand of sophisticated, aesthetic football that transcends conventional notions of entertainment and maybe even goalscoring.

Goals win games, surely?

Yes but Spain usually only need to score once to win a game. They keep the ball so well that they hardly ever concede chances, never mind goals.

It's all about control?

That's the essence of their philosophy. They are control freaks. If they have the ball, you can't score. It's the ultimate example of attack being the best form of defence. Tiki-takanaccio.

Why don't they shoot more?

They believe wearing teams down in this way minimises risk and is the most efficient means of winning games. The approach has become more extreme. At Euro 2008 they had 33 passes per shot; at the last World Cup it was 44; this time it has been 58. Arsène Wenger called it "sterile domination" when Barcelona did it to Arsenal.

So they only care about winning, not entertainment?

Some would argue that, in their own pure way, Spain have become the thing they used to criticise: a team who prioritise winning over glory, entertainment and even fun.

If we do conclude the games are boring, whose fault is it?

Some say Spain's, for their endless foreplay. Some blame their opponents for parking the bus. A minority think it is the consequence of two different but equally defensive approaches.

But there isn't much middle ground?

Not really. Few things engender an evangelistic fervour quite like an arthouse/blockbuster debate. You are a philistine if you don't like Spain or a pseudo-intellectual if you do.

So what happens now?

Like Spain, we go round in circles. There is no right or wrong answer. Boredom is in the eye – and the yawn – of the beholder. Rob Smyth Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Laurent Blanc stands down as coach of the French national team Saturday in the wake of their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2012.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Captain eased tensions between Real Madrid and Barcelona players and is leading by example with his shootout brilliance

When extra time got going so did Spain. Suddenly they started making the chances that had evaded them for ninety minutes. Cesc Fábregas, Pedro Rodriguez and Jesús Navas, the three substitutes, dragged them towards Rui Patricio's goal; Andrés Iniesta started to take control. His shot was saved, Navas's shot too, but they were creating clear chances for the first time in the semi-final against Portugal. It was as if they felt time was running out. The conclusion seemed clear: Spain did not want a penalty shootout.

At the final whistle, the psychological advantage appeared to be Portugal's; all the more so when Xabi Alonso's opening penalty was saved. But then as one Spanish player put it: "We had an advantage ... we had Iker Casillas." Easy to say with hindsight and, a place in the final assured, the goalkeeper made a gesture as if his stomach was churning and pulled a face, insisting: "Mentally, I suffered." And yet it was true. There is comfort in Casillas.

Spain were trailing. João Moutinho stepped up next. Casillas flew to his right to save, the slate wiped clean, the chance to start again. To live again. The feeling was familiar. "Iker has that ability to appear in decisive moments, that magic to make incredible saves in the biggest games, when you're teetering on the edge," says Alvaro Arbeloa.

Already a European champion with Real Madrid in 2000, Casillas really announced his arrival in 2002 when he became an accidental hero. A decade later, everything has changed, except the fact that he is still appearing when most needed.

That year, he came on as a substitute with 23 minutes remaining in the Champions League final after César Sánchez picked up an injury, and rescued Madrid. Little over a month later, he became Spain's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup – after Santiago Canizares dropped an aftershave bottle on his foot, severing tendons – and rescued Spain. The selección beat the Republic of Ireland on penalties and Casillas was beatified. Again, he had appeared just when needed: Juanfran had missed, Casillas made good the mistake, saving from Kevin Kilbane. His new nickname, and it has stuck, was Saint Iker.

He never left the Spain team again – he has more caps than anyone and a victory on Sunday would be his 100th – and after the 2006 World Cup he became captain. On the night that Spain's historic cycle began in a penalty shootout with Italy in the 2008 Euro quarter-final, Dani Güiza had missed his; Casillas saved the next one, this time from Antonio Di Natale. He had already saved from Daniele De Rossi.

Casillas has become Spain's safety net. Before Casillas, Spain had been involved in three penalty shootouts, winning one. They even lost to England. With Casillas, they have been involved in four penalty shootouts, losing just one of them. He has saved five penalties. The total saved by other Spaniards in shootouts? None. Spain had faced 14 penalties; 13 went in, one over. And at the last World Cup, Casillas saved another penalty, against Paraguay in normal time.

"He is instinctive and has great reflexes, speed and power in his legs," says the goalkeeping coach Paco Ochotorena. "He has two qualities that most stand out: reflexes and one-on-one," says Arbeloa. "He can stop anything. He's quick, agile, intuitive and well-positioned. One-on-one he is spectacular: he stays up and reads the striker's intentions very well."

Ask Arjen Robben. Twice he got through in the World Cup final; twice Casillas stopped him. Afterwards, there were calls to name a street in Madrid: The Mother That Gave Birth to Casillas Street. In his town of Móstoles, south of the capital, there's already a Casillas Avenue.

Against Croatia in the final group game here, Ivan Rakitic's header could have put Spain out. Casillas saved it. He has played his part in Spain's run of eight consecutive clean sheets in knockout matches; he is just 74 minutes off Dino Zoff's record for not conceding a goal at the Euros, set between 1968 and 1980.

The Rakitic save was shown over and over but TV replays are worthless in appreciating Casillas because they remove the quality that makes him extraordinary – the sheer speed.

Afterwards, Vicente del Bosque said: "We knew they would get a chance, but Iker was there as always." "He is not a goalkeeper," Slaven Bilic added, "he is a hero, a leader."

Bilic was right but it is a leadership worn lightly. Much like the way he handles the pressure of penalties. At key moments, though, he has reacted. Casillas admitted that had the Euros been in 2011 the tension between Madrid and Barcelona players might have proven problematic. One of the reasons those tensions are less incendiary now is that Casillas contacted Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol seeking a solution. José Mourinho was not happy; Del Bosque was grateful.

"Iker's not your typical goalkeeper who keeps shouting even under water. He'll correct your position and alert you but he's not one of those who is constantly talking," Arbeloa explains. "He has always been a captain who shares responsibility and authority.

"With time he's learned what team- mates expect from him as captain. He's relaxed, calm. I'm not sure if he's the kind of guy who has the classic leader's character, probably not, but he's a very good captain."

Results suggest so. Since Casillas took the armband, Spain have won everything. No one has captained as many European Championship games. Only three goalkeepers have captained World Cup winning teams: Zoff in 1982, Gianpiero Combi in 1934 and Casillas in 2010. No goalkeeper has ever won the three major tournaments in a row. No captain ever has. On Sunday night, Iker Casillas will seek to become the first. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has praised Mario Balotellis attitude ahead of Sundays Euro 2012 final with Spain Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Record seven-time champions Egypt will miss consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for the first time since 1968 after being held to a 1-1 draw in the Central African Republic Saturday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Laurent Blanc will not renew his contract as coach of France he and the French Football Federation confirmed on Saturday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Norwich City have signed Scotland defender Steven Whittaker from fallen Scottish giants Rangers the Premier League side announced on their website Saturday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini has launched another attack against the use of technology to help referees Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Four-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is taken to three grueling sets by China's Zheng Jie before earning a place in the last 16 Saturday.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland claims the first yellow jersey in the 99th edition of the Tour de France with a commanding victory in the opening prologue in Liege Saturday, relegating race favorite Bradley Wiggins to second place.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

World champion Casey Stoner boosted his hopes of defending that title with victory at an incident-packed Dutch MotoGP at Assen Saturday.Read More

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انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• French Football Federation annunce coach's decision
• Blanc has decided not to renew his contract

Laurent Blanc is to step down as coach of France, the French Football Federation have announced.

Reports emerged earlier on Saturday that the former Bordeaux manager would not be continuing with Les Bleus following a meeting with the FFF.

The FFF then confirmed the 46-year-old would not be renewing his contract following France's exit from Euro 2012 following a 2-0 defeat by Spain at the quarter-final stage. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Italy coach praises striker's attitude
• Prandelli dismisses 'boring Spain' comments

The Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has praised Mario Balotelli's attitude ahead of Sunday's Euro 2012 final with Spain.

Balotelli needs one more goal to take the lead in the Golden Boot standings, knowing achieving that aim would take Italy a long way towards lifting the trophy.

It has seemed the 21-year-old has thrived on the responsibility Prandelli has afforded him during these championships, and his semi-final double was proof of that.

The Italy coach feels Balotelli has found the perfect platform to display his talents. "We have always felt he had great ability," said Prandelli. "He has found a set-up where he can talk to great champions, who have won a lot of trophies and achieved a lot.

"There comes a time when you have to be brave enough to accept other people's advice because the result becomes paramount. We have asked him to do certain things, and at this moment in time, he is doing them."

Meanwhile, Prandelli has dismissed the growing allegation that Spain are a boring team.

"That assessment comes from the fact the same side has always been winning," he said. "I don't think they are boring in any way, shape or form."

Prandelli also revealed Italy had not arrived in Kiev from their Krakow base until 3am. However, they arrived to a message of good luck from the Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano, who has invited the players to an official function in Rome on Monday afternoon. Read More

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انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini has defended Euro 2012 finalists Spain against accusations that their famous tiki-taka possession-based approach has become boring Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

The UEFA Super Cup between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League will take place in Cardiff in 2014 and Tbilisi in 2015 European footballs governing body announced on Saturday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini has expressed pride and satisfaction over the organisation of Euro 2012 ahead of Sundays final in Kiev between Italy and holders Spain Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no idea who will be on Manchester Uniteds summer tour of South Africa and China Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Mario Balotelli would happily sacrifice his shot at the Golden Boot prize if it meant Italy won Euro 2012 Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

The Scottish Football Association are studying details of Sevcos plans for reviving Rangers as debate continues over what level the Ibrox club should play at next season Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Kyle Lafferty and Steven Whittaker put the Rangers saga behind them by completing moves to new clubs Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Wolves manager Stale Solbakken has strengthened his backroom staff by appointing Johan Lange as first-team coach Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Whittaker to sign four-year-deal with the Canaries
• Rangers' Kyle Lafferty has joined FC Sion

Norwich City have signed the Scotland defender Steven Whittaker on a four-year deal from Rangers, subject to international clearance. The 28-year-old Whittaker was a free agent having rejected the transfer of his contract to the newco Rangers and he will become Chris Hughton's first signing as manager of the club.

Whittaker enjoyed a successful five years at Ibrox following a £2m move from Hibernian, winning three Scottish Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups. Hughton said: "In Steven we have a player who is very versatile – he can play anywhere across the back four and anywhere across midfield, so there's plenty of versatility there.

"It's probably a good time for him. Sometimes it is time to move on to a different club and go there with a lot of enthusiasm and he has international experience too. He has of course been used to playing at a very high level when he was at Rangers and in a lot of big games with a passionate crowd behind him. So the stage of the Premier League is certainly one that won't faze him with his experience."

Whittaker, who also appeared in Rangers' 2008 Uefa Cup final defeat by Zenit St Petersburg, said: "All of my experience to date has been in Scotland so I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League, I'm very excited about it. When I spoke to Chris Hughton I was very impressed with his plans to progress Norwich City and everyone I've spoken to in the game has had nothing but praise for the club and the city of Norwich."

Meanwhile, the Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty has joined the Swiss club FC Sion on a three-year deal. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.




خطاب الرئيس محمد مرسى فى جامعة القاهرة 30 يونيو - mohamed morsi in cairo university
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Championship club on brink of Kuwaiti takeover
• Peterborough believe former QPR chairman approached their manager on Forest's behalf
• Leeds manager Neil Warnock also in frame to take over at City Ground

Nottingham Forest are in danger of being reported to the Football League over an alleged approach for the Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson.

Forest are on the brink of a Kuwaiti takeover, in the form of the multi-millionaire Al-Hasawi family, and considering replacing Steve Cotterill in time for the new season. Neil Warnock, who is understood to have been considering his future at Leeds United this summer, is another possible alternative.

Peterborough's information is that Gianni Paladini, the former QPR chairman, is acting on behalf of Forest. Paladini, who featured prominently in the infamous QPR: The Four-Year Plan documentary, left his consultancy role at Loftus Road after the Tony Fernandes takeover last year. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• 'Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe'
• Turkey had been set to host tournament

The Uefa president Michel Platini has revealed the concept of one or two countries staging major tournaments may be abandoned for Euro 2020.

Turkey had been favourites to host the event but their bid has hit difficulties due to a desire to host the Olympic Games in Istanbul in the same year. And Platini has confirmed a radical alternative is now being considered.

"The Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe," said Platini. "It could be either one country and 12 stadiums or one stadium in 12 or 13 cities."

Platini confirmed a final decision would be taken in January or February next year. "This matter will be discussed very seriously," he added.

Platini gave further details on his ideas around the 2020 tournament. He said: "We are not going to wait until we know whether Turkey are going to get the Olympics. It creates a problem for us. We do have other candidates. Everyone has the possibility to host it. It is easier to go from London to Paris or Berlin than Cardiff to Gdansk. It would be four games per venue. It is a great debate."

Platini continued: "We are just thinking about it. I have said 12 or 13 host cities, it could be 24 or 32. We are not at that stage yet. It is the political decision that needs to be made. We wouldn't have to build stadiums or airports. That could be important in an economic crisis." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Tottenham player has suffered recurrence of back injury
• Welsh player is believed to have made himself unavailable

The Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has suffered an injury that will rule him out of Great Britain's Olympic football squad, according to reports.

Bale was widely anticipated to be included in the manager Stuart Pearce's GB team for the Olympic tournament starting at the end of next month.

But it is understood the 22-year-old Wales international has suffered a recurrence of an old back and hip injury after pulling up while running.

Bale is understood to be reluctant to risk aggravating the problem further, with Tottenham's Premier League opener at Newcastle just seven weeks away.

The player, who earlier this week pledged his future to Spurs by signing a new four-year contract to 2016, is believed to have already informed Pearce of his decision to make himself unavailable for selection after taking medical advice.

Bale had been held up as a likely star turn for Team GB, and his absence will come as a further blow to fans already shocked by Pearce's controversial decision to omit the former England captain David Beckham from his squad.

Bale has previously made little secret of his desire to represent GB at the Olympics, and last year he risked the wrath of the Welsh FA by posing in a British Olympic team shirt without their permission.

The Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish FAs have been vocal in their opposition to providing players to a British team since the Games were awarded to London, although the Welsh have long been resigned to a number of their players taking part.

Bale's absence means it will instead fall to Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy – who along with Micah Richards comprise the three over-age players in the squad – to lead the Welsh contingent in Pearce's 18-man selection, which will be formally unveiled on Monday.

Team GB have been drawn in Group A at the London Games with Senegal, Uruguay and United Arab Emirates.

Pearce's men begin their campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on 26 July before playing the UAE at Wembley on 29 July and Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Pogrebnyak thought to be on £65,000-a-week deal
• Russia striker scored six goals in 12 games for Fulham

Reading have confirmed they have agreed personal terms with the Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and are awaiting a work permit application to finalise the transfer.

The Reading manager Brian McDermott revealed earlier this week that a deal for Pogrebnyak had been struck, and after the player passed his medical the club say they anticipate that the deal will be completed in the coming days.

"Reading as agreed terms with Pavel Pogrebnyak to join the club," read a club statement. "The player has already completed a medical and the deal is now only subject to the player obtaining a UK work permit. Reading anticipate completing the signing within the next seven days."

Pogrebnyak is out of contract this summer and it has been reported Reading have offered him a four-year deal worth around £65,000 a week.

The 28-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham from the German side Stuttgart, scoring six goals in 12 appearances, but rejected the offer of a permanent deal with the Cottagers.

Confirmation of the deal comes a day after Reading secured the signing of the midfielder Danny Guthrie on a three-year contract. The 25-year-old former Newcastle player completed his medical yesterday and will formally complete the move on Sunday. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini on Saturday suggested that the 2020 edition of the European Championships may be held across Europe instead of in one or two host countries Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed the concept of one or two countries staging major tournaments may be abandoned for Euro 2020 Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Michel Platini on Saturday said that a two-year suspension from the national side for France forward Samir Nasri for a foul-mouthed tirade against journalists would be ridiculous and shameful Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

European footballs governing body is to give a special award to fans of the Republic of Ireland for their behaviour in Euro 2012 co-host Poland UEFAs secretary-general Gianni Infantino said on Saturday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

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Get all the latest Euro 2012 news here

Morning: First up - w quick round up of some of the stuff on site you may have missed.

Here's Sid Lowe on Andrés Iniesta:

Opponents look for him, surrounding him. Team-mates look to him, too. Vicente del Bosque has an almost allergic aversion to singling out players or elevating anyone above the others. So it means something when he says, as he did before Spain's second game: "Hopefully Andrés can be decisive – as he always is."

While here's tactics guru Michael Cox on the Pirlo conundrum, and how Spain and Italy might approach the final:

Whereas both England and Germany appeared surprised at Andrea Pirlo's influence, Spain recognised his threat. "In Pirlo," Xavi said before the tournament, "Italy have a genius with the ball."

Here's Richard Williams on a final to go down in history:

This is the tournament that defies you to look away. If 20 million people tuning in to watch the drama of England playing Italy in a quarter-final seems remarkable, the figure of 12m Britons switching on for Italy's semi-final with Germany on Thursday night is astounding, particularly with Rafael Nadal on the other channel.

Finally, read Marcus Christenson on how Antonio Cassano has battled back from fearing death to playing in the Euro 2012 final:

He did not want to listen to the team doctor, who kept urging him to go to hospital. "We argued for half an hour," Cassano recalled later, "before I agreed to visit the hospital. And that is when I started to have trouble speaking and thought about seeing my son again."

Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque cuts to many peoples eyes a lugubrious presence on the touchline but former Spanish and Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes says it is his intelligence that sets him apart from a lot of other coaches Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has suffered an injury that will rule him out of Great Britains Olympic football squad Press Association Sport understands Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Reading have confirmed they have agreed personal terms with Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and are awaiting a work permit application to finalise the transfer Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.




خناقة على الهواء بين صلاح عناني وحسن البرنس - salah anany and hassan el prince
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.




خطاب الرئيس محمد مرسى فى ميدان التحرير الجمعة 29 يونيو 2012
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.




فيديو محمد مرسى يمنع الحرس من حمايته فى التحرير - Mohammed morsy tahrir square
هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli hinted on Friday he may not look to stay at the helm after Sundays Euro 2012 final against holders Spain saying he had found the job gruelling against a backdrop of match-fixing allegations in his homeland Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is enjoying the challenge of coaching Manchester Citys temperamental striker Mario Balotelli at Euro 2012 Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Joachim Löw's team will not be kings of Europe but they have emerged as kings of our hardened English hearts

So, farewell for now, Germany. You were thrillingly good. And then you suddenly fell to bits when it really mattered. Yes, it turns out you really are our kind of glorious losers after all. There is probably an exact German word to describe the turnaround in English attitudes to the German national team. This is after all a language with a leaning towards creative compound nouns, something that no doubt translates directly as bang-on-German-joined-up-word-syndrome.

For example, the German word for nipple is Brustwarze, or "breast-wart", a formulation so brusquely matter-of- fact it seems to suggest all on its own a culture of gloriously uninhibited corporeal joy: hiking nudists, skinny-dipping pensioners, swaggeringly shame-free doctor's surgery visits, naked muscular men sprinting heartily four abreast along sandy beaches in the 1930s, and many other staples of everyday German life.

With this in mind it would be surprising if a sudden and zealous Love of the German national football team wasn't covered somewhere (as in: "watching the goals against Greece on YouTube he experienced a violent case of Deutsche-Fussball-Lineker-swoon"). And while Spain versus Italy is certain to be an absorbing final, albeit one still destined to resemble for long periods a display of elite competitive basket-weaving, there is perhaps still time to dwell on one of the more notable English side-effects of Euro 2012. The fact is a love of German football has for the first time entered the mainstream. The English now like the Nationalmannschaft with almost the same degree of reflexive certainty they once hated them. And while this German team may not be kings of Europe, they have still emerged as kings of our furred and hardened English hearts. It is, naturally, all very disturbing.

Where did the evil go? Did we imagine that air of ringlet-tossing Euro-naff, the sense of maddeningly engineered athletic certainty, the butt-slapping disco-victory poses of Andreas Möller? What a contrast this time around with Bulgaria 94 and Yordan Letchkov, enduring icon of the avenging baldie power-header. During the defeat by Italy even the BBC punditry team managed not to gloat or crow, instead continuing to hang on Jürgen Klinsmann's every word as though seeing something miraculous in his being able to speak at all, appearing on our screens like a wonderful talking horse, albeit one with the voicebox of a very wise, sad Californian robot boy.

No doubt this is all a bit old hat among the more cosmopolitan strain of Fussball-intellektuell found on these pages, but more broadly it is still heartening that such ingrained enmity should have dissolved into tender fellow-feeling. It has been a complicated process, one that has required, in the shape of Spain, a necessary straw man, a replacement bad guy to set against the exemplary Germans. "They do it right. They do it in a way that makes sense," the man on the rolling sport news radio station said shortly before Germany's semi-final, going on to describe how in Spain's case the technically refined possession game is in fact simply a product of a sickening "mañana" culture, a symptom of laziness, sloth, leaving the washing up, possibly even recreational drug use.

It's OK, though. We have Germany. And not just any old Germany, but this lissom, skilful, unexpectedly fragile Germany, managed by the compelling Joachim Löw, the evil genius Darth Vader father figure you never had, and staffed by a cast of likable, ethnically far-flung Euro-dudes. Even the deeply German Mario Gomez has an alluring delicacy, something tremulous and stricken, like an idealistic Victorian schoolmaster with a secret. Plus, best of all, they lost. Chasing the game against Italy they seemed suddenly familiarly confused, all those basic skills dissolving in a tearful haze of Rooney-panic.

Germany have now racked up an agreeably mild and alluring 16 years of hurt, most notably taking in six trophyless years of the current modernising Wunderkind era. And this is really what it's all about: the system. Transfixed by its own generational ineptitude, English football has been desperate for a friend for some time, some benevolent head prefect on which it can develop an imitative crush. Spain: forget Spain. We can't do that. Plus it turns out there is now that comforting sense of some revolving onanistic dwarf-circus being rolled out, a debauchery of self-pleasuring over-skill that is perhaps best avoided altogether.

Never mind that the Bundesliga's compulsory academies and the legislation against roving billionaire owners are almost impossible to replicate in an English game carved up, as ever, between competing destructive interests. Germany still look like the team we should have been, and perhaps might still be. There is something in that athletic, hard-running style that makes the needle twitch, and which, despite the technical and tactical refinements, speaks distantly to a shared Saxon folk-memory of bladder-smuggling shout-ball, the siege-tower aerial assault, the midfield fireplace-wrestle.

Not that any of this matters for now. Germany will watch Sunday's final from the convalescent's sofa, comforted by its systems and structures, its brooding emergent power. England, meanwhile, can take little from this championship beyond a familiar sense of entropy and an unfamiliar admiration for a team that looks a bit like how we might have looked, stomach held in, hair plastered from ear to ear in front of the beach hut mirror, for now lost in the unexpected consolations of Mannschaft-defeat-love-sadness-surprise. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Sevilla and Atlético Madrid keen on making signing
• End to miserable four-year spell for Mexico international

Tottenham Hotspur's forgotten midfielder Giovani dos Santos is expected to complete a return to La Liga this weekend, with Sevilla and Atlético Madrid both keen on signing the Mexico international.

The 23-year-old has been given permission to leave Mexico's Olympic training squad to secure a permanent transfer from White Hart Lane, his coach has revealed, bringing to an end a miserable four-year spell in north London.

Dos Santos joined Spurs from Barcelona in 2008 for €6m, with a further €5m payable after a set number of appearances. That payment was never threatened as the attacking midfielder made only two Premier League starts for Spurs, who will be clear to appoint André Villas-Boas as manager from 1 July, and had spells on loan at Racing Santander, Galatasaray and Ipswich Town.

Mexico's Olympic football coach, Luis Fernando Tena, revealed Dos Santos's departure from Tottenham is imminent, and Spain is a possible destination. Tena said: "He asked us if he could complete the transfer from Tottenham to another team. He has to go to sign papers, he has to go to get them sorted out.

"The most important thing is his mental state. We never had a doubt when he told us. We told him: 'Go. Do it.' He told us the name of the club. I can't say which club, but for us it is much better if he is relaxed, that he gets his contract sorted and that he comes back physically and mentally at his best level, content and knowing that he is going to play." Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

England Under-19s head coach Noel Blake maintains the Football Association are always developing technically gifted players - and that beating us with a big stick when the senior team comes up short only hinders their work Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews on Friday completed a three-year move to relegated Bolton Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Ligue 1 champions Montpellier completed their latest close-season signing on Friday with the capture of Nice winger Anthony Mounier on a four-year deal Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

MotoGP leader Jorge Lorenzo hopes he can overturn Honda's qualifying dominance for Saturday's Assen TT race after setting the third fastest time behind Casey Stoner, who crashed in practice, and Dani Pedrosa.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

This Saturday, Aiden O'Brien's unbeaten colt Camelot will be aiming to add the Irish Derby to his Epsom Derby victory from earlier this month. It's a neat double, achieved by only 15 horses before him. But his trainer has his eye on another prize.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Lukas Rosol shocked the sporting world, and perhaps even himself, by defeating two-time champion Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, but the unknown Czech is not the first to have triumphed against seemingly impossible odds.Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

CSKA Moscow will have to do without striker Tomas Necid for several months after the Czech international was told he needed another operation on a ruptured knee ligament his agent said Friday Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

• Pozzo family already own Udinese and Granada
• 'We are delighted that Watford's future is safe'

Watford's takeover by the Pozzo family has been completed.

The Vicarage Road club revealed 10 days ago that they had agreed a deal in principle to sell to the Italians, who already own the Serie A side Udinese and Spanish club Granada. And the formalities of the agreement have now been signed, passing ownership from Laurence Bassini, who bought the Championship club 15 months ago.

Andrew Andronikou, partner at the accountancy group UHY Hacker Young, which advised Watford on the sale, said: "We are delighted to have ensured that Watford FC's immediate future is safe, and the fans can now focus on what we hope will be a successful 2012-13 season on the pitch.

"The Pozzo family has a proven track record of both building successful teams on the field, and balancing the books off the field. This transaction is a significant one as it provides the Pozzo football dynasty with a secure platform to introduce its successful formula to the UK.

"We feel that today's sale is an excellent outcome for both sides and it provides the club with stability moving forward. We wish Watford every success and look forward to seeing the team build on the improvement we saw last season."

Watford were forced to release an official club statement last Friday stressing the takeover remained on track after Bassini, in a newspaper interview, insisted the deal was off, stating the interested party "don't have the money".

And, with the deal now complete, the Italian family will look to put their own stamp on matters at Vicarage Road.

Gianfranco Zola has been heavily linked with a prospective role, although Sean Dyche enjoyed a successful debut campaign as manager last season, guiding Watford to an 11th-placed finish – their highest league position for four years. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

Italy hope their midfield diamond can shine again against Spain

The Pirlo conundrum

Sunday's final should be an intriguing tactical battle, as Italy's 1-1 draw with Spain in the group stage was probably the most fascinating match of the tournament. Cesare Prandelli played a 3-5-2, while Vicente del Bosque started without a recognised centre-forward, using Cesc Fabregas as a false nine.

Whereas both England and Germany appeared surprised at Andrea Pirlo's influence, Spain recognised his threat. "In Pirlo," Xavi said before the tournament, "Italy have a genius with the ball." He [Hernández] marked Pirlo but the Juventus midfielder still wriggled away from challenges and assisted Antonio Di Natale's opener. This time, he'll be even more difficult to deal with, as Italy have switched from a 3-5-2 to a midfield diamond, allowing an extra midfielder.

If Xavi closes down, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets may be overrun by Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo, the extra midfielder. His role against Germany on Thursday night was crucial – he pressed Germany's deep-lying central midfielders, then shuttled back to a position alongside Pirlo.

Jogi Low recognised the need for extra midfield numbers, but disturbed the balance of the team by introducing Toni Kroos. Andres Iniesta drifts into central zones from the left anyway, so Spain shouldn't be uncomfortable.

Spain should exploit Italy's narrowness

Vicente del Bosque started without a recognised centre-forward in the previous meeting, using Cesc Fábregas as a false nine. Spain spent the majority of the game playing in front of Italy's defence, rather than looking to test their offside trap with runs in behind, or exploiting their narrowness by attacking down the wings. It was noticeable how much Del Bosque's side improved when they introduced pace and directness – Fernando Torres wasted three good chances, but at least he was providing variety in attack with clever runs. Jesús Navas also had a positive impact, stretching the play laterally.

Del Bosque has two big decisions to make in the attacking positions. David Silva has started all five of Spain's matches, but only finished one – and Spain were at their best against Portugal when they introduced Pedro Rodriguez and Navas on the flanks. Besides, Italy's full-backs lack protection from the diamond and are arguably their weak link, something not tested enough by England and Germany. Both Pedro and Navas played important roles in the World Cup final two years ago, and width from the start would make Spain much more dangerous.

Upfront, Alvaro Negredo had little impact against Portugal, while Fernando Llorente is yet to play a minute in the competition. It's probably a choice between Torres and Fabregas – the latter might be preferred, to drop deep and help pressure Pirlo.

Alba and Arbeloa proceed with care

Spain's full-backs will be the game's freest players – with no direct opponents, Jordi Alba and Alvaro Arbeloa will move forward untracked, and receive passes from Spain's central midfielders. Alba is unquestionably a superior player on the ball, but Arbeloa can be overlooked and move forward into dangerous positions.

Italy weren't troubled by the Spanish full-backs in the 1-1 draw – the 3-5-2 meant the two wing-backs, Emanuele Giaccherini and Christian Maggio, had great freedom of movement and pushed Alba and Arbeloa back. It will be more complex with the diamond, and Italy will probably deal with them in three separate ways.

First, their diamond will shift laterally to close the full-backs down, although this can leave Italy vulnerable to quick switches in play, which Xabi Alonso will facilitate with diagonal balls. Second, if Spain's wide midfielders move inside, the Italian full-backs will be content to leave them in central positions, and push forward to meet Alba and Arbeloa when they get the ball in the final third.

Finally, Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli will drift into wide positions, making the Spanish full-backs nervous about advancing. Previously this drew Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos wide, and Balotelli should have scored after embarrassing Ramos near the touchline. Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

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