The Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal has picked Robin Van Persie for the game against Belgium
next Wednesday, but he has admitted that the only reason he picked the Arsenal captain is because
RVP has told him he will be playing at least 45 minutes for the Gunners today against Lukas
Podolski's old club Koln.
In Saturday's Guardian, there is a fantastic picture of Iniesta surrounded by five Italian
players, literally encircling him in order to somehow get the ball of him. Straightaway, it
reminded me of a very famous painting by Henri Matisse: ‘Dance'. In the artist's picture, the
dancers are naked and there is nobody in the middle.
In Saturday's Guardian, there is a fantastic picture of Iniesta surrounded by five Italian
players, literally encircling him in order to somehow get the ball of him. Straightaway, it
reminded me of a very famous painting by Henri Matisse: ‘Dance'. In the artist's picture, the
dancers are naked and there is nobody in the middle.
Player profile: Joao Moutinho by KJ So I've decided to do some player profiles over the next few
days/weeks on players that would improve our team or with those that we are linked with. Today I'm
going to be talking about Joao Moutinho because I've been very impressed with his form in the Euros
this [.
The newest Arsenal signing Olivier Giroud was playing in the lower levels of the French League just
a few years ago, and one of his team-mates was another aspiring young defender called Laurent
Koscielny, who went on to join Arsenal after just one season in Ligue 1. The two Frenchman remained
friends and both of [.
I need to open with a couple of points of clarification. I hate the French for not beating
Spain, and the bit about redheads was only lobbed in to garner hits.
Now I have to admit that due to other commitments, I only watched ten minutes of the
France-Spain encounter, however, I was bored rigid.
I need to open with a couple of points of clarification. I hate the French for not beating
Spain, and the bit about redheads was only lobbed in to garner hits.
Now I have to admit that due to other commitments, I only watched ten minutes of the
France-Spain encounter, however, I was bored rigid.
The Arsenal winger Theo Walcott seriously believes that after topping their Group at the Euros,
England now have just as much chance of winning the Euros as anybody else. Many will point to Roy
Hodgson's negative tactics, but after seeing Chelsea beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich playing the
same sort of football perhaps it is [.
Arsenal Players and the EUROS – By JG In a previous article I had a slight concern about how the
EURO tournament would affect current (or even soon to be) Arsenal players. So far, in my opinion,
it has gone horribly wrong for quite a few Gunners. With the group stages over with there are [...]
Arsenal may sign a Euro 2012 winner! Yesterday, @AFCAMDEN announced on Twitter that Arsenal were
looking to sign a player from the Euro 2012 winning side, Spain. Here is the exact tweet(s): Listen
with caution A Spanish European Cup winning player is "likely" to sign for Arsenal. Haven't got
anything else yet.
During the Euro 2012 tournament the languagecaster team will explain a football headline that has
appeared in the English-speaking press. Today's headline is Spain start with Silva and end with
gold
Few would have predicted that Italy and Spain's 1-1 draw on June 10 would end up becoming a
preview of the EURO 2012 final just three weeks later. Each squad has fought off adversities,
injury problems, and questionable form among its players to make it to Sunday's clash at Olympic
Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.
Jimmy Saville may have passed off, but his spirit livings on in Euro 2012. Now, it's UEFA who do
dreamings emanate truthful. Who are you shouting for!?
During the Euro 2012 tournament the languagecaster team will be looking at some of the words and
phrases that emerge from the competition. Today we explain the phrase 'A hoodoo'.
Strong words from England manager Roy Hodgson about the three lions star player Wayne Rooney
as Hodgson said that Rooney failed to deliver at another major tournament.
Hodgson, who compared the Manchester United frontman to Brazil legend Pele during Euro 2012,
said as England prepared to fly home from Polkraine:
"Of course, I think we put a lot of expectations on him.
During the Euro 2012 tournament the languagecaster team will explain a football headline that has
appeared in the English-speaking press. Today's headline is 'England's familiar spot of bother'.
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas has called Spain's semi-final with neighbors Portugal as the El
Clasico of Euro 2012.
The Barcelona star believes that Portugal's style mirrors Real Madrid's counter-attacking style
by using the explosive pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, while Spain use Barcelona's passing
template, basing their game around Barca's midfield maestro's.
Today's main report reviews the first round of matches in Group D from the European Championships
in Poland and Ukraine. You can listen to the report by clicking on the link below, while vocabulary
support (in bold) appears at the foot of the report for learners who wish to
improve their English.
It was probably the most one-sided match of the Euro 2012 tournament so far, but a great header
by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 79th minute was enough to send his side into the semi-finals where they
will play the winner of Spain v France.
Ronaldo was pilloried for his display against Denmark a little over a week ago when he missed
two sitters.
The group stage of EURO 2012 has come to a conclusion, and the end product is a quartet of
thrilling quarterfinal matches. With at least one goal in every game thus far, this summer's
tournament is the first edition of the EUROs to not feature a 0-0 result in any match in the group
stage. Here are the quarterfinal matchups with complementary analysis
We continue our reviews of the first round of matches from the European Championships in Poland and
Ukraine by looking at the group of death: Group B. You can listen to the report while there is also
a worksheet.
Today's main report reviews the first round of matches from the European Championships in Poland
and Ukraine and starts with Group A. There is also a worksheet with answers for those who wish to
practice their English.
In today's Euro 2012 phrase we explain the phrase a 'tap-in'. You can understand more about the
word or phrase by listening to the mp3 and reading the transcript that comes with this post.
Italy coach Cesare Prandell says that Italy will not sit back and defend against Spain on Sunday
in the 2012 Euro Final.
Prandeli says that "We shouldn't be scared about playing them" and that Italy "played well in
the 1st half" in the game in Gdańsk between the two sides in the Group Stage of the competition
and that, in the meantime, Italy have "grown, not only from a fitness point of view, but also from
a psychological point of view.
For the sixth time, England have been knocked out of a major tournament on penalties, losing 3-2
on penalties to Italy tonight after a scoreless 120 minutes of play.
Italy will next play Germany in the semifinals on Thursday in Warsaw, Poland while defending
champion Spain plays Portugal on Wednesday in Donetsk, Ukraine.
Another blinder in the 3rd tie of the of the quarters awaits on Saturday night and I for one
will be breaking out the San Miguels and jumping aboard The La Furia Rosa bandwagon. They take on
France and from what we are hearing in the media, it could be a walkover.
Spain and France meet in the Euro quarter-finals on Saturday and to help preview the game I have
brought in two experts on Spanish football, Ben Crump and Jon.
Ben writes for Inside Spanish Football The Home of La Liga. Inside Spanish Football offers all
the latest news, gossip, results, blogs, opinion and highlights from La Liga, Segunda and the
Spanish national team.
Two brilliant goals from Mario Balotelli destroyed Germany on Thursday and set up a final
showdown with Spain in Kiev on Sunday.
This was the best we have ever seen of Balotelli — and the Germans could not handle him.
Much was made of the fact the Germans had two extra days rest following their quarter-final win
over Greece while Italy had to go on extra time and penalties to beat England.
It's David & Goliath time in another cracker of a quarter and this tie is tastier than a plate
of Sauerkraut & Hummus with the economic climate adding to the drama, the run-down Greeks will
really want to get one over on their richly talented opponents.
Italy and Germany are tremendous historic rivals; as two of Europe's most powerful footballing
nations, any match between these two squads is intense and there is usually something on the line.
Although this match probably won't be as epic as the battle in Dortmund in the 2006 World Cup, it
is still highly-anticipated and should be plenty exciting.
Italy and England meet in the Euro quarter-finals on Sunday and to help me preview the game I
have brought in two experts, Earl Reed and David Schiavone
Earl writes for EPL Talk, the number one Premier League blog with daily news and analysis of the
world's most popular sports league.
Wednesday's semifinal between Spain and Portugal has everything you want in a thrilling match;
big names, interesting storylines, and tactical intrigue for hardcore fans.
Star Power
This game features some of the greatest players of the Spanish league in conjunction with a
handful of the most underrated players in world football.
Michel Platini's grand experiment is one stop closer to fruition as UEFA has announced that 13 countries will host the 24-team 2020 European Championship.
In an effort to grab as many political votes as he can from each European federation, UEFA has announced that the vast majority of stadiums must have a 50,000 capacity, which at least 20 of UEFA's 53 member nations already have.
Well, Wimbledon born Alan Pardew loves a bit of tennis (or so he said), and often attends the
Tennis championship his birthplace is famous for. So, Radio 5′s Richard Bacon pulled him in for
an interview during the station's coverage of the latest Wimbledon tournament for a chat. In it he
talked about tennis, the [.
It seemed like a monumental shock was on the cards. Against the run of play in the 55th Georgios
Samaras had equalized for Greece and the Germans, despite dominating possession found themselves
level with 25 minutes to go. Would the Germans cave under the pressure of expectations?
