Betol-betol Hangat! Reaksi Jurulatih Mengenai Undian EURO 2012

Following is reaction to the draw for Euro 2012 that was made in Kiev on Friday:

Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic

"There is a difficult team in the group with Russia, who have top players," Greece midfielder Nikos Liberopoulos told reporters. "I really hope we get off to a good start.

"It is definitely a positive draw but we know how this can turn into a difficult one. If we don't prepare well it won't matter if it is an easy draw or a difficult one."

"This is a good draw ... it's not a group of death," said Poland coach Franciszek Smuda. "It's not an easy group either and it will require a lot of effort to advance.

"Greece have a good team. Everything will depend on the first game in the group against them and whether we win it."

Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal

"It is the toughest group. Netherlands and Portugal have world-class players. We can look forward to very interesting duels," Germany coach Joachim Loew told reporters.

"Denmark are always uncomfortable, a typical tournament team. They have no fear of big names. That is what makes them dangerous."

"It is a tough draw but we know our opponents well," Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder told NOS-TV.

"It is always important to win your first match but with Germany and Portugal as next opponents, the opener against Denmark will be crucial."

"This is probably the strongest of the four groups, a very balanced one," Portugal coach Paulo Bento told Sport TV. "Just look at the quality of the teams and their paths.

"We have a lot of hard work ahead to achieve the objective of getting through to the next phase."

Group C: Spain, Italy, Ireland, Croatia

"We have in our group a team with more prestige like Italy and two sides that went through the playoffs with authority," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told his national soccer federation's website.

"As far as Italy go, our first opponents, we played them recently (and lost) and they are a very strong team. Group B looks the toughest but it will be a very competitive European championship."

"I wanted to avoid (Ireland coach Giovanni) Trapattoni," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told reporters.

"Spain are very strong, for the first game against them we must arrive mentally prepared."

"We have to play with the same mentality we have shown previously and I am confident," said Italian Trapattoni. "I know Italy better but every game is different.

"Spain are also a very strong team but we have to think about our moment. It will be important our squad is complete with no injuries."

"It is a tough group but you can't get easy opponents, it's the 16 best teams in Europe," said Croatia coach Slaven Bilic. "We are privileged to play the world champions (Spain) and the former world champions (Italy).

"Spain are the favourites. Trapattoni is also a genius and a top man and I am looking forward to playing against him."

Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

"It could have been worse but it could also have been better," France coach Laurent Blanc told radio RMC. "We could have been in the situation Denmark are in, the group of death.

"But we could also have been in Group A which seems a bit more open. We are in between, with a great

Asked if England would shift their planned base in Krakow, Poland, coach Fabio Capello said: "No, absolutely not, because I think it is better to find a really good place and facilities.

"I think the favourites are always Spain ... they are the best team in the world at the moment. Also Holland are a good team. Probably you can find some surprises, when I think about surprises I think Portugal."

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Betol-betol Hangat! Plucky Irish give 'Trap' win over compatriots

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni put one over his compatriots on Tuesday as his side beat a largely-dominant Italy 2-0 in a friendly here. However, while the Italians wasted what few chances came their way the Irish scored with both theirs through Keith Andrews in the 35th minute and then Simon Cox added a second on the stroke of full-time.

Both Trapattoni and his Italian counterpart Cesare Prandelli opted to rest several of their first choice players after they won their respective Euro 2012 qualifiers at the weekend. The Italians went on the attack from the outset in a match played in what seemed like a rather strange venue but which is home to a large Italian community.

Cheered on by 20,000 tifosi the Italians - captained by the ageing talent of Andrea Pirlo one of the few survivors from their 2006 World Cup triumph - came at the Irish from everywhere but only created their first serious chance in the 27th minute when Giampaolo Pazzini fired just past the far post.

Antonio Nocerino had an identical chance two minutes later but failed to improve on his team-mate's effort. The Italians paid for their profligacy as journeyman midfielder Andrews broke the deadlock with a great effort from 20 metres 10 minutes before half-time.

The Italians were also hit hard by a storm that left the surface wet and greasy and impeded their more attractive and fluent passing game while they also met a wall of solid Irish defenders which proved impassable. They were duly hit on another counter-attack right at the death when Cox slotted home to give the Irish victory.

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Betol-betol Sakit Hati! England bergelut hadapi Switzerland

 

England terpaksa bergelut dan terpaksa bangkit daripada  ketinggalan untuk mengikat Switzerland seri 2-2 di dalam perlawanan  kelayakan Euro 2012 yang berlangsung lewat pagi tadi di Stadium Wembley,  London.Dua gol oleh pemain tengah Swiss, Tranquillo Barnetta pada separuh masa  pertama hampir memalukan skuad bimbingan Fabio Capello yang bermain di  gelanggang sendiri.

Kedua-dua jaringan Barnetta berpunca daripada kesilapan penjaga gol  England, Joe Hart yang terlalu cuai dihadapan pintu gol. Jaringan oleh pemain tengah Bayern Leverkusen itu kedua-duanya bermula  daripada sepakan percuma di bahagian sebelah kiri padang pada minit ke 32  dan 35. Capello enggan menyalahkan Hart sebaliknya menegaskan ia adalah kesilapan  keseluruhan pertahanan kerana gagal mengeluarkan bola secara cepat dari  kawasan bahaya.

"Ia satu kesilapan, kedua-dua gol tersebut berpunca daripada kegagalan  kami membuang bola keluar dari kawasan bahaya," ujar Capello.

Kebangkitan dipamerkan para pemain England pada separuh masa kedua dengan  menampilkan corak permainan pantas dan tersusun, ia sekaligus membantu  mereka mengejar dan mengikat keputusan seri 2-2 namun masih gagal mencari  gol ketiga kemenangan.

Gol semangat dijaringkan oleh Frank Lampard selepas pengadil perlawanan  menghadiahkan sepakan penalti kepada England kerana Johan Djourou  mengasari Jack Wilshere. Pemain gantian Ashley Young menyelamatkan maruah England apabila  menjaringkan gol penyamaan selepas menerima hantaran cantik daripada  pemain Chelsea Ashley Cole. Momentum hebat anak buah Capello tidak terhenti setakat itu sahaja apabila  serangan demi serangan dilancarkan ke arah kubu lawan.

Darren Bent terlepas peluang terbaiknya untuk membantu England meraih mata  penuh apabila gagal menyudahkan peluang pada minit ke-71 meskipun pintu  gol sudah terbuka luas. Kedudukan 2-2 kekal hingga tamat wisel permainan antara England menentang  Switzerland.

Dengan keputusan seri ini menyaksikan England menduduki tangga kedua  Kumpulan G dan dibezakan tiga mata dengan pendahulu Montenegro yang  mengutip 10 mata di dalam empat perlawanan.

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