Sunday 24 June 2012

EPL News and Transfer Update:

Hello and welcome to my LATEST EPL News and Transfer Update:


LATEST Transfer Done Deals in the EPL:

Andy Johnson and Ryan Nelsen to QPR - free transfer

New intentions: The former Fulham striker Andy Johnson joins strike partner Bobby Zamora at QPR.

Jussi Jaaskelainen to West Ham - free transfer

Loyal: Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen leaves relegated Bolton after 15 years at the club to go to West Ham.




Mohamed Diame to West Ham - free transfer from Wigan

Snapped up on a free: Former Wigan midffielder Mohamed Diame is now a West Ham player.


Didier Drogba to Shangai Shenhua - free transfer from Chelsea 

China is the country: Striker Didier Drogba will llink up with former team-mate Nicolas Anelka.



Rob Green to QPR - free transfer from West Ham United

Nick Powell to Manchester United - £3-4million

Jay Rodriguez to Southampton - £6million


EPL News:

Liverpool and Swansea are both stilll negotiating terms with winger Gylfi Sigurdsson who spent last season on loan at Swansea. He is yet to decide who he will officially sign for, and Hoffeinheim his parent club have set a deadline of June the 30th. 

West Ham have reportedly increased their bid for Norwich striker Grant Holt to £5.5million.

Sunderland are watching striker Louis Saha who is currently a free agent after being released by Tottenham. 

Newcastle have had a £4million bid for Lille right-back Mathieu Debuchy rejected. 
 


Italian champions Juventus are interested in signing free agent Jose Bosingwa who was released by Chelsea.

Opening fixtures in the EPL next season:
 

Arsenal vs Sunderland 
Everton vs Manchester United
Fulham vs Norwich City
Manchester City vs Southampton
Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur
QPR vs Swansea City
Reading vs Stoke City
West Brom vs Liverpool
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea 


The rest of the fixtures throughout next season:


http://www.fixtures365.com/0,13752,INDEX_263_ALL,00.html


AC Milan are considering a move for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.


Chelsea have had a £4million bid for Wigan winger Victor Moses rejected. They are reportedly going to increase their offer to £8-10million.


Former England manager Fabio Capello confirmed that he is interested in managing in the EPL soon.


Arsenal are set to award 18-year-old teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a new contract deal.

Real Madrid are prepared to sign Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric with a bid for £30million to 'test the waters'.

Liverpool have made an official enquiry to sign young Italian striker Fabio Borini. 


Everton are interested in signing Sweden defender Olof Mellberg after contract talks with Olympiacos broke down.


Fenerbache are looking to offer Everton £1.5million for their defender Joseph Yobo who is a fringe player.


Reading are looking to hijack Fulham's bid for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes.



Chelsea have released an official artist's impression of what their stadium could look like if they move to Battersea Power Station:

Beautiful: What Chelsea's stadium could look like if they move to Battersea Power Station.

 Night life: Chelsea are looking for suitable locations across West London, and have made a bid for BPS.
 







Sunday 17 June 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: 2nd Week Review:



Hello and welcome to my review of the past week of this year's UEFA Euro 2012 from Poland and Ukraine.


Day 4:

Group D:

England 1 France 1

This match was played in Donetsk, as these two teams went head-to-head in a epic clash for three points in their first first match of the competition. 

In the 15th minute, Winger Ashley Young gave team-mate James Milner a through ball. Milner went round Lloris before his shot was wide of the post and hit the side netting. 


Close but no shave: Milner was close to giving England the lead against France, but hit the side netting.

15 minutes later, a free-kick by Steven Gerrard was whipped into the box for defender Joleon Lescott who was unmarked and powerfully headered the ball past Lloris into the net. Lescott broke the deadlock for The Three Lions, and the fans went wild with joy.


Bullet header: Lescott takes advantage of not being marked to head the ball past Lloris and give England the lead.
But England decided to take 'their foot off the gas' and aid the price for it 9 minutes later when midfielder Samir Nasri found himself in space and shot low and hard past goalkeeper Joe Hart to equalise for 'Les Blues'.


Unstoppable: Nasri's effort beat his Manchester City team-mate Joe Hart to give France an equaliser.
Sshh: Samir Nasri's goal silences all of the England fans, less than 10 minutes (after his other team-mate) Lescott's goal.


France continued to press throughout the rest of the match, and even though they were a threat to England's defence and dominated possession, the Three Lions were brave and held on for a draw.

Highlight of Samir Nasri's goal:





Ukraine 2 Sweden 1

This match was played at Kiev were the co-hosts Ukraine faced Sweden. Both sides were not expected to go through to the Last 8, and it was there first match of the competition also.

The first half failed to impress, and was quite boring from a neutral perspective. There were not many goalscoring chances, and the odd chance was wasted.
This was certainly not the case in the second half, and it was as if both sides sprung to life.


In the 51st minute, AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring after cooly slotting a tap-in past the goalkeeper with ease.


Clinical captain: Ibrahimovic celebrates his 1st goal of the competition, and his 36th of the season.

4 minutes later, Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko equalised for Ukraine with a header from a Yarmelenko cross to give the co-hosts a chance of winning the match.

Age is just a number: At 35 years old, Shevchenko shows that he still delivers for his country.


In the 62nd minute, Shevchenko lost his marker inside the 6-yard box and used his head again to score once again for Ukraine to give them a 2-1 lead.  


You could not make it up: Shevchenko scores again for Ukraine to give them the lead against Sweden.


Despite Sweden's endless attacks for the rest of the match, they could not seem to find the net and got more and more frustrated.


Ukraine made history, by winning their first Euro match and there was only one man who could do it: The legend, Andriy Shevchenko.

Sweden had to avoid a loss against England, or they were out of the Euros.



Day 5:


Group A:


Poland 1 Russia 1

This match was played at Warsaw, as the co-hosts Poland had a tough test against Russia who were favourites to win this group. 

Russia broke the deadlock, after Alan Dzagoev scored his 3rd goal of the competition from a header in the 37th minute.

Golden Boot contender: Young midfielder Dzagoev scores his 3rd goal from a header. Many teams around Europe are watching him.
Pure jubilation: Russian young midfielder Alan Dzagoev celebrates his header.


Poland winger Jacub Blaszczkyowski equalised for the co-hosts in the 57th minute after finding space and taking a rocket shot from 22 yards out.

Goal of Euro 2012 contender: Blaszczkyowski hit a bullet shot past the Russians' defence to give Poland hope.
This was how the match finished, 1-1 with both teams taking a well-deserved point. 

Highlight of Blaszczkyowski's goal:
 



Russia willl be the less happier of the two teams, considering their status and the expectations of the team in this tournament.


Greece 1 Czech Republic 2

Jiracek and Pilar gave the Czech's an early 2-0 lead inside the first 6 minutes of the match.

The first: Jiracek gives the Czech's an early lead in the 3rd minute against a weak Greece side.
And another: Before Pilar doubles the lead, 3 minutes later to give Greece a headache.


Greece pegged a goal back in the 53rd minute with Fanis Gekas taking advantage of a mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, but it was not enough for Greece to get back into the match. 

Faint hope: Gekas takes advantage of Cech's failure to catch the ball, and slots the ball home into the net.





Day 6:


Group B:


Portugal 3 Denmark 2

This match was played at Lviv, as Portugal went head-to-head with Denmark. 
Denmark were certainly the underdogs in the 'Group of Death', until they beat Holland in their first match, while Portugal failed to beat Germany in their first match.


In the 24th minute, Real Madrid defender Pepe scored a header to give Portugal the lead from a Joao Moutinho cross.


Eat my goal: Real Madrid defender Pepe heads Portugal ahead against underdogs Denmark.


12 minutes later, Manchester United winger Nani finds striker Helder Postiga with a nice pass inside the 16-yard box and he powerfully strikes the ball above the goalkeeper into the net to give Portugal a 2-goal cushion.


What a finish: Helder Postiga makes his mark on the match with a powerful strike past Denmark's defence.
FACT: Helder Postiga becomes the sixth player to score at 3 different European Championships, after Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Nuno Gomes, Vladimir Smicer and Jurgen Klinsmann.




Suddenly, 5 minutes later the whole complexion of the match changed when Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner scored a header at the far post to give Denmark a lifeline of getting a result against Portugal.


A lifeline: Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner finds space at the far post when the ball fell to him.

Portugal continued to attack during the second half, looking for a killer goal until the 80th minute when against the run of play, striker Bendtner doubled his tally for the day by equalising for Denmark with ANOTHER header!

2nd headed goal for Bendtner, 3rd in the match: 80 minutes, 2-2.



Is this a message to Mr Wenger? Bendtner scores his 2nd of the day to level the scores against Portugal.


In the 87th minute, substitute Silvestre Varela let a shot fly inside the 16-yard box, and it beat the Denmark keeper and went into the net.


Super sub: Silvestre Varela gives Portugal all three points in the last three minutes after a flying shot.
Beat that one, Ronaldo: Varela scorers his goal.

Highlight of Varela's winner for Portugal against Denmark:



Denmark were in shock from the goal, and it was too late for them to get back into the match with so little time left.


Germany 2 Holland 1

This match was played at Kharkiv, as tough side Germany faced World Cup 2010 Runners-Up Holland.
Mario Gomez scored a brace for Germany, both in the first half after the Germans dominated possession and passed Holland to death with Schweinsteiger and Ozil spilting the defence in half.... 


Top-class finish: Gomez does a 180- degree spin before slotting the ball into the net past the keeper.


Power over placement: Striker Gomez beats Holland's defence once again to give them a 2-0 lead.




Day 7:


Spain 4 Republic of Ireland 0


Italy 1 Croatia 1


Day 8: 


Ukraine 0 France 2


Sweden 2 England 3


Day 9,
YESTERDAY:


Greece 1 Russia 0


Czech Republic 1 Poland 0


Russia and Poland are both out of UEFA Euro 2012 after they both lost.

Czech Republic and Greece have both qualified for the Last 8. 

(MORE TO FOLLOW SOON)

Sunday 10 June 2012

UEFA Euro 2012 Day 3, Group C LIVE Coverage:


Hello and welcome to the 3rd day of this year's UEFA Euro 2012.
This only happens once every four years, and already we have seen 4 great matches between some of the best international teams in the world!

This weekend's action concludes with two matches from Group C where the European champions Spain are hoping to retain their Euro title, which they won in 2008 against Germany.





So here are the matches:


Spain vs Italy: LIVE from 17:00pm on ITV1


Republic Of Ireland vs Croatia: LIVE from 19:45pm (also on ITV1)




Spain vs Italy:


Line-ups:


Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta. 
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

One to watch:

David Silva 

A quick, clever winger who can create, score and assist.
He can weave past players with skill and confuses defences all the time.

Electric: David Silva will be Spain's main playmaker today.


FACT: 9 players in Spain's starting 11 play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. What does that tell you?!

Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci, Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Maggio, Cassano, Balotelli. 
Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna, Balzaretti, Abate, Di Natale, Barzagli, Borini, Montolivo, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

One to watch:

Mario Balotelli

The Headliner: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will start for Italy tonight.


A highly controversial figure in Mario Balotelli.
Despite this, he is a danger for all defences and knows how to score. 
He will be watched by many today, and will be in the newspapers tomorrow, whether it be good or bad....



Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli among the notable faces for Italy today.
Legend Buffon starts in goal today.

17:00: After the national anthems and the EPIC countdown from the announcer, we are underway in the first of two Euro 2012 matches tonight.
The sun is shining in the Arena Gdansk, Poland and the grass is green. 

Build-up: Spain fans on their way to the stadium to watch the match in Poland.

SPAIN VS ITALY: LIVE Commentary

0: Spain kick-off here.

5: Slow, patient build-up play by Spain with quick incisive passing so far.
An Italian free-kick hit the wall and came of nothing.

7: Italy corner whipped into the box by Andrea Pirlo, but again nothing came of it.

9: Spain winger David Silva has a shot from 20 yards out, but it is always rising and goes over the bar. 
All Spain at the moment.

10: Mario Balotelli finds himself in space to take a shot which he does.
Luckily a block by Arbeloa ensures a corner to Italy.


12: An Italian free-kick by Andrea Pirlo is parried away by Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Close by Italy, good save though.


17: Italy defender Thiago Motta has to receive treatment now for a bruised shoulder after a kick with studs up from Real Madrid defender Arbeloa.


21: Italy striker Cassano has a shot from 16 yards out towards goal.... NEAR MISS!!!
Mario Balotelli was lurking inside the box but was not able to apply a finishing touch.


30: Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is tackled by Andrea Pirlo who fails to win the ball, and tackles late.
Spain win a free-kick and it is taken quickly.


31: Cassano is desperate to win the ball, and puts Spainish goalkeeper Casillas under pressure. He ends up clipping his leg and gives away a free-kick.

33: Cassano takes a shot towards goal.... parried away by Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas to Balotelli who gets tackled by Pique who clears the ball away.

Balotelli is furious at being tackled inside the box, and feels that he should be awarded a penalty.
He slams his fists into the ground. 


35: Italy are continuing to press here with quick passing.
This is the first time in the match that they are actually looking for a goal.

36: Balotelli tackles left-back Jordi Alba with his studs up.
He is booked for the late challenge, and it is not a surprise...

41: Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque looks unimpressed at the score-line right now while Busquets fouls Thiago Motta.

45: A cross from Italy into Thiago Motta who powerfully headers the ball towards goal... PARRIED!! away by Casillas... There will be 1 minute of stoppage time to be added on here.


45+1: The referee blows the whistle to end the first half here at Gdansk.


HALF-TIME SCORE:

Spain 0 Italy 0


Spain have been dominating possession throughout this half, but no strikers on the itch for them this half has been evident with their lack of goalscoring chances. 
Italy have been fired up in the last 10-15 minutes of the half but Casillas has been solid and equal to all of the shots so far.

It will be a very interesting second half to come with lots of goals predicted.


17:55:


45: The second half has started


48: Cameras show Chelsea striker Fernando Toress is warming up for Spain right now.


49: Good build-up play by Spain before Fabregas has a shot parried away by Buffon.
We are very close to the opening goal here...


51: Xavi and Iniesta both have had shots in less than 2 minutes, both just wide of the goal though.


53: Balotelli wins the ball from Ramos, before jogging forward with it inside the box. He is about to let a shot rip before Ramos makes up for his mistake with a last-ditch tackle to deny the Italian.

Wasteful? Balotelli had a chance to give Italy the lead, but took too long on the ball and Ramos intercepted him.


He should have scored there, Balotelli and took too long with the ball.


56:
Italy SUB:
Mario Balotelli OFF
Antonio Di Natale ON


A smart move by Italy. Balotelli is already on a yellow card, and wasted a golden chance. He does not want to get a second yellow, and Di Natale is a good, clinical striker.


60: Midfielder Andrea Pirlo who finds Natale with a through ball. Natale is onside..... and shapes to shoot.... GOAL!!!!

On the hour mark: Natale places the ball past Casillas to give Italy the lead after 60 minutes.
Flying high: 4 minutes after coming on for Balotelli, Natale breaks the deadlock in Gdansk.


He places the ball past Casillas who comes out but is beaten by a good 
shot.



Italy have opened the scoring here!! Super sub Natale breaks the deadlock!


63: GOAL!
Winger David Silva finds Cesc Fabregas who keeps himself onside before chipping goalkeeper Buffon.

Drama: Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas scores his 10th goal for Spain to equalise against Italy.

We are back in it: Fabregas celebrates his goal with the playmaker Silva (right)


Instant fightback from the defending European champions!!

65:
Spain SUB:

David Silva OFF
Jesus Navas ON

Italy SUB:

Antonio Cassano OFF
Sebastian Giovinco ON 

Italy's Giovinco is coming on now.... a danger to Spain.


66: Iniesta is caught by Italy defender Bonucci.
High challenge, dangerous, yellow card given.


67: Jordi Alba also booked for his part in the follow-up from the foul.


72: Nice ball into the box by winger Jesus Navas for Alba who volleys downwards toward goal.... MISS!!!


73:

Spain SUB:



Cesc Fabregas OFF
Fernando Torres ON


The goalscorer is coming off. 
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is coming ON.


FACT: After 73 minutes, Spain have their first striker on the pitch in the match.


75: Torres is straight into the action. He found space with the ball and tried to go past goalkeeper Buffonm who tackled him and saw it coming. He cleared the danger.


76: Giovinco found Natale with a cross, he connected with his foot at full stretch but was wide.

82: Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso has been given a warning by the referee after a tackle on Giovinco.
He looked to get the ball, but his studs were up.

83: Two yellow cards in less than 30 seconds for Spain.
First, defender Arbaloa with a bodycheck on Giovinco to stop his movement from 30 yards out.
Then, Torres elbows De Rossi and is given a yellow.

84: Nice two-touch passing by Xavi and Torres as they are linking up together well. 
Buffon comes out after Xavi's through ball back to Torres, who chips Buffon from 24 yards out... OVER THE BAR!!!
 
Unlucky from Torres who had the right idea but could not keep his chip down. His confidence is still low.


88: Two chances - 1 at either end.
First, winger Jesus Navas had a low shot from the edge of the box caught by Buffon before a one-touch layoff by Marchisio and Motta was saved comfortably by Casillas.

89:
Antonio Nocerino ON


90: There will be three minutes of stoppage time to be added on here.

90+3: The referee blows the whistle to end this match.

FULL-TIME SCORE:

Spain 1 Italy 1

Spain will feel disappointed that they have not won and taken all three points. Italy will feel thankful that they at least took a point but must feel that they could have won the match if Balotelli had taken his chance. 


Spain dominated the match with the possession stats and passing in their favour, but they could not finish their chances.

My Man of the Match:

Andres Iniesta 

He controlled the tempo of the match, looked for gaps in Italy's defence and took some shots to rattle Buffon.
He was unlucky not to score, assist and made lots of runs throughout the match. 


Flop of the Match:


Mario Balotelli


Even though he did not have a stinker of a match, he failed to convert a clear cut chance by taking too long on the ball.
He did not control his emotions at all and eventually got booked for a silly challenge on Alba.
He looked sharp for the first 20-25 minutes, but after he got tackled by Pique he just went off in a strop because things did not go his way.


He eventually got substituted - before he got sent off.


19:15:

Here are the team line-ups from Poznan where Ireland play their first match in a major tournament for 10 years:


Republic of Ireland v Croatia:

Ireland: Given, O'Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane.

Subs: Westwood, Kelly, McShane, Walters, Gibson, Hunt, O'Dea, Long, Cox, Green, McClean, Forde.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Vukojevic, Rakitic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic, Jelavic. 
Subs: Kelava, Simunic, Buljat, Pranjic, Badelj, Vrsaljko, Dujmovic, Kalinic, Kranjcar, Vida, Eduardo, Subasic.


21:50:


The other match in Group C:


FT: Republic Of Ireland 1 Croatia 3

Everton striker Nikica Jelavic and a Marko Mandzukic double gave Croatia a 3-1 win against the Republic Of Ireland. 

Good start: Mandzukic gave Croatia the lead in the 3rd minute.
Cannot believe it: Croatia players and team-mates all mob Mandzukic after his goal which is the quickest since Euro 2004.


Defender Sean St. Ledger gave Ireland hope of winning a 1-1 with a header, but it was not good enough, and Ireland were dominating with dodgy and sloppy defending.


Group C Table:

1: Croatia -  3 points, 3 goals
2: Spain -  1 point, 1 goal
3: Italy - 1 point, 1 goal
4: Republic Of Ireland - 0 points, 1 goal


Tomorrow:
Day 4 of this year's Euro 2012 when in Group D, England go head-to-head with France from 17:00pm and Ukraine face Sweden at 19:45pm.




(MORE TO FOLLOW SOON, REFRESH EVERY 2 MINUTES)



Saturday 9 June 2012

Euro 2012: Holland vs Denmark, Germany vs Portugal - LIVE Coverage:

Hello and welcome to my LIVE coverage of the second day of Euro 2012 from Poland and Ukraine.




Today's matches are from Group B:


Holland vs Denmark: LIVE from 17:00pm on BBC1


Germany vs Portugal: LIVE from 19:45pm (also on BBC1)


17:00:


Here are the team line-ups in the first match-up tonight:

Holland: Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems, Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong, Robben, Sneijder, Afellay, Van Persie.
Subs: Vorm, Mathijsen, Bouma, Kuyt, Huntelaar, Schaars, Strootman, Luuk De Jong, Narsingh, Boulahrouz, Van der Vaart, Krul.

Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm and Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul both are on the bench for Holland.
Arsenal captain and striker Robin Van Persie will hope to continue his great form this season with a goal or two today.
Tottenham winger Van der Vaart and Schalke striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar is also on the subs bench. 

4-2-3-1 formation with De Jong and Van Bommel the defensive midfielders.



Denmark: Andersen, Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, S Poulsen, Kvist Jorgensen, Zimling, Rommedahl, Eriksen, Krohn-Delhi, Bendtner. 
Subs: Lindegaard, C Poulsen, Bjelland, Okore, Schone, Silberbauer, Pedersen, Wass, Jakob Poulsen, Kahlenberg, Mikkelsen, Schmeichel.

Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard is on the bench along with Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is the captain for Denmark.
4-2-3-1 formation with Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner the lone striker.

0: The game has kicked off here. A great atmosphere and Holland are certainly the favourites in this match but do not rule out Denmark as  they have a solid defence and know how to score some goals.

2: Daniel Agger has a header from a free-kick saved comfortably by goalkeeper Stekelenburg. 


10: Holland are dominating here, with 18-year old wonderkid Willems even having a shot, but it was over the bar.
Winger Arjen Robben is looking dangerous aswell on the wings.


11: Robin Van Persie finds his team-mate Wesley Sneijder inside the box making a run. He tries to connect with the ball, and heads the ball towards goal.... MISS!!! The ball trickles wide and it is a goal-kick.

15: RVP's free-kick was blocked by the Danes wall.
Holland continue to press with a corner and Sneijder and RVP are linking well here. 


16: A shot by winger Arjen Robben but it is low and a comfortable save for the goalkeeper.


17: CHANCE!
Robben weaves past two defenders before trying to pass the ball inside the box for Sneijder but defender Lars Jacobsen is in the way and kicks the ball away straight into the goalkeeper's hands.


Robben should have taken the shot then.. he could have scored.



Maybe it is a lack of confidence after the night in Munich against Chelsea - in focus the penalty miss.

22: Holland continue to press for the first goal, before Michael Krohn-Dehli gets the ball on the edge of the box and takes a shot from 8 yards out.... GOAL!!!
He beats the goalkeeper and puts the ball through his legs and into the net!


Shock goal: Krohn-Dehli gives the underdogs Denmark the lead against Holland in the 22nd minute.

Shellshocked: The Danish celebrate their goal against one of the favourites - to win Euro 2012.


24: The Denmark fans have gone crazy now, they cannot believe it. 


28: A clash of heads from Vlaar (who tried to head the ball into the goal from a corner) and Afellay. Afellay is now recieving treatment and has a slight knock to the head.


30: A cold sponge for Afellay from the hysio as the match re-starts...

(MORE TO FOLLOW FROM THIS MATCH SOON, TECHNICAL PROBLEMS)


18:50:
 

FULL-TIME:

Holland 0 Denmark 1

A shock in the first of the two matches today. 

Michael Krohn-Dehli scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute to give Denmark all three points against a heavily favourited Holland side who did their best but could not find the net. 

Holland had all the chances and despite the fact the that goal came totally against the run of play, Denmark showed the desire to win and they were determined to prove everyone wrong.
Their defence was solid with Agger and Kjaer both hard to break through.


20:49:

The second half of this epic match between Germany and Portugal.

45: Germany kick off, and instantly look for a goal with a string of chances blocked and deflected gby the Portugal defence for a corner.


46: Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira heads the ball towards goal from the corner, but it goes wide of the post and it is out for a goal kick.


47: Lovely play by Manchester United winger Nani. He gets past Bayern Munich full-back Phillip Lahm before crossing the ball into the box for a header but Mats Hummels heads away for a corner.


48: The corner comes to nothing as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer punches the ball away to safety.


49: Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot from 22 yards out which is low and hard towards goal.... comfortable save though from Neuer.
If only there was a bit of height on the ball....

50: Cristiano Ronaldo sprints to the dead ball before turning Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng inside out. He chips the ball inside the box but Germany clear for a corner.



51: Free-kick to Germany, whipped into the box before being cleared away by Ronaldo with an overhead kick.
Ozil zips inside the box with a cross but no-one connects with the ball and Portugal clear yet again.

57: A defelcted clearance from Portugal goes to Lukas Podolski who cross the ball into the box for striker Mario Gomez who heads the ball towards goal... OVER THE BAR!!!! 


60: Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao tackles Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger with his studs up into his ankle. 
Yellow card for a dangerous foul. And that looked painful.


65: Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng is limping off the pitch after a tackle inside the box.
He is recieving treatment now.


69: Portugal SUB:


Helder Postiga OFF
Nelson Oliveira ON


71: Germany move into the Portugal box yet again with a cross by Sami Khedira to Mario Gomez who heads the ball towards goal... GOAL!!!!! Finally! after 71 minutes of play, the deadlock has been broken.

Opposite view of the goal: Gomez scores after 71 minutes of domination from Germany.


Bayern BEAST: Striker Mario Gomez towers over the Portugal defence to head past goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Jubilation: Gomez celebrates his header to give Germany a 1-0 lead against Portugal for his 23rd international goal.


No chance for the goalkeeper Rui Patricio. Too much pace on the ball for him to handle.


German fans are jubilant and on the feet.


75: German press once again and another cross is delivered inside the box but Chelsea midfielder Raul Merieles clears the ball away into Row Z.


79: Warm applause for the goalscorer Mario Gomez as he jogs off the pitch.

Germany SUB:
 

Miroslav Klose ON
Mario Gomez OFF

Portugal SUB:
 

Silvestre Varela ON
Raul Merieles OFF 


80: Awkward silence when the announcer calls Varela's name.

82: You can just tell that Portugal are not going to lose against Germnay- without a fight.
Fabio Coentrao takes a shot from 20 yards out, but the ball is blocked and it is be a corner for Portugal.


84: The corner is whipped in by Nani, but Neuer punches the ball clear.
Portugal get back on the ball and Nani takes a cross which is over-hit and it HITS THE BAR!!!!


85: Another corner for Portugal but Germany clear.


86: Germany SUB:


Toni Kroos ON
Mesut Ozil OFF



Ozil has been bright today and has been a danger... Unlucky not to score.

90: The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time to be added on here.

Portugal had another chance wasted when Nani and Varela both failed to take their chance in-front of goal before goalkeeper Manuel Neuer got to the ball. 


90+3: 
Corner whipped into the box for defender Bruno Alves who heads the ball towards goal.... OVER THE BAR!!!

Bastian Schweinsteiger has picked up a knock after clashing with Alves from the corner. Treatment is being recieved now and a little more extra time to be added on now.

90+4:
 

Germany wasting a little time here with a substitution:

Lars Bender ON
Thomas Muller OFF

Bender will probably not even get a touch of the ball though, and it is disappointing for a player of his quality. 

90+5:

The referee blows the whistle to end this second Group B match-up today.

Germany 1 Portugal 0

To be honest, Germany were dominating throughout and even though they only won the match by one goal, they deserved the win.

Portugal did not really threaten at all in the match apart from Pepe's shot which hit the bar and was cleared off the line, until AFTER Germany scored the goal, they were really fired up and were desperate to score.


Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo both were not as creative as expected, and they ended up having to defend the attacks of Schweinsteiger, Podolski Ozil and Gomez.


My Man of The Match:

Mesut Ozil - Germany 


He created chances galore for his team-mates with his numerous crosses and controlled the midfield along with Schweinsteiger.
His pace was too much to handle and he was unlucky not to score or assist a goal.

Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil worked hard for Germany tonight, and was a danger to Portugal's defence.



Flop of the Match:

Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal


For a player of his quality and his worth to play like he did today, you would be surprised if I told you that he is Real Madrid's talisman.
He looked frustrated, because the German defence was too strong for him to handle.

Could not break through: Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo had a tough time in  yesterday.