29.6.08

Ahead of Germany v Spain

Germany will have mixed feelings regarding referee Roberto Rosetti. The Italian was in charge on 28 April 2004, when Germany suffered one of their biggest defeats in recent memory in a friendly against Romania (1-5). Rosetti was also the referee in Germany's 2-1 away win against the Czech Republic in the 2008 European Championship qualification.


Spain have also had changing fortunes when Roberto Rosetti was the referee. At the 2006 World Cup, Spain lost 3-1 against France in the round of the last 16. In the 2008 European Championship qualification, Rosetti was also the referee when Spain beat Sweden 3-0 at home





Germany and Spain have met each other 19 times and Germany have won eight of these contests, while Spain proved the strongest on five occasions.


At the World Cup and European Championship, the two teams have played each other five times, with Germany winning three times and Spain having the upper hand only once.


Spain's only victory in the Europeans was a 1-0 group phase triumph in 1984. Antonio Maceda's legendary injury time header eliminated West Germany, marking the only time until 2000 that (West) Germany were stranded in the group phase of a European Championship finals.


The last time these two met was a friendly in February 2003, which Spain won 3-1







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Record-breaking serve at Wimbledon by Venus Williams

Venus Williams records the fastest serve ever by a woman at Wimbledon with the scoreboard also had Williams winning 6-1, 7-5 Saturday over qualifier





One swing from completing her week’s work, Venus Williams toed the baseline, dribbled the ball, gave it a toss and delivered yet another thunderclap serve at sun-kissed Wimbledon.


The ace bounced off the Court 1 backstop as Williams trotted to the net to bid another foe farewell.


The scoreboard said 127 mph, the fastest women’s serve ever recorded at Wimbledon







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28.6.08

NBC: Beijing Olympics Online Video Available Only After TV Broadcast

Sports fans in the world over had started rejoicing that finally we could do away with the lame soft-focus athlete stories and parochial commentary from NBCU with this Olympics: Yes, the company will have 2,200 hours of live competition from Beijing available online on NBCOlympics.com, but such hope is now gone with some heavy restrictions...we mentioned some of this heavy handedness earlier about Olympic trials




Other TV networks have a limited window in which to show Olympics highlights, but no video of Olympic events is permitted to be shown on any website besides NBCOlympics.com
-- No events that are scheduled to be televised (on NBCU’s six TV channels) will be available online until after they are seen on TV. If this is the case, what’s this about 2,200 hours of live coverage online? Is it only on-demand later





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27.6.08

Euro 2008 Finals: Germany v Spain

Germany coach Joachim Low must decide whether to recall Torsten Frings for Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Spain.
The midfielder has declared himself fit after recovering from a broken rib and could replace Simon Rolfes (cut eye) in the only change to the side.
Spain also look sure to alter their line-up with striker David Villa almost certainly out with a thigh injury.
That could mean a start for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas in a five-man midfield, with Fernando Torres the lone striker.

21.6.08

Quarter-final 4: Spain v Italy

Spain coach Luis Aragones is likely to revert to his first-choice XI having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece.

Aragones gave a strong indication to what his starting line-up might be when he played the XI in the first two games against the substitutes on Friday.

Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended.

Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may start.

"Alberto Aquilani and I can co-exist quite well," Ambrosini said.

"But the choice is up to coach Roberto Donadoni. A lot will depend on what formation we use."

Camoranesi added: "I've started twice, which pleases me, but I'm not happy with how I've played.

"I wanted to be decisive, but I haven't contributed anything."

In defence, 35-year-old Christian Panucci, a regular full-back, is likely to play alongside Giorgio Chiellini in the heart of the Italian defence.

Italy have a number of key players who are just one booking away from a one-match suspension - Giorgio Chiellini, Luca Toni, Daniele De Rossi and Gianluca Zambrotta.

In the Spanish camp, despite the likelihood of playing the starting XI that faced Russia and Sweden, boss Aragones said he had not decided on his line-up.

"Things are basically clear but the play of some has me thinking, I'm not sure which team will play," he added.

Meanwhile, the coach played down a heated discussion he had with full-back Sergio Ramos in a practice session this week.

Ramos was reported to have been pulled aside by teammate Carlos Marchena to bring an end to the argument that came a day after the coach criticised him in a news conference.

"He expressed his opinion, that's all," said Aragones, responding to a question about the spat.

Although there is a full squad to pick from, Carlos Marchena, Daniel Guiza and Alvaro Arbeloa are one booking away from a suspension.

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws.

In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws. Spain's sole competitive victory was in the very first match between the two, a 2-0 win at the 1920 Olympic Games.

The two teams have played each other twice at European Championships, drawing 0-0 in a group phase match in 1980 and Italy winning another group match 1-0 in 1988. Italy head coach Roberto Donadoni played in the latter of those games.

Spain have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals. Donadoni also played in that match.

Team facts - Spain

Been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22 June, all three after a penalty shoot-out. Lost against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. Their only other international on 22 June was a 3-2 friendly win against Italy in 1930.

On a streak of nine straight wins and will break their best ever international winning run with a victory against Italy. Their previous streak of nine straight wins was ended by Italy in 1927.

Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak in competitive matches (seven).

Team facts - Italy

The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship. Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and France won Euro 2000.

Player facts - Spain

Used 22 of the 23 players in their squad at Euro 2008 with only third choice goalkeeper Andres Palop missing out.

David Villa is Euro 2008 top scorer with four goals. He is now Spain's record goal scorer at the European Championship with four goals, and also top scorer for Spain at European Championships and World Cups combined with seven goals.

Carlos Marchena, Daniel Guiza and Álvaro Arbeloa will miss a possible semi-final match if they receive a yellow card against Italy.

Player facts - Italy

Alessandro Gamberini and Marco Borriello are the only outfield players yet to play for Italy at Euro 2008.

Alessandro Del Piero can play his 13th European Championship match, which will equal Italian record holder Paolo Maldini.

If Del Piero scores, he will become the first Italian to score in four different major tournaments (European Championships and World Cups).

A yellow card for Gianluca Zambrotta will equal the record of six yellow cards at European Championship finals, set in Spain's last group match by Giorgios Karagounis of Greece.

Zambrotta will face his FC Barcelona teammates Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso are suspended for this match having received their second yellow cards of the tournament in Italy's last match, against France.

Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Luca Toni and Zambrotta will be suspended for a possible semi-final match if they receive a yellow card against Spain.

Souce: BBC Sport

15.6.08

Switzerland v Portugal

Switzerland and Portugal have met each other 19 times before, with Switzerland holding the upper hand with eight wins against six victories for Portugal. Five matches have finished in a draw.


In nine competitive matches (World Cup and European Championship qualifiers), Switzerland have won twice, Portugal have won three times and four matches have been drawn.


This will be their first encounter at a major tournament. Their last meeting came in a World Cup qualifier on 13 October 1993, when Portugal won 1-0 at home, courtesy of Joao Vieira Pinto's winning goal.





Switzerland will be playing for pride against Portugal in their final Group A game after the hosts failed to qualify.


Home striker Eren Derdiyok picked up a slight ankle injury in the defeat by Turkey - their second in the tournament - so Daniel Gygax stands by to start.


With Portugal having secured top place in the group, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to rotate the squad.


Seven changes are likely - two in the back four, four in midfield and Hugo Almeida partnering Nuno







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