Spain coach Luis Aragones praised his strikeforce of David Villa and Fernando Torres after his side’s comprehensive 4-1 win over Russia at Euro 2008.
Villa scored the first hat-trick of the tournament with Torres setting up his first as the pair showed they will be a tough proposition for their rivals.
Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn could be in hot water with UEFA after publicly questioning the neutrality of top Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, the official who took charge of the Euro 2008 opening match.
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Portugal have a great chance of winning Euro 2008 if they can play as they did in the 3-1 win over the Czech Republic.
Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another in the win which put Portugal on the brink of the quarter-finals.
Germany captain Michael Ballack says his team are wary of England-slayers Croatia ahead of Thursday’s Euro 2008 Group B clash which will guarantee the winner a last eight berth.
The 31-year-old Chelsea midfielder was outstanding in his side’s 2-0 opening victory over Poland on Sunday as two goals from Bayern Munich’s Lukas Podolski got Germany off to a flying start.
First night nerves, an impotent attack, a stolid Romania team and even the weather were all put forward as reasons why favourites France were held to a goalless draw in their opening Euro 2008 tie here Monday.
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy’s opening goal in the win over Italy was legitimate, says Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett.
Van Nistelrooy looked yards offside when he prodded home from close range.
But it appears he was played onside by defender Christian Panucci, who was lying off the pitch at the time.
Spain have minor concerns over David Villa (thigh), Sergio Garcia and Andres Iniesta (food poisoning) for their Euro 2008 opener against Russia.
Coach Luis Aragones is expecting all his players to be fit but he could leave Cesc Fabregas on bench.
Russia boss Guus Hiddink is without key playmaker Andrei Arshavin and striker Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas insisted on Monday that the Euro 2008 Group D favourites were not a collection of individuals like their their star tennis player Rafael Nadal but instead a finely honed team.
Spain have frequently entered tournament finals considered amongst the best sides there but more often than not have flattered to deceive.
Lukas Podolski’s double ensured Germany made a winning start to their Euro 2008 campaign against Poland in Klagenfurt.
Polish-born Podolski put Germany on the path to a deserved victory when he slid home Miroslav Klose’s pass from close range after 20 minutes.
Euro 2004 finalists Portugal should be regarded as favourites for winning Group A at Euro 2008 and not Turkey insisted the latter’s star turn Nihat Kahveci on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Villarreal striker said that the Portuguese were more logical favourites both for the group and for their match on Saturday in Geneva than the Turks, who have not exactly set the world alight in their warm-up matches.
