Germany have endured a nightmare run in European championships since Oliver Bierhoff’s golden goal clinched the trophy against the Czech Republic at Wembley in Euro 96.
The World Cup has told a familiar tale of typically impressive German achievement, but the Euros have been a wasteland – now might be time for all that to change.
Germany defender Philipp Lahm fired his country’s imagination with the first goal on their way to third in the 2006 World Cup, but he is more concerned about stopping opponents during Euro 2008.
Croatia were forced to hang on against tournament co-hosts Austria to begin their Euro 2008 campaign with a win.
They were gifted what proved to be a fourth-minute winner when Luca Modric drilled home a penalty after Rene Aufhauser clumsily felled Ivica Olic.
Poland’s attacking midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski has been ruled out of Euro 2008 after suffering a serious thigh injury during training on Thursday.
The Borussia Dortmund player was injured at the team’s Bad Waltersdorf base in Austria, aggravating an old thigh problem, a national team spokeswoman said.
Footballers may not have the hardhitting nicknames of the boxing fraternity such as Tommy ‘The Hitman’ Hearns or ‘Smoking’ Joe Frazier but there are many who will perform at Euro 2008 who have interesting ones to say the least.
Romania striker Adrian Mutu has been ordered to pay his former club Chelsea £9.6m for testing positive for cocaine, according to his lawyer.
Chelsea sacked Mutu in October 2004 and he was subsequently handed a seven-month worldwide football ban.
His lawyer Cristian Sarbu said Fifa’s decision was not final and that Mutu would contest the ruling.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says Premier League strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba and Dimitar Berbatov are transfer targets.
Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o and Mario Gomez of Stuttgart are also on the Rossoneri’s list of potential signings.
Galliani said: “The names are those that have been reported. That’s Eto’o, Drogba, Adebayor, Gomez and Berbatov.
Tottenham will sign forward Giovani dos Santos from Barcelona, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms.
The Mexico international will sign a five-year deal in a move which will cost an initial £4.7m and could rise to £8.6m depending on appearances.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the club would rather put Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands than sell him to Real Madrid.
Ferguson has met the Glazer family, who own the club, and said: “Their attitude is ‘To hell with them’.
Former Manchester United star David Beckham has urged Cristiano Ronaldo not to follow in his footsteps by leaving Old Trafford to sign for Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are tracking the 23-year-old, despite being warned off by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
