..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo: Portugal is not all about me


Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo insists there is more to his team than just him, but never doubted they could reach the Euro 2016 final.The Real Madrid forward opened the scoring with a header before setting up Nani in a 2-0 victory over Wales in Lyon on Wednesday.

Ronaldo always felt such a run was possible for Fernando Santos' men, who won in regulation for the first time at the tournament."We believe everything is possible in football," he said.

"Personally speaking, I am very happy. This is something that I wanted after winning the Champions League."I believed in my heart we would go far in the Euros. Maybe it didn't start off as well as we wanted it to but this is not a 100 metres dash, this is a marathon."We got past the group stages to the knockout stages.

"When you think of Nani, Renato [Sanches] and [Ricardo] Quaresma who has also scored, so we're all a team. Portugal is not all about me."

With his 50th-minute header, Ronaldo equalled Michel Platini for most goals at European Championships with nine.The 31-year-old, however, played down the achievement, saying reaching the final was more important.

"The most important thing was for the team to believe that we could make it to the final," Ronaldo said."Congratulations are in order for the coach, for the medical staff and to everyone who works with us.

"Record breaking is something very nice. I have broken many records before and I am still breaking records for club and country."But this all comes naturally and the crucial thing was to reach the final.

"I am very happy and I am very proud of all my team-mates. Me and the boys have always dreamt of being there. Now it's almost there."I've always dreamt of winning something for Portugal and now it's just one step away.

"Dreaming is free so let's keep dreaming."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Proud Coleman rues Wales tiredness after Euro 2016 exit


Wales manager Chris Coleman was proud of his players but lamented fatigue during their 2-0 semi-final loss to Portugal at Euro 2016.

The tournament surprise packages saw their run come to an end in Lyon on Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani scored early in the second half.
Coleman, who was without the suspended Aaron Ramsey, was unwilling to criticise his players, but rued some tiredness.

"Anyone is going to miss Aaron, especially the way he's been playing. But it's not just about the XI, it's about the squad. You're going to miss players," he told a news conference.

"I was delighted of the input of AK [Andy King], who worked his socks off. Aaron is fantastic at finding space, but we looked a little bit tired tonight."Balo [Gareth Bale], he's a human being like the rest. He worked his socks off, ran as hard as he could and tried everything to get us back in the game, but I was proud of all of them."

Ronaldo headed in the opening goal in the 50th minute before Nani turned a strike from the Real Madrid star past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey just moments later.

Coleman felt a mental lapse cost his team, saying: "That first goal was going to be crucial. The first half was a tight match, not much in it."We never got into our rhythm, our momentum, with the ball but you have to give credit to Portugal for defending well and killing the space.

"We found it hard to open the game up. When the first goal went in we just lost out concentration for five minutes. When you're up against this kind of quality, you'll be punished. They capitalised on that.

"But you win and you lose. We've done plenty of winning. It's our turn tonight to lose, it's not a nice feeling, but congratulations to Portugal and I hope they go on and win the final."

As for whether Fernando Santos' men can overcome France or Germany in the decider, Coleman said: "In a final, anything can happen."Portugal were criticised heavily for the way they'd played, their style, for not winning games in 90 minutes.

"To be in a semi-final you have to have something about you, and it's not just Ronaldo. They've got a good togetherness, a good plan, and they stick to that plan.

"They can win the final, whether that's France or Germany. Sometimes talent is a huge distraction. You have to have a bit of mettle as well to have a team, and I saw a team tonight in Portugal."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tevez demanded £250,000 a week to join West Ham - Sullivan

West Ham are interested in re-signing Carlos Tevez but the Argentine has demanded a salary worth £250,000 a week.

Slaven Bilic’s side are in the market for a new striker with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette one of their top targets, while AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca is another who is on the radar.

Tevez joined West Ham in 2006 and played a key part in keeping the club in the Premier League that season before he moved on to Manchester United.

“We tried to get Tevez but he wanted £250,000 a week,” West Ham’s co-chairman David Sullivan told the Mirror.

“In his last year at Juventus he was great. But 250 grand a week? "All this business, “I love West Ham”, well it’s 'I love West Ham if they give me £250,000 a week'.
“So how much love is that for West Ham? I actually offered him £150,000 a week to come back plus bonuses."

Sullivan added that he was not prepared to pay such high wages for someone of Tevez's advanced years.

“I thought that was an incredible offer for someone who loves West Ham. And it was a huge gamble for us because he’s 33 now and hasn’t done it in South America," he said.

“We tried to get Tevez but he wanted £250,000 a week – and is he past his best? He hasn’t set the world alight in South America.“In his last year at Juventus he was great. But £250,000 a week? He’ll probably stay where he is now, but he doesn’t pay a lot of tax down there.

“It wasn’t a publicity stunt, I saw him being our No 1 striker. I was hoping he would reproduce what he did at Juventus a year ago. He was a fantastic player. But where do you draw the line with what you are prepared to pay?”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Nani: Wales win is a 'historic moment' for Portugal


Nani declared Portugal's 2-0 Euro 2016 semi-final win over Wales "a historic moment for our country".

The 29-year-old signed for Valencia this week and shone on the international stage, scoring his side's second goal after Cristiano Ronaldo had broken the deadlock.

Nani revealed that, despite it being his third goal of the tournament, he was so taken aback by netting that he failed to have a celebration planned."It's a weird feeling [to have scored]," he told Uefa's official website. "It was a surprise goal; it was instinct.

"I didn't even have time to prepare my celebration. I just wanted to celebrate and dedicate the goal to my family who were there in the stands.

"I'm very happy to play my part and help our national team. It's an honour to represent our country – this amazing national team that's doing an excellent job."At this moment we have to celebrate, because it’s an amazing moment. It’s a historic moment for our country. And we have to celebrate."

Fernando Santos' side will meet hosts France or world champions Germany in the final and Nani added: "We cannot pick and choose our opponent. We have to believe in ourselves and play our best."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Santos: I've always seen Portugal as a great team


Fernando Santos insisted he has always rated Portugal as a "great team "after they advanced to the Euro 2016 final amid criticism over their style of play.Portugal moved a step closer to avenging their defeat in the 2004 final with a 2-0 victory against high-flying Wales in Lyon on Wednesday.

In a match billed Cristiano Ronaldo versus Gareth Bales, the Portugal captain came out on top as he opened the scoring in the 50th minute - equalising Michel Platini's record of nine goals at European Championships - before Nani sealed the win three minutes later.



Portugal's win ended a run of five consecutive draws in regulation, which sparked scrutiny among past players and pundits for their "ugly" football throughout the tournament.But speaking after Portugal's triumph, Santos said: "I've always seen Portugal as a great team.

"Sometimes we played pretty football, other times not as pretty but I think our game against Croatia was amazing - it was very strategic game."We've been doing what we should do, according to me. We don't care if it's pretty or not."Today was a prettier game and that's good for all those watching."

Awaiting Portugal in the Euro 2016 final will be either hosts France or Germany, with Santos adding: "Sunday will be the highest point my career. Professionally speaking there are lots of there moment but personally it's my flag, my fatherland. From a personal point of view it's very important.

"As for the opponents, I'm not even thinking about that yet. Two very strong teams face off tomorrow. I will try and watch the game very attentively. Afterwards will analyse the opposition.

"We are in it to win it and I'll set up the team with the best possible strategy."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Schweinsteiger will start against France, confirms Low


Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will start for Germany in Thursday's Euro 2016 semi-final against France, coach Joachim Low has confirmed.

Schweinsteiger's fitness has been closely monitored this week after he sustained minor knee ligament damage in the dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Italy in Bordeaux on Saturday.With Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez ruled out through injury and Mats Hummels suspended, Schweinsteiger's availability against the tournament hosts represents a huge boost for the world champions.

Low said: "He trained this morning and there were no problems. We trained him individually yesterday and he has recovered 100 per cent. He also showed against Italy that he has the strength to be in the starting XI.

"His experience is very important for us."I have always said Bastian Schweinsteiger would be in the starting XI if he could take part in the final training session. We have three players that always play - Hummels, Khedira and Gomez - that are absent and that's why Basti is even more important and that's why he will start tomorrow."

Low will still have to reshuffle his side to cope with the absences of Hummels and Gomez, but he insists he has complete faith in the players that will step in."We have to think of the players who can't play and compensate for them," he added. "I trust 100 per cent in the players that will be in the starting line-up and those that will come on, and I hope it won't disturb our style of play.

"I think we will be the strongest opposition France have had so far. Perhaps they haven't had strong opposition yet and we will do everything to reach the final."Low is wary of France, however, in particular their attacking fluency with Olivier Giroud, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann all in sparkling form.

"France offensively are the team in the tournament that are very flexible, not only in midfield with Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi but they also take their chances most efficiently with Payet, Griezmann and Giroud," he said."I think France will attack as they have the pressure of playing as hosts. They are in their own country and will try everything.

"We have to play as a unit and we have to help each other. We have to be compact in defence. If we give them lots of space they can be quick and dynamic. They will make it difficult for us."But they have weaknesses, no side is perfect. Their last game against Iceland was impressive but we have noticed a couple of weaknesses. It will be important to exploit them tomorrow."

The last time Germany met a host nation in the semi-final of a major tournament was two years ago in Brazil when Low's men swept to a stunning 7-1 triumph.
Unsurprisingly, the Germany boss has ruled out a repeat in Marseille.He said: "I don't think we can take much out of that game.

"It was written in the stars and that won't appear in a semi-final again. Brazil were shocked because they conceded so many goals in such a short space of time. France are better defensively than Brazil were then."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Euro 2016 Semi-Final 2 Fixture 2016.07.07

Euro 2016 Semi-Final 2 Fixture 2016.07.07

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Germany Vs France

(SL Time 12.30AM(8th July)​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ada thamai tough ma fight 1ka yanne

Hoda fight 1kak balaganna puluwan wei

Good luck for both teams!

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[Alucard_SxE]

Ada thamai tough ma fight 1ka yanne

Hoda fight 1kak balaganna puluwan wei

Good luck for both teams!

​

It's gonna be a low scoring match. I predict a 1-0 to Germany. ​

 

[Ysa Karu]

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Germany Vs France

Germany Starting Line-up

Manuel Neuer
Benedikt Höwedes
Jérôme Boateng
Jonas Hector
Joshua Kimmich
Toni Kroos
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Emre Can
Thomas Müller
Julian Draxler
Mesut Özil

&

France Starting Line-up

Hugo Lloris
Samuel Umtiti
Laurent Koscielny
Patrice Evra
Bacary Sagna
Antoine Griezmann
Blaise Matuidi
Paul Pogba
Olivier Giroud
Dimitri Payet
Moussa Sissoko
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

It's gonna be a low scoring match. I predict a 1-0 to Germany.

mamath hithanne naha bro loku scoreline 1kak yai kiyala.anyway balamu.hoda match 1kak yai
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[Wolverine GTR]

Good luck for both sides!

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[sri D]

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Half Time

Germany 0 Vs 1 France

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[Wolverine GTR]

1st half patta
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[sri D]

Schweinsteiger wede kaa gattane..
Nattam last minute wenakan germany head eke hitiyane..

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Mona gon wedakda Ohoma handball karanawanam wedak ne. kochchara hodata play karath ​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

2nd half 1keth hoda gemak thiyei sides 2kenma

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mona gon wedakda Ohoma handball karanawanam wedak ne. kochchara hodata play karath

Ow bro.Germany pattama attack 1kak dunneaparade handball 1kanam.btw goal down unath real fight 1kak dei

​