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UEFA EURO 2008™

FINAL TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW GROUP STAGE EDITION

Version 1.0 • Tuesday, 3 June 2008, 12:00CET Content: UEFA Media Technologies, SA Distribution: Euro 2008, SA

CONTENTS Page Tournament schedule 2 Match backgrounds 3-49 Venue guide 50-59 Competition history 60-66

Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein.

FINAL TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Final tournament

Tournament schedule Grp Saturday 7 June 2008 Kick-Off Venue A - Czech Republic 18.00CET St. Jakob-Park, A - Turkey 20.45CET Stade de Genève, Geneva Grp Sunday 8 June 2008 B - Croatia 18.00CET , B - 20.45CET Wörthersee, Klagenfurt Grp Monday 9 June 2008 C - 18.00CET , C - Italy 20.45CET Stade de Suisse, Berne Grp Tuesday 10 June 2008 D - 18.00CET Tivoli Neu, D - Sweden 20.45CET EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg Grp Wednesday 11 June 2008 A Czech Republic - Portugal 18.00CET Stade de Genève, Geneva A Switzerland - Turkey 20.45CET St. Jakob-Park, Basel Grp Thursday 12 June 2008 B Croatia - Germany 18.00CET Wörthersee, Klagenfurt B Austria - Poland 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna Grp Friday 13 June 2008 C Italy - Romania 18.00CET Letzigrund, Zurich C Netherlands - France 20.45CET Stade de Suisse, Berne Grp Saturday 14 June 2008 D Sweden - Spain 18.00CET Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck D Greece - Russia 20.45CET EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg Grp Sunday 15 June 2008 A Switzerland - Portugal 20.45CET St. Jakob-Park, Basel A Turkey - Czech Republic 20.45CET Stade de Genève, Geneva Grp Monday 16 June 2008 B Poland - Croatia 20.45CET Wörthersee, Klagenfurt B Austria - Germany 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna Grp Tuesday 17 June 2008 C Netherlands - Romania 20.45CET Stade de Suisse, Berne C France - Italy 20.45CET Letzigrund, Zurich Grp Wednesday 18 June 2008 D Greece - Spain 20.45CET EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg D Russia - Sweden 20.45CET Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck QF Thursday 19 June 2008 Winner Grp A - Runner-up Grp B 20.45CET St. Jakob-Park, Basel QF Friday 20 June 2008 Winner Grp B - Runner-up Grp A 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna QF Saturday 21 June 2008 Winner Grp C - Runner-up Grp D 20.45CET St. Jakob-Park, Basel QF Sunday 22 June 2008 Winner Grp D - Runner-up Grp C 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna SF Wednesday 25 June 2008 Winner #25 - Winner #26 20.45CET St. Jakob-Park, Basel SF Thursday 26 June 2008 Winner #27 - Winner #28 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna F Sunday 29 June 2008 Winner #29 - Winner #30 20.45CET Ernst Happel, Vienna

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Switzerland - Czech Republic St. Jakob-Park, Basel Saturday 7 June 2008 - 18.00CET Switzerland start with Czech examination The long wait will be over when UEFA EURO 2008™ opens in Basel on 7 June with the Group A encounter between the Czech Republic and tournament co-hosts Switzerland at St. Jakob-Park. • Jakob Kuhn's Switzerland side will be desperate for a positive start to 'their' tournament when they raise the curtain on the 31-match, 23-day football festival, yet they face daunting opposition in a Czech Republic side who reached the semi-finals at UEFA EURO 2004™ and finished as one of the seven group winners in qualifying for this event. • Switzerland qualified automatically for the finals as co-hosts. This is their third finals appearance and they will be hoping it proves third time lucky after two previous first-round exits in 1996 and 2004, on both occasions following up an opening draw with two defeats. • Karel Brückner's Czech Republic side qualified as winners of Group D, where they finished two points clear of Germany having won nine and lost just one of 12 qualifying games. They sealed their finals place in memorable fashion on 17 October 2007, beating Germany 3-0 in Munich through goals from , Marek Matějovský and Jaroslav Plašil. • This is the ' fourth successive appearance in the UEFA European Championship finals, their best performance to date coming in 1996 when they finished runners-up to Germany following a 2-1 final defeat at Wembley . After a first-round exit in 2000, the Czechs reached the last four in 2004, where they succumbed 1-0 to eventual winners Greece. • As part of the former state of , Czech football celebrated winning the European crown in 1976. Czechoslovakia defeated in the final that year, Antonín Panenka's spot-kick securing a 5-3 shoot-out triumph following a 2-2 draw in Belgrade. • Switzerland reached the Round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Kuhn's men won their group – drawing with France and beating Togo and Korea Republic – but then went down to in a penalty shoot-out in which they failed to score, following a goalless draw. That stalemate on 26 June 2006, which marked their most recent competitive appearance, meant they exited the finals without conceding a goal. • The Czech Republic had a disappointing World Cup campaign in 2006, falling at the group stage after the promise of an opening win against the United States vanished with defeats by and Italy. • Switzerland have faced the Czech Republic three times before, with the Swiss winning their first contest in Zurich 3-0 in April 1994. The Czechs then recorded a 2-1 victory in Basel in June 1996 before prevailing 3-0 in their most recent meeting in Drnovice on 18 August 1999. Current Czech international broke the deadlock, before a Stefan Wolf own goal and Miroslav Baranek effort completed the scoring. • The teams for that 1999 fixture were: Czech Republic: , Marek Nikl, Jan Suchopárek, Pavel Nedvěd (Pavel Horváth), , Radek Slončík (Tomáš Galásek), Jiří Němec (Roman Týce), Karel Poborský (Miroslav Baranek), (René Wagner), Jan Koller (), . Switzerland: Stefan Huber (Andreas Hilfiker), Sebastien Jeanneret (), Régis Rothenbühler (Thomas Wyss), Stefan Wolf, Marc Hodel, Johann Vogel (Boris Smiljanic), , Raphael Wicky, Stéphane Chapuisat (Alexandre Rey), , Alexandre Comisetti (Sascha Müller). • Switzerland had an inferior record against Czechoslovakia, their 27 matches played between 1924 and 1991 producing seven wins, six draws and 14 defeats. • The only match between Switzerland and Czechoslavakia at a major tournament was the 1934 World Cup quarter-final between the sides, which Czechoslovakia won 3-2.

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• This Group A match pits a number of club colleagues against each other: (SUI) and Jaroslav Plašil (CZE) are team-mates at CA Osasuna while (SUI) and (CZE) play together at . Depending on his recovery from injury, Switzerland defender Patrick Müller could face his former Olympique Lyonnais team-mate Milan Baroš in the Czech attack. • Switzerland's Raphael Wicky had a spell playing alongside Czech pair Tomáš Ujfaluši and David Jarolim at Hamburger SV and they are not the only former team-mates on opposing sides here. (SUI) and Jan Koller (CZE) played together at BV ; (SUI) and Petr Čech (CZE) were colleagues at Stade Rennais FC; and likewise Johann Vogel (SUI) and (CZE) at AC Milan. • was part of the Arsenal FC team that beat AC Sparta Praha 3-0 in in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on 29 August 2007. Czech Republic quartet , Jiří Kladrubský, Marek Kulič and Zdenĕk Pospĕch all featured on the losing side. • Czech pair Tomáš Galásek and Jan Polák were in the 1. FC Nürnberg team that got the better of Swiss international 's VfB side with a 3-2 victory in the 2007 German Cup final. • Switzerland's holds the record for being the youngest goalscorer at a UEFA European Championship final tournament. He was 18 years and 140 days old when he found the net in Switzerland's 3-1 defeat by France on 21 June 2004. • The host team have won the opening match only twice in six attempts since the tradition was established in 1984. France (1984) and Belgium (2000) both recorded victories, with three draws and one defeat for the hosts. That loss came in 2004 when Portugal went down 2-1 to Greece. • France in 1984 became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Portugal - Turkey Stade de Genève, Geneva Saturday 7 June 2008 - 20.45CET Portugal open up with Turkey test As beaten finalists on home soil four years ago Portugal will hope to go one better at UEFA EURO 2008™, but standing in their way of a winning start in Geneva are a Turkey side no doubt relishing the return to the international spotlight after six years in the shadows. • Turkey have not appeared at a major tournament since the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, when their surprise run to the semi-finals was ended by a Brazil side coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man now in charge of their opening opponents in Geneva. • If that is a positive omen for Portuguese fans, they might also note that the Selecção won the countries' two previous meetings in UEFA European Championship final tournaments. Portugal were 1-0 winners against Turkey in the group stage at EURO '96™, where Fernando Couto's 66th-minute goal undid a side coached by , then in his first spell as Turkey coach. • Portugal repeated the feat four years later in the UEFA EURO 2000™ quarter-finals, Nuno Gomes getting both goals (44 and 56 minutes) in a 2-0 success against a Turkey side reduced to ten men by Alpay Özalan's 30th-minute red card. • The teams for that 2000 meeting in Amsterdam were: Turkey: Rüstü Reçber, Tayfur Havutçu, Ogün Temizkanoglu (Sergen Yalçın), Fatih Akyel, Alpay Özalan, (), (Oktay Derelioglu), Hakan Sükür, , Ergün Penbe, Hakan Ünsal Portugal: Vítor Baía, Dimas, , Fernando Couto, Sérgio Conceição, (), , Luís Figo, (Capucho), João Pinto, Nuno Gomes (Sá Pinto). • Overall, Portugal have won the countries' last five contests with Turkey's sole success coming in the first of their six meetings, a 3-1 victory in an friendly in 1955. Future Galatasaray AS and Turkey coach Coşkun Özarı made his international debut in the match. • This is Portugal's fourth successive appearance in the UEFA European Championship finals and their fifth overall. Their best performance came at UEFA EURO 2004™, where they finished runners-up after losing the final 1-0 to Greece in Lisbon. They had previously reached the semi-finals of the 1984 and 2000 tournaments. • Turkey are appearing among Europe's élite for the third time. Their previous appearances came in 1996 and 2000 with their quarter-final run in the latter event their best showing to date. • Portugal and Turkey both reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals on their last appearance at a major tournament, Portugal in 2006 and Turkey four years earlier, when they took third place in Korea/Japan. • Luiz Felipe Scolari's Portugal advanced to Austria/Switzerland as the second-placed team in Group A behind Poland, securing their UEFA EURO 2008™ berth by holding Finland 0-0 in in their last qualifier. Their record in qualifying was W7 D6 L1. • Turkey qualified as the second-placed team in Group C behind Greece. made sure of their place in Austria/Switzerland with the solitary strike against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their concluding qualifier as Terim's team finished with a record of W7 D3 L2. • Scolari's Brazil team defeated Turkey 1-0 through a goal from Ronaldo in the 2002 World Cup semi-final in Saitama, Japan. • Portugal defender and Turkey Yıldıray Baştürk are colleagues at German club VfB Stuttgart. • Portugal striker Nuno Gomes worked under Turkey coach Terim at club ACF Fiorentina in 2000/01. • Tuncay Şanlı struck twice in Turkey's 4-2 triumph at home to Portugal in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier in October 2002, while Halil Altıntop scored the winner in a 2-1 success away to the same opponents the following September.

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Austria - Croatia Ernst Happel, Vienna Sunday 8 June 2008 - 18.00CET Austria kick off with a point to prove UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Austria open their Group B campaign against Croatia at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna aiming to prove they are worthy of their place among Europe's élite. • This is Austria's first appearance in a UEFA European Championship final tournament and their first taste of any major tournament since the FIFA World Cup in France a decade ago. Coach will consider a positive start vital to his side's prospects but they can expect a tough test against a Croatia side who eliminated England in qualifying and ran out 4-1 winners on their last visit to this stadium in 2006. • Croatia advanced to the finals as Group E winners, finishing with an impressive record of nine wins, two draws and just one defeat. • Austria's best performance in the UEFA European Championship came in the inaugural edition of 1960 where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 9-4 on aggregate to France. • Austria finished third in their group at France '98, with two draws and a defeat. Their last victory in a major tournament was a 2-1 success against United States at the 1990 World Cup. • Croatia's best performance in the UEFA European Championship came in 1996 on their debut appearance at an international tournament. Current coach Slaven Bilić featured in the team which beat Turkey and Denmark prior to a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Germany. • Croatia reached the finals again in 2004 but were knocked out in the first round following draws with Switzerland and France and a defeat by England. • The Balkan team suffered the same fate at the 2006 World Cup where they drew with Japan and Australia following an opening loss to Brazil. • Since finishing third at the 1998 World Cup, Croatia have not got past the first round in three appearances at major tournaments. Their only win in their last nine finals matches was a 2-1 success against Italy at Korea/Japan 2002, where Milan Rapaić scored twice. • Croatia won all three of the sides' previous meetings, starting with a 2-1 triumph in Klagenfurt in an April 2000 friendly. Mario Stanić scored the winning goal for Croatia in a match which featured current Austrian internationals and Markus Weissenberger and Croatia's , Niko and Robert Kovać, Rapaić and Dario Šimić. • Pletikosa, Robert Kovać and Šimić played in Croatia's 1-0 home victory over Austria in February 2001. Mario Haas, and Alex Manninger were in the Austria team. • Croatia's third and most recent win over Austria came in Vienna on 23 May 2006 where they won 4-1 through goals from Ivan Klasnić (2), Marko Babić and Bosko Balaban. scored the Austria goal. • The teams in Vienna were: Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa ( 46), Dario Šimić, , Robert Kovač (Mario Tokič 61) , ( 71), , Marko Babić, Niko Kovač (Luka Modrić 57), Niko Kranjčar, Dado Pršo (Boško Balaban 57), Ivan Klasnić (Ivica Olić 46). Austria: Helge Payer, Andreas Ibertsberger, Martin Stranzl, Paul Scharner, , (Michael Mörz 73), Andreas Ivanschitz, Thomas Prager, (Ferdinand Feldhofer 66), Stefan Lexa ( 83), ( 64). • Croatia captain Niko Kovač is also skipper of Austrian club side FC Salzburg and his team-mates there include Austrian internationals René Aufhauser and Christoph Leitgeb. Ivanschitz was also with him at Salzburg before he moved to Panathinaikos FC where he now plays alongside Croatia's Anthony Šerić. • Austria's Thomas Prager is a colleague of Danijel Pranjić of Croatia at SC Heerenveen, while of Austria plays with Croatian international Ivan Klasnić at Werder .

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• Srna was in the Shakhtar team that got the better of Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in 2007/08. • Croatia's coach at UEFA EURO 2004™, Otto Barić, had an earlier spell in charge of Austria (1999-2001). • France in 1984 became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Germany - Poland Wörthersee, Klagenfurt Sunday 8 June 2008 - 20.45CET Poland hungry for German first After breaking new ground in qualifying for their first UEFA European Championship finals, Poland will go into their opening Group B game against Germany seeking another first in the form of a long-awaited victory against their neighbours. • Germany will doubtless have other ideas, though, as they look to improve on their third-place finish at the 2006 FIFA World Cup – and a record of eleven wins and four draws from the countries' 15 past meetings certainly augurs well for Joachim Löw's side. • Germany got the better of Poland when the teams met at the group stage of the World Cup although they left it late to record a 1-0 win in Dortmund, substitute scoring a minute into added time at the end of the game. • The teams for that meeting on 14 June 2006 were: Germany: , ( 63), , , , Bernd Schneider, , , ( 77), , (Oliver Neuville 71). Poland: , Jacek Bąk, Marcin Baszczyński, , Michał Żewłakow ( 83), , Radosław Sobolewski, Ireneusz Jeleń (Pawel Brozek 90), Maciej Żurawski, Jacek Krzynówek ( 77), Euzebiusz Smolarek. • The sides' two other encounters at major tournaments came in the 1970s. West Germany's 1-0 win against Poland in the second group stage of the 1974 World Cup took them into the final at the Poles' expense. The countries met again in the first round at Argentina 1978 where a goalless draw helped both into the second round. • Poland reached UEFA EURO 2008™ as winners of Group A with a record of eight wins, four draws and two defeats from 14 matches. They qualified with a game to spare by beating Belgium 2-0 in Chorzow on 17 November through two Smolarek goals. • Germany became the first team to qualify for UEFA EURO 2008™ when they drew 0-0 in the Republic of Ireland on 13 October last year. They eventually finished runners-up in Group D behind the Czech Republic, having recorded eight wins, three draws and just one defeat. • In their last major tournament, Germany took third place at the 2006 World Cup on home soil. Poland fell at the first hurdle, however, finishing third in their group behind the Germans and Ecuador. • Germany's most recent UEFA European Championship finals appearance brought a disappointing first-round exit in Portugal four years ago following draws with the Netherlands and and defeat by the Czech Republic. • Germany were European champions last in 1996 having earlier lifted the continental crown as West Germany in 1972 and 1980. Runners-up in 1976 and 1992, they have appeared in every edition of the UEFA European Championship since the inception of the final round in 1980. • This is Joachim Low's first tournament as Germany coach although he was assistant to Jürgen Klinsmann during the 2006 World Cup. • Like Poland, coach has never been to a UEFA European Championship before although he oversaw the World Cup campaigns of the Netherlands in 1990 and Trinidad and Tobago in 2006. • Beenhakker's Netherlands team were eliminated by Germany at Italia '90, going down 2-1 in the second round. • Germany forwards Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski were all born in Poland and strikers Klose and Podolski have been known to communicate in Polish during matches. • This fixture pits against each other a large number of colleagues present and past from club football. Germany's Gonzalo Castro, , Clemens Fritz and Schneider all played with Poland's Jacek Krzynówek during his spell at 04 . Krzynówek has also played with Stefan Kiessling at 1. FC Nürnberg, and at VfL Wolfsburg.

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• Poland forward Smolarek partnered David Odonkor in the BV Borussia Dortmund attack between 2004 and 2006, and also played alongside defender Metzelder. • (POL) and Arne Friedrich (GER) were team-mates at Hertha BSC Berlin, as were (POL) and Klose (GER) at 1. FC . • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Romania - France Letzigrund, Zurich Monday 9 June 2008 - 18.00CET France aiming for Romanian repeat Twelve years after the winning start they made to EURO '96™ at Romania's expense, France will hope to repeat the trick when the teams meet in their opening Group C fixture in Zurich. • Aimé Jacquet's men had to thank in 1996 as his 25th-minute goal gave France a 1-0 win against Romania in Newcastle. That victory precipitated a run to the semi-finals for Les Bleus but for Romania, it was the first of three defeats as they returned home from England without a point. • Romania will hope for better in Austria-Switzerland after qualifying in style as one of the seven group winners. However, with world champions Italy and the Netherlands still to play, France too will be desperate for a positive result in the first game of what appears to be the toughest of the four UEFA EURO 2008™ sections. • Recent history favours France, the winners in the teams' last three encounters, the middle one of which was the aforementioned victory at EURO '96™. • The teams for that match in Newcastle on 10 June 1996 were: Romania: , , , , , Marius Lăcătuş, Florin Răducioiu, , , , . France: , Eric Di Meco, , Vincent Guérin, , , , Zinédine Zidane, Christophe Dugarry, , . • France prevailed 2-1 when the teams last met in a friendly at the on 13 February 2002. and gave France a two-goal half-time advantage before Ioan Ganea halved the deficit in the closing minutes. • The teams that day were: France: Ulrich Ramé, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, , , Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, , , , Christophe Dugarry. Romania: Bogdan Lobonţ, , Gheorghe Popescu, , Mirel Rǎdoi, Dorinel Munteanu, Rǎzvan Rat, , Tiberiu Ghioane, , . • France's Claude Makelele and and Romania's Laurenţiu Roşu all featured as substitutes. • France also won on their most recent visit to Romania with Karembeu, Djorkaeff and Zidane scoring in a 3-1 qualifying success on the road to EURO '96™ in October 1995. • Romania's last victory against France was a 2-0 friendly success in in April 1972. • Overall, France have recorded six wins to Romania's three in the course of ten head-to-head meetings. • Romania qualified as winners of Group G, finishing three points above the Netherlands with a record of W9 D2 L1. They secured their finals' berth with two games to spare by winning 2-0 in Luxembourg on 17 October last year. • Their best performance in the UEFA European Championship was in 2000 when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Italy. Romania's two prior final round appearances in 1984 and 1996 had failed to produce a single victory but they beat England at UEFA EURO 2000™ to advance from the group stage. That was Romania's last taste of a major tournament. • The only survivors from Romania's UEFA EURO 2000™ campaign are goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ, defenders Cristian Chivu and Contra, and Lorenţiu Roşu and forward Adrian Mutu. • France qualified as Group B runners-up behind Italy with a record of W8 D2 L2. Their two defeats both came against Scotland but 's men – who took four points off Italy – recovered from those upsets and had their qualification assured by Scotland's home defeat by the Azzurri on 17 November last year. • France have been European champions twice before, lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy in in 1984 and repeating the feat in in 2000.

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• That 1984 triumph remains the only time the host nation have won the UEFA European Championship since the introduction of an enlarged final tournament in 1980. • In their last appearance at a major tournament, France finished runners-up at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany, going down 5-3 on penalties to Italy after a 1-1 draw. • As a player, France coach Domenech appeared for FC Girondins de Bordeaux in a 1-0 win against FC Universitatea Craiova in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup third round. He missed the return fixture in Romania which Bordeaux lost 2-0. • Romania forward Nicolae Dică scored past France goalkeeper Grégory Coupet in FC Steaua Bucureşti's 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2006/07. The previous season he struck twice in a 4-0 win for Steaua against another French side, RC Lens, in the UEFA Cup group stage. • Romania's Chivu plays alongside Vieira of France at FC Internazionale Milano and previously played in the same defence as Philippe Mexes at AS Roma. • Romania duo and Gabriel Tamaş play their club football in France with AJ Auxerre. • Romania forward Mutu is a former team-mate of France's Makelele at Chelsea FC. • Romania coach Victor Piţurcă finished his playing career in France at Lens in 1989/90. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Netherlands - Italy Stade de Suisse, Berne Monday 9 June 2008 - 20.45CET Netherlands seek end to Italy misery The Netherlands will look to end a 30-year wait for a win against Italy when they take on the world champions in their opening UEFA EURO 2008™ match in Berne. • Not since the 1978 FIFA World Cup have the Oranje got the better of Italy but 's men will be desperate to put recent history – to be specific, eight games without beating the Azzurri – behind them in the sides' first test in a tough-looking Group C that also includes France and Romania. • It was in Buenos Aires on 21 June 1978 that the Dutch last beat Italy, winning 2-1 in the teams' final game of the second group stage to secure a place in the World Cup final. Italy had taken the lead through an Ernie Brandts own goal but Brandts himself restored parity before Arie Haan struck the Netherlands' winner. • Italy have held the upper hand over the ensuing three decades, during which they have recorded two draws and six wins against the Oranje, including a penalty shoot-out triumph following a goalless semi-final at UEFA EURO 2000™. • Despite playing against ten men from the 34th minute when was sent off, the tournament co-hosts paid the price for two missed penalties during normal time. • Frank de Boer was denied by goalkeeper Francesco Toldo and then struck a post. Come the deciding shoot-out, the Italians prevailed 3-1 with , Gianluca Pessotto and all converting their kicks while Toldo foiled De Boer again and Paul Bosvelt and Jaap Stam missed the target. • The starting teams for that Amsterdam semi-final were: Italy: Francesco Toldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Mark Iuliano, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Stefano Fiore, Demetrio Albertini, Luigi Di Biagio, Gianluca Zambrotta, , Filippo Inzaghi. Netherlands: , Paul Bosvelt, Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer, Boudewijn Zenden, Marc Overmars, , , , , Patrick Kluivert. • Italy won 3-1 when the teams met again in Amsterdam on 12 November 2005. After falling behind to 's 37th-minute opener, the Azzurri replied with three goals in nine minutes from Alberto Gilardino (40), Mauro Camoranesi (45) and Luca Toni (49). • The teams that evening were: Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar, Jan Kromkamp, Ron Vlaar, , Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Denny Landzaat, Phillip Cocu, , , Romeo Castelen, Ryan Babel. Italy: Christian Abbiati, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Mauro Camoranesi, Alessandro Del Piero, Alberto Gilardino, Luca Toni. • The Netherlands did get the better of Italy in qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 1976 UEFA European Championship, topping their group after beating the Azzurri 3-1 at home and losing 1-0 away. • The overall record in head-to-head meetings between the countries is eight wins for Italy, two for the Netherlands and five draws. • The Netherlands qualified as the second-placed team in Group G behind Romania with a record of W8 D2 L2. They sealed their finals' berth with a game to spare, albeit in less than spectacular fashion – beating Luxembourg 1-0 in Rotterdam. • Van Basten led the Dutch to the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup where they lost 1-0 to Portugal. He was a key member of the Oranje team that took the European crown in 1988, scoring five goals including a spectacular second in the 2-0 final victory against the USSR. • This is the Netherlands' sixth consecutive UEFA European Championship finals appearance and besides their 1988 triumph, they were semi-finalists in 1992, 2000 and 2004.

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• Italy qualified for their fourth successive EURO as Group B winners, securing their passage to Austria-Switzerland with a 2-1 victory in Scotland in their penultimate fixture. Coach Roberto Donadoni, newly installed in place of the World Cup-winning Marcello Lippi, oversaw a record of nine wins, two draws and just one defeat – 3-1 against France in September 2006. • Italy won their fourth World Cup at Germany 2006 but they have only won the UEFA European Championship once – beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in a replayed final in Rome in 1968 following a 1-1 draw. They were runners-up in 2000 and semi-finalists in 1988 with a team featuring Donadoni himself. • As a player, Van Basten never beat Italy – featuring in three defeats and one draw without finding the net once. His counterpart Donadoni appeared on the winning side in two of those matches, a 1-0 home win in September 1990 and a 3-2 away success in September 1992. • Van Basten and Donadoni played together in the AC Milan team which won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1989. The former was also in Milan's European Cup-winning team the next year while Donadoni appeared in their 1994 triumph. • Donadoni also featured in the 1995 UEFA Champions League final where he finished on the losing side against an AFC Ajax team that included Dutch internationals Clarence Seedorf and Edwin van der Sar. • Van der Sar also played against a Juventus side featuring Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero in the 1996 UEFA Champions League final and subsequently played alongside Del Piero at the Turin club from 1999-2001. • Netherlands players Royston Drenthe, , and are team-mates of Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro at Real CF. • Seedorf plays with Italian internationals , Gennaro Gattuso, Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi, Massimo Oddo, Daniele Bonera and Andrea Pirlo at AC Milan. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Spain - Russia Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck Tuesday 10 June 2008 - 18.00CET Spain ready for Russia opener Spain and Russia can be forgiven a feeling of déjà vu when they kick off their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaigns in Innsbruck. The teams also met in their opening game at UEFA EURO 2004™ when Juan Carlos Valerón's 60th-minute effort earned Spain a 1-0 victory against a Russia side who finished with ten men following the 88th-minute dismissal of . • If that encounter stirs positive memories for Spanish supporters, neither team will want history to repeat itself when Group D reaches its conclusion given both missed the cut for the quarter-finals four years ago. • The sides for their meeting at the Estádio Algarve on 12 June 2004 were: Spain: , Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Iván Helguera, Raúl Bravo, Joseba Etxeberria, David Albelda, Rubén Baraja (Xabi Alonso), Vicente Rodríguez, Raúl González (), (Juan Carlos Valerón). Russia: Sergei Ovchinnikov, , Aleksei Smertin, Roman Sharonov, Dmitri Sennikov, (), , , , (Andrei Kariaka), Dmitri Bulykin. • Russia have never beaten Spain, with the only two other encounters between the teams producing a 1-0 win for Spain in Granada in 1998 – Bittor Alkiza scoring the goal – and then a goalless draw in Albacete in 2006. • The lineups for the latter friendly on 27 May 2006 were: Spain: Iker Casillas, , Pablo Ibáñez, Carles Puyol, Antonio López (Joaquín Sánchez) David Albelda (Xavi Hernández), Marcos Senna (Xabi Alonso), Cesc Fabregas (Andrés Iniesta), Luis García (Raúl González), (José Antonio Reyes) Fernando Torres. Russia: , Aleksei Berezutski (Konstantin Zyrianov), Vasili Berezutski, Sergei Ignashevich, Aleksei Smertin, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (), Evgeni Aldonin, , Dmitri Loskov (), Andrei Arshavin (Dmitri Sychev), (Yegor Titov). • Spain qualified for the Austria/Switzerland finals by winning Group F ahead of Sweden, another side they will face in Group D. They made sure of their finals berth in style, beating Sweden 3-0 in their penultimate qualifier on 17 November last year, and finished with a record of W9 D1 L2 • Luis Aragonés's men reached the last 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup – where they succumbed 3-1 against eventual finalists France – on their most recent appearance at a major tournament. • Russia, who failed to make Germany 2006, reached these finals after coming second to Croatia in Group E. 's team sealed qualification in their final game, capitalising on England's home defeat by Croatia to climb into second spot after Dmitri Sychev earned a 1-0 win in Andorra. They posted a record of W7 D3 L2. • Spain are playing in their fourth successive EURO finals. They have missed only one final tournament (EURO '92) since the inception of the eight-team event in 1980 and were runners-up in 1984 in France. Their best performance came 20 years previously when they beat the USSR 2-1 to win the Henri Delaunay trophy on home soil, in Madrid in 1964. • 'Chus' Pereda opened the scoring for Spain inside six minutes of the final at the Bernabéu and although Galimzian Khusainov drew the Soviet Union level two minutes later, Marcelino made sure of a home triumph with Spain's second goal after 84 minutes. • This is Russia's third EURO finals appearance as an independent state and, in both 1996 and 2004, they went home after the group stage. They enjoyed considerable success as part of the former Soviet Union, however, winning the inaugural UEFA European Championship in 1960 – beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final in Paris – and finishing runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988. • As a player, Spain coach Aragonés was on the losing side for Club Atlético de Madrid against Russian outfit FC Spartak Moskva in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He scored in Atlético's 4-3 home defeat in the first leg and his team exited the competition on away goals following a 2-1 second-leg success.

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• Russia coach Hiddink has held the reins at three Spanish sides: Valencia CF (1991-94), Real Madrid CF (1998/99) and Balompié (1999/2000). • Hiddink enjoyed a famous victory against Spain with the Korea Republic team he took to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. The Dutchman's South Koreans held Spain to a goalless draw in the quarter-finals before prevailing 5-3 on penalties. • At club level, Hiddink's PSV squad overcame Real Madrid on away goals in the semi-final of the 1987/88 European Champion Clubs' Cup. The following season, they surrendered their hold on the continental crown after a 3-2 aggregate defeat by Madrid in the quarter-finals. • Russia forward Aleksandr Kerzhakov had a spell with Sevilla FC from January 2007 to February 2008, playing alongside Spain's third-choice goalkeeper Andrés Palop. • Russian internationals Aleksandr Anyukov, Andrei Arshavin, , , Roman Shirokov and Konstantin Zyrianov were in the FC Zenit St. Petersburg team that eliminated Spanish side Villarreal CF in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 in February. Striker Pogrebnyak scored in both legs as Zenit progressed on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw against a Villarreal outfit featuring Spain trio Joan Capdevila, Ángel López and Marcos Senna. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Greece - Sweden EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg Tuesday 10 June 2008 - 20.45CET Holders Greece set for Sweden challenge Four years after stunning Europe by winning UEFA EURO 2004™, Greece begin their defence of the Henri Delaunay trophy against Sweden in Salzburg. 's team will hope to repeat the winning start they made by beating hosts Portugal 2-1 in the opening match in 2004 but Sweden, appearing in their fifth successive major finals, will have other ideas. • This is the first competitive fixture between the two countries, although they did meet at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp where Sweden prevailed 9-0. • The sides have met five times subsequently with Greece faring the better. After a 2-1 win in in 1981, Greece earned a 0-0 draw in Malmo in 1986 and a 2-2 draw in in 1991. More recently, there was a 2-2 draw in Thessaloniki in 2002 before Greece triumphed 2-1 in Norrkoping on 20 August the following year. • Greece's and made their international debuts in the 2-2 draw in 2002 – a game where the visitors led twice through Magnus Svensson and Stefan Selakovic, only for Greece to reply through Panagiotis Fyssas and Georgios Karagounis. • Greece also came from behind when beating Sweden 2-1 in 2003. gave the Scandinavian team a 16th-minute lead but quickfire goals from (63) and (65) turned the tie Greece's way on an evening when Konstantinos Katsouranis made his international bow. • The full teams that day were: Sweden: (), Teddy Lucic, , , (), Mikael Nilsson (), , Anders Svensson (Kim Källström), Andreas Johansson (Anders Andersson), Marcus Allbäck (Rade Prica), Niklas Skoog (). Greece: , Giourkas Seitaridis (Konstantinos Katsouranis), Panagiotis Fyssas (Stylianos Venetidis), , , Michalis Kapsis (Nikolaos Dabizas), (), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Lambros Choutos), (), Georgios Karagounis (Pantelis Kafes), Demis Nikolaidis (Georgios Georgiadis). • Because they missed out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup, this will be Greece's first match at a major tournament since Angelos Charisteas's header earned them a 1-0 victory against Portugal in the UEFA EURO 2004™ final in Lisbon. It was the Greeks' third straight 1-0 win in Portugal and meant they ended the tournament without conceding a goal in their final 358 minutes of play. • Prior to 2004, their only previous experience on the international stage had come at the 1980 UEFA European Championship and the 1994 World Cup. • Greece qualified in style for UEFA EURO 2008™, winning Group C with a greater number of points than any other side in Europe. With ten victories, one draw and one defeat, they collected 31 points and sealed their finals berth on 17 October last year after overcoming Turkey 1-0 in Istanbul through 's 79th-minute strike. • This is the second tournament for Lars Lagerbäck in sole charge of Sweden. Following the departure of co-coach Tommy Söderberg after Sweden's quarter-final exit at UEFA EURO 2004™ – beaten on penalties by the Netherlands – Lagerbäck led Sweden to the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup, where they lost 2-0 to hosts Germany. • Sweden are participating in their fourth UEFA European Championship finals in Austria/Switzerland. The Scandinavians appeared previously at the 1992, 2000 and 2004 tournaments and their best performance to date was in 1992 where they reached the semi-finals on home soil. • Sweden booked their finals ticket on the concluding day of qualifying, 21 November last year, when they defeated Latvia 2-1 through goals from Marcus Allbäck and Kim Källstrom to tie up second place in Group F behind Spain. Their overall record in qualifying was eight wins, two draws and two losses. • As coach of Werder Bremen, Rehhagel oversaw a 3-2 aggregate success over Sweden's Malmö FF in the first round of the 1983/84 UEFA Cup. Bremen drew 1-1 at home before winning 2-1 away.

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• Sweden midfielder Mikael Nilsson counts a number of Greece players among his team-mates at Athens outfit Panathinaikos FC – Ioannis Goumas, Karagounis, Dimitrios Salpingidis, Nikos Spiropoulos, and Loukas Vintra. • Greece forward played with Swedes Erik Edman and at Dutch club SC Heerenveen and, more recently, with goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson at Manchester City FC. • Sweden's Kennedy Bakircioglü spent two seasons with Greek team Iraklis FC from 2003 to 2005. • Greece midfielder Giannakopoulos played alongside Sweden's during the latter's brief stay on loan at Bolton Wanderers FC during the first half of 2007/08. • Sweden striker got little joy out of Olympiacos CFP's Greece defenders Paraskevas Antzas, and Vassilis Torosidis, as well as goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis, when Rosenberg's Werder Bremen suffered home and away losses to the Greek champions in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage. • Salpingidis scored one of Greece's goals in a 2-0 victory over Sweden at the UEFA European Under-16 Championship finals in 1998. The Sweden squad included current senior internationals Mikael Dorsin, , Isaksson and Källström. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Czech Republic - Portugal Stade de Genève, Geneva Wednesday 11 June 2008 - 18.00CET EURO reunion for Group A rivals Memories of EURO '96™ will be stirred by the Group A meeting between Czech Republic and Portugal at the Stade de Genève on 11 June. • The only previous meeting between the countries came 12 years ago at the finals in England where a famous goal by Karel Poborský proved the difference between the teams. • Poborský's cheeky lob over Vítor Baía after 53 minutes secured a 1-0 victory for the Czechs in the quarter-final at Villa Park in Birmingham. Dusan Ûhrin's team subsequently reached the final where they lost 2-1 to Germany. • The teams for that quarter-final were: Czech Republic: , Radoslav Látal, Jan Suchopárek, , Václav Nemecek (), Jirí Nemec, Karel Poborský, Pavek Kuka, Radek Bejbl, Michal Hornák, Vladimír Šmicer (Luboš Kubík). Portugal: Vítor Baía, Carlos Secretário, Oceano Andrade Cruz (António Folha), Fernando Couto, João Pinto, Sá Pinto (José Domingos), Rui Costa, Dimas, Hélder, Paulo Sousa, Luís Figo (Jorge Cadete). • Poborský had a spell with Portuguese side SL Benfica later in his career and eventually became his country's most capped player with 118 appearances. • Looking further back, the former Czechoslovakia also claimed Portugal's scalp en route to winning the European crown in 1976. The Czechoslovakians defeated Portugal 5-0 in Prague then earned a 1-1 away draw in the tournament's preliminary group stage. • The overall record between Czechoslovakia and Portugal was three wins apiece from nine matches. • Ricardo Quaresma scored both Portugal goals when they defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in the final of the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in May 2000. Hugo Viana and Raul Meireles were also in the Portugal team while Tomáš Sivok featured for the Czechs. • Portugal pair and Paulo Ferreira are defensive colleagues of Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech at Chelsea FC and also played alongside Czech midfielder Jiří Jarošík during the latter's short spell at Stamford Bridge. • Czech internationals Tomáš Galásek and Jan Polák were members of the 1. FC Nürnberg side that ran out surprise 3-2 winners against a VfB Stuttgart team including Fernando Meira in the 2007 German Cup final. • Čech kept clean sheets for AC Sparta Praha in home (2-0) and away (1-0) wins against FC Porto in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage. Libor Sionko scored in both games against a Porto team that included Jorge Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco. • Meireles and Quaresma both scored past Čech in FC Porto's 2006/07 UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against Chelsea. Meireles struck the opening goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw, Quaresma the opener in Porto's subsequent 2-1 loss in the return. • Portugal's scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United FC in January this year in a 6-0 win against a Newcastle United FC side featuring Czech defender David Rozehnal, now with S.S. Lazio. • The Czech Republic's best performance in their three previous UEFA European Championship finals appearances was in 1996, when they reached the final. As part of the former Czechoslovakia, they were European champions in 1976. • Portugal's own best performance in four previous appearances came at UEFA EURO 2004™, where they finished runners-up on home soil. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Switzerland - Turkey St. Jakob-Park, Basel Wednesday 11 June 2008 - 20.45CET History points to passionate affair UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland play their second Group A fixture against Turkey in Basel in what is a reprise of the sides' stormy encounter in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. • Jakob Kuhn's Switzerland overcame Turkey in a qualifying play-off for Germany 2006 when, after winning 2-0 in Berne through goals from Philippe Senderos and , they prevailed on away goals following a 4-2 second-leg loss in Istanbul on 16 November 2005. • Alexander Frei's second-minute penalty gave the Swiss a 1-0 lead in that return leg before Turkey struck back through goals from Tuncay Şanlı (22, 36) and a Necati Ates spot-kick (52). However, 's 84th-minute effort reduced the arrears for the Swiss and rendered Tuncay's 89th-minute hat-trick strike in vain. • Following violent incidents at the end of the match, Turkey had to play three home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors. Turkey defender Alpay Özalan was banned for six competitive matches, Switzerland's and Turkey's Emre Belözoglu for four, and Turkey's Serkan Balci for two. • The teams for that last meeting in Istanbul were: Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Tolga Seyhan, Alpay Özalan, Emre Belözoglu (Yıldıray Baştürk), Ergün Penbe, Selcuk Sahin, Necati Ates (Fatih Tekke), Hakan Sukur, Hamit Altıntop, Serhat Akın (Tümer Metin), Tuncay Şanlı. Switzerland: Pascal Zuberbühler, Johann Vogel, , Raphael Wicky, Alexander Frei, , Christoph Spycher, Patrick Müller, (Marco Streller (Benjamin Huggel)), Philippe Senderos, Philipp Degen (Valon Behrami). • Turkey have more wins overall in matches between the countries, having recorded seven victories, three draws and four defeats in 14 fixtures against the Swiss. In Switzerland, their record is P7 W2 D3 L2. • The two sides reached the UEFA European Championship finals for the first time when they qualified together from the same group for EURO '96™, following a campaign where each recorded a 2-1 away win against the other. Hakan Sükür and Ogün Temizkanoglu were Turkey's scorers in the 2-1 success in Berne in April 1995, which remains their most recent success in Switzerland. • Switzerland defender Ludovic Magnin and Turkey midfielder Yıldıray Baştürk are team-mates at German club VfB Stuttgart. • As their names suggest, Switzerland pair Hakan Yakın and Gökhan Inler are both of Turkish descent. Yakın's brother Murat, a former Fenerbahçe SK player, played for Switzerland at UEFA EURO 2004™ while another Swiss international born to Turkish parents, Kubilay Türkyilmaz, remains one of Switzerland's all-time greats. Türkyilmaz, who had a spell with Galatasaray AS in the mid-1990s, struck 34 goals in 62 appearances, including the Swiss goal in a 1-1 draw with England in the opening match at EURO '96™. • Hakan Yakın spent two games on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray during the 2004/05 season. • Turkey coach Fatih Terim oversaw Galatasaray's 8-2 aggregate victory against Swiss club FC Sion in the second qualifying round of the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League – a tie that featured veteran Turkey striker Hakan Sükür and Switzerland defender Stéphane Grichting. • Galatasaray got the better of Sion again in the UEFA Cup first round last autumn, overcoming a 3-2 first-leg deficit with a 5-1 win in the return in Istanbul where Turkish internationals Ümit Karan (2) and Arda Turan both scored past Swiss international goalkeeper Germano Vailati. • As a player, Terim made his international debut in Turkey's 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Basel in a UEFA European Championship preliminary round match in April 1975. • Terim's Swiss counterpart Kuhn was a member of the FC Zürich side that overcame Galatasaray in the first round of the 1963/64 European Champion Clubs' Cup, en route to a semi-final defeat by Real Madrid CF.

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• Selcuk Inan featured in the Turkey team that beat a Switzerland side containing and Valon Behrami in the semi-final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship on Swiss soil in 2004. After beating the hosts 3-2, Turkey lost the final 1-0 against Spain. • This is Switzerland's third UEFA European Championship finals appearance following two previous first-round exits in 1996 and 2004 • Turkey's two previous finals appearances in 1996 and 2000 brought a first-round exit followed by a quarter-final appearance. • Switzerland's Johan Vonlanthen holds the record for being the tournament's youngest goalscorer. He was 18 years and 140 days old when he found the net in the 3-1 defeat by France on 21 June 2004. • France in 1984 became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Croatia - Germany Wörthersee, Klagenfurt Thursday 12 June 2008 - 18.00CET Germany look to lay ghosts of 1998 Croatia coach Slaven Bilić will try to turn the clock back ten years when his team take on Germany in their second Group B fixture in Klagenfurt. • It was on 4 July 1998 in Lyon that a Croatia side featuring Bilić recorded their one previous victory against Germany, a 3-0 FIFA World Cup quarter-final triumph that took Miroslav Blažević's underdogs through to the last four. • Robert Jarni, Goran Vlaović and Davor Šuker got the second-half goals against a Germany side reduced to ten men following the 40th-minute dismissal of Christian Wörns. • It was arguably the high point of Croatia's France '98 exploits, which eventually produced a third-placed finish, and marked the end of Berti Vogts' rein as Germany coach. • The only survivors from that tie likely to feature in their countries' UEFA EURO 2008™ squads are Croatia's Dario Šimić and Anthony Šerić and Germany's Jens Lehmann. Of the three, only Šimić actually played in the match. • While Croatia would love to repeat their 1998 success against Germany, Joachim Löw's men would prefer to revisit the sides' first official encounter at the quarter-final stage of EURO '96™. • Germany, the eventual champions, emerged 2-1 winners from the match at on 23 June that year, scoring the deciding goal in the 59th minute. Croatia striker Šuker had cancelled out Jürgen Klinsmann's 20th-minute penalty in the 51st minute but the pendulum swung back Germany's way after Croatia lost defender Igor Štimac to a red card on 56 minutes. • Prior to that, Germany and Croatia had played three friendly matches against each other during the Second World War, the first of them on Austrian soil in Vienna. Germany won that 1941 encounter 5-1 and the following year defeated Croatia 2-0 and then 5-1. • The teams have met twice since France '98. A 70th-minute goal by Niko Kovać, then of Hamburger SV, earned Croatia a 1-1 draw in in March 2000, cancelling out a goal for the visitors. • A 90th-minute effort from substitute then helped Germany to a 2-1 win in Split on 18 February 2004 after Miroslav Klose and Croatia substitute Mato Neretljak had traded goals. • The teams that day were: Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Boris Živković, Stjepan Tomas, Robert Kovać (Dario Šimić 46), Josep Šimunić, Darijo Srna, Niko Kovać, Đovani Roso (Jerko Leko 46), Marko Babić (Mato Neretljak 74), Dado Pršo (Ivica Olić 58), Ivan Klasnić. Germany: , Arne Friedrich, Christian Wörns, , Philipp Lahm, Frank Baumann, , Paul Freier (Bernd Schneider 77), Torsten Frings (Carsten Ramelow 62), Miroslav Klose (Benjamin Lauth 80), Kevin Kuranyi ( 67). • This is Croatia's third appearance at the UEFA European Championship finals. They reached the quarter-finals in 1996 but were first-round casualties in 2004. • Germany were European champions last in 1996 having earlier lifted the continental crown as West Germany in 1972 and 1980. Runners-up in 1976 and 1992, they have appeared in every edition of the UEFA European Championship since the inception of the final round in 1980. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase. • Croatian internationals Niko and Robert Kovač and Ivan Klasnić were all born in Germany. • Klasnić and his Croatia team-mate Ivica Olić are both married to German women. • Klasnić was named as sports personality of the year by Germany's Kicker magazine in 2007 after returning to action with Bremen following a kidney transplant.

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• Croatia coach Slaven Bilić played for German club Karlsruher SC from 1993-95, making 54 appearances and scoring five goals. • During his time with Werder Bremen, Croatia striker Klasnić has played with German internationals Tim Borowski, Manuel Friedrich, Torsten Frings, Clemens Fritz, Miroslav Klose, Per Mertesacker and . • Croatia's Jurica Vranješ was a team-mate of German internationals Mario Gomez, , Kevin Kuranyi and Philipp Lahm at VfB Stuttgart. • Hildebrand, Kuranyi and Lahm were in the Stuttgart side which ran out 2-1 winners against an NK Dinamo Zagreb team including Croatia pair Eduardo Da Silva and Daniel Pranjić in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage. • Marko Babić is another Croatian international with plenty of German connections having played with Gonzalo Castro, Clemens Fritz, Stefan Kiessling, Michael Ballack, Simon Rolfes and Bernd Schneider at . • Germany's Arne Friedrich plays with Croatia's Josip Simunić at Hertha BSC Berlin, where he also appeared alongside Niko Kovać. • Croatia's Ivica Olić is a team-mate of Germany midfielder Piotr Trochowski at Hamburg. • Michael Ballack is well acquainted with the Kovać brothers having played with Robert at Bayer 04 Leverkusen and both Robert and Niko at FC Bayern München. Oliver Neuville and Bernd Schneider played alongside Robert Kovać at the BayArena. • Croatia forward Eduardo and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann were colleagues at Arsenal FC during the 2007/08 season. • Torsten Frings was a team-mate of Robert Kovač at Bayern in 2004/05. • Bosko Balaban (CRO) and (GER) were colleagues at Aston Villa FC in 2003/04.

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Austria - Poland Ernst Happel, Vienna Thursday 12 June 2008 - 20.45CET Co-hosts out to redress Polish balance Austria face Poland in their second UEFA EURO 2008™ fixture in Vienna hoping to improve on recent results against their Group B opponents. • The tournament co-hosts were beaten both at home and away by Poland when the teams met in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. • Poland were 3-1 winners at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on 9 October 2004. In the process they inflicted on Austria the only home defeat of their qualifying campaign. • Radosław Kałużny gave Poland a tenth-minute lead and although drew Austria level on the half-hour, the visitors won the game through late goals from Jacek Krzynówek (78) and Tomas Frankowski (90). • The teams in Vienna were: Austria: Alexander Manninger, Joachim Standfest, Martin Stranzl, Martin Hiden, , René Aufhaser (Markus Kiesenebner 46), Markus Schopp, Dietmar Kühbauer, Mario Haas ( 38), Andreas Ivanschitz, Ivica Vastic (Christian Mayrleb 80). Poland: Jerzy Dudek, Marcin Zajac (Kamil Kosowski 46), Tomasz Rząsa, Marcin Baszczyński, Radosław Kałużny (Arkadiusz Radomski 71), Jacek Bak, Tomasz Hajto, Jacek Krzynówek, Maciej Żurawski, , (Tomas Frankowski 67). • Poland subsequently completed the double against Austria with a 3-2 victory in Chorzow on 3 September 2005. • Euzebiusz Smolarek, with his first international goal on 13 minutes, and Kamil Kosowski (22) put the Poles in charge early on and although Roland Linz narrowed the deficit (61), Maciej Żurawski replied six minutes later to ensure Linz's second strike in the 80th minute was in vain. • The teams in Chorzow were: Poland: Artur Boruc, Tomasz Kłos, Tomasz Rząsa, Marcin Baszczyński, Kamil Kosowski (Michał Żewłakow 87), Jacek Bąk, Radosław Sobolewski, Euzebiusz Smolarek (Sebastian Mila 72), Maciej Żurawski, Miroslav Szymkowiak (Arkadiusz Radomski 83), Grzegorz Rasiak. Austria: Andreas Schranz, Mario Hieblinger, Martin Stranzl, Emanuel Pogatetz, Anton Ehmann (Sanel Kuljic 80), René Aufhaser, Markus Schopp (Markus Kiesenebner 80), Dietmar Kühbauer, Joachim Standfest (Roland Linz 46), Andreas Ivanschitz, Christian Mayrleb. • Poland also won the teams' most recent friendly encounter on Austrian soil, 4-2 in Salzburg on 19 May 1992. • Austria's most recent success against Poland was a 4-3 friendly triumph in Katowice on 17 May 1994, where Peter Stöger struck a hat-trick for the visitors. They have not beaten Poland at home since a 2-1 friendly win in 1977. • Overall Austria have won three and lost five of eight past matches against Poland. Their home record against the Poles is two wins and three defeats – including a 3-1 reverse when the countries' Olympic teams met in 1929. • Poland coach Leo Beenhakker has suffered at the hands of Austrian opposition in the past. As AFC Ajax coach he saw his team beaten 4-0 on aggregate by FK Austria Wien – albeit after the Austrian team were awarded a 3-0 second-leg victory following crowd trouble in the second leg in Amsterdam. • By the end of that same season Beenhakker was preparing the Netherlands for the 1990 FIFA World Cup yet those preparations were dented by a 3-2 friendly defeat by Austria at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on 30 May that year. • scored Austria's winning goal when they defeated tournament hosts Poland 1-0 in the group stage of the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poznan, en route to reaching the last four. • Austria forward Roman Wallner scored the decisive goal in Vienna club FK Austria's 1-0 second-leg win against Legia Warszawa in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup first round. His international colleague Wolfgang Mair was on target in the 1-1 first-leg draw in Warsaw and in both matches the beaten goalkeeper was Polish international Łukasz Fabiański.

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• The teams had met at the same stage of the UEFA Cup in the 2004/05 season and Austria Wien, en route to a 4-1 aggregate success, won the first leg 1-0 when Austrian international Markus Kiesenebner finished past Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc. • Poland defender Bąk and midfielder Arkadiusz Radomski are colleagues of Austrian internationals Johannes Ertl, Ronald Gercaliu, Sanel Kuljic, Franz Schiemer, Yüksel Sariyar and Standfest at Austria Wien. • Austria goalkeeper Jürgen Macho was a team-mate of Poland midfielder Kosowski at German club 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2004/05. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase. • This is Austria's first appearance at a EURO final tournament. Their best performance in the UEFA European Championship came in the inaugural edition of 1960 where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 9-4 on aggregate to France. • In 1984 France became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts. • This is the first time Poland have reached the UEFA European Championship finals.

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Italy - Romania Letzigrund, Zurich Friday 13 June 2008 - 18.00CET Odds favour Italy for Romania contest The omens will undoubtedly favour Italy when the world champions meet Romania in their second Group C fixture in Zurich. • Italy have won ten and lost only two of their 14 previous meetings with Romania, including a victory in their only encounter on the élite European stage at UEFA EURO 2000™. • If Romania coach Victor Piţurcă would prefer not to dwell on statistics supporting Italy's status as favourites, he might also choose to forget the last time he faced Italy counterpart Roberto Donadoni on the football pitch, when his FC Steaua Bucureşti side were swept aside by Donadoni's AC Milan in a 4-0 defeat in the 1989 European Champion Clubs' Cup final. • Italy won the teams' UEFA EURO 2000™ quarter-final in 2-0, Francesco Totti and Filippo Inzaghi scoring against a Romania side who lost captain Gheorghe Hagi to a red card on his 125th and final appearance for his country. It was the last game Romania had played at a major competition prior to UEFA EURO 2008™. • The teams for that game in Brussels on 24 June 2000 were: Italy: Francesco Toldo, Mark Iuliano, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Paolo Maldini, Stefano Fiore, Antonio Conte, Demetrio Albertini, Gianluca Zambrotta, Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi. Romania: Bogdan Stelea, , , Constantin Gâlcă, Adrian Mutu, Dorinel Munteanu, Viorel Moldovan, Gheorghe Hagi, Cristian Chivu, Florentin Petre, Miodrag Belodedici. • Italy's Alessandro Del Piero and Romania pair Ioan Ganea and Ioan Lupescu all featured as substitutes. • Italy won the sides' three subsequent encounters, starting with home and away successes in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying when Inzaghi inflicted further punishment on the Romania defence. • After scoring the opener in a 3-0 victory in Milan in October 2000 – when Marco Delvecchio and Totti also found the net – Inzaghi got both goals in Italy's 2-0 win in the return in Bucharest in March 2001. • Italy also prevailed 1-0 through a goal from substitute Marco Di Vaio when the teams met in a friendly in Ancona on 16 November 2003. • The starting lineups that day were: Italy: Francesco Toldo, Christian Panucci, Fabio Cannavaro, Matteo Ferrari, Massimo Oddo, Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Franceso Totti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Antonio Cassano, Fabio Bazzani. Romania: Bogdan Lobonţ, , , Mirel Radoi, Rǎzvan Raţ, Florentin Dumitru, , Dorinel Munteanu, , , Adrian Mutu. • Among the substitutes that day were Italy's Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo and Romania's Nicolae Dicǎ and . • Romania's most recent win against Italy came in a March 1989 friendly in Sibiu. struck the only goal of a game in which Donadoni played. • Their only other victory against the Azzurri was in qualifying for the 1984 UEFA European Championship where Laszlo Bölöni's effort earned a 1-0 home win which helped Romania qualify for the finals. • Besides tasting defeat against Donadoni's Milan in the European Cup final, Piţurcă was also on the losing side with Steaua against two other Italian clubs: AS Roma in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round and Genoa CFC in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup third round. • Romania captain Cristian Chivu and vice-captain Adrian Mutu both play for Italian clubs, the former with FC Internazionale Milano and the latter with ACF Fiorentina. • Chivu spent three-and-a-half years with AS Roma prior to joining Inter in July 2007. His team-mates at Inter include Italian international defender , while at Roma he played with Daniele De Rossi, Christian Panucci, Max Tonetto and Totti.

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• Mutu has worn the colours of five different Italian clubs: Inter, Hellas-Verona FC, Parma FC, Juventus and Fiorentina. He partnered Italy striker Luca Toni in the Fiorentina attack in 2006/07 and his current Viola team-mates include Italy pair Riccardo Montolivo and Franco Semioli. • Mutu has played with plenty of Italian internationals during his time in Serie A: , Mauro Camoranesi, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Del Piero, Gianluca Zambrotta (with Juventus); Alberto Gilardino, Camoranesi, Massimo Oddo (with Verona), Daniele Bonera, Gilardino (with Parma); Panucci (with Inter). • Midfielder is the third Romanian international playing in Italy at AC Siena. He has also played for Genoa, US Città di Palermo and Torino FC. • Defender Cosmin Contra spent the 2001/02 season with Milan while goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ had a spell with Fiorentina in 2006. • Italy forward Tommaso Rocchi struck twice as S.S. Lazio came from behind to beat FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti 3-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie in Romania last August. Dinamo had taken the lead through Romanian international Florin Bratu but eventually succumbed 4-2 on aggregate. • Italy have a positive recent memory of the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich after defeating fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists Portugal 3-1 there on 6 February this year. • Italy's best performance in the UEFA European Championship came in 1968 when they beat Yugoslavia to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy. They were runners-up in 2000 and semi-finalists in 1988 with a team featuring Donadoni himself. • Romania's best performance in three previous UEFA European Championship finals appearances was in 2000 when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Italy. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Netherlands - France Stade de Suisse, Berne Friday 13 June 2008 - 20.45CET Netherlands omens favour France France will hope their fixture with the Netherlands in Berne will prove as much as stepping stone to success as past encounters with the Oranje have been. • Les Bleus beat the Netherlands en route to the semi-finals at EURO '96™ and four years later went on to win UEFA EURO 2000™ despite losing to the Dutch in their final group game, with qualification already assured. That will not be the case here but events at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf are likely to prove pivotal for both sides' hopes of further progress. • The Netherlands came from behind twice to defeat France 3-2 in Amsterdam in the group stage at UEFA EURO 2000™. Christophe Dugarry and David Trezeguet struck for Les Bleus but those goals were cancelled out by Patrick Kluivert and Frank de Boer respectively before Boudewijn Zenden struck the Dutch winner. • The teams for that fixture on 21 June 2000 were: France: Bernard Lama, Christian Karembeu, , Marcel Desailly, Vincent Candela, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pirès, , Christophe Dugarry, David Trezeguet, . Netherlands: Sander Westerveld, Paul Bosvelt, Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer, Artur Numan, Phillip Cocu, Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert, Boudewijn Zenden. • featured as an 80th-minute substitute as the Dutch secured first place in the group with the victory, although it was France who lifted the trophy that summer. • The only survivors of France's quarter-final win against the Netherlands at EURO' 96™ are Lilian Thuram (FRA) and Edwin van der Sar (NED). Clarence Seedorf also came on as a second-half substitute for the Netherlands. France were 5-4 winners on penalties after a goalless draw in the game at on 22 June 1996, with Seedorf the only player from either side to miss as his spot-kick was saved by Bernard Lama. • The most recent meeting between the sides was a friendly in Rotterdam in March 2004 which finished goalless. • The teams that day were: Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar, Mario Melchiot, Johnny Heitinga, Phillip Cocu, Boudewijn Zenden, Andy van der Meyde, Mark van Bommel, Edgar Davids, Rafael van der Vaart, Marc Overmars, Roy Makaay. France: , , Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, , Claude Makelele, , Johan Micoud, Ludovic Giuly, David Trezeguet, Sidney Govou. • France beat the Netherlands 2-0 in Paris in November 1981 en route to qualifying for the 1982 World Cup, finishing a single point above the Oranje who missed out on the finals. UEFA President opened the scoring in that match with a trademark free-kick. • The overall head-to-head record between the sides is nine wins apiece and three draws, with France's 1996 shoot-out success classed as a win. • During his playing days, France coach Raymond Domenech was part of an RC Strasbourg side beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Dutch club AFC Ajax in the 1979/80 European Champion Clubs' Cup quarter-final. • Netherlands coach Marco van Basten played in his country's 1-1 friendly draw with France in June 1992 and was in the AC Milan team beaten by France's Olympique de in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final. • Netherlands forward Ruud van Nistelrooy has scored three goals in three games against France goalkeeper Grégory Coupet, when facing the Olympique Lyonnais player in UEFA Champions League action with first Manchester United FC and then Real Madrid CF. • France striker Anelka beat Netherlands goalkeeper Van der Sar to register the only goal of former club Bolton Wanderers FC's surprise 1-0 win against Manchester United in November 2007. • Klaas Jan Huntelaar struck both Dutch goals in a 2-1 UEFA European Under-18 Championship qualifying win against France in December 2000. Anelka claimed his own double in a 3-0 win for France against the Dutch at the same stage of the same competition in 1997.

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• France full-back Julien Escudé counts a long list of Netherlands players among his former team-mates at Dutch club AFC Ajax: Ryan Babel, , , Johnny Heitinga, , Wesley Sneijder, and Rafael van der Vaart. Escudé was with the Amsterdam club between 2003 and 2006. • France's Gaël Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini and William Gallas all play with Netherlands forward at Arsenal FC. Van Persie partnered Frenchman Henry in the Arsenal attack prior to the latter's 2007 transfer to FC . • This is the Netherlands' sixth consecutive UEFA European Championship finals appearance. They were European champions in 1988 – a tournament where Van Basten scored five goals – and reached the semi-finals in 1992, 2000 and 2004. • France, appearing in their fifth successive UEFA European Championship, were champions on home soil in 1984 and lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy a second time in 2000. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Sweden - Spain Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck Saturday 14 June 2008 - 18.00CET Qualifying rivals reunite in Innsbruck Rivals on the road to UEFA EURO 2008™, Sweden and Spain will meet again in their second Group D fixture in Innsbruck. The two teams will need little introduction after their contests in qualifying, when each claimed a home victory against the other. • Sweden defeated Spain 2-0 early in the qualifying campaign – in Solna on 7 October 2006 – winning through goals from Johan Elmander (ten minutes) and Marcus Allbäck (82). • Spain gained revenge with a 3-0 triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu on 17 November last year, Joan Capdevila (14), Andrés Iniesta (39) and Sergio Ramos (65) the scorers. That result secured the home side's qualification and meant they eventually finished two points above their Scandinavian opponents at the top of Group F. • The teams for the first game in Sweden were: Sweden: , Mikael Nilsson, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Erik Edman, Tobias Linderoth, , Fredrik Ljungberg (Christian Wilhelmsson), Anders Svensson (Kim Källström), Johan Elmander (Daniel Andersson), Marcus Allbäck. Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Juanito Gutiérrez, Joan Capdevila (Antonio Puerta), David Albelda, Miguel Ángel Angulo (Luis García), Cesc Fabregas (Andrés Iniesta), Xavi Hernández, David Villa, Fernando Torres. • The teams for the return in Madrid were: Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Andrés Iniesta (Joaquín Sánchez), Cesc Fabregas, David Albelda, Xavi Hernández, David Villa, David Silva (Albert Riera). Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Mikael Nilsson, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Erik Edman, Christian Wilhelmsson (Kennedy Bakircioglü), Daniel Andersson (Kim Källström), Anders Svensson, Fredrik Ljungberg, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Markus Rosenberg (Marcus Allbäck). • Overall, Spain have got the better of the countries' head-to-head meetings. They were 2-1 winners in the first ever encounter at the 1920 Olympic Games and the matches since then have produced three wins for Sweden, four for Spain and four draws. • Sweden beat Spain 3-1 in the final round of the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Stig Sundqvist, Bror Mellberg and Karl-Erik Palmer scored for the Scandinavians and Zarra found the net for Spain – the result, however, helped neither team as they filled the bottom two places of the section, below winners Uruguay and Brazil. • It was 28 years before the sides met again on the big stage, Spain overcoming Sweden 1-0 in the first round of the 1978 World Cup through a Juan Manuel Asensi strike. • Spain coach Luis Aragonés enjoyed success against Swedish opposition in his playing days. As a striker with Club Atlético de Madrid, he scored in both legs of a European Champion Clubs' Cup victory against Malmö FF in the first round of the 1966/67 competition. Atlético prevailed 2-0 in Sweden, then 3-1 at home to progress as 5-1 aggregate winners. • Spanish internationals Capdevila, Ángel López and Marcos Senna were in the Villarreal CF team that defeated IF Elfsborg 2-0 in a UEFA Cup group stage fixture in Spain in December. Sweden pair Stefan Ishizaki and Anders Svensson were part of an Elfsborg side eliminated with that reverse. • Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg scored past Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas when he got the opening goal in Werder Bremen's 3-2 victory against Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League group stage in November. • Sweden midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson spent the second part of the 2007/08 season in Spain after joining RC Deportivo La Coruña on loan in January. • Kim Källström registered one of Sweden's goals in a 2-0 home success against Spain en route to a 3-1 aggregate win in a November 2003 play-off for the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. • Sweden are participating in their fourth EURO finals in Austria/Switzerland. Their best performance came in 1992 when they reached the semi-finals on home soil.

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Greece - Russia EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg Saturday 14 June 2008 - 20.45CET Greece out for revenge on Russia Reigning champions Greece face the only side they lost to at UEFA EURO 2004™ when they take on Russia, their second Group D opponents, in Salzburg. • Russia beat Otto Rehhagel's team 2-1 in their third and final group match at the Estádio Algarve four summers ago, although with two earlier defeats to their name, the result came too late to rescue Russian hopes – or threaten Greece's advance. • Dmitri Kirichenko opened the scoring for Georgi Yartsev's men two minutes into the game on 20 June 2004. Dmitri Bulykin added a second after 17 minutes before Zisis Vryzas halved the deficit two minutes before the break. • The teams that day were: Russia: Viacheslav Malafeev, Vladislav Radimov, Andrei Kariaka (), Rolan Gusev, Dmitri Bulykin (Dmitri Sychev), Roman Sharonov (Dmitri Sennikov), Aleksandr Anyukov, Dmitri Alenichev, Vadim Evseev, Dmitri Kirichenko, Aleksei Bugaev. Greece: Antonios Nikopolidis, Giourkas Seitaridis, Stylianos Venetidis (Panagiotis Fyssas), Traianos Dellas, Angelos Basinas (Vassilios Tsiartas), Zisis Vryzas, Michalis Kapsis, Konstantinos Katsouranis, Dimitrios Papadopoulos (Demis Nikolaidis), Theodoros Zagorakis, Angelos Charisteas. • Greece have overcome Russia just once in eight attempts, a 1-0 home victory in November 1993 in the final match of their successful qualifying campaign for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. • The seven other fixtures produced four draws and three wins for Russia, including home and away triumphs in qualifying for EURO '96™. Russia prevailed 3-0 in Thessaloniki in April 1995 – Greece's Michalis Kapsis put through his own net for the second goal – and then edged the game 2-1 in six months later. • Current Greek internationals Angelos Charisteas, twice, and Angelos Basinas found the net – the former on his international debut – when Greece and Russia played out a 3-3 friendly draw in , Crete, on 28 February 2001. • As coach of Australia, Guus Hiddink oversaw a 1-0 friendly victory against Greece in Melbourne on 25 May 2006. Josip Skoko scored the only goal of the Socceroos' final home match prior to the 2006 World Cup, which attracted a record crowd of more than 95,000. • At PSV Eindhoven, Hiddink was on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat by Panathinaikos FC in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage, in which Greek international Dimitrios Papadopoulos scored the opening goal. However, PSV had already beaten the Athens side 1-0 at home and qualified at Panathinaikos's expense. • Greece coach Rehhagel has enjoyed success against Russian clubs in the past. His Werder Bremen team made a spectacular comeback to defeat FC Spartak Moskva in the 1987/88 UEFA Cup second round, undoing the damage of a 4-1 first-leg loss with a 6-2 triumph in Germany. • In the same competition in 1995/96, he oversaw FC Bayern München's 5-1 aggregate victory over FC Lokomotiv Moskva, with Bayern winning 5-0 in the second leg after a narrow defeat in Moscow. • Greece striker Charisteas is a team-mate of Russia's Ivan Saenko at German outfit 1. FC Nürnberg. • Greece forward Dimitrios Salpingidis struck both Panathinaikos goals in a 2-0 UEFA Cup group stage success against Lokomotiv Moskva last December. Greek internationals Georgios Karagounis, Alexandros Tziolis and Loukas Vintra also appeared for Panathinaikos against a Lokomotiv side including Russian internationals Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Renat Yanbaev. • Russia's Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored for former club Sevilla FC when they ousted AEK Athens FC 4-1 in the Greek capital to complete a 6-1 aggregate triumph in the third qualifying round of the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League. Greek international Nikolaos Liberopoulos finished on the losing side that day.

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• Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak scored for FC Zenit St. Petersburg in a 3-2 victory at Larissa FC in November. Fellow internationals Andrei Arshavin and Aleksandr Anyukov were also in the Zenit lineup while the Larissa team featured Greece defender Stylianos Venetidis. • Greece are competing at their third EURO finals following earlier appearances in 1980 and 2004, where they beat Portugal 1-0 in the final. • This is Russia's third EURO finals as an independent state following earlier participations in 1996 and 2004. As part of the former Soviet Union, they won the inaugural UEFA European Championship in 1960 and finished runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that involves a final tournament with a group phase.

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Switzerland - Portugal St. Jakob-Park, Basel Sunday 15 June 2008 - 20.45CET Switzerland primed for Portugal finale UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland complete their Group A programme against Portugal in Basel in what will be the countries' first meeting at a major tournament. • For Switzerland, much-fancied Portugal could provide their toughest test of the first round, given the impressive recent finals performances of Luiz Felipe Scolari's charges, who finished runners-up at UEFA EURO 2004™ and reached the last four at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. • In addition to their impressive pedigree this past decade, Portugal can also take confidence from an unbeaten record in their last six matches against the Swiss. • The sides crossed swords most recently in qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Although Switzerland eventually progressed to the finals in the United States, Portugal got the better of their contests by earning a 1-1 draw in Berne in March 1993 and then defeating them 1-0 in Porto seven months later through a ninth-minute goal from João Pinto. • Switzerland's last victory against Portugal came in a friendly in Lugano in March 1982, when goals from Gianpietro Zappa (42 minutes) and André Egli (62) earned them a 2-1 win. • The first ever meeting between the teams was a play-off in Milan for a place in the first round of the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Switzerland won 2-1, thereby forcing Portugal to wait another 28 years for their debut appearance on the world stage. • Overall Switzerland have won six, drawn five and lost eight of their 19 matches against Portugal. However, their home record against the Portuguese provides more favourable reading, with five wins, three draws and only two losses. • Switzerland goalkeeper spent two and a half seasons with Portuguese Liga team CD Nacional, before joining Germany's VfL Wolfsburg during the January winter break. • Switzerland midfielder and Portugal pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani are on opposite sides of Manchester's blue-red divide with their respective clubs Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC. • Portugal defender Fernando Meira is a team-mate of Switzerland's Ludovic Magnin at VfB Stuttgart and also played alongside forward Marco Streller at the Bundesliga club. • Switzerland's Xavier Margairaz played in the same midfield as Hugo Viana at Spanish club side CA Osasuna in the 2007/08 season. • Switzerland defender Patrick Müller and Portugal midfielder Tiago were team-mates at Olympique Lyonnais from 2006 to 2007. • As a player with FC Zürich, Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn was on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat at Sporting Clube de Portugal in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final first-leg tie in 1973/74. Kuhn missed the return as Zürich went down 4-1 on aggregate. • Switzerland's Johan Vonlanthen holds the record for being the tournament's youngest goalscorer. He was 18 years and 140 days old when he found the net in the 3-1 defeat by France on 21 June 2004. • Switzerland were led at EURO '96™ by Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, who later had a spell in charge of the Portugal national team. • This is Switzerland's third UEFA European Championship finals appearance, following two previous first-round exits in 1996 and 2004. • Portugal's best performance in four previous appearances came at UEFA EURO 2004™, where they finished runners-up. • France in 1984 became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts.

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Turkey - Czech Republic Stade de Genève, Geneva Sunday 15 June 2008 - 20.45CET Czechs ready for first taste of Turkey The stakes are likely to be high when Turkey and the Czech Republic meet for the first time in a competitive fixture in their final UEFA EURO 2008™ Group A match in Geneva. • The history of the fixture favours the Czech Republic. They won the countries' inaugural meeting 4-1 in Istanbul on 23 February 1994 and prevailed again in the next two friendly meetings on home soil: 3-0 in 1996 and 4-0 in 2003. Current Czech internationals Tomáš Rosický, Jan Koller and Milan Baroš were all on target in that latter success in Teplice, which also featured the international debuts of Turkey defender Servet Çetin and midfield player Gökdeniz Karadeniz. • Turkey retrieved a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw in the teams' most recent encounter in Izmir on 1 March 2006. It was a memorable occasion for Ümit Karan, whose first two international goals – scored after 89 and 90 minutes – cancelled out earlier strikes from Karel Poborský and Jiří Štajner. Striker Gökhan Ünal won his first senior cap in the match. • The teams that day were: Turkey: Rüştü Reçber, Mehmet Topuz, Tolga Seyhan, Gökhan Zan, Ugur Boral (Yıldıray Bastürk), Hasan Sas (Orhan Ak), Necati Ates, Hüseyin Çimşir (Ümit Karan), Tuncay Şanlı (Akin Ibrahim), Ersen Martin (Nuri Sahin), Gökhan Ünal (Halil Altıntop). Czech Republic: Petr Čech, Martin Jiránek (Karel Piták), David Rozehnal, Tomáš Ujfaluši, Marek Jankulovski, Karel Poborský, Tomáš Rosický (), Jan Polák, Jaroslav Plašil (Štěpán Vachoušek), Milan Baroš (Tomáš Jun), Jiří Štajner (Lukáš Zelenka). • Turkey also came off second best in matches against the former Czechoslovakia, recording one win, two draws and seven defeats in ten fixtures played between 1924 and 1981. Their solitary win was a 1-0 home success in a friendly in 1958. • Turkey's two previous finals appearances in 1996 and 2000 brought a first-round exit followed by a quarter-final appearance. • The Czech Republic's best performance in their three previous UEFA European Championship finals appearances was in 1996, when they reached the final. As part of the former Czechoslovakia, they were European champions in 1976. • Turkey midfielder Emre Belözoglu was a team-mate of Czech defender David Rozehnal at English Premier League side Newcastle United FC during the first half of the 2007/08 season. • Turkey midfielder Nuri Şahin played with Czech pair Jan Koller and Tomáš Rosický during his first season as a professional with BV Borussia Dortmund in 2005/06. • Jan Koller played in the AC Sparta Praha side that overcame Galatasaray AS in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup preliminary round. Two seasons later, Turkey's Emre and Hakan Şükür were in the Galatasaray team that beat Sparta at home but lost 3-0 away in the UEFA Champions League group stage. • Turkish internationals Sabrı Sarıoğlu, , Arda Turan and Hakan Şükür were in the Galatasaray side that beat Czech side FK Mladá Boleslav 5-2 in Istanbul en route to a 6-3 aggregate triumph in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in August 2006. Arda (2), Hakan Şükür and Sabrı all found the net against a Mladá Boleslav side containing Czech internationals Marek Matějovský and Marek Kulič. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Poland - Croatia Wörthersee, Klagenfurt Monday 16 June 2008 - 20.45CET Poland and Croatia hoping for the best The stakes will likely be high when Poland and Croatia meet for the first time in a competitive international in their final Group B fixture in Klagenfurt. • After matches against UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Austria and the group favourites Germany, the two teams will hope to still be in contention for qualifying for the last eight. • For a Poland team making their tournament debut, this would represent another first while Croatia have been quarter-finalists once before, on their own first EURO finals appearance in 1996. Croatia failed to advance from the group stage on their second appearance at UEFA EURO 2004™. • Euzebiusz Smolarek's 54th-minute goal gave Poland a 1-0 win when the teams last met in a friendly in Wolfsburg, Germany on 3 June 2006 prior to that summer's FIFA World Cup. • The teams in Wolfsburg were: Poland: Artur Boruc, Jacek Bąk (Bartosz Bosacki 76), Michał Żewłakow, Marcin Baszczyński, , Jacek Krzynówek (Kamil Kosowski 74), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Ireneusz Jeleń 83), Arkadiusz Radomski, Radosław Sobolewski (Mariusz Lewandowski 85), Mirosław Szymkowiak (Sebastian Mila 64), Maciej Żurawski (Grzegorz Rasiak 89). • That was Poland's only victory in four attempts against Croatia, who won the countries' first two meetings in the 1990s. • Croatia won 2-1 at home to Poland in a February 1996 friendly in Rijeka and then recorded a 4-1 home success in Osijek in April 1998, in which the current Croatia coach Slaven Bilić and defender Dario Šimić both appeared. • Poland earned a goalless draw in Split on their third visit to Croatia in February 2003. • The teams that day were: Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Igor Tudor (Jerko Leko 63), Stjepan Tomas, Boris Živković (Dario Šimić 46), Robert Kovač, Josip Šimunić, Marko Babić ( 46), Đovani Roso (Miljenko Mumlek 88), Darijo Srna (Anthony Šerić 46), Ivica Olić, Tomislav Marić (Marijo Marić 67). • Croatia coach Bilić scored for German team Karlsruher SC in a 6-1 victory away against Poland's Górnik Zabrze in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in July 1995. • Darijo Srna scored Croatia's goal in a 1-1 draw with Poland in the final round of the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 1999. • Srna plays in the same midfield as Poland's Mariusz Lewandowski at their club side FC Shakhtar Donetsk. • Poland's Jakub Błaszczykowski is a team-mate of Croatia pair Robert Kovač and Mladen Petrić at German club BV Borussia Dortmund. • Poland goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is a colleague of Croatia forward Eduardo da Silva at Arsenal FC in England. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Austria - Germany Ernst Happel, Vienna Monday 16 June 2008 - 20.45CET Neighbours meet in Group B finale UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Austria will aim to reverse their recent fortunes against neighbours Germany when they conclude their Group B campaign with a local derby at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. • Josef Hickersberger's team will once again enjoy the backing of their home support in Vienna but will know arguably their toughest test of the first round awaits them against opponents who have won the sides' last four meetings with an aggregate score of 17-4. • The first of these four wins came on 2 June 1994 when Germany prevailed 5-1 in Vienna thanks to two Andreas Möller goals and one each from Matthias Sammer, Jürgen Klinsmann and Mario Basler. • Germany then beat Austria 6-2 in Leverkusen on May 2002 – with Miroslav Klose scoring a hat-trick – while it was Kevin Kuranyi's turn to record a treble in the Germans' 3-1 success in Vienna on 18 August 2004. Austria's goal came from Martin Amerhauser. • The teams for the August 2004 meeting were: Austria: Thomas Mandl, Martin Stranzl, Anton Ehmann, Martin Hiden, , Markus Schopp (Roland Kirchler 46), Dietmar Kühbauer, René Aufhauser, Andreas Ivanschitz, Roland Kollmann (Roman Wallner 70), Martin Amerhauser (Roland Linz 61). Germany: Oliver Kahn (Jens Lehmann 46), ( 86), Frank Fahrenhorst, , Philipp Lahm, Tim Borowski, Torsten Frings (Frank Baumann 86), Bastian Schweinsteiger ( 62), Michael Ballack, (Lukas Podolski 78), Kevin Kuranyi (Thomas Brdaric 78). • On 6 February this year, the two nations met again in Vienna. While Austria showed plenty of promise, they were undone by second-half goals from Thomas Hitzlsperger, Miroslav Klose and Mario Gómez. • The teams were: Austria: Alex Manninger, Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl, Sebastian Prödl, Joachim Standfest, René Aufhauser (Thomas Prager 69), Jürgen Säumel, Christian Fuchs, Andreas Ivanschitz, Martin Harnik ( 74), Roland Linz (Veli Kavlak 82). Germany: Jens Lehmann, Heiko Westermann, Per Mertersacker, Manuel Friedrich (Roberto Hilbert 74), Philipp Lahm, Bernd Schneider (Lukas Podolski 59), Michael Ballack (Simon Rolfes 87), Thomas Hitzelsperger (Jermaine Jones 82), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose, Kevin Kuranyi (Mario Gómez 59). • Austria's last win against Germany was back in October 1986 when they recorded a 4-1 friendly success in Vienna courtesy of two goals from both and Reinhard Kienast. • The teams' last competitive meetings came in the qualifying round of the 1984 UEFA European Championship. After a goalless draw in Vienna on 27 April 1983, Germany won the return match 3-0 in on 5 October that same year. • Germany beat Austria 3-2 in the play-off for third place at the 1934 FIFA World Cup. Twenty years later Austria lost 6-1 to eventual champions West Germany at the semi-final stage of the World Cup in Switzerland. • Austria coach Josef Hickersberger played in his country's only competitive victory against their neighbours – a 3-2 triumph in the second group stage of the 1978 World Cup which featured two goals from striker and confirmed West Germany's elimination. • Four years later the two teams took part in an infamous match at the 1982 World Cup. Germany's 1-0 victory enabled both teams to progress to the second round at the expense of Algeria, who had already completed their games. The resulting controversy led to the practice of staging final group games simultaneously. • The overall record in 34 head-to-head games is eight wins for Austria, 20 for Germany, and six draws. Germany have scored 75 goals to Austria's 51 in those matches. Fifteen previous encounters in Vienna have produced four wins for Austria, nine for Germany and two draws.

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• Austria coach Hickersberger played in Germany from 1972-78 with Offenbacher Kickers 1901 and Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895. He later coached Fortuna from December 1990 to August 1991. • Hickersberger's SK Rapid Wien side suffered defeats both at home (0-1) and away (0-4) against FC Bayern München in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage. The two matches pitted German internationals Lahm and Schweinsteiger against Austrian counterparts Muhammet Akagündüz, György Garics, Martin Hiden, Ivanschitz, Markus Katzer and Helge Payer. • Germany coach Joachim Löw won the 2001/02 Austrian Bundesliga with FC Tirol Innsbruck. However, the club's financial problems meant they were denied a professional licence for the following season and Löw subsequently moved on to a spell at FK Austria Wien. • Austria forward Martin Harnik is a colleague of Tim Borowski, Torsten Frings, Clemens Fritz and Per Mertesacker at Werder Bremen. Another Austrian international, Sebastian Prödl, will join Bremen from SK Sturm Graz in the summer. • This is Austria's first appearance at a EURO final tournament. Their best performance in the UEFA European Championship came in the inaugural edition of 1960 where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 9-4 on aggregate to France. • Germany were European champions last in 1996 having earlier lifted the continental crown as West Germany in 1972 and 1980. Runners-up in 1976 and 1992, they have appeared in every edition of the UEFA European Championship since the inception of the final round in 1980. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase. • France in 1984 became the first and so far only team to have won the UEFA European Championship as hosts.

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Netherlands - Romania Stade de Suisse, Berne Tuesday 17 June 2008 - 20.45CET Netherlands and Romania renew rivalry The Netherlands and Romania will need no introduction to each other when they contest their final Group C fixture in Berne. • This will be the third meeting in the space of 15 months between two countries who were pitted against each other in the qualifying campaign for UEFA EURO 2008™. • Romania came out on top then, holding the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw in Rotterdam in March 2007 before beating them 1-0 in Constanta last October through 's 71st-minute goal. Victor Piţurcă's side duly took first place in Group G – three points clear of the Oranje. • The teams for their qualifying match on 13 October 2007 were: Romania: Bogdan Lobonţ, Dorin Goian, George Ogǎraru, Răzvan Raţ, Gabriel Tamaş, Cristian Chivu, Bănel Nicoliţă, Paul Codrea, Ovodiu Petre, Ciprian Marica, Adrian Mutu. • It was the Netherlands' first ever loss to Romania, a team whom they have beaten in six of their past ten meetings. • They recorded 2-0 wins both at home and away against Romania in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Phillip Cocu and debutant Ryan Babel struck in the victory in Bucharest in March 2005 while Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt were the names on the scoresheet when the Dutch prevailed again three months later. • Romania failed to score in the first five fixtures between the teams and have scored just twice in ten overall. • Netherlands coach Marco van Basten appeared as a player in a 2-0 victory against Romania in the Oranje's final warm-up game before their victorious 1988 UEFA European Championship campaign. • Van Basten was also in the AC Milan team who defeated an FC Steaua Bucureşti side that included Piţurcă, his Romania counterpart, in the 1989 European Champion Clubs' Cup final. Van Basten scored twice in Milan's 4-0 victory. • As coach of the Romania Under-21 side, Piţurcă suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands in May 1998 in a match his side had initially led through a Cosmin Contra goal. • Clarence Seedorf scored in a 4-0 win for the Netherlands against Romania in the UEFA European Under-16 Championship finals in 1992. • Romania captain Cristian Chivu played 107 league games for AFC Ajax during a four-year spell at the Amsterdam club that spanned five seasons between 1999/00 and 2003/04. • Nicolae Mitea and George Ogǎraru are the latest Romanian players to represent Ajax where goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ also had a spell this decade. Their team-mates in Amsterdam include Dutch internationals Urby Emanuelson, Johnny Heitinga, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Maarten Stekelenburg. • Romania's Dorin Goian and Nicolae Dicǎ scored for FC Steaua Bucureşti in a 3-1 victory at SC Heerenveen in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup Round of 32, setting up a 3-2 aggregate success. • In the first round of the same season's competition, Romania's Mugurel Buga struck the only goal in AFC Rapid Bucureşti's 1-0 home success against another Dutch club, Feyenoord, as the Bucharest team advanced 2-1 on aggregate. • This is the Netherlands' sixth consecutive UEFA European Championship finals appearance. They were European champions in 1988 – a tournament where Van Basten scored five goals – and reached the semi-finals in 1992, 2000 and 2004. • Romania's best performance in three previous UEFA European Championship final round appearances was in 2000 when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual runners-up Italy. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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France - Italy Letzigrund, Zurich Tuesday 17 June 2008 - 20.45CET Familiar foes set to duel again Opponents in the UEFA EURO 2000™ and 2006 FIFA World Cup finals and again in qualifying for these finals, France and Italy renew their high-profile rivalry in their concluding Group C fixture in Zurich. • The stakes are likely to be high again given the formidable-looking makeup of a section that also includes the Netherlands and Romania, but both sides can take heart from recent history. • Italy beat France on penalties in the World Cup final but Les Bleus can point to a golden-goal win against their neighbours to win UEFA EURO 2000™. Raymond Domenech's team also took four points off Italy on the road to Austria-Switzerland, despite eventually finishing three points below them in qualifying Group B. • The Azzurri pipped France to the world crown by winning 5-3 on penalties in Berlin on 9 July 2006. Zinédine Zidane opened the scoring with a seventh-minute spot-kick before Marco Materazzi equalised after 19 minutes on a night most memorable for Zidane's extra-time headbutt on Materazzi that earned the Frenchman a red card. • Italy's successful spot-kick takers in the ensuing shoot-out were Andrea Pirlo, Materazzi, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Grosso. Sylvain Wiltord, Eric Abidal and Willy Sagnol all scored for France but David Trezeguet struck the crossbar with his kick. • The teams that night were: Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Fabio Grosso, Mauro Camoranesi, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Simone Perrotta, Francesco Totti, Luca Toni. France: Fabien Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Zinédine Zidane, Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry. • Del Piero, De Rossi and Vincenzo Iaquinta appeared as substitutes for Italy, and Alou Diarra, Trezeguet and Wiltord for France. • The teams met again just two months later in a UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying match at the Stade de France and this time France prevailed. They made a lightning start with Sidney Govou scoring after two minutes and Thierry Henry doubling the lead on 18. Although Alberto Gilardino replied for Italy two minutes later, Govou restored France's two-goal advantage ten minutes after half-time. • The most recent meeting between France and Italy was a goalless draw in Milan on 8 September 2007. • The teams that night were: Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Massimo Oddo, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Barzagli, Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi. France: Mickaël Landreau, Lassana Diarra, Lilian Thuram, Julien Escudé, Eric Abidal, Franck Ribéry, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira, Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka. • It goes without saying that the countries' most significant encounter in the UEFA European Championship came on 2 July 2000 in Rotterdam where a 103rd-minute from substitute Trezeguet earned France their second continental crown. Italy had earlier taken a 55th-minute lead through Marco Delvecchio only for Wiltord, another France substitute, to equalise in the dying seconds of normal time. • Lilian Thuram, Henry and Trezeguet are France's survivors from that final, while Fabio Cannavaro and substitutes Massimo Ambrosini and Del Piero remain with Italy. • The 2006 World Cup final is the only time that France have lost to Italy in eight matches and it is 30 years since the Azzurri's last win in open play against their rivals, a 2-1 success at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. • Besides their UEFA EURO 2000™ triumph, France beat Italy in the second round of the World Cup in 1986 and the quarter-finals in 1998. • The overall head-to-head record for this fixture is 18 Italy wins, nine France wins and eight draws, with victories on penalties counted as wins.

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• France, under Domenech, suffered a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying play-off defeat by Italy in November 1999. After a 1-1 first-leg draw, Thierry Henry opened the scoring in the return for France but the Azzurrini fought back to win 2-1, Andrea Pirlo deciding the tie for the hosts in extra time. • Italy coach Roberto Donadoni was in the AC Milan team defeated by in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final. • Italy full-back Grosso plays his club football for Olympique Lyonnais where he is a team-mate of French internationals Hatem Ben Arfa, , Jean-Alain Boumsong, François Clerc, Grégory Coupet, Govou and Jérémy Toulalan. • France midfielder Patrick Vieira formerly played with Grosso at FC Internazionale Milano. Vieira now counts Azzurri defender Materazzi among his Inter team-mates. • France goalkeeper Sébastien Frey plays with Italy pair Riccardo Montolivo and Franco Semioli at ACF Fiorentina, where he also appeared alongside Luca Toni. Azzurri striker Toni is now a team-mate of French internationals Willy Sagnol and Franck Ribéry at FC Bayern München. • France's Abidal, Henry and Thuram are colleagues of Italy full-back Gianluca Zambrotta at FC Barcelona. • France defender Philippe Mexes plays alongside Italian internationals Christian Panucci, Simone Perrotta and De Rossi at AS Roma. • France forward Trezeguet plays with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Mauro Camoranesi and Del Piero at Juventus. • Italy have a positive recent memory of the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich after defeating fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists Portugal 3-1 there on 6 February this year. • France, appearing in their fifth successive UEFA European Championship, were European champions on home soil in 1984 and lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy for a second time in 2000. • Italy's best performance in the UEFA European Championship came when they beat Yugoslavia in the 1968 final. They were runners-up in 2000 and semi-finalists in 1988 with a team featuring Donadoni himself. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that features a final tournament with a group phase.

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Greece - Spain EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg Wednesday 18 June 2008 - 20.45CET Bitter memories stir Spain for Greece game Spain face reigning European champions Greece in their final Group D fixture in Salzburg hoping to ensure no repeat of their first-round exit at the last UEFA European Championship. • A 1-0 defeat by Portugal in their third match at UEFA EURO 2004™ sent Spain crashing out of the tournament – while Greece, with whom they had drawn 1-1 in their second outing, advanced to the last eight. • Spain went into the teams' UEFA EURO 2004™ meeting in Porto as favourites and took a 28th-minute lead through Fernando Morientes. However, Angelos Charisteas's 66th-minute strike earned a share of the spoils for Otto Rehhagel's Greece side. • The lineups for that fixture on 16 June 2004 were: Greece: Antonios Nikopolidis, Giourkas Seitaridis, Michalis Kapsis, Traianos Dellas, Panagiotis Fyssas (Stylianos Venetidis), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Demis Nikolaidis), Theodoros Zagorakis, Georgios Karagounis (Vasilios Tsiartas), Konstantinos Katsouranis, Zisis Vryzas, Angelos Charisteas. Spain: Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Iván Helguera, Carlos Marchena, Raúl Bravo, Joseba Etxeberria (Joaquín Sánchez), David Albelda, Rubén Baraja, Vicente Rodríguez, Fernando Morientes (Juan Carlos Valerón), Raúl González (Fernando Torres). • Greece and Spain also met in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004™. Spain prevailed 2-0 in their opening qualifier in Athens on 7 September 2002, Raúl González (eight minutes) and Juan Carlos Valerón (77) the scorers. However, Greece then surprised the Spanish with a 1-0 victory in Zaragoza on 7 June 2003. Stelios Giannakopoulos's 42nd-minute goal gave Greece their first win against Spain and they went on to top the group ahead of their opponents. • Spain boast a strong overall record against Greece, having won six and lost only one of their previous nine encounters. • Luis Aragonés's Selección came from behind twice to win 3-2 when the countries met most recently, in Thessaloniki on 22 August last year. • Greece led 2-1 at the break, goals from (19 minutes) and Konstantinos Katsouranis (44) sandwiching Carlos Marchena's effort (38), but David Silva struck Spain's second equaliser in the 68th minute before getting a last-minute winner. The match marked the international farewell of Theodoros Zagorakis, Greece's captain at UEFA EURO 2004™. • The teams that day were: Greece: Antonios Nikopolidis (Konstantinos Chalkias), Giourkas Seitaridis (Loukas Vintra), Traianos Dellas (Paraskevas Antzas), Michalis Kapsis, Vassilis Torosidis (Christos Patsatzoglou), Angelos Basinas (Alexandros Tziolis), Georgios Karagounis, Theodoros Zagorakis (Ioannis Goumas), Konstantinos Katsouranis (Dimitrios Papadopoulos), Theofanis Gekas, Dimitrios Salpingidis. Spain: Pepe Reina, Ángel López, Carlos Marchena, Juanito Gutiérrez, Mariano Pernía, David Silva, Xavi Hernández (Luis García), David Albelda (Xabi Alonso), Joaquín Sánchez (Cesc Fabregas), David Villa (Miguel Ángel Angulo), Fernando Torres (Andrés Iniesta). • Greece captain Angelos Basinas has played for Primera División side RCD Mallorca since January 2006 and counts Spain striker Daniel Güiza among his colleagues. • Greece defender Giourkas Seitaridis plays for Club Atlético de Madrid where he is a team-mate of Spanish internationals Luis García, Antonio López, Pablo Ibáñez, Mariano Pernía, José Antonio Reyes and Mista. He also played alongside striker Fernando Torres before the latter moved to Liverpool FC. • Greece's reserve goalkeeper Konstantinos Chalkias had a brief spell in Spain's second division with Real Murcia CF, from January until June 2006.

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• AEK Athens FC's Greek internationals Traianos Dellas and Nikolaos Liberopoulos have unhappy memories of facing Spanish opposition during the 2007/08 season. AEK lost 6-1 on aggregate to a Sevilla FC team featuring Spain's third-choice goalkeeper Andrés Palop in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. They then went down 2-1 to a Villarreal CF side that included Spain defender Ángel López in the UEFA Cup group stage before suffering a 4-1 aggregate reverse against Getafe CF in the Round of 32. • Spain's Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were on the winning side against Greek internationals Antonios Nikopolidis, Christos Patsatzolgou, Ieroklis Stoltidis, Paraskevas Antzas and Vassilis Torosidis when Real Madrid CF beat Olympiacos CFP 4-2 in Spain in the UEFA Champions League group stage in October last year. Torosidis was also sent off and missed the clubs' subsequent goalless draw in Greece. • Across the Spanish capital, Luis García – scorer of the first goal – Antonio López and Pablo Ibáñez were in the Atlético Madrid team that prevailed 2-1 against Panathinaikos FC in the UEFA Cup group stage, despite a goal from Greece forward Dimitrios Salpingidis. Panagiotis Fyssas, Evangelos Mantzios, Alexandros Tziolis, Dimitrios Papadopoulos and Loukas Vintra were also on the losing side. • When Spain beat Greece 1-0 in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on 31 May 1998, there were five current Greek internationals involved: Antzas, Basinas, Dellas, Ioannis Goumas and Georgios Karagounis. Guti was in the victorious Spain team. • During his club coaching career, Rehhagel did not enjoy the best of fortunes against opponents from Spain. His Werder Bremen side lost 3-2 on aggregate to Atlético Madrid in the 1986/87 UEFA Cup first round. They went down by the same aggregate score to Barcelona in the 1992/93 UEFA Super Cup. • As a player, Spain coach Aragonés was in the Atlético Madrid team defeated on away goals by Greek club Panionios GSS in the 1971/72 UEFA Cup first round. Atlético won 2-1 at home but then succumbed 1-0 in Greece. • Greece are featuring at their third EURO finals following earlier appearances in 1980 and 2004, where they overcame Portugal 1-0 in the final. • Spain are playing at their fourth successive EURO finals. Runners-up in 1984, they won the European crown in 1964 when they beat the USSR 2-1 on home soil in Madrid. • This is the 13th edition of the UEFA European Championship and the eighth edition that involves a final tournament with a group phase.

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Russia - Sweden Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck Wednesday 18 June 2008 - 20.45CET History favours Sweden for Russia finale Russia will be hoping to make it third time lucky when they take on Sweden in their concluding Group D fixture in Innsbruck. • Despite a proud history in the competition as part of the USSR – notably with the capture of the inaugural UEFA European Championship crown in 1960 – Russia's record as an independent nation is less impressive. They failed to progress beyond the group stage of the continental showpiece in their first two attempts, in 1996 and 2004, and if victory against Sweden is required to advance here, it may not be easy given they have never before beaten the Scandinavian side. • Another positive omen for Sweden fans is that their last group-stage elimination from a final tournament came at to UEFA EURO 2000™. • A 90th-minute Zlatan Ibrahimović goal saved Sweden from defeat when the countries last met, in a friendly in Moscow on 21 August 2002. Aleksandr Kerzhakov had opened the scoring with a penalty on 56 minutes prior to Ibrahimović's late intervention. • The teams that day were: Russia: Sergei Ovchinnikov (Ruslan Nigmatullin), Gennadi Nizhegorodov (Viacheslav Daev), , (Aleksei Smertin (Dmitri Loskov)), Sergei Semak (Denis Popov), Sergei Ignashevich (Nikolai Olenikov), Igor Yanovskiy (Igor Semshov), Rolan Gusev (Ruslan Pimenov), (Evgeni Aldonin), (Aleksandr Kerzakhov), Denis Laktionov (Andrei Kariaka). Sweden: Magnus Hedman (), Olof Mellberg, Andreas Jakobsson (Michael Svensson), (Nils-Eric Johansson), Teddy Lucic, Niclas Alexandersson, Tobias Linderoth, Anders Svensson (Kim Källström), Andreas Andersson, Rade Prica (Pontus Farnerud), Zlatan Ibrahimović. • Overall, Sweden have recorded three victories and two draws against Russia. The most recent success came in a friendly in Orebro in August 1998, where Jörgen Pettersson scored the only goal. • The most famous meeting between the countries was in Detroit at the 1994 FIFA World Cup where Sweden won their first-round match 3-1. After and had struck first-half penalties, scored twice in the second period to secure victory for the Swedes. • Sweden also beat the Soviet Union 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup but failed to get the better of the Soviets in qualifying for the 1964 UEFA European Championship, drawing 1-1 at home then going down 3-1 in Moscow. • Russia boss Guus Hiddink has never before faced Swedish opposition in his long and itinerant coaching career. • Russia striker was on the scoresheet against Swedish opponents when his FC Spartak Moskva team defeated BK Häcken 5-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round tie last September. Fellow internationals and Roman Shishkin also featured for Spartak, who won the return 3-1 in Sweden. • Ibrahimović, Sweden's star forward, scored twice past Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to help his club side FC Internazionale Milano beat Akinfeev's PFC CSKA Moskva 4-2 in a 2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage match in Milan. Evgeni Aldonin, Aleksei and Vasili Berezutski also played in a CSKA team who were eliminated that night. • Another Sweden striker, Marcus Allbäck, was in the FC København lineup that won 1-0 at FC Lokomotiv Moskva in the UEFA Cup group stage on 29 November last year. Russia pair Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Dmitri Sychev appeared on the losing Lokomotiv side. • This is Russia's third EURO finals as an independent state following earlier appearances in 1996 and 2004. As part of the former Soviet Union, they won the 1960 UEFA European Championship and were runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988. • Sweden are participating in their fourth EURO finals in Austria/Switzerland. Their best performance came in 1992 when they reached the semi-finals on home soil.

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Winner Grp A - Runner-up Grp B St. Jakob-Park, Basel Thursday 19 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 25 The first quarter-final game will kick off at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Thursday 19 June with the winners of Group A facing the runners-up from Group B. • There were no quarter-finals in the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 editions of the competition, with the teams going straight from the group stage into the semi-finals. • Group A consists of the Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey. • The Czech Republic reached the quarter-finals of EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2004™ and, as part of the former Czechoslovakia, reached the same stage of the 1960 and 1976 competitions. • Portugal reached the quarter-finals of the 1960 UEFA European Championship as well as the last eight at EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. Should they do so again, they will reach their fourth consecutive quarter-finals. • Switzerland have never got as far as the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship. • Turkey reached the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2000™. • Group B features Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland. • Austria have not reached the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship since the 1960 edition. • Croatia have done so only once before, at EURO '96™. • Germany have not reached a quarter-final since UEFA EURO '96™, having got to that stage in the 1972 and 1976 editions. • Poland have never got as far as the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship. • The winners of this tie will meet the winners of the quarter-final between the top team from Group B and the runners-up in Group A in the first semi-final, also at St. Jakob-Park, on Wednesday 25 June. • The winners of that game will be given the token position of being the home team for the final at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner Grp B - Runner-up Grp A Ernst Happel, Vienna Friday 20 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 26 The second quarter-final game will kick off at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Friday 20 June with the winners of Group B facing the runners-up from Group A. • There were no quarter-finals in the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 editions of the competition, with the teams going straight from the group stage into the semi-finals. • Group B features Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland. • Austria have not reached the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship since the 1960 edition. • Croatia have done so only once before, at EURO '96™. • Germany have not reached a quarter-final since EURO '96™, having reached that stage as West Germany in the 1972 and 1976 editions. The former East Germany never reached the quarter-finals. • Poland have never got as far as the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship. • Group A consists of the Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey. • The Czech Republic reached the quarter-finals of EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2004™ and, as part of the former Czechoslovakia, reached the same stage of the 1960 and 1976 competitions. • Portugal reached the quarter-finals of the 1960 UEFA European Championship as well as the last eight at EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. Should they do so again, they will reach their fourth consecutive quarter-finals. • Switzerland have never got as far as the quarter-finals of a UEFA European Championship. • Turkey reached the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2000™. • The winners of this tie will meet the winners of the quarter-final tie between the leading team in Group A and the runners-up in Group B in the first semi-final, at Basel’s St. Jakob-Park, on Wednesday 25 June. • The winners of that game will be given the token position of being the home team for the final at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner Grp C - Runner-up Grp D St. Jakob-Park, Basel Saturday 21 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 27 The third quarter-final game will kick off at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Saturday 21 June with the winners of Group C facing the runners-up from Group D. • There were no quarter-finals in the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 editions of the competition, with the teams going straight from the group stage into the semi-finals. • Group C consists of France, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania. • France reached the quarter-finals of the 1960, 1964 and 1968 UEFA European Championships as well as the last eight of EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. They are looking to reach their fourth consecutive quarter-finals. • Italy reached the quarter-finals of the 1968 and 1972 UEFA European Championships but have not been in the last eight since UEFA EURO 2000™. • The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals in 1976 and then did so again at EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. They are targeting a fourth consecutive last-eight appearance. • Romania reached the quarter-finals of the 1960 and 1972 UEFA European Championships but have not been in the last eight since UEFA EURO 2000™. • Group D comprises Greece, Russia, Spain and Sweden. • Greece reached the quarter-finals for the only time in their history at UEFA EURO 2004™. • Russia have not reached the quarter-finals since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As part of the USSR, they reached the last eight of the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 competitions. • Spain reached the quarter-finals of the 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1976 UEFA European Championships and got to the same stage at EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2000™. • Sweden have reached the last eight twice, once at the 1964 UEFA European Championship and again at UEFA EURO 2004™. • The winners of this tie will meet the winners of the quarter-final tie between the top team in Group D and the runners-up in Group C in the second semi-final, at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday 26 June. • The winners of that game will be given the token position of being the away team for the final at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner #25 - Winner #26 St. Jakob-Park, Basel Wednesday 25 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 28 The fourth quarter-final game will kick off at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Sunday 21 June with the winners of Group D facing the runners-up from Group C. • There were no quarter-finals in the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 editions of the competition, with the teams going straight from the group stage into the semi-finals. • Group D comprises Greece, Russia, Spain and Sweden. • Greece reached the quarter-finals for the only time in their history at UEFA EURO 2004™. • Russia have not reached the quarter-finals since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As part of the USSR, they got to the last eight of the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 competitions. • Spain reached the quarter-finals of the 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1976 UEFA European Championships and attained the same stage at EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2000™. • Sweden have reached the last eight twice, once at the 1964 UEFA European Championship and again at UEFA EURO 2004™. • Group C consists of France, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania. • France reached the quarter-finals of the 1960, 1964 and 1968 UEFA European Championships as well as the last eight of EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. They are looking to reach their fourth consecutive quarter-finals. • Italy reached the quarter-finals of the 1968 and 1972 UEFA European Championships but have not been in the last eight since UEFA EURO 2000™. • The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals in 1976 and then did so again at EURO ‘96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. They are targeting a fourth consecutive last-eight appearance. • Romania reached the quarter-finals of the 1960 and 1972 UEFA European Championships but have not been in the last eight since UEFA EURO 2000™. • The winners of this tie will meet the winners of the quarter-final tie between the leading team from Group C and the runners-up in Group D in the second semi-final, at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday 26 June. • The winners of that game will be given the token position of being the away team for the final at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner #25 - Winner #26 St. Jakob-Park, Basel Wednesday 25 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 29 The first UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final will kick off at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Wednesday 25 June with the winners of match No25 facing the victors in match No26. • This will be the final game in Switzerland, with the remaining semi-final and the final itself both being staged at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. • The teams competing in this game will be from either Group A or Group B. Group A comprises the Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey. Group B comprises Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland. • The Czech Republic reached the semi-finals of EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2004™, while the former Czechoslovakia reached the same stage of the 1960 and 1976 UEFA European Championships. • Portugal reached the semi-finals of the 1984 UEFA European Championships, and then did so again at UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. • Germany reached the semi-finals of the 1992 UEFA European Championship but have not been in the last four since EURO '96™. As West Germany, they reached the last four of the 1972, 1976 and 1988 competitions. The former East Germany never reached the latter stages of a UEFA European Championship. • Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Croatia and Poland have never reached the semi-finals of a UEFA European Championship before. • The winners of this game will be given the token position of being the home team for the final at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. Their opponents will be the winners of match No30 – the other semi-final at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday 26 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner #27 - Winner #28 Ernst Happel, Vienna Thursday 26 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 30 The second UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final will kick off at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Thursday 26 June with the winners of match No27 facing the victors in match No28. • At this stage, there are no more games to be played in Switzerland, with the first semi-final on 25 June marking the last UEFA EURO 2008™ game to be played on Swiss soil. The final will also be staged at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. • The teams competing in this game will be from either Group C or Group D. Group C comprises France, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania. Group D comprises Greece, Russia, Spain and Sweden. • France reached the semi-finals of the 1960 and 1984 UEFA European Championships and did so again at EURO '96™ and UEFA EURO 2000™. • Italy reached the semi-finals in 1968 and also reached the last four at UEFA EURO 2000™. • The Netherlands reached the semi-finals in 1976, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2004. • Greece reached the semi-finals for the only time in their history at UEFA EURO 2004™. • Russia have never reached the semi-finals since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As the USSR, they were semi-finalists in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1988. • Spain reached the semi-finals of the 1964 and 1984 competitions. • Sweden reached their only semi-final to date at the 1992 UEFA European Championship. • Romania have never reached the semi-finals. • The winners of this game will be given the token position of being the away team for the final at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on 29 June. Their opponents will be the winners of match No29 – the other semi-final at St. Jakob-Park, Basel on Wednesday 25 June. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Winner #29 - Winner #30 Ernst Happel, Vienna Sunday 29 June 2008 - 20.45CET Match 31 The final of UEFA EURO 2008™ will be played at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Sunday 29 June, with the winners of match 29 taking on the winners of match 30 in the tournament's grand finale. • The nominal home team in this game will be from either Group A or Group B. Group A comprises the Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey. Group B comprises Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland. • The Czech Republic reached the final of EURO '96™, losing 2-1 to Germany. The former Czechoslovakia reached the final of the 1976 UEFA European Championship, beating West Germany on penalties after a 2-2 draw. • Portugal reached the final of UEFA EURO 2004™ on home soil only to lose 1-0 to Greece. • Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Croatia and Poland have never reached a UEFA European Championship final. • Germany have reached the final in both 1992 and 1996, losing the former game 2-0 to Denmark, but beating the Czech Republic 2-1 to triumph at EURO '96™. As West Germany, they beat the Soviet Union 3-0 in the 1972 final but lost on penalties to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 final after a 2-2 draw. They reclaimed the title in 1980, beating Belgium 2-1 in the final. • The nominal away team in the final will be from either Group C or Group D. Group C comprises France, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania. Group D comprises Greece, Russia, Spain and Sweden. • France have reached the final twice, winning on both occasions. In 1984, they triumphed 2-0 against Spain while they won UEFA EURO 2000™ with a 2-1 victory against Italy. • Italy won the 1968 UEFA European Championship, beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in a replay after the original final was drawn 1-1. They lost 2-1 to France at UEFA EURO 2000™ in their only other final appearance. • The Netherlands beat the Soviet Union 2-0 in their only final appearance at the 1988 UEFA European Championship. • Romania and Sweden have never reached a UEFA European Championship final. • Greece reached the final of UEFA EURO 2004™, beating Portugal 1-0 to win the competition. • Russia have never played in a UEFA European Championship final, but the Soviet Union did, beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the 1960 edition before losing to Spain by the same margin in 1964. They then lost 3-0 to West Germany in the 1972 final and 2-0 to the Netherlands in the 1988 UEFA European Championship decider. • Spain beat the Soviet Union 2-1 in the 1964 UEFA European Championship final but lost 2-0 to France in the final of the 1984 edition. • There is no third-place play-off game in the UEFA European Championship.

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Austria The early history of the current Austria is untidy - a reflection of the nation's position at the crossroads of an ever-changing Europe. Early years Settled as long ago as the Stone Age, Celts, Romans, Slavs, Bavarians, Franks and Magyars had all seized control of the region around the eastern Alps before the German-speaking region was first referred to as 'Ostarrichi' in 996. It was under the Babenberg dukedoms that the nation took shape between the tenth and 13th centuries before the emergence of the royal line which would dominate the next six centuries of Austrian history - the Habsburgs. Empire building Rudolf I, King of Germany, seized the area in 1278 following a brief era of Czech rule establishing the Habsburgs in Austria for the next 640 years, and his descendents would expand the family territories as far west as Spain over subsequent centuries, while closer to home, Hungary and Bohemia would fall under Habsburg rule. In 1437 Duke Albrecht IV would become the first Habsburg ruler to successfully claim the title of Holy Roman Emperor. Ottoman sieges The dominant themes of the 16th and 17th centuries in Austria were to be conflict with the Ottoman Empire, with troops besieging Vienna unsuccessfully twice - in 1529 and in 1683. Under Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II, reforms laid the foundations for the modern Austrian state in the 18th century, but the French revolution and the subsequent rise of Napoleon were to mark the end of the old Empire and some lean times for Austria. Republic declared The creation of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary by Emperor Franz Joseph, but the Habsburg dynasty was eventually blown away by the first world war. In 1918, Austria was declared a republic for the first time, but suffering from economic problems and uncertain of its place in the new Europe, it fell to Hitler's Germany in 1938, and was not revived again as an independent nation until the end of the second world war in 1945. Heart of Europe French, British, Soviet and American forces would occupy Austria until the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955 which made neutrality in international affairs a permanent feature of the national constitution. The new state was quickly admitted to the United Nations and completed its progress to the heart of the new Europe by joining the in 1995.

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Vienna The spectacular capital of Austria will host seven games at UEFA EURO 2008™, not least among them the final itself on 29 June 2008, and visitors can expect to be dazzled by the city's wealth of stunning architecture and the breadth of attractions on offer to tourists. One of Europe's great capitals, it boasts old-fashioned charm and plenty of modern comforts. Grand boulevard Any trip to Vienna should take in a trip up the grand Ringstrasse, home to many of the city's top museums and opera houses as well as the Parliament building, the City Hall and the grand Burgtheater. The opportunity to take in the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens should also not be missed, but this famous city has much to offer besides grand traditions. Modern heart Vienna's modern shopping precinct at Mariahilfer Strasse boasts international chain stores and chic boutiques, while elegance and luxury abound at the shops on Kärntner Strasse, Kohlmarkt and the Graben. While in the centre of town, sampling Viennese café culture is something of a must, with countless coffee specialities on offer as well as the city's famous Sachertorte. Outdoor activities Not too far from the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, the Vienna Prater is a magnificent fun fair which is home to the 65m-high ferris wheel - one of the symbols of the city - while the River Danube also offers plenty of treats for visitors, with river cruises and terrace restaurants and, for more committed sun-seekers, 42km of beaches on Danube Island, as well as plenty of outdoor sporting attractions. Wien-Karte Tourists are recommended to invest in a Wien-Karte, a tourist ticket which offers 72 hours of free public transport and discounted admission to many of the city's top attractions.

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Klagenfurt The southernmost provincial capital in Austria, Klagenfurt's magnificent new Wörthersee Stadium will host three group stage games at UEFA EURO 2008™, and the 800-year-old city, nestling on the shore of the largest and warmest of the Alpine lakes, the Wörthersee itself, is sure to prove to be a massive hit with guests from all around the footballing world. Renaissance architecture The capital of the state of Carinthia, which is well known as a holiday destination, Klagenfurt's magnificently restored renaissance architecture, elegant boutiques and atmospheric arcades and courtyards have marked it out as a handsome city, while the lake and its surroundings offer a wealth of activities for those wishing to enjoy the great outdoors. Cultural hub The birthplace of Ingeborg Bachmann and Robert Musil - two of the most important writers working in the German language - the city is regularly a focal point for the European literary crowd with the annual awarding of the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize coming at the end of weeks of readings. Art galleries, museums and theatres - some of them by the lake - complete the city's cultural landscape. Sporting venue However, the city hosts plenty of other big events, including the beach volleyball World Series, the Ironman triathlon and the snowboarding world cup. Hardly surprising given all of that activity, the city and its surroundings boast superb facilities for sport and plentiful opportunities for visitors to get out and about and enjoy the local countryside.

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Salzburg Austria's oldest city, Salzburg will host three first-round matches at UEFA EURO 2008™ and guests can expect to be thrilled by what this grand metropolis has to offer. Salzburg owes its name and prosperity to centuries at the hub of the trade in salt and, as fans visiting Salzburg at UEFA EURO 2008™ will discover, all those riches have been invested in magnificent style. Cultural roots Even more than salt, Salzburg is synonymous with music, and particularly the music of the city's favourite son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The house on Getreidegasse where the composer was born on 27 January 1756 remains a major draw, but while it is one of the most photographed buildings in the world, it looks modest in comparison to the buildings in the famous Old Town. Spectacular centre The spectacular heart of the city evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries as local bishops Wolf Dietrich, Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron left their mark in ordering the building of a raft of palaces and other grand buildings in the name of the church. Salzburg's splendour saw it dubbed the Rome of the North and its historic centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Something for everyone Modern Salzburg continues to honour its traditions with the famous Salzburg Festival drawing in classical music fans from all over the world, but the city has plenty to offer those who do not have a taste for high culture, with magnificent shopping facilities and plenty of activities to keep children of all ages occupied around games at the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim. Salzburg Card Buying a Salzburg Card can make visiting the city an even more pleasurable experience. The ticket offers free transport throughout the city, free admission to many of Salzburg's main attractions and substantial discounts on many others.

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Innsbruck The host venue for three matches at UEFA EURO 2008™, the city of Innsbruck has long since become accustomed to welcoming huge numbers of visitors. The capital of the Tirol province, the combination of the city's tremendous facilities and its stunning position at the heart of the Alps draw millions of tourists every year, and guests at UEFA EURO 2008™ can expect something special. Winter sports The host city for the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck - literally Bridge over the River Inn - is 575m above sea level and is framed beautifully by two mountains - the Nordkette and the Patscherkofel. The city's association with winter sports is represented well by the famous wooden ski jump built at the Bergisel Arena in 1926, which was refurbished for the 1964 Olympics. Golden Roof However, the most famous landmark in the city is the Goldene Dachl - the Golden Roof. The three story balcony appended to the home of the local Tirol leaders built in the late 15th century for Emperor Maximilian I by court architect Niclas Türing, it boasts 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles. It is symbolic of the city's historic traditions as a major regional capital. Mountain hikes Visitors in summer time can enjoy the city's wealth of palaces, churches and museums, while shopping facilities are excellent. More active guests will not have to venture too far beyond the city boundaries to enjoy some superb, picturesque hikes in the surrounding mountains, while local golf courses are now proving to be a major draw too. Innsbruck Card Visitors are encouraged to buy an Innsbruck Card while visiting the city, with the ticket providing free public transport and discounted entry to major local tourist attractions for 24, 48 or 72 hour periods.

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Switzerland A confederation of cantons which has been pieced together slowly over the space of centuries, Switzerland has a history like no other country in Europe. Stable population Already occupied in the Stone Age, Switzerland's latin name refers back to the Celtic Helvetian tribe who lived the area in Roman times, but the roots of much of the current Swiss population lie in the migration of German tribes to the region following the fall of the Roman empire in around 400 AD. While the current Swiss territories changed hands between different rulers over the following centuries, the population has remained stable. Home rule Indeed, while power was consolidated into the hands of bigger and stronger rulers in most European territories in the Middle Ages, the city (Städteorte) and rural areas (Länderorte) of the current Switzerland maintained an unusual degree of control over their own affairs. The Old Swiss Confederation, which dates back to 1291, saw the first local cantons band together in a bid to pursue common interests and keep outside rule at a minimum. Hot property The confederation remained under nominal German rule until the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, but repeatedly held off the more authoritarian advances of the Habsburg dynasty, the dukes of Burgundy and the kings of Germany. The military prowess gained in such operations made Swiss mercenaries a hot property in the late Middle Ages. Switzerland was a hotbed of radical thinking during the days of the Reformation - in science and the arts as well as politics. New federation The revolution in neighbouring France was to see the old confederation dissolved with the formation of the short-lived Helvetic Republic in 1798, and while some semblance of the old order was eventually restored - along with a permanent guarantee of Swiss neutrality - at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, a brief civil war between Roman Catholic and Protestant Cantons led to the foundation of the current Swiss federation in 1848. Neutral stance The constitution guarantees the independence of the cantons in most matters, leaving the federal government in charge of defence, trade and legal matters, and political, economic and social improvement has characterised Switzerland's peaceful existence since. Untouched by the winds of the first world war, Switzerland avoided being drawn into the second world war too. The Swiss voted to join the United Nations in 2002 but have remained outside the European Union.

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Basel Basel's St. Jakob-Park - nicknamed 'Joggeli' by locals - will host the opening game of UEFA EURO 2008™ on 7 June 2008 and will be Switzerland's home base throughout the group stage before hosting two quarter finals and one semi-final. Famous for its three-day carnival - the Baselr Fasnacht - Basel will be hoping to keep the party going for a whole month at UEFA EURO 2008™. Ancient and modern An important city in the world chemical and pharmaceutical trade, the city on the River Rhine also bills itself as a major cultural hub, with 40 museums covering classical and modern art housed within the city boundaries. That mix of the traditional and the cutting edge is well reflected by local architecture, with handsome old buildings rubbing shoulders with bold modern ones. Favourite walk The city's ancient roots can be sampled at the Roman ruins of Augusta Raurica while those wishing to explore the city's history in leisurely style would do well to observe Basel at close quarters with a walk along the banks of the Rhine. Keen shoppers can spend time in the Old Town, town centre of Klein Basel while there is also a shopping centre next to St. Jakob-Park. Sporting glory The city is rightfully proud of its sporting achievements. Local side FC Basel 1893 are one of the strongest sides in Switzerland while the city's most celebrated son at the moment is tennis star Roger Federer. Basel's chances of producing future world-class athletes will be significantly boosted by the city's superb sporting facilities, which tourists are encouraged to sample.

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Berne The capital of Switzerland and the host venue for three group stage matches at UEFA EURO 2008™, Berne celebrated its involvement in Europe's biggest national team tournament under the banner: 'Berne works wonders'. The old hosted West Germany's shock 3-2 win over Hungary in the 1954 FIFA World Cup final - the so-called Miracle of Berne - with the stadium standing on the same site. Heritage site The wonders of the modern Berne are there for all to see, with the most prominent of them being the magnificent Old Town which became a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1983. The Bundesplatz, which is home to the Swiss Parliament and the seat of government, is a great start for any trip around the terrific churches, palaces and streets of the region. Modern pleasures Berne boasts some fine museums and art galleries, a thriving nightlife and some great shopping streets - with the covered arcades of Spitalstrasse and Marktgasse in the Old Town proving particularly attractive in the event of bad weather. Great sporting facilities, golf courses and indoor and outdoor swimming pools also abound in the city on the river Aare. Wonderful Aare The Aare, which has one of the most beautiful river baths in Europe, is an ideal spot to enjoy Berne. You can go swimming in the river as it curves around the Altstadt (Old Town) while savouring the overwhelming Alpine panorama. Bear Pits Those with a few days on their hands should not hesitate to venture away from the Old Town, with the city boasting a number of magnificent parks. Perhaps the most famous attraction is the city's Bear Pit. With the city taking its name from the German name for bear (bär), two Pyrenean brown bears are on continual display with a 10,000 metre squared bear park planned in the future. BernCard The BernCard is a great tool for exploring the city. Available for 24, 48 or 72 hour periods, it offers unlimited use of local public transports, free admission to 27 local museums and discounts on tours.

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Geneva The canton of Geneva has a population of around 450,000, and is perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in Switzerland, with the numerous United Nations agencies and major banks employing people from all over the world. Thus, the region will be well prepared for UEFA EURO 2008™ when fans from across the continent gather to watch three group stage games at the Stade de Genève. Roman roots With its roots dating back to Roman times and beyond, Geneva itself is now an important financial centre with a significant role to play in science and precision engineering, notably watchmaking. The biggest French-speaking city in Switzerland, it also has an enormous amount to offer tourism in terms of attractions, leisure activities, food and shopping. Great thinkers The Old Town in Geneva boasts a wealth of fine old buildings, not least St Pierre Cathedral, which was once the church of John Calvin - one of the most important figures in Protestantism. A significant area for church reform in the 16th century Geneva was once known as the Protestant Rome, while the Old Town would later inspire the Genevan writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Cultural heart Geneva has museums to suit all tastes, including the Red Cross Museum and the Watchmaking Museum. The Place Neuve is home to Geneva's opera house and the Rath Museum, while away from the old town, Lake Geneva is the focus of plenty of leisure activity, and is bejewelled by the Jet d'Eau - the fountain that sends water flying 140m into the air above the lake. Those wishing to sample Geneva's stylish side should head to the suburb of Carouge, with its trendy boutiques and chic bistros.

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Zurich Switzerland's largest city, with a population of around 370,000, Zurich will host three group stage games at UEFA EURO 2008™ and is sure to prove a big hit with footballing visitors. A recent survey concluded that the economic heart of German-speaking Switzerland had the highest quality of life of any city in the world, something guests will have little reason to dispute. Banking hub Renowned worldwide as a major city for international banking and finance, with many private banks and the Swiss Stock Exchange being located in Zurich, it also has a deserved reputation as a thriving metropolis, with a wealth of fine old buildings, exciting museums and galleries, superb shopping facilities, plenty of activities for families and splendid nightlife. Twin spires The twin spires of the Grossmünster Church are the most prominent feature of the Old Town skyline, while the local opera house is also well worth a visit. The city's important place in the world of modern art is reflected in a number of fine museums and galleries, not least the Kunsthaus, while keen shoppers will find plenty to keep them occupied on Banhifstrasse and the chic Schipfe. Lake pleasures The city's location on the northern shore of Lake Zurich offers a range of opportunities for tourists, with water sports and lakeside walks providing plenty of opportunities to while away the hours around matches at the Letzigrund Stadion. More sedentary tourists should not miss the opportunity to enjoy the lake at one of the restaurants that cluster around the lake shore. Zürich Card Guests can make their stay simpler by buying a one- or three-day Zürich Card which offers free local transport, free admission to more than 40 museums and complimentary welcome drinks at a number of local restaurants.

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Origins The UEFA European Championship has turned into a massive success story as it enjoys the status of one of the world's major sporting events - although the championship's creation five decades ago was more difficult than might be expected. Proposal Championships for national associations had already begun in other continents by the time the idea of a European competition for national teams began to reach fruition in the 1950s. There were various reasons for the comparatively late emergence of a championship on the European continent. For example, in addition to differing opinions and interest circles throughout Europe, there were fears in some quarters that such a competition might threaten the status of the FIFA World Cup. Impetus At the time that UEFA was born, in 1954, the impetus for a European championship was coming from the distinguished French sports newspaper L'Equipe, which proposed a competition with home-and-away matches to be played in midweek in the evening. Adding to the French drive for such a tournament was Henry Delaunay, first UEFA General Secretary and former French national association general secretary. In 1927, Delaunay had already submitted a proposal to FIFA, in conjunction with the great Austrian official Hugo Meisl, for the creation of a European cup, to run concurrently with the World Cup, which would involve a qualifying competition every two years. System Delaunay wrote after UEFA's inaugural Basle assembly in 1954 that the idea was for a competition open to all of the European associations. A three-member committee, he said, had been entrusted with examining this difficult problem. Delaunay insisted that this competition should not lead to an infinite number of matches. Nor should it harm the World Cup, and participants should not always be forced to meet the same opponents in the same group. New drive Following Henry Delaunay's death in 1955, his son Pierre joined the French journalists in the drive towards initiating the European Nations' Cup. Pierre Delaunay was subsequently appointed secretary of the European Nations' Cup Organising Committee, and was therefore able to observe at close quarters the blossoming of the competition that his father had wanted. After agreement had been reached that the championship would be founded, the new competition was named the Henri Delaunay Cup in recognition of his outstanding services in the cause of European football. First matches The inaugural tournament was entered by around half of UEFA's member associations, 17 in total, and one more than the minimum required. The Republic of Ireland were eliminated by Czechoslovakia in a qualifying play-off (the two teams met after the drawing of lots). The first championship match proper was held on 28 September 1958 in Moscow's Central Stadium - the USSR beating Hungary 3-1, with the home side's Anatoli Ilyin scoring the first goal after four minutes - and the inaugural competition took place over 22 months between 1958 and 1960. From small acorns do great oaks rise...

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Henri Delaunay Few men have left such a distinct mark, by the sheer force of their personality, on such a universal activity as football, as Henri Delaunay – UEFA's first General Secretary and the pioneer behind the UEFA European Championship. Prodigious rise Born in Paris on 19 November 1883, Delaunay was chosen in 1906 – at the age of 23 – as general secretary of the newly-founded French Interfederal Committee, which became the French Football Federation in 1919. Delaunay was an undisputed football expert. He was a referee, and began his international career in 1920 when FIFA asked him to sit on its new consultative committee for the Laws of the Game. Global impact In 1924, when FIFA took its place on the International Board – of the Laws of the Game – Delaunay was without interruption one of the two delegates, and it was he who, from 1930, compiled the first series of decisions regarding the interpretation of the laws. The crucial role played by Henri Delaunay in the creation of the World Cup is not widely known. Open entry At the 1928 FIFA Congress in Amsterdam, chaired by Jules Rimet, Delaunay staunchly defended and pushed through a decisive resolution to organise a competition which would be open to the teams of all affiliated national associations. In 1927, he submitted a proposal to world football's governing body, in conjunction with the great Austrian official Hugo Meisl, for the creation of a European Nations' Cup, to run concurrently with the World Cup, which would involve "a qualifying competition every two years". European role For Delaunay, who had played an influential role in the founding of the European Football Union, the Nations' Cup (UEFA European Championship) was no doubt as crucial to UEFA as the World Cup was to FIFA. The idea, he wrote after the UEFA Basel assembly in 1954, was for a competition open to all of the European associations. A three-member committee was entrusted with examining this difficult problem making sure the competition would not lead to an infinite number of matches or be harmful to the World Cup, and lastly, that participants should not always be forced to meet the same opponents in the same group. Lasting association Unfortunately, due to illness, Delaunay was unable to present these arguments. He passed away during the night of 9-10 November 1955, and would not see the birth of his competition three years later. It is quite right and fitting that the tournament – which has grown into such a success story – should carry the name of its eternal defender as a subtitle.

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Evolution of the game Each UEFA European Championship has had its tactical benchmarks - and UEFA EURO 2008™ will doubtless give us fresh and fascinating insights into the way the modern game is played. Defensive focus For the first EUROs in the 1960s, the old 2-3-5 formation - featuring two full-backs, two wing-halves, a centre-half, two wingers, two inside-forwards and a centre-forward - was making way for increasingly sophisticated tactics, which sometimes reflected a new defensive-minded philosophy. Rather than focus on scoring goals, there came a new emphasis on not conceding. New systems such as the 4-3-3 (often not featuring a winger), the 4-4-2 or the 4-2-4 came into fashion as the game evolved. Evolving positions Individual positions also evolved. Italy's 1968 champions featured not only the customary solid defence and stealthy attackers, but also a full-back of considerable attacking potential in Giacinto Facchetti who helped redefine his position. came into fashion like the brilliant Günter Netzer, a member of West Germany's splendid 1972 champions. If the was able to score goals on a regular basis, either from open play or through deft free-kicks, you were really in business – in 1984, France's Michel Platini finished as leading scorer in the tournament with nine goals in five matches on home soil. Sweeper system In the 1970s, the 'libero' or 'sweeper' was born. This fluid position could feature a purely defensive 'libero' stationed behind his defence to sweep up opposing breakthroughs – and was given a new slant by the elegant German Franz Beckenbauer, captain of West Germany's 1972 team, who used his skill and vision to move forward out of defence and kick-start his team's attacks. Study group The game has become increasingly sophisticated in tactical terms over the years, with defences proving even harder to break down, and these developments have been monitored at recent EUROs by UEFA's technical study group, comprising experienced coaches and technical experts, who identify the prevailing tactical trends every four years. 'Vacuum cleaner' At EURO '96™ in England, the trend was towards strong, almost impregnable defensive blocks, the "flooding" of midfield by teams perhaps playing a 3-5-2 system, and a dearth of wingers which was compensated for by hard-working wide players or overlapping full-backs. Counterattacking, often by strikers with pace, and individual brilliance was needed to destabilise tough defensive blocks. A defensive midfielder also helped contain counterattacks. Goalkeepers needed to become footballers after changes to the backpass rule. Diamond formation In the Netherlands and Belgium in 2000, the tactical talk was of the diamond-shaped midfield – a defensive midfielder, two 'normal' midfielders and a central player supporting the strikers. Lone strikers made their mark. A two-man screen of defensive midfielders helped bolster other rearguards against danger and footballers increasingly needed to be complete players – tactically mature, versatile, adaptable, flexible and quick-thinking – as well as phenomenally fit. Greek success By the 2004 finals, the marriage of skill and speed was essential as the game became even faster. The collective, massed defensive block held sway, which required opponents to break out and counterattack at speed to outwit their opponents. Slow build-up, combination play and ball circulation proved somewhat ineffective against such systems, but there was a welcome resurgence in wing play as teams tried to get around the massed rearguards. Set-plays also provided the key for many of the goals in Portugal. Exceptional tactical discipline, organisation and team spirit gave Greece the chance to become unexpected champions. The game never stops evolving – what can we expect in Austria and Switzerland? UEFA EURO 2008™ will certainly provide a wealth of fascinating tactical talking-points for experts and fans alike.

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Austria: A football history Austria's footballing heyday came in the 1930s when Hugo Meisl's Wunderteam swept all before them. They thumped Germany 6-0 in Berlin, Switzerland 8-1 and Hungary 8-2 during a run of just two defeats in 28 matches leading up to the 1934 FIFA World Cup. Austria, who reached the semi-finals that year, have participated in seven World Cups but before co-hosting UEFA EURO 2008™ had never reached a UEFA European Championship. The star of Austria's Wunderteam was striker Matthias Sindelar, nicknamed 'Der Papierene' – The Man of Paper – because he was so thin. Sindelar scored 27 times in 43 games for Austria between 1926 and 1937 before famously refusing to play for Germany at the 1938 World Cup following the Anschluss. Miracle of Córdoba "Tor, Tor, Tor, Tor, Tor, Tor, I wer' narrisch" – "Goal, goal, goal, goal, goal, goal, I'm going crazy," screamed Austrian commentator Edi Finger Sr after Hans Krankl's 88th-minute strike knocked rivals West Germany out of the 1978 World Cup. At the final whistle Finger sent goose bumps down the spines of his compatriots when he screamed: "Now it's over! The end! Finished! After 47 years, Austria have finally beaten Germany again." When West Germany and Austria met again in 1982 the contrast could not have been greater. A 1-0 West German victory would take both sides into the second round and after Horst Hrubesch scored on ten minutes the contest was over. The two teams passed the ball around at a snail's pace thereafter, earning the match the moniker 'Der Nichtangriffspakt von Gijon' – "The non-aggression pact of Gijon". Polster magic "For me there is only either or – either all the way or completely." This quote from Toni Polster sums up Austria's record scorer who between 1982 and 2000 scored 44 goals in 95 games. Polster was as popular off the pitch as on it, most famously as lead singer of the band Die Fabulösen Thekenschlampen (The Fabulous Barsluts). Singing obviously comes naturally to retired Austrian footballers: Hans Krankl reached No2 in the Austrian charts with Lonely Boy in 1985. Wembley Toni Few moments truly touch a country's sporting consciousness. For Austrians, skier Franz Klammer winning Olympic gold in 1976, Niki Lauda surviving his crash at the Nürburgring, Krankl's winner against West Germany and Toni Fritsch's two goals at Wembley in 1965. England would win the World Cup nine months later, but that October night it was Austria that played like champions. Fritsch scored twice in a 3-2 triumph and the legend of Wembley Toni was born. One of those goals, a long-range screamer, set Fritsch up for future success in another sport. When the Dallas Cowboys toured Europe looking for a place-kicker in 1971, former Austria coach Leopold Stastny put Fritsch's name forward. Fritsch's Wembley goal had put him on the path to Super Bowl glory. History makers Austria's 7-5 defeat of Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 1954 World Cup is still the highest-scoring game in that tournament's history. In 35C heat in , Switzerland raced into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes. With no substitutes allowed, Austria goalkeeper Kurt Schmied played on despite suffering sunstroke, however, Austria battled back, scoring five times in the next 15 minutes to run away with the game. After losing to eventual champions West Germany in the semi-finals, Austria would beat Uruguay in the third-place play-off, their best ever finish. Heroes Andreas Herzog, known affectionately as 'Herzilein' (Sweetheart), is Austria's most capped player with 103 appearances. The country's most famous footballing figure, though, is the late, great Ernst Happel. Happel was capped 51 times and was the star of the team that finished third at the 1954 World Cup. He is best remembered, though, for his success as a coach, lifting the European Champion Clubs' Cup with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburger SV in 1983 and taking the Netherlands to the 1978 World Cup final.

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Switzerland: A football history Swiss football fans have never had it so good. Switzerland reached the FIFA World Cup six times between 1934 and 1966, but it is really in the modern era that the national team has come into its own. .com looks back at the memorable moments, matches and men that have shaped Switzerland's footballing history. Swiss legends will always have a place in the heart of Swiss fans after guiding Switzerland to the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years in 1994. Striker Stéphane Chapuisat is remembered just as fondly, helping his side reach the last 16 in the United States, before going on to win the UEFA Champions League with BV Borussia Dortmund in 1997. Chapuisat retired from international football having scored 21 goals in 103 appearances, 14 behind Switzerland's new all-time leading scorer Alexander Frei. He broke Kubilay Türkyilmaz's record on 30 May and is fast eclipsing even Chapuisat's popularity. Sea of red The Swiss have a strong affinity with the in Dortmund. It is where Chapuisat made his name and where Frei now plays. It also became a small corner of Switzerland for one glorious afternoon during the 2006 World Cup. On 19 June, Swiss supporters counted for over 40,000 of the 65,000 in attendance for their Group G game against Togo, turning the stands into a sea of red. To make their day Switzerland won 2-0 – the nation's first World Cup win in 12 years. Romania defeated Switzerland have only appeared in two previous UEFA European Championships, in 1996 and 2004, so it is no surprise that perhaps their greatest game came at a World Cup. Memories of Switzerland's 4-1 win against Romania at the Silverdome in Detroit still send shivers down the spines of Swiss fans. This was the Romania of Hagi, Petrescu, Popescu and Belodedici but Hodgson's side were far from overawed, goals from , Chapuisat and two from recording a memorable victory. The result, though, should not have come as a surprise. Switzerland had qualified for the 1994 World Cup from a group that included Italy, Portugal and Scotland and by August 1993 had climbed as high as third in the FIFA World rankings. Hosts UEFA EURO 2008™ is not the first time Switzerland have hosted a major tournament, though they will look back on the 1954 World Cup with mixed emotions. They competed at the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, and were also a force in the 1950s under Austrian coach whose zonal defensive system, the 'Swiss Lock', would prove to be a forerunner to the system later adopted in Italy. After a respectable appearance at the 1950 World Cup optimism was high ahead of the 1954 event on home soil and Switzerland duly reached the quarter-finals. There, though, the wheels fell off. In soaring heat in Lausanne, Rappan's lock was well and truly picked as the Swiss threw away a 3-0 goal lead before crashing 7-5. Turning point Swiss fans were given a glimpse of the future in 2002 when Switzerland won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and reached the semi-finals of U21 Championship. Tranquillo Barnetta and Philippe Senderos led the way for the U17s and now form the bedrock of the national side, as do Frei and Ludovic Magnin who soon graduated from that U21 side. The seeds of today's success had been sewn. Switzerland are competing in their third consecutive major tournament for the first time.

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TV and EURO UEFA EURO 2008™ will receive massive media coverage – with millions of fans watching the action on television. The images beamed from the 31 matches in Austria and Switzerland will reach all four corners of the world. Nowadays, we take such coverage for granted in the wake of massive technological advances, and the evolution of TV coverage has been staggering in its breadth. Sophisticated operation Back in 1960, the images from a major European competition final would be sent by as few as three cameras. On 29 July 2008 at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, the UEFA EURO 2008™ final will be transmitted to the world with over nine times that number of cameras as part of a sophisticated and highly-detailed operation. Viewers will be able to receive the highest-quality images in colour, from a variety of angles and at various speeds. Vivid memory Black and white pictures gradually gave way to colour as the 1960s came to a close. Just as it was fascinating then to see reds, yellows and blues on your TV screen – often helping viewers to identity the teams on the muddiest of pitches – it is now a deeply nostalgic experience for football enthusiasts to look at the grainy black and white images bringing, for many, a vivid memory of their youth. Billions of viewers In terms of viewing figures, the UEFA European Championship is the world's second major sports event, only topped by the FIFA World Cup. The success story continues. UEFA EURO 2004™, the 12th of its kind, broke all records: There were 7.9 billion television viewers in total, and 153 million live viewers for each of the 31 matches. The final was seen by as many as 279 million viewers - an unbelievable increase of 157 per cent on corresponding figures for the 2000 finals. The TV images from Europe were watched by 446 million viewers in the United States, 986 million in Africa and as many as 1.1 billion in Asia. Host broadcaster For the first time in EURO history, UEFA will provide the television signal and production for the tournament itself. As host broadcaster, UEFA will be responsible for the transmission of TV pictures from UEFA EURO 2008™ throughout the world. Some 1,300 people will be involved in producing coverage over a four-week period. A minimum of 28 staff members will be deployed by the host broadcaster alone for each match. The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Vienna will serve as the international nerve centre, with over 10,000 square metres of production and office space made available to TV stations from around the world who will broadcast to more than 200 countries. Massive audiences Reports from Portugal in 2004 totalled 28,378 hours on 234 different channels - a significant increase of 165 per cent on UEFA EURO 2000™. In terms of television viewing figures, these finals will also attract massive audiences. If you cannot go and see the games in Austria and Switzerland – you will certainly find a TV set near you to watch the action.

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Trophy Whichever captain climbs the stairs at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion to accept the winning trophy from UEFA President Michel Platini after the UEFA EURO 2008™ final, they will be achieving a notable first. Modern design The new UEFA European Championship trophy is 18cm higher and 2kg heavier than the original designed by Arthus Bertrand in 1960 and named after Henri Delaunay, the former president of the French Football Federation. The upper part of the trophy is based on the original and is also made out of sterling silver. The new trophy, created by Asprey London, has retained its historical name. It has been brought up to date to reflect the scale and size of Europe's most prestigious international tournament. Minor changes It is almost an exact replica, though not quite. A small figure juggling a ball on the back of the original has been removed, as has the marble plinth. The silver base of the trophy also had to be enlarged to make it stable. The names of the winning countries that had appeared on the plinth have now been engraved on the back of the trophy, which is made of sterling silver, weighs 8kg and is 60cm tall. Classic style The responsibility for creating the original went to Pierre Delaunay, son of Henri, the visionary behind the competition. Henri Delaunay died in 1955 before seeing his idea come to fruition, but the new prize is testament to his enduring legacy. Unlike other designs for UEFA trophies, the new-look Henri Delaunay trophy has maintained its classic style. 'Focal point' Unlike the original, which was the work of the Chobillon goldsmith and was later bought by Arthus Bertrand in Paris, the making of the modern equivalent was entrusted to Asprey London. Asprey, renowned silversmiths, jewellers and goldsmiths, have a long history of trophy-making stretching back to the America's Cup, which their sister company Garrard made in 1848. UEFA wanted to improve on the quality but also the scale of the trophy, and have a focal point for the event – it was felt that the original trophy was too small to do this. Substantial reward Greece's Theodoros Zagorakis was the last captain to lift the old trophy in Lisbon in July 2004. Whoever follows his lead will be getting his hands on an even more substantial reward.

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