SoccerNews Issue # 6, July 12th 2016 Continental/Division Tires Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Cristiano Ronaldo, here shown in a challenge with Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Laurent Koscielny, later suffered an injury and Head of Communications & E-Mail: [email protected] was substituted in the European Championship Public Relations PLT www.contisoccerworld.de final. Photo: Imago SoccerNews # 6/2016 2 News “Le Monde”. From the point of view of the Portuguese victors, particularly their captain, the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” put the event in a nutshell: “Cry Ronaldo cry. But the Portugal celebrate tears of Saint Denis will forever remain tears their first title of joy.” The French deeply distressed. “For over-confidence! A cruel defeat” To have bet on Portugal at half-time of the The defeat triggered great sadness and dis- European Championship to win the title may among the hosts after the one-month tournament. On June 10, the French had would have been as bold as predicting kicked-off EURO 2016 with a close but much Greece as champions in 2004. But at the acclaimed 2-1 win over Romania at the same venue; and after the 2-0 over World Cup conclusion of the 15th European Champion- champions Germany in Marseille last Thurs- ship tournament it was indeed Portugal that day the team coached by Didier Deschamps had been confident of victory. But on Sunday, triumphed, winning their first ever title by July 10, what remained one hour before defeating favourites and hosts France 1-0 midnight was great emptiness. “For over-con- fidence! France wanted to win their third tro- (0-0, 0-0) after extra time. phy at home after 1984 and 1998. Everything was prepared for the great dream, but the “Europe’s Brazilians” crowned themselves European cham- fairy tale didn’t have a happy ending. A cruel pions in their 13th title attempt at European and World Cup defeat”. That’s how the sports newspaper tournaments – after a few disappointing performances. The “L’Equipe” summarised the final. Portuguese top star Cristiano Ronaldo experienced an early bitter moment when he suffered a knee injury, after being Contrary to Portugal, France had slowly tackled by Frenchman Dimitri Payet, and had to be substituted improved in the course of the tournament. in the 23rd minute. The 31-year-old could only celebrate on The opening win was followed by a 2-0 over the sideline at the end of this intensive night in front of 75,868 Albania, a goalless draw with Switzerland, a spectators at the Stade de France at Saint-Denis. “That’s the 2-1 against Ireland, a 5-2 over Iceland and greatest moment of my career“, shouted the striker, who has with the 2-0 over world champions Germany, amassed titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid. the first ever victory in a tournament against Ronaldo received the championship trophy, won by the Span- the neighbouring country. Portugal on the iards in 2004 and 2012, and which on three occasions has other hand had great difficulties in gathering been in the hands of the German Football Association, DFB. momentum and often disappointed. The “se- It was a great party night for Ronaldo, his team-mates, the 11 leção” concluded their group matches without million Portuguese people and particularly for coach Fernando a win, qualifying for the knock-out stage only Santos, who became the architect of the unexpected success in third position behind Iceland and Hungary. King Cristiano Ronaldo with the trophy as his crown. Winning the European title was his with his defensive tactic. “France frustrated, Portugal on cloud In the round of 16 the team needed 120 min- greatest success said the Portuguese after the 1-0 over France. Photo: Imago nine“, read the headline of the renowned French newspaper utes, and a lot of luck, to beat Croatia 1-0. SoccerNews # 6/2016 3 In the quarter-finals against Poland the penalty News the German national newspaper “Süddeutsche shoot-out had to decide with Portugal winning Zeitung” about the decision for the 13-country 5-3.The team finally showed a convincing UEFA with high gains European Championship finals. The fans will performance only in the semi-finals, defeating The European Football Association, UEFA, have to travel about 5,300km between Dublin Wales – the great surprise of this European have reaped a positive result from EURO 2016. in Ireland in the west and Baku in the east. The Championship in addition to Iceland – 2-0. The tournament was a great financial success. two semi-finals and the final were awarded Portugal are the “European champions of According to UEFA estimates the revenues in 2014 to England and London’s Wembley minimalism” wrote the German national amounted to 1.93 billion euros (fromTV rights, Stadium. As there is not just one host country, newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, sponsoring and ticket sale), which means a all 13 will need to qualify. Thus home matches since the goal scored by substitute Eder in 34 percent increase on EURO 2012. After the for national teams are not guaranteed. As at the 109th minute was sufficient for the final deduction of 1.1 billion euros expenditure a EURO 2016, a total of 24 teams will compete triumph over the “Equipe Tricolore”. profit of 830 million will be distributed among for the title. the 55 UEFA national member associations, The French copied the special Icelandic cheering Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of the such as the German Football Association, DFB. The 13 venues of EURO 2020: ritual with rhythmic clapping and Huh cries during encounter, although he was on the pitch for UEFA Vice President Ángel María Villar Llona London, Munich, Baku, Glasgow, Dublin, Brus- the final. Photo: Imago just 23 minutes. Substituted in tears the in- disclosed at a press conference that the Asso- sels, Copenhagen, Budapest, Rome, Bilbao, jured star directed and cheered on his team ciation would “reflect” on the criticism of the Amsterdam, Bucharest, St. Petersburg. like a second coach.The success was a lucky tournament format being extended from 16 The “Huh” of the Icelanders lives on one as the French had more, and the better to 24 teams. However, it is considered unlikely Love matches follow EURO elimination The distinctive cheering ritual of the Ice- opportunities, for scoring, but goalkeeper Rui that EURO 2020 will be held with fewer parti- After the tournament comes the wedding. landers could obviously become a lasting Patricio kept his team in the game with a top cipants. The announcement that Bastian Schweinstei- element of football. The French players cele- performance. At the end the victory was de- ger, 31, (still) captain of the German national brated their semi-final victory over Germany served due to a grand fighting spirit, despite EURO 2020 in Azerbaijan team, and Serbian world-class tennis player in Marseille with consistent clapping, picking the setback with the Ronaldo injury. Ronaldo Yes, it’s right, the next European Championship Ana Ivanovic, 28, are to be married has up pace and the battle cry “Huh”. Even befo- and Portugal have finally come full circle with finals in 2020 will include Baku, the capital of greatly excited the paparazzi photographers re the game the stadium announcer had led the title. Twelve years ago the team lost the Azerbaijan, among its venues. And yes, it is a and the tabloids. Date and location are (yet) the crowd inside the Stade Velodrome, inclu- European Championship final 1-0 to outsiders European Football Championship. For accor- unknown. With less fanfare German national ding the German fans, in a collective “Huh”. Greece at home in Lisbon. Ronaldo, then aged ding to an idea from the now suspended UEFA striker Mario Gomez, 30, has hinted that he There were mixed reactions from Iceland. 19, was at the beginning of his great career. President Michel Platini the EURO 2020 will be will marry his fiancée Carina Wanzung, 37, The Icelandic Football Association was ple- The Portuguese, who were bronze medallists held in 13 countries, including Germany, whe- this European Championship summer. They ased with the imitation, declaring on Twitter: at the 1966 World Cup finals with the great re three preliminary round matches and one have been a couple for more than four years, “It is great to see that France does our battle Eusebio, have always been considered to be quarter-final will be staged at Munich’s Allianz but the Stuttgart-born striker and the model, cry the honour of impersonation. But no- among the favourites and often reached the Arena. The tournament has been scattered who advertises Triumph, are rarely seen to- body does it better than Iceland”. However, semi-finals. But the country was denied the over the continent because Platini thought it gether at big occasions. A series of weddings there was also criticism from fans and media big success – until July 10, 2016. appropriate for the 60th anniversary of the among German internationals took place in Iceland, suggesting that the French should championship, which began in 1960 as the after the 2014 World Cup: Mats and Cathy kindly find their own form of jubilation, and “European Cup for National Teams”. Hummels, Benedikt and Lisa Hoewedes, Toni not copy others. The German fans had also Kroos and Jessica Farber. Thomas Mueller tried to combine a rhythmic clapping with “Tour operators and tourist offices are already and his wife Lisa have been married for quite “Huh” cries during the quarter-final against rubbing their hands with glee”, commented some time. Italy. SoccerNews # 6/2016 4 ALLEZ BOOM! This headline could have featured a pithy pun on “moths”… But it doesn’t.