WhiStLe-Tips http://www.whistle-tips.com 2008-07-04T20:38:57+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2008-06-30T03:20:02+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/index.php/European-Cup/Torres-fires-Spain-to-Euro-2008-glory.html Spain claimed their first major title for 44 years after winning Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over Germany. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was Spain's goal hero, striking after 33 minutes when he cleverly lifted Xavi's pass over Germany keeper Jens Lehmann. Spain dominated the final throughout, with Torres heading against the post and Marcos Senna almost adding a second from close range after 80 minutes. Michael Ballack came close for Germany, shooting narrowly wide after the break. Spain have long had a reputation as under-achievers on the big occasions, but this was a richly-merited victory for veteran coach Luis Aragones and a team that played outstanding football throughout the tournament. Germany were outclassed, and for captain Ballack his catalogue of misery in major finals continues having lost two Champions League finals and also been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final when they lost to Brazil. text/html 2008-06-29T04:59:19+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/index.php/European-Cup/Preview-Germany-v-Spain.html vs However the finals in Vienna ends, one thing is certain: all of the best teams have made it to the finish, that is to say had a chance to fight for the trophy. Before the championship started, we didn’t think of Spain as of top favourites but it seems that this Red Fury generation has the quality to erase the label of losers. Germany, on the other hand, are no surprise; there were some doubts after their loss against Croatia in the group but the duel against Portugal showed what Elf can do. They weren’t impressive against Turkey either but they will fight for their fourth crown in their seventh finals. So far, they had partial success but Low and his players are aware that this is a chance of a generation. Some former Panzer squads had even more quality... This squad with only few stars could stand side by side some better teams. Spain are euphoric, though pragmatic Aragones warns that the qualification for the finals is a good result, but a trophy makes you a winner. Last time this country played in EURO finals was in France 1984 when they comparatively easily lost to the hosts. But as we have said on several occasions, for the first time in recent history, Spanish players have leading roles in their clubs, are capable of taking responsibility. text/html 2008-06-28T04:10:33+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/index.php/Latest/-Lippi-re-appointed-as-Italy-coach.html Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has been re-appointed after Roberto Donadoni's contract was not extended. Donadoni left after Italy went out of Euro 2008 when they lost to Spain on penalties in the quarter-final. Lippi, 60, will be unveiled in Rome on Tuesday, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on its website. He has been out of coaching since leading Italy to their World Cup triumph against France in Berlin. Donadoni, 44, signed a new contract extension prior to Euro 2008 but one of the conditions of the deal was for the world champions to reach the last four. The FIGC activated a 10-day get out clause that applied to both Donadoni and the Italian Football Federation after they lost to Spain. Donadoni, a former AC Milan player, succeeded Lippi in 2006 but the FIGC said his tenure had run to its natural expiry date . text/html 2008-06-27T00:33:22+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/index.php/European-Cup/Rampant-Spain-Crush-Russia.html Another stormy night in Vienna saw Spain outclass Russia and set up a final with Germany. Goals from Xavi, Guiza and Silva were enough to see off Gus Hiddink’s men who were outplayed by a vibrant Spanish side, who also lost top scorer David Villa to injury in the first half. An engaging first half ended goalless although both sides had their chances. Spain started the game marginally the quicker of the two sides, Xavi bending in an early cross which Sergio Ramos just failed to connect with and Villa and Torres combining well moments later, but Torres, after swivelling past his marker, could only manage a weak shot at goal. The Russians slowly grew into the game and with the much vaunted Arshavin being well marshalled by the Spanish defence it was fellow striker Pavlyuchenko who had the best chances for Gus Hiddink’s side. A free kick from fully 40 yards which flew inches over was his first warning, quickly followed by a speculative shot from range which he tried to bend past Casillas. His shot may have been going wide but the Real Madrid goalkeeper was taking no chances and managed to tip it around the post. text/html 2008-06-26T05:05:47+01:00 http://www.whistle-tips.com http://www.whistle-tips.com/index.php/European-Cup/Preview-Russia-v-Spain.html vs Two sides that played group D opening match will meet again, this time with much more at stake. Spain and Russia are fighting for the finals of the European championship which is a surprising course of events in this championship that is filled with various twists and turns and excellent outsider performances. Spain won the first game easily, 4:1 which led us all to think that Russians will as usually be sitting ducks for their rivals. But, after that failure, Hiddink’s squad got serious, managed to win current champions, Greece and then fight their way to the second round in and excellent game against Sweden. The rest is history; triumph over Netherlands is certainly a good message for Spain: Russians can match any European squad. But let us get back to the opening game, when Russia paid for being naive; they started the match with their guard down, missed a couple of chances and got cruel punishment. The loose defense was a suicide, Villa and Torres had many one-on-one situations which they solved easily. The result were four goals behind excellent Akinfeev’s back.