GDANSK:
Midfielder Marco Reus said Germany have proved they are the team to beat ahead of Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final and insisted the Germans are better than possible opponents England.
Germany trounced Greece 4-2 in Friday’s quarter-final as Reus marked his first start at Euro 2012 with a goal. In the Warsaw semi-final, Germany will face either England or Italy, and while Reus credited England in performing better than had been predicted, he said the Germans were still the better team.
“I think England have stepped up and exceeded everyone’s expectations, also they will have Wayne Roooney back,” said Rues. “I still think we have the better squad, both individually and as a team. The European title is in our hands.”
Deja vu for captain Lahm
German skipper Philipp Lahm’s sizzling 39th-minute strike to Greek goal-keeper Michalis Sifakis’s left was a near carbon-copy of his opener against Costa Rica in the first game of the 2006 World Cup on home soil.
“We can be happy that we created more goals and are now in the semi-finals,” said Lahm. “We started really well, so we can be very happy.”
Portugal players in training bust-up
Meanwhile, Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma and defender Miguel Lopes had a training ground bust-up yesterday, days ahead of their semi-final appearance.
During one drill, Quaresma was pushed to the ground by Lopes whereupon the winger kicked out at the defender’s legs. Defender Ricardo Costa stood in front of Quaresma to calm him down while coach Paulo Bento also got involved.
“It’s just normal things that happen in training,” said Costa. “Things got a bit heated between two players. We’re pumped up, we always want to win and sometimes small things happen.”
Portugal facing UEFA charges
The Portuguese Football Federation is facing disciplinary action after a fan tried to get on the pitch during the country’s quarter-final win against the Czech Republic.
European football’s governing body said in an emailed statement that they had launched proceedings against the FPF for ‘the inappropriate behaviour of their supporters - attempted invasion of the field of play by a fan’.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2012.
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He has only spoken his age, immaturely, to sum it up. They have 2 more hurdles to cross, Yes facing either England or Italy in semi finals is certain and no mean task, Then it may be either Spain or Portugal in the Finals if Germany are able to Clear the previous hurdle, Italy or England. Stallions, Italians are as mighty as ever with their defensive approach, and England of 2012 is certainly different from the England team of 2010 when Germany beat England 4 to 1. Then, Spain are still a chip of the old block(2010) and Portuguese are certainly not pushovers should they miraculously beat Spain,I feel it is like crossing the bridge, before it has even been sighted, let alone arrive. How ever facing Portugal team is their best bet if they aspire to win the Championship. All the best, however. Rgds P