Euro 2004 digest

Striker Velizar Dimitrov is recovering well from a thigh injury, while keeper Zdravko Zdravkov and midfielder Daniel Borimirov hope to shake off minor muscle injuries.

The Bulgarians otherwise should have a full squad from which to choose with Celtic star Stilian Petrov among their star names.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Coach Karel Bruckner refuses to believe his sides are among the favourites as they prepare to begin their Euro 2004 campaign against Latvia on Tuesday.

Despite an outstanding qualifying campaign which saw them book their ticket to Portugal unbeaten, Bruckner insists past experience has taught him that form can mean very little when it comes to the European Championships.

“I do not think that we are a favourite in this championship,” Bruckner explained.

“Our fans and journalists have pushed us to this position but we have to go from game to game.

“We have to be humble and our main aim is to go through from the group. It is not possible to talk about the next rounds before we have advanced from the group.

“We had a good result at Euro 96 in England when we arrived as an outsider but we did not advance from the group in the last tournament (in 2000) when we came as a favourite.

“But that word means nothing to me. It is not possible to tell which team is a favourite in present day football. Football is very complicated.”

CROATIA: Goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is expected to miss his side’s opening Group B clash with Switzerland on Sunday after tearing a thigh muscle in training.

The 25-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk player underwent scans on the injury yesterday, but Tomislav Butina will take his place in goal.

Juventus defender Igor Tudor is suspended but has shaken off a knock to make himself available after Sunday and coach Otto Baric is likely to field the bulk of the team which started the 2-1 win in Denmark in the final warm-up game, although Milan Rapaic is set to come in for Ivica Olic.

DENMARK: Coach Morten Olsen is leaving the door open for Jesper Gronkjaer to play against Italy on Monday in his team’s Euro 2004 opener despite the coach’s initial deadline of Thursday having come and gone.

The Chelsea winger is still in Denmark by the side of his sick mother but Olsen is hopeful he will make it to Portugal.

“There’s no deadline for Gronkjaer,” Olsen said. “In this situation is all up to Jesper.”

FRANCE: Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has warned his team-mates not to concentrate solely on their first match of the tournament against England.

“We need to prove that we are worthy champions, that we are strong and the best,” he said.

“There is always going to be a lot of pressure on the French national team because of how good the players are. But we can handle the pressure.

“We want to go all the way and win the trophy. It’s not just about England, it’s about the whole competition.”

GERMANY: Germany striker Fredi Bobic feels his team may hold a key psychological advantage over main group rivals Holland.

“Man for man, they have the better players, without doubt,” the former Bolton striker admitted.

“But throughout our squad, all 23 men, we have a great spirit and as we have shown so often in the past, that can be very important.

“Stopping Ruud van Nistelrooy is vital and if we can do that, then we have every chance. And don’t forget, we have Michael Ballack and Oliver Khan, who are as good as anything Holland have got.”

GREECE: Coach Otto Rehhagel has a worry over a muscle injury to key defender Traianos Dellas ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2004 clash with Portugal.

Striker Demis Nikolaidis is available although he may not feature in the starting line-up with competition from Zisis Vryzas and Angelos Charisteas.

Midfielder Angelis Basinas claims the Greeks will not just try to stifle the tournament hosts in the first game of the championships.

“We certainly have a strong defence but that does not mean to say we can not be dangerous in attack as well,” he said.

HOLLAND: Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar went through a gentle training session as he looks to make a speedy recovery from a finger injury.

Van der Sar did a bit of jogging and playing outfield, but did not go in goal as Sander Westerveld and Ronald Waterreus took their places between the posts for training.

Van der Sar picked up the problem during training on Wednesday, but he is still expected to take the goalkeeping jersey for the match against Germany on June 15 after a medical examination revealed that the injury is not serious.

ITALY: Giovanni Trapattoni has no injury concerns ahead of his team’s opening European 2004 game against Denmark in Guimaraes on Monday.

Lazio midfielder Stefano Fiore returned to training earlier this week after being sidelined for two weeks with a problematic thigh.

And Roma defender Christian Panucci, who had been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury, was able to resume training on Wednesday.

The Azzurri squad have only held three light training sessions in the past three days with Trapattoni opting to avoid any late surprises prior to their first encounter.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will make his debut in the European tournament having missed the finals four years ago due to a hand injury.

LATVIA: Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs insists his side have not travelled to Portugal to make up the numbers as they prepare for their opening Euro 2004 match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

The unfancied Baltic nation find themselves in a difficult group with the Czechs, Germany and Holland in their first major international tournament, but Starkovs says losing will not be on their agenda when the competition kicks off this weekend.

“We cannot be favourites when playing Germany, the Czech Republic or the Netherlands, but in the game against the Czechs we will be happy only with a win or a draw,” Starkovs said.

“We have our own advantages and we are going to show them.

“We start our preparations here in Portugal with great enthusiasm.

“I do not know who will play though. I am still searching for the best option, but it’s not too much of a headache to be honest.

“Everything’s going as planned,” he added.

Team captain Vitalijs Astafjevs, keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko and defender Aleksandrs Isakovs have also all recovered from minor injuries giving Starkovs even more cause for optimism.

“Everyone is healthy, everyone is in an excellent mood, and everyone has a great appetite,” Starkovs said.

PORTUGAL: Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to adopt a 4-2-3-1 system against Greece in the opening match of Euro 2004 tomorrow.

In training the Brazilian coach paired together Pedro Pauleta and Nuno Gomes in an orthodox two-man attack but in most of his friendlies he has fielded Pauleta as a lone forward supported by three attacking midfielders.

Manuel Rui Costa is expected to win the vote over Deco in the central attacking midfield role.

Midfielder Maniche says that unity is the key to a home success in the tournament.

“We are very united,” he said. “There is an atmosphere of confidence because this is the first game and we must respond to the expectations the Portuguese have of us at this moment.

“We must go out onto the pitch at the Dragao with the intention to do our best.”

RUSSIA: Striker Dmitri Bulykin is happy that Russia are labelled underdogs ahead of Euro 2004.

Russia kick-off against Spain tomorrow before taking on hosts Portugal and Greece and Bulykin believes that with a bit of luck they can negotiate their way out of Group A.

He told Sport-Express: “I have noticed that some people do not take us serious and this could work to our advantage. All the teams are equal at the start of the tournament.

“It is better to prepare quietly and not talk too much about possible success.

“The main thing we must have is a good team spirit and we must feel that we can do anything. If we do that and carry a bit of luck then we can spring a surprise.”

SPAIN: Striker Fernando Morientes is almost certain he will be playing for Real Madrid again next season.

Morientes, who will start against Russia tomorrow in his country’s Euro 2004 opener, scored vital goals to fire Monaco into the final of the Champions League.

Real sporting director Jorge Valdano, who has announced he will be stepping down from the role, loaned Morientes to Monaco against the wishes of then coach Carlos Queiroz.

The return of Jose Antonio Camacho to Madrid and Valdano’s resignation has led to the player’s decision.

“I have spoken to Camacho on the phone and I am staying,” said Morientes in an interview with Marca.

SWEDEN: Sweden coach Tommy Soderberg will hope to have Mattias Jonsson and Olof Mellberg fit for Monday’s opening Euro 2004 clash with Bulgaria in Lisbon.

Striker Jonsson has been suffering from flu, while Mellberg has had a sore heel, although both are expected to be available for the game.

Midfielder Erik Wahlstedt faced a late rush to Portugal after becoming a father on Wednesday morning.

SWITZERLAND: Coach Jakob Kuhn is hopeful that key midfielder Johann Vogel will shake off a thigh injury for Sunday’s Group B opener against Croatia in Leiria.

The PSV Eindhoven star arrived in Portugal with the problem and has been undergoing treatment since, but he is confident he will be fit.

The Swiss otherwise have few problems and Kuhn should be able to name his strongest side, meaning a 102nd cap for veteran striker Stephane Chapuisat.