Germans were unfurling their flags and applying the black, red and gold face-paints on Sunday morning as football fever approached its climax for the team s Euro 2008 final against Spain.
From Chancellor Angela Merkel downwards, Germans will be cheering on Schweini , Poldi and their teammates in a nation now much more comfortable with being patriotic ever since the 2006 World Cup was held on home soil.
In towns and cities across the country, hundreds of thousands were expected at public viewing areas to watch the match beamed in from Vienna from 1845 GMT onto huge screens and tens of millions will be glued to their TVs at home.
More than 400,000 people watched the last game in the specially erected Fan Mile around the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin alone, and the…
Ron Vlaar is targeting a marked improvement in Aston Villa s fortunes after a disappointing finish to their Premier League campaign.
Villa endured a torrid end to the season, winning once in their last nine matches, eventually finishing in 15th position, five points above the relegation zone.
Paul Lambert s men also finished 15th at the end of 2012-13, but that came on the back of a strong run in which they won five of their last 10 games to pull clear of trouble.
It needs to be better, one thing is for sure, Vlaar told the club s official website. The most important thing, though, is that we secured our Premier League status.
After last season we had a good feeling in the summer break because we climbed the table and secured safety.
But in the last couple …
Stuttgart have completed the signing of 23-year-old striker Daniel Ginczek from Nuremberg on a four-year deal.
Following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Nuremberg have lost a host of players including Makoto Hasebe and Markus Feulner.
Former Borussia Dortmund frontman Ginczek is the latest to join the exodus, and he will link up with former Nuremberg team-mate Adam Hlousek snapped up by Stuttgart earlier this week again.
In a season where he struggled with injuries, Ginczek made just 18 appearances in all competitions last term and found the net four times.
Ginczek is confident he can prove a hit at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, telling the club s official website: I was having a good time in Nuremberg up until my injury but I wanted to continue playing in the …
According to , Rangers are interested in signing FC Honka striker Juan Diego Alegria in the January transfer window. It has been reported that talks between Rangers and FC Honka regarding the transfer of Alegria is very advanced, and that the striker is set to join the Scottish Premiership club.
It has been reported by the Colombian news outlet that Alegria could join Rangers on loan in January transfer window, with the Gers having an option to make the deal permanent in the summer of 2020. The 18-year-old has made six appearances for the FC Honka first team.
Alegria is only 18 years of age, and it is clear that the Colombian teenager is one for the future. Rangers have four quality and senior strikers in Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten and Jermain Defoe. The…
Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool again proved their quality in a 2-0 win over Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Premier League leaders kept their European defence alive thanks to second-half goals from Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah, moving into the last 16 as Group E winners.
Van Dijk felt Jurgen Klopp s side showcased their quality during a tricky away clash.
I think it says a lot about the quality we have, first of all, the defender told reporters.
I think it s tough to come here. It s their chance of a lifetime to go through to the knockout stages.
We knew what to expect, especially in the beginning, it was tough. They re a very good side. They have good players, a lot of pressure on the ball, a lot of hard work, a lot of des…
Frank Lampard is not buying into suggestions Chelsea have the strongest squad in the Premier League after they fell to Everton.
Gylfi Sigurdsson s 22nd-minute penalty saw Everton to a 1-0 win on Saturday, ending Chelsea s 14-game unbeaten streak.
While they sit third in the table, the loss was a blow to Chelsea s title chances, left two points adrift of Tottenham and Liverpool, who play on Sunday.
Last week, Lampard s men were labelled Premier League favourites by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after their off-season spending, but the former England international dismissed suggestions he had the strongest squad at his disposal.
I keep reading how we have the strongest squad in the league but I don t understand it, he told a news conference.
Ther…
Tim Sherwood and England international midfielder Fabian Delph are working together at Aston Villa but it may have come sooner had the former Tottenham boss got his way at White Hart Lane.
Sherwood revealed he was interested in taking Delph to Tottenham before Daniel Levy wielded the axe after the London club finished sixth at the end of the 2013-14 Premier League season.
Almost a year on and Sherwood is back in management as a replacement for Paul Lambert and working with Delph, who signed a contract extension in January.
He s the sort of character I need when you re struggling towards the bottom of the division and he s willing to put pen to paper on a new deal. He will do for me! Sherwood said ahead of Saturday s hosting of Swansea City.
…
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott is confident the club will quickly adapt to life without Roberto Mancini.
The Italian was sacked after failing to add to the 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Premier League trophies he won for the club, with Manuel Pellegrini the overwhelming favourite to take over at the Etihad Stadium.
City produced a lacklustre performance in their final Premier League fixture of the season as they fell to a 3-2 home defeat to Norwich.
But Lescott is confident the side will come back strongly.
It s been a difficult for everyone but it is important as a player you understand that no matter what happens you need to keep striving to improve every games. We ll continue to do that.
The decision has been made by the club and we have to respect that as players. …
Mexico fired in three first-half goals to book their spot in the Gold Cup semi-finals with an emphatic 3-0 win over Honduras in Glendale on Saturday.
The holders dominated proceedings, marked by a 12-minute flurry of goals, and were good value for the win, with 13-4 shots and 64-36 per cent possession.
Rogelio Funes Mori, who netted a brace in El Tri s 3-0 group win over Guatemala, opened the scoring in the 26th minute, nodding in Luis Rodriguez s right-flank cross.
LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos doubled Mexico s lead in the 31st minute with a spectacular first-time volley.
Orbelin Pineda added another seven minutes later, heading in Jesus Corona s well-weighted cross.
Mexico will face either Costa Rica or Canada in the semi-finals on Th…
Mikel Arteta officially started work at Arsenal on Sunday and appears set to get busy in the transfer market.
The Gunners reportedly have two targets in their sights, including a Serie A star.
Arsenal could do with an injection of excitement after slipping to 11th in the Premier League following their lacklustre goalless draw at Everton.
TOP STORY – GUNNERS EYE MERTENS AND VOLLAND
Among the players Arsenal admire is Napoli mainstay Dries Mertens, according to CalcioMercato.
Mertens, on target five times in the Champions League this term, will be available on a free at the end of the season.
Borussia Dortmund are also said to be interested in the 32-year-old, potentially forcing Arsenal to look elsewhere for reinforcements.