Group B

Germany not out for revenge after 2006 'trauma'

Gdansk (Poland): Germany will not be seeking revenge for a bitter 2006 World Cup semi-final defeat on home soil when they meet Italy again at the same stage of Euro 2012 in Warsaw on Thursday, coach Joachim Loew said. Loew, who was Juergen Klinsmann's assistant at the time, and 34-year-old forward Miroslav Klose, who played in their last-gasp 2-0 defeat against eventual world champions Italy in extra time, said there...  

Champions of Europe: Spain face Portugal test

CNN-IBN's football experts Karim Bencherifa and Novy Kapadia preview the first semi-final between Spain and Portugal in Euro 2012 on Wednesday night. ...

Italy are vulnerable at the back: Howedes

Warsaw: Germany defender Benedikt Howedes feels that England showed during their quarter-final clash with Italy that the Azzurri are vulnerable at the back. Die Mannschaft will tackle Cesare Prandelli's side in Warsaw on Thursday and the Schalke captain has the utmost respect for La Nazionale. However, after seeing a possession-starved England create numerous chances on the break in Kiev last Sunday, particularly during the first half, Howedes is in no...  

Real-Barca rivalry re-ignited in Euro semis

It's all about sharing. Spain and Portugal share a border, two coastlines and an entire peninsula. They share a climate, a parallel political past and currently, a crisis. But right now, they also share a dream. The two neighbouring nations come face to face in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 on Wednesday night and only one can progress to the continental competition's Sunday showpiece in Kiev. At 20:45 CET this...  

It's time for Germany to break the curse: Low

Germany's coach Joachim Low believes that the time has come for Germany to overcome their struggles of the past and defeat Italy in a major tournament. Die Mannschaft have failed to come out on top against the Azzurri in four previous World Cups and two European Championship meetings. They will go head-to-head once more in the Euro 2012 semi-final on Thursday, and the 52-year-old trainer believes that they will finally...  

Schweinsteiger fit to face Italy

Gdansk: Germany central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be available to play in the European Championship semi-finals against Italy on Thursday. Schweinsteiger has complained of a lingering ankle injury and had raised doubts about his fitness. But coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday all of his players will be ready to face Italy in Warsaw, including Schweinsteiger. "He is the team's emotional leader, he thinks a lot and asks a lot...  

Can Portugal's Ronaldo better Spain's teamwork?

Donetsk: For Spain it's more about stopping one man, while for Portugal it will be about containing a whole team when the sides meet in Wednesday's European Championship semi-finals. While Cristiano Ronaldo holds the keys to Portugal's chances of taking a step closer to a first major trophy, Spain's charge toward an unprecedented third straight tournament title is anchored in selfless teamwork. Spain simply does not need a Ronaldo, Portugal...  

Ronaldo feels no special pressure

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has assured that he is not feeling any sort of pressure ahead of his side's Euro 2012 semi-final clash against Spain on Wednesday. The 27-year-old has been in excellent form in Poland and Ukraine in his side's last two matches, scoring three goals to send the Seleccao to the last-four stage. He will face some of his Real Madrid team-mates in the quarter-finals and also several...  

We have the tactics to neutralise Ronaldo: Pedro

Barcelona winger Pedro Rodrguez Ledesma is confident that Spain will have the measure of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo when they meet in their Euro 2012 semi-final on Wednesday. The Real Madrid man has been in excellent form in his last two games, scoring three goals against Netherlands and Czech Republic and firing his side into the final four of the competition in the process. Despite his scintillating play in the...  

Italy will attack Germany, says Prandelli

Cesare Prandelli has declared that Italy will take the game to Germany in Thursday's Euro 2012 semi-final showdown in Warsaw, even though he believes his side will be severely handicapped by having had two fewer days of rest ahead of the game. The Azzurri only booked their place in the last four on Sunday, defeating England on penalties after a 120-minute war of attrition. Die Mannschaft, meanwhile, cruised through courtesy...  

I have an enviable team, says Del Bosque

Vicente del Bosque insists that he is not paying the slightest bit of attention to the current criticism of Spain's style of play, arguing that no matter what anyone else says, he knows he is in possession of an "enviable team". La Roja drew widespread praise for the way in which they went about winning Euro 2008 but there were some murmurings of disapproval during their successful 2010 World Cup...  

Spain face tough task against Ronaldo's Portugal

Gniewino (Poland): Spanish players haven't altered their playing style to win recent titles, and they won't start now just because it's coming up against Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal will be counting on Ronaldo in Wednesday's European Championship semifinal against the defending champions, a second Iberian derby in as many tournaments after Spain beat their neighbours on their way to a World Cup triumph in 2010. A total of eight Real Madrid...  

Champions of Europe: Spain, Germany favourites to reach the final

CNN-IBN's football experts Karim Bencherifa and Novy Kapadia preview the Euro 2012 semi-finals. ...

Even Messi has his critics: Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is not troubled by the constant pressure to perform for the Seleccao, and pointed out that even Ballon d'Or holder Lionel Messi has his critics. The Real Madrid man was the subject of scathing attacks after his underwhelming performances against Germany and Denmark in Group B of Euro 2012, but responded well with superb showings against the Netherlands and the Czech Republic....  

Schweinsteiger doubtful for Euro semi-final

Gdansk: Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger might miss his team's European Championship semifinal on Thursday because of a lingering ankle injury. Schweinsteiger revealed in a newspaper interview on Sunday that his right ankle hasn't healed properly after a ligament tear in February and that it's creating problems in the tournament. Germany will play either Italy or England in the last four in Warsaw. "To be honest, the ankle is worrying me,"...  

'Portugal wary of Spain threat in semi-finals'

Poland: Portugal cannot afford to make any errors against Spain's World Cup-winning midfield regardless of whether they play with an out-and-out striker in the form of Fernando Torres, defender Joao Pereira said on Sunday. Spain and Portugal meet in the first Euro 2012 semi-final in Donetsk on Wednesday. "We have a team with personality and we can't make any mistakes in the defence, because they (Spain) are very strong," Pereira...  

Bust-up threatens Portugal Euro hopes

Donetsk: Portugal defender Miguel Lopes and attacker Ricardo Quaresma came to blows during a training session on Saturday. The incident happened towards the end of a team practice when the Braga man made a robust challenge on the Besiktas winger, who responded angrily to the tackle and aimed a kick at the right-back. The two players went on to hurl verbal abuse at each other amidst a lot of pushing,...  

Germany beat Greece 4-2 to enter semis

Gdansk: Germany booked a semi-final against England or Italy after thrashing Greece 4-2 in Friday's Euro 2012 quarter-final at the PGE Arena here. A first half which saw profligate finishing from the 2008 finalists, Philipp Lahm broke the deadlock with a fine long-range strike after 39 minutes. Greece secured a shock equaliser ten minutes into the second half with Georgios Samaras tapping in a Dimitris Salpingidis cross. Germany retook the...