International friendly preview: France v Estonia

France will complete their Euro 2012 preparations with a friendly game against Estonia in Le Mans on Tuesday.

Should France avoid defeat at the MMArena, as is widely expected, they will head into the European Championships unbeaten in 21 matches.

Laurent Blanc’s side have won 14 of their last 20 games, overcoming the likes of England, Brazil and Germany in the process.

Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Chelsea’s Florent Malouda scored inside the opening 16 minutes as France outclassed Serbia 2-0 in their most recent outing last week.

Blanc, who is leading France into a major tournament for the first time, is likely to persist with Ribery, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema up front against Estonia.

“We’re looking for perfection, but that doesn’t exist,” Blanc told TF1.

“We were in better physical shape (against Serbia), but we’re not yet ready.

“We knew the three attackers – Ribery, Nasri and Benzema – had the technical and the individual quality, but they had to prove they could play together.

“They showed they can. They showed the right attitude and I hope it continues.

“Physically, we’ll be in even better condition against Estonia in our third and final preparation match.”

France face England, Sweden and hosts Ukraine in Group D at Euro 2012, with their opening match against Roy Hodgson’s men in Donetsk on June 11.

Estonia, 54th in the FIFA rankings, head to Le Mans on the back of outings against Finland and Lithuania in the biannual Baltic Cup last weekend.

Tarmo Ruutli’s men were defeated 2-1 by Finland on Friday before overcoming Lithuania 1-0 on Sunday.

Striker Vladimir Voskoboinikov, who netted in the win over Lithuania, is likely to be a threat, but France should be too strong as they look to continue their excellent run of form.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/international-friendly-preview-france-v-estonia/95884/

Kewell yet to confirm Victory stay

Melbourne Victory face a new round of negotiations with Socceroo Harry Kewell as other A-League clubs circle for his signature.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Kewell has decided to take an opt-out clause in the incentive-based three-year contract he signed with Victory after the club’s dismal campaign last season meant his earnings did not match expectations.

Kewell’s manager James Erskine said the 33-year-old hoped to stay with Victory especially as the team is now managed by dual A-League championship-winning coach Ange Postecoglou, but the marquee player was hoping for a more standard contract.

“There’s no agreement as such at the moment, the last one was terminated so now it’s as if we’re starting again,” Erskine told the Daily Telegraph.

“We haven’t seriously gone out to speak to any other clubs for now, and Harry’s preference is to stay in Melbourne, but that all depends on what we can agree with Victory.”

Kewell is not the only big-name Socceroo without a contract ahead of Australia’s World Cup qualifiers with Oman and Japan as Aussie captain Lucas Neill will also find himself a free agent at the end of June when his contract with UAE Pro-League outfit Al-Jazira expires.

It has been reported that 34-year-old Neill is on the radar of the A-League’s new Western Sydney club, but the former Blackburn and West Ham defender intends to stay in Asia.

Neill’s management refused to comment on the speculation.

“My sole focus is on the Socceroos and getting off to a good start on the road to Brazil,” Neill said in a media statement also published in the Daily Telegraph.

“I will address my club situation at the end of June if and when my club contract expires.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/kewell-yet-to-confirm-victory-stay/95883/

Poland eye strong start

Poland midfielder Eugen Polanski believes a fast start to the European Championships against Greece is vital for his under-rated side.

Coming into the tournament, Poland may be one of the host nations, but with a FIFA ranking of number 65 in the world, they are a long way behind their Group A opponents Russia (world number 11), Greece (14) and Czech Republic (26).

Although Greece won the 2004 European Championships, Group A is without all the major favourites for this year’s competition in Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

And, with such an open group, 26-year-old Mainz midfielder Polanski believes getting a fast start may just be enough to take his side through to the quarter-finals.

“It’s important to win the first game and start the tournament with three points,” Polanski said.

“Once we achieve this, we will focus on other challenges that lie ahead.

“For the time being, there’s not much I can say about our upcoming game with Greece, all I know is that they are tough opponents, with remarkable defensive skills.

“But we will cause them some problems as well – that’s for sure.”

It is only the second time Poland have competed at the European Championships, having made their maiden appearance in 2008, with the co-hosts looking to improve on that effort where they were knocked out in the group stages.

Although they boast some serious talent in Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski and midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, who is also the Polish skipper, goalkeeper Grzegorz Sandomierski said the Poles cannot simply rely on their stars to shine if they hope to advance.

“We all realise that, for us, we could be involved in this tournament for the whole month,” Sandomierski said.

“That is why we all have to be prepared to come out onto the pitch at any time and try to make that one decisive pass, to score or to make a save.

“The fate of the whole tournament might be in the hands of one person in this team.

“We are aware that we will all be useful at some point, if not on the pitch, then outside, where we must stay strong psychologically.

“We have to support each other. It is crucial for this team to be absolutely united.

“Only then will we be able to achieve a number of great things.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/poland-eye-strong-start/95882/

Russia look for improvement

Russia coach Dick Advocaat insists his side have plenty of work to do despite thrashing Italy 3-0 last week.

The Russians sounded out a warning to maiden opponents Czech Republic with a comprehensive defeat of Italy in Zurich, with Aleksandr Kerzhakov opening the scoring on the hour-mark before Roman Shirokov netted a late double.

The manner of the victory has led many pundits to install as Advocaat’s team as dark horses for Euro 2012, but the Dutchman is ignoring the pre-tournament hype surrounding his team ahead of their Group A opener.

“The result against the Italians gives us great confidence,” the former Netherlands coach told Sky Sports.

“These friendlies are very important.

“That game (against Italy) showed that we are on the right track. But I also think we have to be a lot better defensively.”

Advocaat said he knew what his starting line-up would be for Friday’s meeting with the Czechs in Wroclaw.

“We still have a few days to go and anything can still happen,” he said.

“Of course, I have prepared the side in my head for the most part, but I will not be saying anything about it.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/russia-look-for-improvement/95881/

Rosicky fit for Euro 2012

Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek has revealed Tomas Rosicky will start the team’s opening match of Euro 2012 against Russia on Friday.

The creative midfielder had missed both of his side’s warm-up games against Israel and Hungary after sustaining a calf injury in Arsenal’s last English Premier League match of the season against West Brom.

Despite a replacement being called up as a precaution, he has now been declared fit for Euro 2012.

“Rosicky will play in the opening match,” Bilek told reporters. “He showed his qualities even during training.

“When he gets the ball, he is able to find space for a clever pass. He is decisive with the ball.

“Today showed how much he is looking forward to playing. I believe that he will boost the quality of our line-up.”

Czech Republic will also face Greece and co-hosts Poland in Group A.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/rosicky-fit-for-euro-2012/95879/

Marchisio: Italy will overcome off-field drama

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio is adamant the recent match-fixing allegations will not affect his side during Euro 2012.

Italian football has been rocked by reports of match-fixing in recent months, just six years after the Calciopoli scandal ended and numerous clubs received punishments, including Juventus being stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B.

Marchisio, who plays for Juventus, admitted Italy’s squad for Euro 2012 had been talking about the ongoing scandal, but said it would not distract them from the European Championships, which start on Saturday.

“It was impossible not to talk about the match-fixing scandal,” Marchisio said.

“It was on every newspaper, so we talked about the matter and what annoys us in particular is that it is not the whole football world that is portrayed by the scandal.

“We’ll wait for the sentences and it’s fair that those who committed the crimes will pay for that.

“The only thing we can do is wait and trust that justice will give them stiff sentences, so that it will be harder to have the same situation again in Italian football.

“Aside from this, we are all great professionals and we all want to play an excellent European Championship.”

Marchisio also urged calm following the 3-0 friendly defeat to Russia, which was Italy’s only warm-up match before Euro 2012 starts in Poland and Ukraine.

“We obviously analysed the game and there were positives aspects,” Marchisio said.

“After two great years and with our excellent qualifying campaigns, such a defeat right before the beginning of the cup needs to be analysed carefully.

“But we need to remain calm, because we are strong, we are a close-knit group, and we know what needs to be improved and we also know what we have to do in order to achieve that.”

Reports have suggested Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will play a three-man defence at Euro 2012.

Marchisio said the players would handle whatever tactics Prandelli chooses.

“Some players are used to playing with a three-man defence and five in the midfield and others have never played with such a system,” the 26-year-old midfielder said.

“But it’s up to the coach to make that decision and the team will have to follow him in any decision he makes.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/marchisio-italy-will-overcome-off-field-drama/95878/

Blanc unsure over M´Vila fitness

France coach Laurent Blanc has cast further doubt over Yann M’Vila’s participation in France’s opening Euro 2012 clash with England.

M’Vila suffered an ankle sprain in last week’s friendly international with Serbia.

The 21-year-old, believed to be a transfer target for Arsenal, sustained the injury when tackled by Dusan Tadic early in the 2-0 win, and although he attempted to shake off the knock, he was unable to continue.

The Rennes man was an expected starter in Les Bleus’ midfield for the match with England, but Blanc is cautious about a premature return.

“I don’t know if he will play versus England,” Blanc said to reporters.

“He has a substantial injury, but we should be careful. The injury can move in the right direction in a few days.”

Speaking ahead of his team’s friendly against Estonia on Tuesday, Blanc said he wanted a good performance from his side.

“It is very difficult for me to confirm whether the team that starts tomorrow against Estonia will be the same one that will start against England on June 11,” Blanc said.

“We still have the same goal and objective – to progress past the first round, to reach the quarter-finals and then see where we go from there.

“For us, we want to play well during the friendlies and to have that confidence and conviction in order to achieve our objectives.”

France attacker Florent Malouda said it was important for his side to take the clash against Estonia seriously.

“The most important thing is to keep doing what we are doing, but we still have to increase our level and build up our confidence ahead of the tournament,” Malouda said.

“Of course, the competition itself is always different compared to the friendly games.

“It is essential to enforce good practice, whatever the opposition or match.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/blanc-unsure-over-m%c2%b4vila-fitness/95877/