Euro 2012 Daily Update: Sunday 24th June

By Michael Brock
Published on 24/06/2012 17:48

ENGLAND look past the Italians while France wave Au revoir

• Steven Gerrard has pledged to give it his all when England face the Italians tonight in Kiev.

Considered to be England’s best player in the tournament so far, Gerrard stated earlier today that he’s enjoying the journey. “it’s important we seize this opportunity and this moment, that we grasp it and don’t go home with any regrets. “I know quarter-finals don’t come around very often, so it’s important we leave everything out there and we show to our critics and doubters that we are capable of performing at this level.”

• French coach Blanc fires criticism at Nasri

Rumoured to be a changing room full of unrest in the tournament, Blanc kept quiet on his own future following their defeat to Spain last nightbut spoke out about his player having ‘a lack of respect’. Nasri launched an expletive tirade at a journalist after their defeat.

• A mole in the German camp

Germany have been hit with the revelation that someone has been leaking their line up hours before the games. Some people in the press were reportedly given the line up against Greece hours before their victory. German Coach Joachim Low immediently dismissed that it could be a player but did suggest it could be a players wife or agent.

• Eusebio taken to hospital

The Portuguese legend, who has been travelling with the team complained of feeling unwell. Aged 70 and in Poland with a role as ambassador, the Portuguese FA released this statement: ‘“National-team ambassador Eusébio felt unwell when he was at the hotel with the team. After an initial observation and contacting his doctor in Lisbon, he moved as a precaution to a hospital in Poznan for further investigations.”

MAN TO WATCH

Roy Hodgson

What will turn out to be his most important game to date in a long and illustrious career, Roy Hodgson has quietly won over the doubters and nay sayers. If it’s not for his style of football then for the much talked about team spirit and ‘togetherness’, Roy has came in and changed some hearts and minds. He also has the advantage of being a native which is something Wayne Rooney commented on earlier in the week that he ‘can understand what he’s talking about because he’s English’.Looking at tonight in Kiev, Roy can also utilise his knowledge of Italian football having managed in Serie A with Udinese and Internazionale. Can Hodgson take England to the next level?

CLASSIC EURO GOAL

Marco Van Basten’s sublime volley against USSR in 1988

If it’s been selected earlier in the tournament as a classic goal, some goals are worth seeing again. And again..

Generally considered the greatest goal in any Euro championship, Van Basten’s volley showed great technique and more importantly, great imagination. The Dutch coach Rinus Michels looks on with stunned disbelief. If Michels had thought he’s seen everything in football, he was wrong. Sublime.

Fixture:

England v Italy (Kiev 7.45pm)

Live covearge from 7pm on BBC1

Betting odds:

Having played each other 22 times with the Azzurri winning nine and England winning seven, this will be a tough one to call. With England failing to register a single shot in the first 45 minutes against Ukraine and Italy only conceding two goals in their entire qualifying campaign, this could be a game with few goals. A bet on a penalties win might be a good idea.

• England to win and Wayne Rooney scoring: 7/2

• Balotelli to score and Italy win: 5/1

• Italy to win 2 nil: 11/1

• England to win 2-1: 11/1

• Either team to win on penalties 10/1

Odds courtesy of www.williamhill.com