The French Football Federation has announced plans to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of France's FIFA World Cup triumph with a gala match between the triumphant 1998 team and a world XI at the Stade de France on 12 July.
'An honour'
Les Bleus clinched the title for the first time with a 3-0 victory over Brazil in Paris thanks to Zinédine Zidane's double and a further goal from Emmanuel Petit, and Aimé Jacquet's victorious side will now be reunited exactly a decade later. "It's a great pleasure and an honour for me," said Jacquet, who confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that he would be retaking his place in the dugout for the game. "Today the France shirt has a real identity."
Lizarazu memories
Meanwhile, former France left-back Bixente Lizarazu said he was looking forward to commemorating "the most beautiful moment of my career". He added: "The more time goes by, the more I tell myself that what we did in 1998 was simply incredible. My best memory remains the moment I lifted the trophy. Today there is still something special between the players who participated in France '98."
Too good to be forgotten?
Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero may yet force their way into the reckoning for Italy's UEFA EURO 2008™ squad despite missing out on recent friendlies.
Friendly absentees
With just two months and a day to go until Italy's opening Group C game against the Netherlands on 9 June, many believe that coach Roberto Donadoni has already got a clear idea of the squad that he will take to Austria and Switzerland, but Cassano and Del Piero are not giving up hope despite being excluded from recent friendly get-togethers with the national team.
Fierce temper
Currently on loan from Real Madrid CF at UC Sampdoria, Cassano's strength and creativity mark him out as a special talent, but the 25-year-old's temperament has become almost as famous. The former AS Bari and AS Roma star's fiery response to referees and even team-mates has seen him collect a steady flow of red and yellow cards. As a case in point, he only just returned from a five-match suspension on Sunday to help his side win 2-0 against AS Livorno Calcio and keep Sampdoria in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League place.
'Second to nobody'
Cassano scored the final goal of Italy's ill-fated UEFA EURO 2004™ finals campaign but was not in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Nonetheless, his record of seven goals in 16 league games this season may prove hard for Donadoni to ignore. "I spoke with Donadoni a few days ago," said Cassano. "You have to deal with him in a certain way and I hope I managed it. In my opinion I'm second to nobody, not even Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaká, so I think my presence in Austria and Switzerland would be an advantage for Italy."
Splendid performance
At 33, Juventus striker Del Piero is a little more reserved in his outlook, but his goalscoring record speaks for itself, with 13 strikes from 30 Serie A games this season. His side lost 3-2 at US Città di Palermo on Sunday, but Del Piero scored twice and also rattled the post with a magnificent free-kick, as if any reminder were needed of his ability.
'Dual target'
The vastly experienced Del Piero has not given up hope of a UEFA EURO 2008™ berth either, saying: "I have two targets this year. First, I will do my best to help Juventus get into next year's UEFA Champions League. Second, I hope Donadoni will make me part of the squad for UEFA EURO 2008™. I have worked hard this season and I think I deserve the call, even though the coach is free to make his own decision." It will surely not be a decision he will take lightly.
Friendly absentees
With just two months and a day to go until Italy's opening Group C game against the Netherlands on 9 June, many believe that coach Roberto Donadoni has already got a clear idea of the squad that he will take to Austria and Switzerland, but Cassano and Del Piero are not giving up hope despite being excluded from recent friendly get-togethers with the national team.
Fierce temper
Currently on loan from Real Madrid CF at UC Sampdoria, Cassano's strength and creativity mark him out as a special talent, but the 25-year-old's temperament has become almost as famous. The former AS Bari and AS Roma star's fiery response to referees and even team-mates has seen him collect a steady flow of red and yellow cards. As a case in point, he only just returned from a five-match suspension on Sunday to help his side win 2-0 against AS Livorno Calcio and keep Sampdoria in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League place.
'Second to nobody'
Cassano scored the final goal of Italy's ill-fated UEFA EURO 2004™ finals campaign but was not in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Nonetheless, his record of seven goals in 16 league games this season may prove hard for Donadoni to ignore. "I spoke with Donadoni a few days ago," said Cassano. "You have to deal with him in a certain way and I hope I managed it. In my opinion I'm second to nobody, not even Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaká, so I think my presence in Austria and Switzerland would be an advantage for Italy."
Splendid performance
At 33, Juventus striker Del Piero is a little more reserved in his outlook, but his goalscoring record speaks for itself, with 13 strikes from 30 Serie A games this season. His side lost 3-2 at US Città di Palermo on Sunday, but Del Piero scored twice and also rattled the post with a magnificent free-kick, as if any reminder were needed of his ability.
'Dual target'
The vastly experienced Del Piero has not given up hope of a UEFA EURO 2008™ berth either, saying: "I have two targets this year. First, I will do my best to help Juventus get into next year's UEFA Champions League. Second, I hope Donadoni will make me part of the squad for UEFA EURO 2008™. I have worked hard this season and I think I deserve the call, even though the coach is free to make his own decision." It will surely not be a decision he will take lightly.
Ronaldo to receive Red Cross cheque
Cristiano Ronaldo will be presented with a cheque for CHF100,000 by UEFA for the UEFA EURO 2008™ Score for the Red Cross campaign before Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Manchester United FC and AS Roma at Old Trafford.
Dual recognition
The presentation is in recognition of his selection in the uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2007 and his being named as ambassador for Score for the Red Cross, which is jointly organised by UEFA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to benefit land-mine victims in Afghanistan by providing them with artificial limbs, physiotherapy and vocational training.
Attractive prizes
The cheque is also a first donation from UEFA to the Score for the Red Cross online fundraising campaign. Internet users will be able to help their favourite UEFA EURO 2008™ side win the title of Most Humanitarian Team by purchasing virtual goals on www.scorefortheredcross.org. They will have the chance to win attractive prizes including tickets to EURO matches in Austria and Switzerland. The winning team will be announced on 6 July.
'Everyone's a winner'
UEFA will also donate €4,000 for every goal scored and €5,000 for every goal scored by Ronaldo for Portugal during the final tournament. "The great thing about this campaign is that everyone is a winner when it comes to giving and receiving," Ronaldo said. "The website offers football fans a chance to have fun while making a difference. What could be better than that?"
Fan favourite
The 23-year-old – who has scored 37 goals in all competitions this season – was voted into the annual uefa.com Team of the Year announced in January by uefa.com users, receiving over 170,000 votes in the right midfielder category. The other players voted into the XI were: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF), Daniel Alves (Sevilla FC), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Kaká (AC Milan), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Zlatan Ibrahimović (FC Internazionale Milano) and Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC). Ronaldo's manager at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, took the coaching honours.
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Dual recognition
The presentation is in recognition of his selection in the uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2007 and his being named as ambassador for Score for the Red Cross, which is jointly organised by UEFA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to benefit land-mine victims in Afghanistan by providing them with artificial limbs, physiotherapy and vocational training.
Attractive prizes
The cheque is also a first donation from UEFA to the Score for the Red Cross online fundraising campaign. Internet users will be able to help their favourite UEFA EURO 2008™ side win the title of Most Humanitarian Team by purchasing virtual goals on www.scorefortheredcross.org. They will have the chance to win attractive prizes including tickets to EURO matches in Austria and Switzerland. The winning team will be announced on 6 July.
'Everyone's a winner'
UEFA will also donate €4,000 for every goal scored and €5,000 for every goal scored by Ronaldo for Portugal during the final tournament. "The great thing about this campaign is that everyone is a winner when it comes to giving and receiving," Ronaldo said. "The website offers football fans a chance to have fun while making a difference. What could be better than that?"
Fan favourite
The 23-year-old – who has scored 37 goals in all competitions this season – was voted into the annual uefa.com Team of the Year announced in January by uefa.com users, receiving over 170,000 votes in the right midfielder category. The other players voted into the XI were: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF), Daniel Alves (Sevilla FC), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Kaká (AC Milan), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Zlatan Ibrahimović (FC Internazionale Milano) and Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC). Ronaldo's manager at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, took the coaching honours.
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Germany celebrate 100th anniversary
German Football Association (DFB) president Dr Theo Zwanziger reflected on an "incredible journey" ahead of the 100th anniversary of Germany's first match, a 5-3 loss to Switzerland on 5 April 1908.
Becker opener
A crowd of 3,500 braved a hailstorm to watch the match at the Sportplatz Landhof in Basel and they saw Fritz Becker put Germany ahead with his country's first goal. Switzerland quickly hit back and went into the interval 3-1 in front before the teams shared four goals after the break. Since then, Germany have seen more ups than downs, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990 and the UEFA European Championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996. From 1952, the team was known as West Germany for 38 years until 12 September 1990 when they defeated Belgium 2-0 in the first international match following reunification.
'Successful run'
"We've had quite a successful run," Zwanziger said. "Eight years after the DFB was founded, the national team played its inaugural game. Just think about of the achievements that were triggered by football in Germany, especially after World War II. Football always moved the people living here, either because of the many major triumphs or our defeats. We have really had an incredible journey."
Matthäus record
Germany's biggest victory was 16-0 against Russia on 1 July 1912; their worst defeat was against rivals England, 9-0 on 16 March 1909. To mark the anniversary, the 'Club of former national players' will be founded on 5 April. It will have 630 members, including Germany's most capped player Lothar Matthäus who made a record 150 appearances for his countr
Becker opener
A crowd of 3,500 braved a hailstorm to watch the match at the Sportplatz Landhof in Basel and they saw Fritz Becker put Germany ahead with his country's first goal. Switzerland quickly hit back and went into the interval 3-1 in front before the teams shared four goals after the break. Since then, Germany have seen more ups than downs, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990 and the UEFA European Championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996. From 1952, the team was known as West Germany for 38 years until 12 September 1990 when they defeated Belgium 2-0 in the first international match following reunification.
'Successful run'
"We've had quite a successful run," Zwanziger said. "Eight years after the DFB was founded, the national team played its inaugural game. Just think about of the achievements that were triggered by football in Germany, especially after World War II. Football always moved the people living here, either because of the many major triumphs or our defeats. We have really had an incredible journey."
Matthäus record
Germany's biggest victory was 16-0 against Russia on 1 July 1912; their worst defeat was against rivals England, 9-0 on 16 March 1909. To mark the anniversary, the 'Club of former national players' will be founded on 5 April. It will have 630 members, including Germany's most capped player Lothar Matthäus who made a record 150 appearances for his countr
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