| 11.09.2010 |
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IN CONSTRUCTION | |  |  |
 | |  | Euro cup finale: Who is going to win ? |
One game, winner takes all. Who is it going to be? Spain coach Luis Aragonés is predicting a fascinating clash of styles in Sunday's UEFA EURO 2008™ final against Germany.
'Dangerous'
"Germany are very strong physically and are dangerous from set-pieces," he said. "They are strong on high balls and that's where we might suffer. Perhaps we will need to buy a ladder or something [to deal with the aerial threat]. But I'm sure Germany have some concerns about the football we play. With the ball on the ground we might create some problems for them." Spain start as favourites given their impressive run to the final. They have maintained a consistently high level of play, with Germany coach Joachim Löw revealing in yesterday's press conference that he does not "remember a single phase of weakness" from Aragonés's side over the course of the past three weeks. Germany, in contrast, have blown hot and cold, catching the eye one minute then dropping off the next.
Top gear
When they hit top gear against Portugal, however, they proved that at their best they are a match for anyone. And you can't count out their experience. This is Germany's sixth appearance in a UEFA European Championship final and they are aiming for their fourth title. Spain have not reached the final of a major tournament since losing to France in the 1984 UEFA European Championship, and you have to go back another 20 years for their only major tournament triumph. Something has to give in Vienna. Who is going to win it? Have your say below.
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| | | Statistics highlight EURO experience | There has been some great football on show at UEFA EURO 2008™ and ahead of the tournament's showpiece, the statistics offer a glimpse behind the many memorable moments.
Goals, goals, goals
The 30 games played so far have produced 76 goals including four penalties but not a single own goal. Spain have been the most prolific scorers with eleven from their five outings but the Netherlands had the best goals-per-game ratio (2.5). Austria, France, Greece, Poland and Romania each registered only once. Croatia had the most miserly defence, their rearguard breached just twice in four games, while in terms of goals conceded per game, the Czech Republic and France had the leakiest back lines as they shipped six each in the group stage and this after both kept clean sheets in their opening fixtures. Xavi Hernández's strike against Russia in the semi-final was the 500th UEFA European Championship finals goal.
Club representation
In terms of clubs, FC Bayern München players have been doing most damage with eight goals (Lukas Podolski contributing three), followed by Real Madrid CF with six. However, none of those strikes were scored by Spanish players, as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder struck two each and Arjen Robben and Pepe one apiece. Yet Spain does lead the way as regards to where goalscorers play their club football. Twenty goals have come from Primera División performers, followed by Germany (13) and England (eight). Of the 16 participating countries, two have no EURO goalscorer playing in their domestic league: Sweden and Romania.
Shots, saves and passes
Those goals came from the 875 shots – 334 on target – that have been hit so far. Spain have been the most attacking team from this point of view with 104 efforts (20.8 per match on average) eclipsing final opponents Germany's total of 58 (11.6 average). Spain have also strung together the most passes, making 3,014 out of the 28,153 so far completed in the tournament and are also highly ranked in terms of ball possession (54.6 per cent) although Portugal (55.5 per cent) lead that category.
Whistle-blowers
Turkey committed the most fouls with 102 and had the second-highest average per game (20.4) trailing only Poland in that regard (22.33) while Germany have shown the most discipline (14.2). Turkey also led the way in terms of bookings (16) contributing to the three outfield players they had banned for their semi-final with Germany. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel also missed that game through suspension having been sent off against the Czech Republic – one of only three dismissals at the tournament along with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Eric Abidal.
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| |  | NEW PATCH FOR COD4 | Just a couple of weeks after the 1.6 patch we already have the Call of Duty 4 1.7 patch for PC players, download link is directly above this paragraph, and at the bottom of the page. Unfortunately this patch is much smaller and doesn’t contain any new maps for Call of Duty 4, only fixing a few technical exploits. Make sure you have the 1.6 patch installed for Call of Duty 4 before you download the 1.7 patch.
Here is exactly what the patch changes; it corrects an problem that allowed players to mess with console dvars on multiplayer server matches. It fixes a crash that happens when a Sabotage matches on Chinatown are tied and go into over time. Finally it corrects a language error where game icons would show up in English even if the original copy of the game was in a different language. Again no huge changes but it is important to download it so you can play on all servers and so Call of Duty runs more smoothly.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT |
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| | | Semi Final : Germany vs Turkey |  3 - 2 
Goals : Schweinsteiger 26, Klose 79, Lahm 90 For Germany, Uğur Boral 22, Semih Şentürk 86 For Turkey
A 90th-minute strike from Philipp Lahm sent Germany into the UEFA EURO 2008™ final and ended the march of a brave Turkey side who were unable to summon one last dramatic equaliser.
Gripping contest
Semih Şentürk had already brought Turkey to the brink of extra time with an 86th-minute strike from close range, yet Lahm's super finish from Thomas Hitzlsperger's pass finally flattened Fatih Terim's team. For once, they had led first, through Uğur Boral's 22nd-minute opener, only for goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose to wrest the initiative in an exciting semi-final in Basel.
Blistering start
Christoph Metzelder's early slice from Uğur's cross set the tone. Kazım Kazım broke confidently before Lahm's sloppiness allowed his FC Bayern München team-mate Hamit Altıntop – one of two German-born Turkey starters along with Hakan Balta – a half-chance he scuffed at Jens Lehmann. Terim's team were playing as if they had nothing to lose. From Ayhan Akman's cutback, Kazım smashed against the crossbar. Semih nearly turned in a cross, then a telescopic leg from Per Mertesacker denied Ayhan.
Uğur opener
After 17 minutes Germany woke up. Michael Ballack passed to Lahm, met the resulting cross with his head and sparked confusion in the opposition area. The Turkish thoroughbred had already bolted, though, and the first goal went their way after 22 minutes. Sabri Sarıoğlu threw the ball to Ayhan who chested it back, and from Sabri's cross Kazım's imperfect strike looped on to the crossbar – happily for the Crescent Stars an even untidier finish from Uğur burrowed under Lehmann's body.
Schweinsteiger reply
Semih and Mehmet Aurélio might have doubled the advantage, only for Germany to equalise against the run of play four minutes later. Lukas Podolski, the left prong in the trident behind Klose, delivered the centre which Schweinsteiger turned in from close range. A Klose call at Turkey's end was then followed by Lehmann having to tip over a Hamit free-kick. In return, Hamit's mistake almost undid a vibrant Turkey when his misplaced pass resulted in Podolski sprinting through but rifling over. Uğur's free-kick, won by the willing run of Kazım, elicited another Lehmann save.
Key absentees
This was a tough contest for Joachim Löw's team, make no mistake. The forward runs of Kazım, Hamit, Ayhan and Uğur in support of Semih were causing no end of trouble. If green in places because of an absentee list including four injured, four suspended and one half-fit substitute, Turkey were also fresh, energetic and enthusiastic. Germany began to show the same qualities; Hitzlsperger found his range; Ballack did not after winning a free-kick. The Mannschaft had dominated both games when these sides met at the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland but you would not have guessed that it was they, not Turkey, who were chasing a sixth final appearance and a fourth European title.
Thrilling finish
Full-back Sabri's right-wing surge went unrewarded, then Uğur warmed Lehmann's hands as Turkey continued to get their quota of attacks through clever use of the flanks. However, it was a long cross from a deeper position, delivered by Lahm, which looked to have decided the match, goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber failing to reach a ball that Klose headed into the unguarded net with eleven minutes to play. Turkey had redefined the term plucky underdog with last-gasp goals against Switzerland, Czech Republic and Turkey and came again. Sabri was the source, his cross being turned in at the near post by Semih. Extra time loomed, but that was discounting the one-two between Hitzlsperger and Lahm that provided the knockout punch.
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| | | Call of Duty : World at War | |
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| |  | Dragster's driver died after his vehicle explode and crashed during a race. |
Sun Jun 22, 2008.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta — the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car — was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
"We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family," the NHRA said in a statement. "Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community."
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta's last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He's survived by his father, wife Kathy and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski — a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta's hometown of Mount Clemens — learned the news from a television report.
"That really hits close to home," Keselowski said after winning the pole position for Saturday night's race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. "(He was) a friend of my family's, and I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That's tough to hear."
Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.
RIP Scott Kalitta
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| | | 4th QF : Italy vs Spain |
 0 - 0 
Spain (4-2) win on penalties
Iker Casillas was the penalty shoot-out hero as Spain held their collective nerve to throw out the record book and book a UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final against Russia.
Record
Before tonight Spain had lost three competitive quarter-final penalty shoot-outs on 22 June but they stopped the rot at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, prevailing 4-2 on penalties after 120 minutes had failed to produce a goal. Although Gianluigi Buffon saved from Daniel Güiza, Casillas denied Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale, allowing Cesc Fŕbregas to step up and send his side through. In truth, Luis Aragonés's side had enjoyed the better of the play throughout in sweltering humidity in Vienna, Marcos Senna coming closest when he was denied by the post late on. They continued to press in the additional half-hour, David Silva and Santi Cazorla both firing narrowly wide before Casillas's heroics saw them through to a rematch with a Russia side they defeated 4-1 in the group stage.
Omens
The Italy squad arrived at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion some time after their Spanish counterparts, and for much of the first half Aragonés's men were similarly first to everything. With Xavi Hernández providing the pivot in midfield, Spain bossed the play, caressing the ball one way and then the other, all one-touch passing and quick bursts of activity as they picked at Italy's high defensive line, looking for a chink in the armour. The ploy of Andrés Iniesta switching flanks to create the overlap on the left was too obvious for the wizened Azzurri back line,although David Villa's cute back-heel almost forced an opening soon after and it took a timely block to deny Silva.
Duo missed
Italy were struggling to gain a foothold, unable to fill the sizeable void left by suspensions to their usual suppliers of industry and finesse, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo. It was a hole that Fernando Torres, in particular, was keen to exploit as he popped up all over the pitch, drawing Aragonés from his bench to tell him to calm down. Perhaps Aragonés was aware the omens were hardly stacked in his side's favour as they sought their first win against the Azzurri in a competitive fixture, Olympic Games excluded. Midway through the half Massimo Ambrosini gave Spain more to think about but Simone Perrotta was unable to make the most of his arcing cross before another centre just evaded Luca Toni.
Silva threat
Yet with King Juan Carlos in the crowd, it was Spain who were rising to the occasion. Villa tested Buffon with a free-kick but it was the waspish Silva who was displaying the most menace. Seven minutes before half-time he fired a low effort past the post after a blocked Torres shot fell his way and he profited from another fortuitous opening soon after the restart, when the ball cannoned into his path eight metres out. After a clever turn it took a timely intervention from the excellent Giorgio Chiellini to deny Silva.
The Azzurri centre-back was immense, and slowly his team-mates began to respond. Just past the hour a long ball caused mayhem in the Spain defence, dropping favourably for substitute Mauro Camoranesi who forced a smothering save from Iker Casillas.
Buffon escape
At the other end, with time ebbing away, Marcos Senna worked Buffon with a free-kick and then a low shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper, the ball evading his grasp and spinning on to the post before he fell on to it at the second attempt. It was a propitious bounce but there was no luck involved when the Italy No1 dived to keep out Güiza's effort with three minutes remaining, even if play was subsequently called back for handball. Such reactions would prove invaluable in the concluding penalty shoot-out, but, unfortunately for the world champions, they came from Casillas.
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| | | Slap ... | This could be French vs Netherland (1 - 4), or Italy vs Netherland (0 - 3), but tonite it's Netherland vs Russia (1 - 3) ... no need to explain who have each role in all match mentioned in this video  ...
Now who's next ? Spain or Italy ??
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