(BEIJING, Aug. 5) — Though Team China will be first in the hearts of Chinese fans at the Olympic Women’s Volleyball tournament, the United States may rank a close second. The reason? US Coach Lang Ping. Widely considered one of the best volleyball players in the history of China, the beloved star has returned to her home country as the coach of the US Women’s Volleyball team.
“I think that’s such a rare thing to see Chinese fans support our country because of Lang Ping,” said Nicole Davies, a US volleyball player who joined her coach at a press conference at the Main Press Center in Beijing on Tuesday, August 5.
Lang Ping
During the 2005 World Grand Prix in Ningbo, China, Chinese fans held up “Lang Ping” signs in one hand while holding the US flag in the other.
BASEL, June 25 — Three-time winner Germany elbowed its way into the Euro 2008 final after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Turkey at a semifinal here on Wednesday.
Defender Philipp Lahm’s goal in the added time gifted Germany an arrow victory over under-strength Turkey, which had nine players benched because of bookings or injuries.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose (L) celebrates scoring with his teammate in the Euro 2008 championships semi-final match between Germany and Turkey in Basel, Switzerland. Germany won 3-2 and advanced to the final. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
German striker Miroslav Klose’s header in the 78th minute put Germany 2-1 ahead while Turkey’s Semih Senturk equalized in the 84th.
Lahm, who earlier delivered a superb pass to Klose for Germany’s second goal, ended Turkey’s heroic run in Euro 2008, sending the Germans to the June 29 final against the other semifinal winner between Spain and Russia.
“It was certainly not our best game today, but we have won the match with our virtues,” said Lahm, who was selected as “man of the match”.
“The final score is the best moment of my life,” he said.
“Our goal is very clear, we want the title,” he added.
In a sold-out St. Jakob Park Stadium in Basel, German fans held high the banner of “Our goal is Vienna”, referring to the final to be held in the Austrian capital, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also present to show the support for Germany.
German coach Joachim Loew, who returned to the coach zone after a one-match ban, kept Germany’s quarterfinal lineup against Portugal, a 4-2-3-1 system, unchanged.
Quarterfinal hero Bastian Schweinsteiger was among the lineup as the Bayern midfielder had contributed to all three goals which shut out Portugal.
Turkey had turned around the last three games with late goals at the cost of red and yellow cards and injuries.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose (R) celebrates scoring in front of German supporters in the Euro 2008 championships semi-final match between Germany and Turkey in Basel, Switzerland. Germany won 3-2 and advanced to the final. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Turkey coach Fatih Terim had a depleted team at his hands as nine players were barred for Turkey’s first-ever Euro semifinal because of card punishments or injuries.
The quartet of Volkan Demirel, Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asli were suspended while striker Nihat Kahveci followed Emre Gungoer in departing the tournament injured after the quarterfinal shootout triumph over Croatia.
However, it was Turkey which emerged more offensive and dangerous during the first half, surprising thousands of German fans at the stadium.
Statistics showed that Turkey made 15 shots with nine within the goal while Germany only managed three shots.
In the 22nd minute, Turkey’s efforts yielded fruits as unmarked Ugur Boral sent home a rebound off the crossbar.
Turkey had a good chance to score earlier. In the 13th minute, midfielders Kazim Clatters sent a powerful shot through Lehmman’s fingers and hit the crossbar.
Germany, which was troubled with Turkey’s quick attacks, revenged with a swift counterattack in the 26th minute.
Bayern striker Lukas Podolski penetrated the area and delivered a superb pass to Schweinsteiger, who scored with ease.
During the second half, both teams paid more attention to defense and they created less scoring opportunities.
The dull defense-to-defense show was interrupted in the 78th minute when Lahm abruptly charged into Turkey’s area from the leftside and delivered a pass to Klose, who smashed the net with a header.
German fans’s celebrations did not last long as never-say-quits Turkey leveled the score six minutes later.
Sabri Sarioglu cheated through Lahm’s defense and passed to Semih Senturk, who tapped the ball into the net.
Lehmman’s humiliation was washed off by playmaker Lahm in the added time, who ran 40 meters and shook off Thomas Hitzlsperger to calmly lift his shot over goalkeeper Recber Rustu.
“We are incredibly satisfied with the result,” said Loew at the after-match press conference.
However, the 49-year-old said Germany failed to stage the level they performed against Portugal, noting there were some problems with the midfielders.
Looking ahead, Loew already set his sight on the title.
“In the final everything is possible. The team has proved that. Of course we want to win the final. We have the winning mentality,” he said.
For Fatih Terim, losing to Germany is a “sad” outcome for Turkey.
“I am very sad. We were so close to the final,” he said.
(BEIJING, June 26) — Defender Philipp Lahm’s 90th minute shot gave Germany a 3-2 victory over Turkey to settle a thrilling first semifinal of the UEFA Euro 2008 football championships in Basle, Switzerland.
The 14-man Turkish squad, reduced by injury and suspensions, created more chances in the first half. Colin Kazim-Richards had already hit the woodwork when his 22nd minute effort again struck the bar and Ugur Boral reacted first to fire a shot from six yards though German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann’s legs into the net.
However, Germany bounced straight back, equalizing four minutes later when midfielder Lukas Podolski dribbled down the left and sent over a low cross for Bastian Schweinsteiger to provide a neat finish to level the scores.
In a much tighter second half, Germany went in front in the 79th minute when striker Miroslav Klose rose above three Turkish defenders and goalkeeper Recber Rustu to head his team into a 2-1 lead.
However, Turkey fought back in the 86th minute. In a repeat of Germany’s first goal, Semih Senturk smartly converted Sabri Sarioglu cross, which unlike Podolski’s run, came from the right.
With the game seemingly bound for extra-time Lahm’s last-minute goal broke Turkish hearts to settle the contest 3-2.
The Germans will play either Russia or Spain in the final in Vienna on Sunday, June 29.
BANGKOK, June 25 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s national football team coach Chanvit Phalajivin announced his resignation on Wednesday to take responsibility for failing to get the team through the first qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup.
Chanvit said he had already submitted his resignation to the Football Association of Thailand. He made the decision after a series of defeats left Thailand last in the group including the last 1-2 defeat by Oman on Sunday, according to a report by Bangkok Post news website.
“I want to take responsibility,” Chanvit was quoted as saying, “The fans do not believe in me.”
Thailand only managed to draw 1:1 home to Bahrain in the Group 2 to earn its single point in the third-round home-away qualifier matches in the group. But it lost the other match away to Bahrain and lost both at home and away to both Japan and Oman. The series of defeats have left Thailand winless and hopeless to reach the World Cup.
Chanvit, who coached the Thai team since 2005, did not say what his next move might be.
Last year he was offered a coaching contract in the Vietnam professional league, but decided to remain with the Thai team after heavy pressure from the military junta then ruled the country, the report said.
The first semi-final of the UEFA Euro 2008 football championships between Germany and Turkey will kick off on Wednesday, June 25 (18:45GMT) at St Jakob Park stadium in the Swiss town of Basel.
Germany go into the match as strong favorites, having won 11 out of the 17 matches played between the countries, in which they have scored 40 goals. Turkey have won just three of the contests and scored just 10 goals in the 17 games.
However, despite their huge historical advantage, Germany hasn’t defeated Turkey for 16 years, and the Turks have won two of the last three games between the nations.
Turkey also made it to semi-final of the 2002 World Cup; however, this is furthest they have been in European Championships.
In contrast, Germany has a good record in Euro semifinals. This is their fifth semifinal, they have won each of the previous four games and ended up cup winners on three of those occasions.
They will also have their most powerful line-up available for tonight’s game, as midfielder Torsten Frings is back from a fractured rib injury.
Injury and suspension has reduced the Turkish team to just 14 players. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, defender Emre Asik, and midfielders Tuncay Sanli and Arda Turan are banned. Defenders Emre Gungor and Servet Cetin, midfielders Tumer Metin and Emre Belozoglu and striker Nihat Kahveci miss out though injury.
The vastly-experienced Massimo Busacca from Switzerland will referee the match.
The winners will play either Russia or Spain in the final in Vienna on Sunday, June 29.
(BEIJING, June 25) — Since 2000, the first time the Nigerian women’s football team appeared on the Olympic stage, the African athletes have not made it past initial group matches at any Olympic Games. They are looking to change this embarrassing situation this summer.
As the only African team taking part in the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games, the Nigerians need a breakthrough to defend their nation’s pride, as well as the pride of all of Africa.
Cynthia Uwak, Nigeria’s key player, expressed her confidence. “We have a good team,” she was quoted as saying by FIFA. “African footballers like to improvise and play the ball on the ground, and this team is not different. We can beat anyone on our day and we just need to play according to our style and instincts.”
Former Nigerian coach Effiom Ntiero praises Uwak as a player who “has all the qualities of an exceptional footballer” and “always seems to conjure up a goal when you least expect it.”
Uwak will play alongside other African big names such as Faith Ikidi, Perpetua Nkwocha and Ifeanyi Chiejine. However, Africa’s best female footballer remains cautious and still has her feet on the ground. “I will continue to play my art for Nigeria,” she said. “I am praying and hoping that we can do well at the Olympics and make the country proud.”
VIENNA, June 25 (Xinhua) — Russia coach Guus Hiddink has been quite sure that his men would like nothing better than to revenge on the better rated Spain here on Thursday at the both sides’ first Euro semifinal in last two decades.
The Magic Dutch dubbed his Russian side a “sleeping giant” after stopping the Netherlands’ winning streak by a 3-1 extra time victory in last Saturday’s quarterfinal, and was confident that his team will put Spain’s Euro 2008 dreams to bed.
Russia endured a disappointing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Luis Aragones’ side during their tournament opener, before going on to win their remaining group matches against Sweden and Greece.
The victory over highly-favored Holland made Russia the most discussed rising power and earned them a semifinal berth to again meet La Seleccion.
Hiddink hopes that Thursday’s match will be a revenge campaign for the Russians.
“This game will be very different from the first match against Spain and we want revenge,” said the 61-year-old, who led South Korea to their first ever World Cup last four before repeating hismagic here at Euro 2008 with Russia.
The coach described their semifinal rivals Spain a team “to play football, but if they go 1-0 up, as we’ve seen, they drop back and play on the counterattack”.
“Of course we are the underdogs but we have come from very far,” he added. “Before the Holland game almost nobody knew the names of my players or the clubs where they play.”
The quarterfinal win over the Netherlands, however, has changed some opinions less favoring the Russians, though Aragones finally found the ” only lacked things” of his team in recent games.
The Spaniard warned before the start of Euro 2008 that Spain just lacked elusive stroke of luck and the management of a game if they wanted to become champions.
His team went through great test after outplaying world champions Italy and then winning on penalties.
Aragones’ players are also motivated for Thursday’s semi as the perfect-recorded Spaniards only reached this level in 48 years of trying.
Having beaten Hungary in 1964, they went on to win the final against the Soviet Union courtesy of a goal by Marcelino.
They waited another 20 years to return to the last four, needing penalties to get past Denmark before losing to hosts France.
Currently, Aragones has none of either injury and suspension worries. Carles Puyol and Santi Cazorla have overcome foot injuries and David Silva recovered after twisting his ankle.
Hiddink has slight injury worries, with midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, forward Ivan Sayenko and Alexander Anyukov all carrying minor ailments from the quarter-finals, but the team sets to do without full back Denis Kolodin and attacking midfielder Dmitry Torbinski on suspension.
Historically, Spain hold an upper-hand after winning three of their four previous meeting with Russia along with a draw.
