Friendly tests show finalists' mettle
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Article summary
Michael Ballack's comeback for Germany in Austria is among the highlights as 15 of the 16 UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists participate in friendly fixtures tonight.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA EURO 2008™ kicks off in four months and one day – and 15 of the 16 contenders step up their preparations tonight in a series of friendlies.
Hosts in action
Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion will stage the final on 29 June but 13 days before that co-hosts Austria take on Germany in their last Group B game and the neighbours will be sizing each other up at the same venue tonight. Austria won just one of their 12 fixtures in 2007 while Germany have not lost away from home in nearly two years and welcome back Michael Ballack after ten months out of international football through injury. The other EURO hosts play their last match outside Switzerland before opening the finals against the Czech Republic in Basel, as Jakob Kuhn's squad visit Wembley for Fabio Capello's first game in charge of England.
Rivals in Zurich
There is a friendly in Switzerland, though, as Italy take on Portugal in Zurich. Roberto Donadoni's Azzurri will play two group games in that city, and the coach said: "In terms of experience and quality, Portugal are very similar to Romania, who we will meet at EURO." Luis Felipe Scolari began his Portugal reign with a 1-0 defeat by Italy five years ago but declared: "We are an improved team in every single respect, so the main goal for tonight's match is to win."
Domenech warning
Austria and Germany are not the only neighbours facing off as Spain and France meet in Malaga. Bojan Krkić, at 17, is set to become Spain's youngest senior international despite illness while France coach Raymond Domenech is hoping for a better display than his A-team showed in drawing 0-0 with DR Congo in Marbella last night. Domenech said: "Spain are a world power and it won't be a walk in the park. It's these types of game that will help me decide on my squad."
Contenders
Three EURO contenders are involved in a friendly series in Cyprus, and having fielded experimental teams in their first matches will have stronger sides tonight. The Czech Republic lost 1-0 to Greece last night and face Poland today. European champions Greece face Finland, who lost 1-0 to Poland on Saturday. Elsewhere, two other games match pairs of finalists as Turkey play Sweden and Croatia face the Netherlands. Russia, in the midst of a winter break, sit this round of friendlies out having had a training camp in Turkey, and next go to Romania – who visit Israel tonight – on 26 March.
