6/29/2008
By Kaveh Mahjoob

In the game of football, changing of guards is one of the most difficult tasks coaches have to face but players have to endure. This is especially true at the national team level when as the time goes on, stars with legitimate achievements of the past are expected to remain in the starting lineup while age limits their skills and abilities. It is not that often when a team with fresh set of faces steps into a major tournament and surprises all. When such event happens as it was the case with Russians in Euro 2008, the youngsters and their head coach become the darling of fans and media.
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Goal.com takes a look at Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien's rise to midfield stardom…

Michael ‘Fifi’ Essien was born on the 3rd of December, 1982 in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to Aba Gyandoh and James Essien, both natives of Fanteland, a great tribe in Ghana. Fifi, as Friday-borns are referred to in Fanteland, had his secondary education in St Augustine’s College, a school which was also attended by Black Stars team mate, Matthew Amoah.

Still, it was in football, not academia, in which he was to make his name. He started off locally in Fanteland, but was spotted there by Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, who was coach of the Liberty Professionals U-17 side and out on a scouting mission. This club is based in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra, and here he found more exposure. He was however. Upon his outstanding performances for Liberty Professionals, Essien was called up into Ghana’s juvenile team this time to represent the country in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Zealand. Essien performed very well in his position as a central defender, sporting the number 4 jersey for Ghana in that tournament, and though he played second fiddle to players like Ishmael Addo and Don Bortey he helped the side to third place.
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6/29/2008

VIENNA (AFP) – Spain ended their 44-year wait for a major international title with a 1-0 victory over Germany at the Euro 2008 final here on Sunday.

Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half as football's perennial underachievers finally banished that unwanted tag to the history books.
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6/29/2008
Afshin Afshar, lastkick.com

On November 28, 1997 in Melbourne, Australia Team Melli footballers accomplished something that was not short of pulling a rabbit out of a hat! Having fallen behind by two goals, and seemingly having been eliminated from the 1998 World Cup, Iran rallied late in the game and tied the game at two a piece and qualified, at the expense of the Socceroos, thanks to the away goal tie breaker rule.
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Goal.com profiles the promising start to the career of Bayern Munich and Germany's Philipp Lahm, following his heroic late winner against Turkey in their Euro 2008 semi-final…

Particulars

Name: Philip Lahm
DoB: 11TH November 1983
Height: 170cm
Weight: 62kg
Position: wingback

Standing out

At a mere 170 cm, Philipp Lahm stands out amongst his defensive teammates with Germany as well as at Bayern, for the simple fact that he is the most un-intimidating of them all but clearly the most dangerous offensively and the most dynamic.
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Goal.com profiles Valencia and Spain's David Villa and his rise prominence as one of Europe's top strikers…

Particulars

Name: David Villa
Club: Valencia C.F.
D.O.B: 03/12/1981
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 69 kg
Position: Striker

Background

As a country famous for the quality of the footballers it produces, Spain has a well earned reputation as a hot bed of striking talent. Indeed, when one begins to roll off the names of such legendary figures as Raúl, Emilio Butragueño, and the great Basque striker Pichichi then it is clear for all to see that the Spanish national team has never been found wanting when it comes to being able to select some of the world’s top goal scorers.
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06/28/2008
goal.com

Clark Whitney looks a the main tactical and personal battles to come as Germany gear up to meet La Furia Roja in the final of Euro 2008…

Tomorrow’s much anticipated Euro final pits tournament favorites Germany against in-form Spain. For both sides, the upcoming match is of utmost importance: Spain are looking to win their first European Championship since 1964, and tomorrow marks Germany’s last chance to extend their record to four consecutive decades with victory in at least one major tournament. While they were given the best odds (4-1) of winning the Euro, Germany have struggled at times, losing 2-1 to Croatia and barely producing 3-2 victories over Turkey and Portugal on their way to the final. Spain, on the other hand, are in great form, having won every match in the tournament thus far except for an official draw against Italy in which they won the penalty shootout 4-2.
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Alan Tardieu takes a look at Germany's talismanic midfielder Michael Ballack, and his rise to stardom at both club and country level…

Particulars

Name: Michael Ballack
DoB: 26 September 1976, Görlitz, DDR
Height: 188cm (6′2″)
Weight: 85kg (13st 5lbs)
Position: Midfielder

Little Kaiser

The man dubbed “Little Kaiser” as an 18 year old has always been in the spotlight, even before his teenage years. As early as age 7 he joined local club Chemnitzer in East Germany and began to shine. His talent was obvious early on as young Ballack was showing equal ability with both feet. He continued to excel and rise through the system and made his professional debut in 1995 in the Bundesliga 2 with his beloved Chemnitz.
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By Mitch Phillips

VIENNA, June 27 (Reuters) – A look at the formations, strengths and weaknesses of Germany and Spain ahead of the Euro 2008 final at Vienna’s Ernst Happel stadium on Sunday (1845 GMT):

FORMATIONS

Germany coach Joachim Loew has to decide whether to stick with the 4-5-1 formation that worked well against Portugal but not so well against Turkey, or revert to his favoured 4-4-2.
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6/27/2008

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Groups for the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa following Friday’s draw in Kuala Lumpur:

Group A: Australia, Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar
Group B: South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, UAE

Matches to be played between Sept. 6 and June 17, 2009.

Ali Daei fears North Korea more than others in Group B

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Australia are looking forward to renewing a keen rivalry with Japan in the fourth and final round of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup after being drawn together in Asian Group A on Friday.

South Korea must once again negotiate potential political problems as they face communist neighbours North Korea in Group B having met them twice in the previous round of qualifiers for the finals in South Africa.
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