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Friday, June 8, 2012

Roman Shirokov - Russian Mid-Fielder in UEFA Event

Roman Shirokov felt Russia's ability to capitalise on chances was crucial as they defeated the Czech Republic, while the influential Roman Pavlyuchenko warned against getting carried away.

Russia made a blistering start to Group A as they defeated the Czech Republic 4-1 in Wroclaw with Alan Dzagoev scoring twice. Three of their key men, including Russia's other goalscorers, Roman Shirokov and Roman Pavlyuchenko, said they were delighted to post maximum points as they shared their thoughts on the game afterwards.
Roman Shirokov, Russia midfielder
The key factor was that we took our chances. We scored two of our first three [chances] and it helped us a lot. We didn't start well, but by 25 minutes in, we were 2-0 up. [After the Czech Republic goal] it was quite tough. At half-time we said that we had to play well early in the second half, but [seven] minutes in we conceded a goal.
We played pretty well and had chances, but then we found ourselves in a bit of trouble. It's good that we scored soon after that. We were eager to win and we wanted to win convincingly, but we didn't imagine that everything would go so well for us.
Yuri Zhirkov, Russia defender
It's always important to win the first match. It was important to take the three points. We've played pretty well in these two games [including the 3-0 friendly win against Italy] both defensively and in attack – maybe this was the key factor in us scoring these seven goals.
Roman Pavlyuchenko, Russia forward
We cannot let ourselves get too carried away; we have only three days before our next game. We should forget about this match tomorrow and start preparations for Poland. The task is not completed yet and we cannot afford to take it easy. We expect harder games to come.

Pilař rages after Czechs cave in to Russia

After a 4-1 defeat against Russia in their opening UEFA EURO 2012 game, Václav Pilař took no consolation in having scored in Wroclaw, with the winger left bitter by the manner of their defeat. Defender Michal Kadlec felt a little more positive about the team's performance, but found the scoreline just as hard to take.

Václav Pilař, Czech Republic winger
It ended very badly. We really wanted to make a great impression in the first match of the tournament and, most importantly, not to lose it. We made a lot of mistakes and we didn't defend very well, so it was a bad game today. We gave them the room to play, which was bad. We knew that Russia have good forwards and I think we could have handled them, but they were simply better when they had the ball and we weren't strong enough in one-on-one situations.

Jaroslav Plašil laid on a great pass to me right between their two full-backs [for my goal] but I'm not happy. I would have been far happier if we had achieved a good result. We're angry now, even more so after losing by such a scoreline.

Michal Kadlec, Czech Republic defender
We expected the Russians to make the running from the start, but it turned out to be the other way round; it was us who started the match well but then we froze, twice in fact. It is difficult to lift yourself again after that. Then we got ourselves going by scoring the goal, so it was 2-1 and we were trying to score again but then it went to 3-1. It's a pity. We did not play that badly, but when you look at the 4-1 scoreline, it says it all. We have to put this match behind us and analyse our errors so we do not repeat them in the next match. There are two more matches, we have to improve.

Were Russia better than we expected? I don't really know – it is difficult to say. I think we made lots of mistakes we had not made during qualifying or since then. A high-quality opponent such as Russia, of course, punishes anyone for mistakes such as we made and then it ends up being a very, very bitter defeat.

The atmosphere was great, I must thank all the Czech fans who came. Let's hope they will also come to help us in the next match. This is sport, this is football: you lose games, but it may be that we have got our errors and our defeat out of the way at the start. In the past, we have managed to shake off heavy defeats and lift our heads again. I hope the character of our team will shine through again, and that we will shake off this defeat, too.

Avraam Papadopoulos - Greece Defender is not Playing this Session

Greece defender Avraam Papadopoulos has returned home from UEFA EURO 2012 after suffering knee ligament damage in his country's opening day draw with co-hosts Poland.

Avraam Papadopoulos will miss the rest of UEFA EURO 2012 after suffering ligament damage in his left knee during Greece's tournament opener against co-hosts Poland.
The injury occurred 37 minutes into the 1-1 draw and the Olympiacos FC defender was replaced by his namesake Kyriakos, before being taken to hospital. Scans confirmed the 27-year-old suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and sprained lateral collateral ligament of the left knee. After returning to the team hotel in Jachranka, a statement made by the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) announced he would return home for treatment.
Greece will next face the Czech Republic in Wroclaw on 12 June as they aim to get a first Group A win after Dimitris Salpingidis' second-half goal earned the draw with Poland.

Gerard Piqué - Hopeful in the Event

This has been an unusual season for Gerard Piqué – four trophies but also unwelcome focus on his relationships with both Josep Guardiola and his pop star girlfriend Shakira.
On the pitch, for the first time since he returned to Spain from Manchester United FC in 2008 he missed out on the Liga title. And if the idea of taking his club partnership with Carles Puyol into the UEFA European Championship to ease the domestic pain by winning a third straight international trophy appealed, that prospect disappeared with his Puyol's s recent knee surgery.
But not for nothing is the 25-year-old nicknamed Piquenbauer, a soubriquet that fills its inspiration, Franz Beckenbauer, with delight. Piqué is both elegant and tough, and has no concerns about teaming up with Sergio Ramos in the middle of Spain's normally watertight defence or opening Group C against a notoriously pugnacious Italy. Missing Puyol might be a little bit harder to come to terms with.
"Puyi is like a brother to me and we've shared four great years together for club and country," concedes the FC Barcelona defender. "I'm obviously going to miss the guy and it's a great pity he can't be here with us. But Sergio Ramos is a top central defender, I get on well with him. People say we don't like each other but that's not right, just like people questioned how I got on with Pep Guardiola this season. We are all here united as Spain players with the same objective of winning the championship again."
The much-quoted statistic that, if Spain were to follow their tournament victories of 2008 and 2010, they would become the first nation ever to win three successive trophies might be even more daunting – but not for Piqué.
"I like being called favourites – there's a reason for that," he explained. "It indicates people know we have a team to win this title. I like the extra pressure that brings. Everyone is going to view us as the enemy and I'm sure that one team, at least, is going to really get after us. But, equally, if we play our game and impose our philosophy then we can and will win this tournament."