shootout in Euro 2004 quarterfinals. from corse178's blog
PARIS -- Somehow, a classic encounter between Germany and Italy is not the main attraction of the quarterfinal-stage at the European Championship. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys.Icelands next act in what is already one of the most surprising stories in European Championship history is the match thats drawing most attention.Can the team, which surprised so many by beating England 2-1 in the round of 16, do the same to host France when they meet at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis?The island nation of just 330,000 people has undoubtedly taken the spotlight from all the others in the final eight, including Wales, which other times would be basking in its underdog status. And its overshadowed other themes, such as Cristiano Ronaldos quest for an elusive first title with Portugal.Heres a look at how the Euro 2016 drama is peaking after what most concede to have been a lackluster group stage:---MANIC MONDAYA truly memorable day in European Championship history whetted appetites for the quarterfinals.Two-time defending champion Spain lost to an Italian team thats defied its old reputation for dour, defensive play.That was just a warm-up act.Icelands 2-1 victory over England is one of the most surprising results in European Championship history. After all, as England great Gary Lineker quipped on Twitter, Iceland has more volcanoes than professional soccer players.---ICE, ICE, BABYNext up for Iceland: France in its national stadium on Sunday. Now, home fans are starting to believe their team can replicate the Euro 1984 and 1998 World Cup teams by winning on home soil.But, given what happened to England, and others, French fans will likely be a little wary now about the match that concludes the quarterfinals.Iceland, in its first appearance at the European Championship, has other achievements to brag about. The team also drew 1-1 with Portugal, daring to celebrate to the seeming annoyance of Ronaldo.Then came the late drama of Icelands last two group games against Hungary and Austria; the global discovery of national TVs hysterical match commentator; culminating in the delicious upset of England.---GERMANY CRUISINGQuietly, ominously, Germany cruised into the quarterfinals without conceding a goal.Italy coach Antonio Conte says the 2014 World Cup winner is the best team in France, which is part-truth and part-psychological.If one team can intimidate Germany, its Italy.Italys 2-1 win in a Euro 2012 semifinal extended a tradition of German losses that includes World Cup semifinals in 2006 and 1970, and the 1982 World Cup final.Italy has played two top-class teams at Euro 2016 -- Belgium and Spain -- and comfortably won both 2-0---GOLDEN YEARSIf not now, then when for Belgium?A so-called golden generation is finally shining ahead of playing a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales that is united and must not be underestimated.Belgium failed to impress at the 2014 World Cup when tamely losing a quarterfinal to Argentina, and its inhibited play in losing to Italy in the first game of the group stage looked more of the same.Since then, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne have starred in three straight wins -- the combined score, 8-0.However, how good were those opponents? Ireland, Sweden and Hungary all came through the Euro 2016 playoffs and would not have qualified under the old 16-team format.Wales need not fear Belgium in Fridays match after they advanced through the same qualifying group. Wales drew 0-0 in Brussels, then won 1-0 at home with Bale scoring.Belgium is unlikely to be short of fans. After all, the match takes place in Lille, near the Belgian border. And Hazard is a local hero, having started out his career in the city.---CRISTIANOS QUESTAt 31, this is likely Ronaldos last good chance to win a trophy with Portugal, an achievement that could propel him to another Ballon dOr over great rival Lionel Messi.Now at his seventh finals tournament, Ronaldo came closest at his first, but the Euro 2004 host lost in the final to Greece.A quarterfinal against Poland and a so-far misfiring Robert Lewandowski is an offer Portugal would surely have taken before the tournament. Belgium or Wales await the winner.---GETTING BETTEREuro 2016 picked up welcome momentum in a round of 16 spread over three days, each one having its own distinct character.Saturdays slow start slumped to a dire end; on Sunday, the big boys roughed up the underdogs; Monday peaked with two compelling dramas.The first half of the tournament was memorable mostly for the fans: A happy, noisy and friendly majority, but with nasty outbreaks of fighting and flare-throwing.The final two weeks needs to be remembered for the quality of the games and the goals. Cheap MLB Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Cheap Detroit Tigers Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.cheaptigersjerseys.com/ . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history.LONDON -- Highlights in the career of David Beckham, who said Thursday he will retire from football at the end of the season: 1975 -- Born May 2 in Leytonstone, east London. 1991 -- Joins Manchester United as trainee. 1993 -- Signs professional contract at Old Trafford. 1996 -- Wins first FA Cup and Premier League title at Manchester United; Scores goal of season with shot from halfway line; Makes England debut against Moldova. 1997 -- Wins second Premier League medal at United; Voted PFA Young Player of the Year. 1998 -- Scores first England goal against Colombia at World Cup; Sent off against Argentina and briefly becomes hated figure in England. 1999 -- Wins third Premier League title at Man United, along with FA Cup and Champions League trophies; Runner-up in World Player of the Year awards. 2000 -- Wins fourth Premier League title medal at Man United; named England captain. 2001 -- Wins fifth Premier League title at Man United; Curls in last-minute free kick against Greece to send England to World Cup. 2003 -- Man United manager Alex Ferguson accidentally kicks boot into Beckhams face after FA Cup loss to Arsenal; winns sixth Premier League medal; Awarded OBE for services to football; moves to Real Madrid and wins Spanish Super Cup. Cheap Tigers Jerseys. 2004 -- Misses penalty as England loses to Portugal in shootout in Euro 2004 quarterfinals. 2005 -- Captains England for 50th time in friendly against Argentina in Geneva. 2006 -- Quits as England captain after World Cup quarterfinal exit to Portugal; Dropped from England squad for friendly against Greece. 2007 -- Wins Spanish league with Real Madrid; Joins Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy on five-year contract; Gets England recall. 2008 -- Makes 100th England appearance. 2009 -- Joins AC Milan on loan; Wins 109th cap to break Bobby Moores record for an outfield player, makes 115th and final appearance against Belarus. 2010 -- Tears Achilles tendon and misses World Cup. 2011 -- Wins MLS Cup with Galaxy. 2012 -- Re-signs with Galaxy and wins second MLS Cup. 2013 -- Signs five-month contract with Paris Saint-Germain, donating salary to a childrens charity; PSG clinches French league title, Beckham becomes first Englishman to win league titles in four different countries. 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The Wall