The procedure for the UEFA EURO 2008™ final tournament draw in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 2 December was approved by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting in Istanbul today.
Holders Greece
Consequently, hosts Switzerland and Austria will be placed in groups A1 and B1 respectively. The other 14 nations will be split into four pots. Pot 1 will comprise the reigning European champions Greece if they qualify, as well as the team with the highest coefficient. The other countries will then be placed in the three remaining pots based on the coefficient obtained in the qualifying competition for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and for this EURO. The event will take place at the Konzert und Kongresszentrum in Lucerne, starting at 12.00CET.
Durban draw
The UEFA Executive Committee also decided that the draw for the European qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup – to take place in Durban, South Africa, on 25 November – would be based on FIFA national team rankings. In accordance with the decision at its meeting in Heerenveen, Netherlands, in June, the format for the European qualifiers will be eight groups of six teams, and one group of five. The nine group winners will qualify directly, with the best eight runners-up featuring in home and away play-off matches for the remaining four places.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Hierro happy with supporting role
Former Real Madrid CF captain and international defender Fernando Hierro has been unveiled as the Spanish Football Federation's new sporting director.
No competition
The 39-year-old, speaking at his presentation, insisted that he would not be stepping on national team coach Luis Aragonés's toes in his role, saying: "I've been here for a month and my relationship with Luis Aragonés is friendly – very direct. It's not about being a boss but about different areas and mine is the sporting one, and his the technical one. I'm at his disposal for whatever he needs. My No1 candidate for the coaching post is Luis Aragonés and I haven't spoken to anyone else. The important thing now is qualifying for the [UEFA] European Championship and our main worry is the match in Denmark [on 13 October]. I will travel with the team so they understand it's the biggest game this year."
Superb career
Hierro becomes the first person to occupy the post, having retired from playing in 2005 after a campaign at Bolton Wanderers FC in England. He had started his first-class career at Real Valladolid CF in 1987 before joining Madrid two years later and going on to spend 14 seasons with the capital club. At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Hierro won five Primera División titles, the UEFA Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002, the UEFA Super Cup, two European/South American Cups, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups. Hierro, fourth in Madrid's all-time appearances list having played 439 matches, also collected 89 caps, scoring 29 goals, for his country before quitting international football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Recently he had been working for a sports marketing company.
No competition
The 39-year-old, speaking at his presentation, insisted that he would not be stepping on national team coach Luis Aragonés's toes in his role, saying: "I've been here for a month and my relationship with Luis Aragonés is friendly – very direct. It's not about being a boss but about different areas and mine is the sporting one, and his the technical one. I'm at his disposal for whatever he needs. My No1 candidate for the coaching post is Luis Aragonés and I haven't spoken to anyone else. The important thing now is qualifying for the [UEFA] European Championship and our main worry is the match in Denmark [on 13 October]. I will travel with the team so they understand it's the biggest game this year."
Superb career
Hierro becomes the first person to occupy the post, having retired from playing in 2005 after a campaign at Bolton Wanderers FC in England. He had started his first-class career at Real Valladolid CF in 1987 before joining Madrid two years later and going on to spend 14 seasons with the capital club. At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Hierro won five Primera División titles, the UEFA Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002, the UEFA Super Cup, two European/South American Cups, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups. Hierro, fourth in Madrid's all-time appearances list having played 439 matches, also collected 89 caps, scoring 29 goals, for his country before quitting international football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Recently he had been working for a sports marketing company.
Bad news for Bystrov and Russia
Russia midfielder Vladimir Bystrov may be out of action for the rest of 2007 after damaging knee ligaments in FC Spartak Moskva's 4-3 defeat against FC Lokomotiv Moskva on Sunday.
Surgery question
The 23-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract with the UEFA Cup hopefuls last week, was discovered to have damaged cruciate ligaments in his left knee during the derby and will be out of action for at least a month. Bystrov has travelled to Germany for further tests, and if experts decide he needs an operation will not play again for another six months. Either way, he will not be available for Russia's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against England and Israel, the second leg of Spartak's UEFA Cup first-round tie against BK Häcken - which the Russian side lead 5-0 - and some vital games in the Premier-Liga.
Surgery question
The 23-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract with the UEFA Cup hopefuls last week, was discovered to have damaged cruciate ligaments in his left knee during the derby and will be out of action for at least a month. Bystrov has travelled to Germany for further tests, and if experts decide he needs an operation will not play again for another six months. Either way, he will not be available for Russia's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against England and Israel, the second leg of Spartak's UEFA Cup first-round tie against BK Häcken - which the Russian side lead 5-0 - and some vital games in the Premier-Liga.
New faces for Bosnia-Herzegovina
in his 20-man squad for Bosnia-Herzegovina's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Greece and Norway.
Fresh faces
Defenders Semir Merzić and Ante Aračić will get the chance to impress along with forward Sejad Salihović as Bosnia-Herzegovina face Greece in Athens on 13 October before taking on Norway in Sarajevo four days later. The coach reckons successive defeats by Hungary and Moldova have ended his side's Group C chances, saying: "Our aim now is to play the best we can and to get some decent results."
Bosnia-Herzegovina squad
Goalkeepers: Adnan Gušo (CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu).
Defenders: Džemal Berberović (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Branimir Bajić (TuS Koblenz), Safet Nadarević (NK Zagreb), Ivan Radeljić (NK Slaven Koprivnica), Ante Aračić (FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek), Samir Merzić (FK Teplice).
Midfielders: Mirko Hrgović (HNK Hajduk Split), Zvjezdan Misimović (1. FC Nürnberg), Elvir Rahimić (PFC CSKA Moskva), Darko Maletić (FK Partizan), Branislav Krunić (FC Moskva).
Forwards: Sejad Salihović (TSG Hoffenheim), Vedad Ibišević (TSG Hoffenheim), Edin Džeko (VfL Wolsfburg), Adnan Čustović (R. Excelsior Mouscron), Zlatan Muslimović (Atalanta BC), Senijad Ibričić (NK Zagreb), Dragan Blatnjak (FC Khimki), Admir Vladavić (MŠK Zilina).
Fresh faces
Defenders Semir Merzić and Ante Aračić will get the chance to impress along with forward Sejad Salihović as Bosnia-Herzegovina face Greece in Athens on 13 October before taking on Norway in Sarajevo four days later. The coach reckons successive defeats by Hungary and Moldova have ended his side's Group C chances, saying: "Our aim now is to play the best we can and to get some decent results."
Bosnia-Herzegovina squad
Goalkeepers: Adnan Gušo (CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu).
Defenders: Džemal Berberović (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Branimir Bajić (TuS Koblenz), Safet Nadarević (NK Zagreb), Ivan Radeljić (NK Slaven Koprivnica), Ante Aračić (FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek), Samir Merzić (FK Teplice).
Midfielders: Mirko Hrgović (HNK Hajduk Split), Zvjezdan Misimović (1. FC Nürnberg), Elvir Rahimić (PFC CSKA Moskva), Darko Maletić (FK Partizan), Branislav Krunić (FC Moskva).
Forwards: Sejad Salihović (TSG Hoffenheim), Vedad Ibišević (TSG Hoffenheim), Edin Džeko (VfL Wolsfburg), Adnan Čustović (R. Excelsior Mouscron), Zlatan Muslimović (Atalanta BC), Senijad Ibričić (NK Zagreb), Dragan Blatnjak (FC Khimki), Admir Vladavić (MŠK Zilina).
Newcastle's Owen going under knife
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen will miss England's Euro2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia next month due to a hernia op.
Owen will have surgery in Germany on Friday, which is expected to leave him sidelined for at least three weeks.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce had been hoping Owen, 27, would avoid surgery.
He played the hitman against West Ham at the weekend despite reports he needed an op.
But the player was forced to limp off early in the second half
Owen will have surgery in Germany on Friday, which is expected to leave him sidelined for at least three weeks.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce had been hoping Owen, 27, would avoid surgery.
He played the hitman against West Ham at the weekend despite reports he needed an op.
But the player was forced to limp off early in the second half
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