World champions Italy have to beat Romania on Friday if they are to keep alive their dream of adding the Euro 2008 title to their laurels, claimed fullback Gianluca Zambrotta on Wednesday.

France coach Raymond Domenech sought to put a positive spin on his side´s hesitant start to Euro 2008 here on Wednesday by insisting the 2000 champions´ fate was still in their own hands.

Germany´s hot-shot forward Lukas Podolski is hoping to celebrate his 50th cap in Thursday´s key Euro 2008 Group B clash against Croatia by firing his side into the last eight.

Day 5 of Euro 2008 kicks off with the Group A clash between the Czech Republic and Portugal. SoccerWay keeps you up to date on the most important events.

Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson suffered a tear of his left hamstring during Tuesday's win over Greece and will miss the rest of Euro 2008 as a result.

Germany coach Joachim Loew on Wednesday identified his midfield pairing of Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings as key to the success of his team at Euro 2008.

Portugal have a very good chance of advancing to the next round after a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

It's crunch time now in Group A of Euro 2008 as Switzerland and Turkey will desperately be looking for three points as they square off in Basel at St. Jakob Park.

Portugal´s play-maker Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half goal to all but book his side´s Euro 2008 quarter-final berth with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic here on Wednesday.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic showed he was in no mood to joke around on the eve of his team´s crucial Euro 2008 Group B clash against Germany here on Thursday.

Defender Jacek Bak will take the skipper´s armband for Thursday´s match against co-hosts Austria in Group B in place of the injured Maciej Zurawski, coach Leo Beenhakker said Wednesday.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten said Wednesday his side´s place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals is far from assured despite their 3-0 demolition of world champions Italy.

Spanish striker David Villa, fresh from hitting the first hattrick at Euro-2008 in his country´s thrashing of Russia, has suffered a hairline fracture of his right index finger, Spanish Football Federation spokeswoman Paloma Antoranz said Wednesday.

A dramatic late winner by Arda Turan lifted Turkey to a 2-1 victory over co-hosts Switzerland in Basel, eliminating the Swiss from Euro 2008 on Tuesday night.

Arda Turan ended Switzerland´s interest in Euro 2008 in heartbreaking fashion by capping a man-of-the-match display with the stoppage time strike that gave Turkey a 2-1 win here on Wednesday.

Deflated Switzerland boss Jakob Kuhn has vowed the Euro 2008 party will continue in his country despite the co-hosts´ heartbreaking exit from the tournament.

France coach Raymond Domenech has lifted his habitual guard with the media, divulging that he could make as many as four changes to the side that must confront the freescoring Group C leaders Holland in Berne on Friday.

Czech coach Karel Bruckner lauded Portugal´s play-maker Cristiano Ronaldo after his match-winning showing in their Euro 2008 Group A clash in Geneva.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praised his side for reaching the Euro 2008 quarter-finals and promptly kicked off the mind-games by talking up potential semi-final opponents Germany.

Greetings from the Stade de Geneve where Portugal and the Czech Republic are about to kick off in search of a probable place in the Euro 2008 quarter finals and bragging rights to Group A. It has been a warm and sunny day by the Alps with both sets of colourful fans bringing the French-speaking city to life. In case anything bad happens, 1200 gendarmes from across the border are roaming around town. The game should be an interesting contrast of styles between the silky Portuguese and sinous Czechs. "We have to make the most of our technical qualities," Portugal bossLuiz Felipe Scolari said pre-game, while opposite number Karel Bruckner has upped the ante by labelling Portugal "quite predictable." Bruckner has left out target man Jan Koller, leaving Milan Baros alone up front, while Portugal are unchanged from the team which beat Turkey 2-0. For the Lusitanians, revenge for Karel Poborsky's memorable wedge chip which eliminated them from Euro 1996 could be in the offing. (c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting