28.Jun.04 02:01:52 PM

The final-four lineup is one of the most unusual in the history of the championships, with host Portugal facing the Netherlands and Greece playing the Czechs. Long gone from the tournament are defending champion France and four other powers - Italy, Spain, England and Germany.
The Netherlands faces host Portugal on Wednesday in Lisbon's Jose Alvalade stadium. I believe that the pressure will be on hosts Portugal ahead of their semi-final on Wednesday, but I still believe that they could overcome that pressure, especially after dramatic quarter final win over England. Portugal could not have got off to a worse start, losing to Greece, and after two games Holland seemed in disarray and heading home. It has all turned around in a short space of time. It is amazing what eliminating neighbours Spain or enjoying a comfortable win over Latvia can do for morale. Winning on penalties then just adds to the momentum. It should be a close game.
Portugal v Holland – 5 POINTS PORTUGAL TO WIN with PINNACLE

The only team with a perfect record so far, the Czechs have the lowest price to win EURO2004 tournament at the moment. The first obstacle for Nedved, BAros and company will be Greece who stunned whole football world with a win over Portugal on tournament opening and with elimination of still reigning European champions-France. soccer semifinal against the Czech Republic. Greece’s performance in Portugal has been its best ever in a major international tournament, a decade after the humiliation of the World Cup in the US, when the national squad lost all of its games without scoring a single goal — while letting in 10.
Greece v Czech Republic – 4 POINTS UNDER GOALS with PINNACLE

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24.Jun.04 12:38:52 PM

Thursday will be the first day of four quarterfinals days. Tournament hosts Portugal will meet England. Portugal and England have met each other once at the European Championship. In 2000, Portugal came back from 2-0 behind to beat England 3-2. Portugal and England stand just two victories away from the final and stakes are really big at the moment and it could be the biggest success on European championships for both sides. Portugal's best achievement at the European Championship is reaching the semi-finals twice in 1984 and 2000. On both occasions the Portuguese were eliminated by France. England's best result at a European Championship final round is third place in 1968 and reaching the semi-finals in 1996.
Portugal v England 3 points PORTUGAL TO WIN with PINNACLE

The second quarterfinal match will be played at Friday when France meet Greece. France have won five of their previous six encounters with Greece. One match ended in a draw. The last time France failed to score in a European Championship match dates back to 26 June 1996 when they were beaten on penalties by the Czech Republic in the semi-final of Euro 96 after a 0-0 draw. Greece scored in all three matches they played on this tournament.
France v Greece 5 points OVER GOALS with PINNACLE

By reaching the knock-out phase at Euro 2004, Sweden have matched their achievement at the 2002 World Cup after finishing top of what looked like an unwinnable group. They are now eager to avoid the mistakes of two years ago, when they finished ahead of England, Argentina and Nigeria in their group only to lose in the next round to Senegal. They will come in quarterfinals with caution and with a hope that they will not concede a goal in the first 30 minutes of a game.
The Dutch will persist with attacking football, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy insisted after scoring two goals to set up a quarter-final clash with Sweden in Faro on Saturday. If Holland fail to score in the first half, I believe that Swedes will progress.
Holland v Sweden 3 points Sweden to progress in semifinals with PINNACLE

The quarter-finals end with the Czech Republic facing Denmark in Porto on Sunday. Bookmaker’s prices on Czech’s to win EURO2004 tournament are falling constantly and there are lots of reasons for that. Karel Brueckner's inventive, attacking team showed incredible qualities of teamwork, resilience and attacking power in overturning a two-goal deficit to beat the Netherlands 3-2 last Sunday and, after finishing as the only team to win all three group matches, they look too strong for Denmark.
Czech Republic v Denmark 7 points CZECH R. to WIN PINNACLE

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21.Jun.04 02:49:24 PM

Sweden's 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday, plus Denmark's 2-0 win over Bulgaria, means Sweden, Denmark and Italy could all finish on five points. If Denmark and Sweden draw 2-2 in their final Group C game then they qualify for the last eight no matter what Italy do against Bulgaria. A defeat for either Denmark or Sweden would see them knocked out if, as expected, Italy beat Bulgaria. Denmark and Sweden have played just two competitive matches. and both were won by Sweden.In 1948, Sweden beat Denmark 4-2 in the semi-finals of the London Olympics. Sweden then went on to win the Olympic title. At Euro '92 Sweden were the only team to defeat Denmark (1-0), with a goal from Tomas Brolin. Despite this defeat the Danes went on to win the Championship, their only title so far. So, on all previous occasions in which Sweden and Denmark have played each other at a major tournament, one of them has gone on to win the title.
Both sides are totally refusing suggestions that the Scandinavian neighbours would work a "Machiavellian" scheme to see Italy eliminated, but stake is too big at the moment.
Denmark v Sweden ht/ft Denmark/DRAW or SWEDEN/DRAW with PINNACLE

Italy face elimination should they fail to win on Tuesday. For Bulgaria, the game is a fight for pride, after a catastrophic EURO 2004 performance so far. The team suffered 0-5 to Sweden and 0-2 to Denmark, and stands no chance to reach the next stage of the tournament. Italy will be with an eye at Porto where Sweden-Denmark will be played. Italy are without suspended striker Francesco Totti, while defender Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso are also banned. Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov and centre back Roesen Kirilov are both suspended for the match.
Italy v Bulgaria 4 points UNDER GOALS with PINNACLE

The Czechs, who became the first team to reach the quarter-finals Saturday with a 3-2 win over the Netherlands, have six points from two games and are certain group winners. They are coming ito Wednesday match against Germany without motive. Captain Pavel Nedved and several other key players will be rested in the Czech Republic's final Group D game. German win over Czech Republic would sink Holland and Latvian’s hope that they could progress into quarter finals. If Czechs stay unbeaten, than a winner from Holland-Latvia tie would progress. If Czech Republic and Germany play draw, and Holland and Latvia also play draw, than Germans will progress. If Czechs win match against Germans, and Holland and Latvia play draw than Holland will progress.
Germany v Czech R. – GERMANY to WIN, Holland v Latvia – HOLLAND TO WIN with PINNACLE


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18.Jun.04 11:55:40 AM

The second round in Group C will be played at Friday. Denmark outplayed Italy and probably deserved more than a 0-0 finish in their first match in Group C. They will have the second chance in match against Bulgaria, battered 5-0 by Sweden in the first round of championship, but they hopes to salvage some respect at Friday. Bulgaria did well in the first half against Sweden, but collapsed in the second half when the Swedes scored four of their five goals. This will be the first ever meeting between Bulgaria and Denmark at the European Championship. Denmark have a slight edge against Bulgaria in competitive matches with two wins, three draws and one defeat. The last time these two sides met was in the World Cup 2002 qualifying campaign. On 11 October 2000, Denmark drew 1-1 at home. Nearly one year later, on 05 September 2001, Denmark won 2-0 in Sofia.
Bulgaria v Denmark 6 points DENMARK TO WIN with PINNACLE

Italy suffers major setback with suspension of Francesco Totti, who is banned for three games for spitting at an opponent. He will be replaced by Roma's attacker Antonio Cassano in match against Sweden. Italy and Sweden have met 20 times before. Twice at the World Championships and once at the European Championships which marks their last meeting (2-1 win by Italy) on 19 June 2000 when Alessandro Del Piero scored the winner in the 88th minute. Sweden will come in this match with intention to grab a point that could be crucial in a battle for top two places in group C. I expect them to play defensively and if we know that Italy have never scored more than two goals in a European Championship match we couldn’t see anything but UNDER GOALS match there.
Italy v Sweden 6 points UNDER 2,5 GOALS with PINNACLE

Latvia showed everything they know against Czechs, but they couldn’t avoid defeat. They scored, they were winners of the first half-time and we can’t expect much from them in a game against always strong Germans. The most interesting fact is that Germany have not beaten a European team at a major championship since winning 2-1 with a golden goal against the Czech Republic in the Euro 96 final. Germany have not lost a competitive match since the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil - this streak is now nine matches. Latvia have won just two of their matches in 2004, beating Slovenia and Kazakhstan, drawing with Azerbaijan and Iceland, and losing to Belarus, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Latvia v Germany 4 points OVER 2,5 GOALS with PINNACLE

The Dutch are on a revenge mission against the Czechs who topped their qualifying group for the championships having lost to them 3-1 and drawn 1-1 in their two matches. Holland won the title in 1988. Czechoslovakia claimed their only title in 1976. These two have met 16 times before with eight wins for the Czechs, four for the Dutch and four draws. Holland are unbeaten for seven European Championship matches. Their last defeat dates back to 18 June 1996 when England beat them 4-1.
Holland v Czech Rep 3 points DRAW with PINNACLE

The last day in group A will be Sunday. Two matches will be played at the same time 20:45 CET. Portugal will meet Spain, while Greece will play against already eliminated Russians.
The Portuguese need to beat Spain for the first time since 1981 if they are to reach the quarter-finals. After a surprise 2-1 defeat against Greece in their opening game, Portugal kept their hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Russia on Wednesday. The hosts will have to do better than they do in the first matches to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Spain also have everything to play for as defeat would see them eliminated unless Greece lost to Russia by a greater margin. Spain were furious with the refereeing in the World Cup, especially a game against co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals. Camacho's side were incensed by the decision to disallow what TV pictures showed was a legal goal by Fernando Morientes. Now, they are facing another decisive match against hosts of tournament…
Spain v Portugal 4 points PORTUGAL TO WIN with PINNACLE

The second tie for Sunday is Greece-Russia Greece are fast becoming the shock side of Euro 2004, having followed up their opening-day victory over Portugal with a draw against Spain in what is becoming an intriguing Group A. They are just step away from qualifications into quarter finals. Greece played in the 1980 Euro finals in Italy and in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, but it was winless in both tournaments.
Russia v Greece 4 points DRAW with PINNACLE

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