- News>
- Football
Exciting draw for Euro 2004 with German on collission course with Dutch
Lisbon, Dec 01: Managers react to Euro 2004 draw. The Germans and Dutch will resume their often over-intense soccer rivalry at next year`s Euro 2004 finals after being drawn together in tough group D on Sunday (November 30).
Lisbon, Dec 01: Managers react to Euro 2004 draw. The Germans and Dutch will resume their often over-intense soccer rivalry at next year's Euro 2004 finals after being drawn together in tough group D on Sunday (November 30).
A fascinating draw also saw hosts Portugal lining up against neighbours Spain in group A and holders France meeting England in group B in another of the choicest encounters of the tournament's early stages.
German-Dutch rivalry is always intense and their matches have become explosive affairs since the Dutch knocked the German hosts out of the 1988 European Championship.
Two years later the two teams were involved in a turbulent encounter at the World Cup in Italy when current German coach Rudi Voeller was sent off along with Dutchman Frank Rijkaard. The two sides play in their opening group D game on June 15 in a section which also includes the Czech Republic and Latvia, the only newcomers to the finals. The Dutch and the Czechs meet again after qualifying together from the same group this time.
The Germans, Dutch and Czechs will have a tough time competing for two places into the quarter-finals.
Portugal play Spain on June 20 in Lisbon in a match which home fans will see as the undoubted highlight of the opening round. Portugal will fear their neighbours, who beat them 3-0 in a friendly in Guimaraes in September.
Greece, who topped their qualifying group and beat Spain away from home, are also in this section with Russia. The Greeks will play Portugal in the tournament's opening match in Oporto on June 12.
France and England play their opening fixture the next day in Lisbon in a group which also includes Switzerland and Croatia.
The two old rivals look to be the favourites to make progress. Italy appear on paper to have the easiest ride into the quarter-finals. They were drawn in group C with Bulgaria and Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Denmark.
The 31-match tournament takes place at 10 venues in Portugal from June 12 to July 4 when the final is staged in Lisbon.
Draw for the finals of Euro 2004 soccer championship made on Sunday: Group A 1. Portugal 2. Greece 3. Spain 4. Russia
Group B 1. France 2. England 3. Switzerland 4. Croatia
Group C 1. Sweden 2. Bulgaria 3. Denmark 4. Italy
Group D 1. Czech Republic 2. Latvia 3. Germany 4. Netherlands
Betting on the Euro 2004 Championship after Sunday's draw: 100-30 France 4-1 Italy 13-2 Netherlands, Portugal 7-1 Spain 15-2 England 12-1 Czech Republic 18-1 Germany 22-1 Sweden 25-1 Denmark 50-1 Bulgaria 66-1 Greece 80-1 Croatia, Russia 100-1 Switzerland 500-1 Latvia
Bureau Report
Two years later the two teams were involved in a turbulent encounter at the World Cup in Italy when current German coach Rudi Voeller was sent off along with Dutchman Frank Rijkaard. The two sides play in their opening group D game on June 15 in a section which also includes the Czech Republic and Latvia, the only newcomers to the finals. The Dutch and the Czechs meet again after qualifying together from the same group this time.
The Germans, Dutch and Czechs will have a tough time competing for two places into the quarter-finals.
Portugal play Spain on June 20 in Lisbon in a match which home fans will see as the undoubted highlight of the opening round. Portugal will fear their neighbours, who beat them 3-0 in a friendly in Guimaraes in September.
Greece, who topped their qualifying group and beat Spain away from home, are also in this section with Russia. The Greeks will play Portugal in the tournament's opening match in Oporto on June 12.
France and England play their opening fixture the next day in Lisbon in a group which also includes Switzerland and Croatia.
The two old rivals look to be the favourites to make progress. Italy appear on paper to have the easiest ride into the quarter-finals. They were drawn in group C with Bulgaria and Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Denmark.
The 31-match tournament takes place at 10 venues in Portugal from June 12 to July 4 when the final is staged in Lisbon.
Draw for the finals of Euro 2004 soccer championship made on Sunday: Group A 1. Portugal 2. Greece 3. Spain 4. Russia
Group B 1. France 2. England 3. Switzerland 4. Croatia
Group C 1. Sweden 2. Bulgaria 3. Denmark 4. Italy
Group D 1. Czech Republic 2. Latvia 3. Germany 4. Netherlands
Betting on the Euro 2004 Championship after Sunday's draw: 100-30 France 4-1 Italy 13-2 Netherlands, Portugal 7-1 Spain 15-2 England 12-1 Czech Republic 18-1 Germany 22-1 Sweden 25-1 Denmark 50-1 Bulgaria 66-1 Greece 80-1 Croatia, Russia 100-1 Switzerland 500-1 Latvia
Bureau Report