Park Chu-Young included in South Korea Olympic squad

The Arsenal striker is one of two Premier League players that will compete in London, with Sunderland forward Ji Dong-Won also included in the 18-man party for the tournament

The 26-year-old is one of two Premier League players in the 18-man party, with Sunderland forward Ji Dong-Won also featured. Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng will also be involved.

Reports had claimed that Al-Sadd defender and national team captain Lee Jung-Soo would be in the squad but he has been replaced by Busan I'Park full-back Kim Chang-Soo.

The majority of coach Hong Myung-Bo's squad are based overseas, with six players hailing from the J-League and four more active in Europe.

South Korea will play Mexico, Gabon, and Switzerland in Group B beginning on July 26.

South Korea squad in full for the 2012 Olympic Games:

Name	Club
Goalkeepers:
Jung Sung-Ryeong	Suwon Bluewings
Lee Bum-Yeong	Busan I'Park
Defenders:
Yoon Seok-Yeong	Chunnam Dragons
Kim Young-Gwon	Omiya Ardija
Jang Hyeon-Soo	FC Tokyo
Kim Chang-Soo	Busan I'Park
Hwang Seok-Ho	Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Oh Jae-seok	Gangwon FC
Midfielders:
Kim Bo-Kyung	Cerezo Osaka
Koo Ja-Cheol	Augsburg
Han Kook-Young	Shonan Bellmare
Baek Sung-Dong	Jubilo Iwata
Ki Sung-Yueng	Celtic
Park Jong-Woo	Busan I'Park
Nam Tae-hee	Lekhwiya SC
Attackers:
Ji Dong-Won	Sunderland
Park Chu-Young	Arsenal
Kim Hyun-Sung	FC Seoul

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Germany vs Italy : Match starts at 2:45AM GMT(+8:00)

WARSAW: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be looking for his side to extend their proud record of never losing to Germany in a major finals when they meet in Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw. Germany – who are seeking their first trophy since lifting the Euro ‘96 title – will be by contrast hoping to end that run in what is their eighth meeting at either a World Cup or a European championship finals. “There is no such thing as an invincible side,” said Prandelli. “Germany has that sense of knowing what they need to do. “They are also physically strong and have players who have tasted international success at club level, so they are a side with the ingredients to go all the way. “But we will study them closely and work on the few weak points they have.”

Italy needed a penalty shoot-out to beat England 4-2 in Sunday’s quarter-final in Kiev with the Azzurri failing to hit the net in normal play despite 68 percent ball possession and 35 shots compared to England’s nine. Prandelli has said the Italians will have to be daring in order to beat Germany, who are on a 15-match winning run in competitive matches since losing to Spain at the last World Cup. Germany’s forwards shone in Friday’s 4-2 quarter-final win over Greece and Prandelli is mindful of the risk of pushing too far forward against a German side with the pace to punish on the counter-attack. Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli is one player the Germans have admitted they will pay close attention to after he spearheaded an Italian attack which had periods of impressive form against the Three Lions.

With only a three-day turn-around between the quarter and semi, Prandelli has injury concerns over midfielder Daniele De Rossi and right-back Ignazio Abate, while Italy’s other right-back Christian Maggio is suspended. Aside from a 1-1 draw in a friendly in February 2011, the last time the teams met in competition was the 2006 World Cup semi-final when the Italians won 2-0 after extra time as they went on to win the title. But Germany coach Joachim Loew was defiant when asked about the lack of German success against the Azzurri over the years. “We can’t turn back time, forget about about it, the past doesn’t play a role in our planning,” said the 52-year-old. “Another stat is that Germany has never won against Italy in a major tournament, but so what? “The situation is entirely different now and this is not an issue for us.”

But Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo believes the Germans are running scared and the 33-year-old believes that history will give Italy the edge. “Germany are definitely scared of us, they know we can create difficulties for them given what’s happened in the past and they will have to be careful to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2006,” said the Juventus midfielder. Loew has developed a habit for pulling surprises at this tournament highlighted by changing three of Germany’s six-man attack against Greece in axing striker Mario Gomez, plus forwards Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller. It means competition is fierce for places in the starting line-up and Borussia Dortmund-bound Marco Reus looked sharp against the Greeks on his tournament debut before scoring Germany’s fourth goal. Loew has only concerns over pivotal midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger who is still feeling the effects of tearing ankle ligaments in February, but the 27-year-old took full part in training this week. Having won the so-called “Group of Death” by beating Holland, Portugal and Denmark en route to the knock-out phase, the Germans have made no secret of their desire to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup. “We knew before the tournament that we have a strong team,” said Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil. “If we play as we know we can, I am convinced we will beat Italy.” afp

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UEFA fines Germany for fans' neo-Nazi flag

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – UEFA has fined the German soccer association $31,200 after fans displayed a neo-Nazi flag at a European Championship match.

Germany has now been disciplined for fans' behavior at all three Euro 2012 group-stage matches, and paid fines totaling $50,000.

UEFA says fans were guilty of "improper conduct" at the match against Denmark on June 17.

Monitors from the Europe-wide FARE fans' group identified the neo-Nazi symbol after being appointed to help find offensive flags, chants and behavior in Euro 2012 stadiums.

UEFA previously said Germany fans in the Arena Lviv in Ukraine also sang "inappropriate" chants and set off fireworks.

German fans also threw paper missiles at Portugal and Netherlands players at earlier matches.

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Germany vs. Greece

GDANSK, Poland -- Germany's most prominent fan will be in the stands for the quarterfinal against Greece at the European Championship.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, wins no popularity contests among the Greek contingent. So the political dimension of Friday's game only heightens what is already an intriguing match in strictly soccer terms.Germany is a three-time champion. Greece is the surprise winner of the 2004, and the Greeks are still standing again, with an unexpected place in the knockout stages.

It was always our main aim to reach the quarterfinals. So now we have nothing to lose," said defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, one of the many Greece players with Bundesliga experience. "We are playing against one of the best teams here. All I can say is that we'll fight. If we get the win, that would be a huge result."

Greece has plenty of reason to be thankful to Germany - the 2004 championship team was coached by a German, Otto Rehhagel.

German and Greek officials are trying to play down the politics. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has been a major contributor to international bailouts for Greece and was instrumental in demanding structural reforms and hugely unpopular spending cuts in return. Greek fans are unlikely to take kindly to Merkel's presence at Gdansk Arena.

"We are playing for our shirt, our flag and for the people back home," midfielder Costas Katsouranis said.

Added Greek forward Dimitris Salpigidis: "I don't think anyone on the team believes this will be our last game at this tournament. People have so many problems in their everyday lives. We're really hoping that we can put a smile on their face."

Gdansk also was also the scene of the first battle of World War II, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. A German soccer federation delegation laid a wreath Wednesday at a memorial for Poles at the Westerplatte peninsula on the outskirts of the Baltic city.

Germany has two Poland-born players in its squad, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, and Polish fans could throw their support behind the Germans. By winning its group, Germany got to stay in Gdansk and was spared having to travel.

Merkel attended Germany's 4-0 rout of Argentina at the 2010 World Cup and saw Germany beat Turkey in Berlin in the most important Euro 2012 qualifier for her team. She has visited the German locker room and briefly spent time with the team in Gdansk before the tournament.

"She seems to bring us luck," midfielder Sami Khedira said.

Germany is the only team to have won all three group games and goes into the quarterfinal as the overwhelming favorite. But the Germans understand the ability of the Greeks."They are a very good team, underestimated by many.

They create few chances but score from them. Technically, they are strong and play well one-on-one," Khedira said.

"It will be tough to crack their defense, but we have the means. We have to be patient, but we also have to be constantly on the move. They will try to disrupt our game and beat us, but they will not succeed."

Added midfielder Thomas Mueller: "We know what we have to do, but it's not going to be a piece of cake."

Greece will be missing playmaker and captain Giorgos Karagounis because of suspension.

There is speculation Germany coach Joachim Loew will return Klose to the starting lineup, although Mario Gomez scored three goals that won matches against Portugal and the Netherlands. Klose, a 34-year-old striker, scored the last time these teams played each other, a World Cup qualifier in 2001.

Six Greece players have either played or still play in the Bundesliga.

Greece has five defeats and three draws in the eight games it has played Germany or the former West Germany."We are not too bothered about statistics. ...

That doesn't really matter," Salpigidis said.

source: newsobserver.com/2012/06/21/2151638/politics-meets-soccer-in-germany.html

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UEFA charges Germany over neo-Nazi banner

WARSAW - UEFA charged the German football association on Tuesday after anti-discrimination monitors reported seeing a neo-Nazi banner at a European Championship match against Denmark.

UEFA said the charge of "improper conduct" of its fans related to the display of "inappropriate banners and symbols."

The case was opened based on reports by monitors from the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) fans' network, which UEFA appointed to help combat racism and offensive flags, chants and behavior in Euro 2012 stadiums.

"FARE can confirm that one of our observers reported a neo-Nazi banner in the German section at the match vs. Denmark in Lviv on Sunday," the group said in a statement.

Fans in the Arena Lviv in Ukraine were also responsible for "inappropriate chanting" and setting off fireworks, UEFA said in a statement.

UEFA rules make national associations responsible for their fans' actions inside stadiums.

German fans have now provoked UEFA charges after all three of the team's matches at Euro 2012.

Portugal players were pelted with crumpled paper balls during the teams' first match in Lviv. UEFA fined the German association 10,000 euros ($A12,441).

After Germany played the Netherlands in Kharkiv, Ukraine, UEFA opened a case for fans setting off fireworks and throwing more paper balls. UEFA has not yet published a ruling.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel will deal with the latest case on Saturday.

Germany beat Denmark 2-1 to advance to a quarterfinal match against Greece on Friday, in Gdansk, Poland.

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UEFA fining policy met with criticism

Uefa have been criticised after imposing a greater fine on Nicklas Bendtner for displaying a sponsored pair of underwear than they did on the Croatian FA as punishment for their fans' alleged racial abuse of Mario Balotelli.

European football's governing body have fined the Croatian FA €80,000, lower than the €100,000 fine on Bendtner.

However, UEFA are also expected to deliver a second fine to the German FA after investigating accusations of "improper conduct" of fans during a win over Denmark. The DFB have already been fined €10,000 after fans threw paper on the pitch in their opening match.

source: heraldscotland.com/sport/football/uefa-fining-policy-met-with-criticism.17924014

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UEFA EURO 2012 | France vs. Sweden

This match is going to be intense, and neither of these teams are averse to physical play. That's terribly convenient, considering that the referee for the match isn't averse to yellow cards. Viktor Kassai of Hungary previously officiated the match between Italy and Spain in this tournament, during which he handed out seven bookings. In the Euro 2012 playoff match between Estonia and Ireland, which the Irish won 4-0, he handed out six bookings, including two red cards. Milner, Young, Tymoshchuk and Yevhen Selin are facing a suspension if they pick up a yellow.

Glen Johnson says former team-mate Shevchenko is still one of the best around. “He didn’t have the best part of his career when he was at Chelsea, but you don’t lose your quality overnight," says England defender. Right-back Johnson played with Shevchenko at Stamford Bridge, where the striker scored just nine goals after signing from AC Milan for £30.8million.

Shevchenko left Chelsea after three unhappy years, but has rediscovered some of his old form at Dynamo Kiev and scored twice in Ukraine’s Group D opening victory over Sweden.

England face Ukraine in their final Group D game in Donetsk on Tuesday needing to avoid defeat to qualify for the quarter-finals, with the co-hosts chasing a win to be sure of staying in the tournament after defeat to France.

“Sheva’s a fantastic guy,” said right-back Johnson, who quit Chelsea in 2007 and is now at Liverpool. “He didn’t have the best part of his career when he was at Chelsea, but you don’t lose your quality overnight. He’s still one of the best strikers around. I rate him very highly.

“He was very genuine, although I don’t think he was too confident with his English – but he tried to join in with everything.

“Every player at the European Championship wants to be at his highest level, so I am sure he’ll be up for it against us.“Everyone has ups and downs during their career, but, arguably, Sheva’s one of the best strikers around.

Teams’ Information:

England Squad Possible Lineups

Goalkeepers: Butland, Green, Heart

Strikers: Carroll, Defoe, Rooney, Welbeck

Midfield: Downing, Gerrard, Lampard, Oxlade,-Chamberlain, Milner, Parker, Walcott, Yound

Defense: Baines, Cahill, Cole, Jagielka, Johnson, Jones, Lescott, Terry

Coach: Roy Hodgson

Ukraine Squad Possible Lineups

Goalkeepers: Goryainov, Koval, Pyatov

Strikers: Devic, Milevskiy, Seleznyov, Voronin, Shevchenko

Midfield: Aliyev, Garmash, Gusev, Konoplanka, Nazarenko, Rotan, Tymoschchuk, Yamolenko

Defense: Butko, Khacheridi, Kucher, Mikhalik, Rakitskiy, Delin, Shevchuk

Coach: Oleh Blokhin

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