Euro2000-French take Fair Play title
NYON, Switzerland, July 5
- France won the Euro
2000 fair play title as well as Sunday's final against Italy.
European governing body UEFA said on Wednesday that the
French finished the tournament 0.26 points ahead of the
Netherlands.
The final rankings after the 31-match tournament were as
follows:
1.
France
8,208 points
2. Netherlands 7,950
3.
Spain
7,813
4.
Sweden
7,667
5 equal.
Denmark 7,583
5 equal.
Slovenia 7,583
7.
Romania
7,563
8.
Italy
7,542
9.
Belgium
7,500
10.
Germany
7,417
11.
Portugal
7,400
12.
Norway
7,167
13. Czech
Republic 6,917
14.
Yugoslavia
6,375
Note: England are Turkey were withdrawn from the rankings as
a result of street violence involving their supporters.
$29 million bid for
Anelka, says Real boss Sanz
MADRID, July 5 (Reuters) - Real Madrid have received a 5,000
million pesetas ($29 million) bid for problematic French striker
Nicolas Anelka, club president Lorenzo Sanz said on Wednesday.
But even if the offer from an unnamed club is accepted, the
windfall will not lead to a Real spending spree, according to Sanz, whose future at the head of the club will be decided in a
presidential vote on July 16.
"It will be the coaching staff who decide whether to accept
the bid," he said.
"We have to strengthen the squad in certain positions but I
believe the best players in the world are already at Real Madrid
and we don't need many reinforcements.
"If the coach decides a player is needed we will do what we
can to bring him in but no more than that."
Spanish newspapers have speculated that Paris St Germain are
bidding to bring Anelka back to France, while the player has
also been linked with a move to Italy.
Anelka, who was signed by Real shortly before the start of
the 1999-2000 season for $35 million, responded by scoring just
two league goals and picking up a lengthy suspension for missing
training.
His form improved slightly towards the end of the season as
he scored vital goals in both legs of the Champions League
semifinal against Bayern Munich and he was a member of France's
successful Euro 2000 squad.
Effenberg could return for Germany, Basler in frame
BERLIN, July 5 - Bayern Munich captain Stefan
Effenberg suggested on Wednesday the door may yet be open for
him to return to Germany's national team despite his previous
insistence he had retired for good from international soccer.
"Let me get back to fitness and get through the pre-season
training first -- then we can get serious and talk about
everything," he told the Muenchner Abendblatt newspaper a day
after saying his retirement from international football was
final, even if caretaker coach Rudi Voeller wanted him.
"I'll wait and see -- there's still plenty of time," he
said, adding that he welcomed the appointment of Voeller as a
one-year replacement for Erich Ribbeck before Bayer Leverkusen
coach Christoph Daum takes over next year. But he feels torn.
"If I say no to the national team, then I'm a skiver. If I
say yes, then I'm doing a U-turn," the midfielder said.
Voeller, who has just two months to transform a German side
which was dismal at Euro 2000 before World Cup qualifying
begins, has said he plans to call Effenberg to persuade him to
play for Germany again.
Daum also has plans to ressurect the international career of
controversial Kaiserslautern midfielder Mario Basler, whose
antics off the pitch led to him being suspended and later sold
by Bayern Munich after a scuffle in a restaurant.
Ribbeck left the 31-year-old out of his Euro 2000 squad, but Daum, renowned as a master motivator having turned Leverkusen
into Bayern's most serious rivals as title contenders, told
Sport Bild newspaper the player had a future.
"I would manage him. He just always wants to test new limits
and you have to show him where they are," Daum said. "You have
to take care of him."
