___
2107: What a header that is from Alonso — and what a way to celebrate making your 100th cap! Iniesta pokes the ball behind Reveillere and into the path of Alba, who is racing forward from left back. Alba delivers a perfect cross to the back post for the unmarked Alonso, who plants a header into the ground and past Lloris.
___
2103: GOAL! Spain 1, France 0 (Xabi Alonso)
___
2057: (at)jeromepugmire: Quite a few empty seats in both Spanish and French ends. Perhaps inflated hotel prices put them off when tickets first went on sale. (via Twitter)
Xabi Alonso shoots from inside his own half and it requires Lloris to take the catch or that would have found the net. Good effort from Alonso, who has a history of scoring from inside his own half from his days at Liverpool. Quite an even start here, although Spain has had more possession. No surprise there.
___
2051: (at)PaulLogoAP: While Casillas makes his 135th appearance for Spain, (at)XabiAlonso becomes 5th Spanish player with 100 caps against France (via Twitter)
Fabregas appeals for a penalty after clashing with Clichy but the referee waves play on. Seen them given, although he went down easily there.
___
2046: France kicks off in front of many empty seats at the Donbass Arena.
___
2042: (at)jeromepugmire Zidane and Vieira's birthday today — they both scored the last time France knocked Spain out of a tournament, in last 16 of 2006 World Cup. (via Twitter)
Teams are out and lined up for the anthems.
___
2034: Here are the lineups, with Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso set to win his 100th international cap:
Spain: Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas.
France: Hugo Lloris, Anthony Reveillere, Adil Rami, Laurent Koscielny, Gael Clichy, Mathieu Debuchy, Yann M'Vila, Yohan Cabaye, Florent Malouda, Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema.
___
1943: France has made four changes, hoping a defensive midfield can slow an attack led by Cesc Fabregas. France coach Laurent Blanc dropped forwards Samir Nasri and Hatem Ben Arfa, preferring to move right back Mathieu Debuchy up to partner Franck Ribery behind striker Karim Benzema. Yohan Cabaye and Florent Malouda return in midfield alongside Yann M'Vila, while Laurent Koscielny replaces the suspended Philippe Mexes at center back. Veteran back Anthony Reveillere is on the right. Spain goes with the same lineup it used in its opening 1-1 draw against Italy with Fabregas fronting the six-man midfield rather than Fernando Torres, who had started the other two group games.
___
1930: While likening himself to Peter Pan off the pitch, Italy's often volatile striker Mario Balotelli is showing surprising focus in pure football terms before Sunday's showdown with a familiar England squad. The 21-year-old forward met the media for the first time Saturday at the European Championship and revealed how much fun it's going to be facing three of his Manchester City teammates in the quarterfinals — England goalkeeper Joe Hart, center back Joleon Lescott and midfielder James Milner. Balotelli adds, "They know me and I know them. I just hope we win. Even though they're my teammates, I hope they're going to lose." Told about a label his agent had placed on him, Balotelli accepted the comparison, saying "I am a bit of a Peter Pan, because I'm free."
___
1920: Steven Gerrard says he wants to prove the doubters wrong by leading England into the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years. As the England captain prepares for Sunday's quarterfinal with Italy at the European Championship, Gerrard says his country's teams "haven't shown what we are capable of" in recent years. The midfielder wants to "seize the moment" and "show our doubters and our critics out there we can compete with teams at this level."___
Reader Comments (