Cech's interesting comment

It's really interesting to hear Cech said he want Baros to join Chelsea: Haven't he read that Milan said he want to stay now Rafa is the manager? If he is so eager to play with Milan, he should just come to Liverpool!

Euro 04 Semi Final Forecast

Portugal vs Netherland: Portugal win 2-1 in normal time, with van Nistelrooy fails to find the net.

Czech Republic vs Greece: Czech 2-0. Baros and Smicer to score!

Go Czechs!

Gerrard to stay!

Yes! Stevie G confirmed he will stay. This is no doubt the best news Liverpool fans worldwide would love to hear. I must apologize that I should not doubt Stevie G's commitment to the club he loves. Sorry Stevie G.

Says Stevie G, "There were a lot of things going through my head but in my heart it was impossible for me to leave. My head was thinking one thing but my heart was telling me another. In the end I followed my heart and decided to stay."

Of course, the fact that Stevie G signs does not means everything is over. If we don't perform he will be going next season - and we have no right to blame him. And now we need to make Owen sign and Rafa to buy a few top class players.

Stevie G, you are now definitely a Liverpool legend.

Mighty Milan and possible replacement of Stevie G

2 goals from Milan in 2 minutes send the Czechs into semi finals. As usual Milan was magnificant. Now 5 goals in 4 games and looks very likely to be the top scorer in the tournament. Go Czechs!

Smicer did not play in this game and Nedved was once again superb. Unfortunately he picked up a yellow card, which make me a bit the Greeks may focus on him in the semi final game as he will be suspended in the final should the Czechs win and Nedved picked up another yellow card.

Talking about Nedved, I am getting more convinenced that should we be forced to sell Stevie G, we may consider Nedved as a replacement. He may be old, but as he is likely to retire from international football after Euro 2004, I think he has at least 3 years of service. And on current form he is better than Stevie G, though in 2 years time Stevie G may catch up. Juventus will probably sell him for <20M, which is a fair deal. And with Smicer and Baros in our team, he will be tempted.

But of course we don't want to see this day happen. We want to keep Stevie G. Stevie G, pleaee answer the fans' call.

England out

I almost got it all right. Owen did score and final score 1-1. But then Portugal didn't win in Extra Time. But England did lost the game.

Owen scored a great goal. Great performance!!! Unfortunately it's too late, but he became the first ever England player that scored in 4 International Tournaments.

Gerrard was so-so. The defensive mind for England team did not suit him. Was subsituted in 2H which I think is a wrong move which lead to the subsequent lost. Should substitute Lampard instead when you are defending.

James was OK. Can't be fault for both goals. Otherwise very solid.

Carra and Heskey, as usual, didn't play. Poor Carra.

For the game I think England lost due to the early goal, that give Portugal lots of chance to equalize, especially after Rooney injured Owen is more or less on his own in the front and 10 other players defending. I think they out-processed by Portugal by 35-65 in normal time.

Eriksson's substitution strategy is worth discussing too. When 1 up and Rooney injured and you are going to defend for the rest of the game, why do you play Vassell? You should play another midfielder! And, late in 2H, when you are almost success in defending for the whole game, you should not subsitute Gerrard, who should be a better defensive player than Lampard. Even though Lampard did score the equalizer, but if Gerrard is on the pitch Portugal may not equalize and the game will finish in normal time.

So, looks like Portual will be in the final no matter who the opponents are. But they will probably lose out to Czech Republic or France.

And now we are back to the fight for Gerrard to stay.

HK Government, please learn from Japanese!

You have to admit that Japanese are really expert in promotion. Kamen Rider for voting!

Czechs vs German and Euro 04 Quarter Final Predictions

Milan scores again. He is scoring in 5 consecutive games for his country. Excellent performance. So Czechs are really the comeback king, with all 3 games won coming from behind.

Hamann also played for the Germans but ended up on the losing side. Smicer was rested.

So tonight we will see England vs Portugal. Let's hope we will see Owen score. Below are my predictions for the Quarter Finals:

Portugal vs England: 1-1, Portugal win in extra time
France vs Greece: 2-0 France
Sweden vs Holland: 1-1, Sweden to win after van Nistelrooy misses in the penalty shootout
Czech vs Denmark: 2-1, another comeback win for Czech and Milan scores the winning goal.

England Qualified

Well, not without scare. Was one down and then scored 3, then lost another goal and score other.

Rooney was playing very well, and Owen with another assist. Had one or two chances but couldn't score yet...

Gerrard is as usual solid.

Carra and Heskey did not play as well, and James, well, cannot be blamed for both goals.

For Swiss, Henchoz started the game and contained Henry very well. Both Henry goals were not his foul.

Looking at the current form, I doubt if England can beat Portugal. For France, well, I still fancy the Czechs.

A Cheering article

If you believe in the hype that Gerrard is going to Chelsea, read this article from Paul Tomkins of Red and White Kop.

Even though I believe Stevie G is going nowhere, but reading articles that he is leaving everyday start make me worry. Paul's well written article cheered me up! Thanks Paul!

Liverpool 3 Holland 2

Yes! Baros is simply class. One goal and one assist. And Smicer is playing in his best position and scored the winning goal as well. Should have scored earlier if not van de Sar saved superbly. Rafa, please take note. You should try to accommodate these talents.

Czechs is the first team to be sure to enter the quarter final, and the coach's substitution is really genius. 0-2 down, then Koller scored one, and he subsitutited the ineffective right back with Smicer. He's really playing Total Football to beat the Holland. Even though the defence is shaky, the Czechs managed to contain the Dutch and win the game. What a great team!

On the other hand, Hamann's German team only drawn with Lativia, which is very disappointing. I just hope the Czechs will play second tier players and let the Germans qualify.

Some note about Stevie G. From the news reports our captain is going to Chelsea. But I don't believe this - at least not this season. As a whole-hearted Liverpool fan who just has a new daughter, and with Rafa and Cisse coming, he can wait for at least one season to see how things go. And I am sure Rafa can build on Houllier's legacy and bring good results to us.

England vs Switzerland

3-0, a good result for England, but performance is not that good. How can you out-processed by the Swiss (45% vs 55%)?

Liverpool players performance:

Gerrard: Excellent especially 2H which he scored a goal. He also started the run that lead to the first goal. Doing more defensive works in 1H, but in 2H when Scholes was substituted, he went forward more often. Looks like he's out of the shadow of that horrible back pass, which is good.

Owen: Assisted the Rooney goal, but still look out of form and lack confidence. The Owen-Rooney combination simply doesn't work.

James (ex-Liverpool): Really nothing important to do apart from a scary punching, but he was fouled indeed.

Carragher, Henchoz, Heskey (ex Liverpool): Did not play in the game.


So, now France has drawn Croatia, Group B is wide open that every team can still qualify. But England need only a draw vs Croatia, which means Eriksson may be tempted to play all-defensive again. But the key is really he should play Hargreaves instead of Scholes. And Eriksson need to contain Rooney or else he will not be playing in Quarter Final should England qualify.

When our stars were young

A great article in Liverpool Echo. It's really amazed to hear Jamie was quiet...

-----------------


From the bobbling school pitch to Portugal for Gerrard


Mark Hookham meets the teacher who helped launch Liverpool's Steven Gerrard on the road to stardom

THE slight, fragile-looking 10-year-old was towered over by the older boys and seemingly not the natural choice for captain of his primary school's football team.

But when Steven Gerrard was passed the ball on the bobbling pitch at the back of St Michael's Primary School in Huyton he looked more assured than players twice his age.

And under the watchful gaze of his form tutor, Mike Tilling, "Stevie" started on a road which would lead to today's must-win Euro 2004 match at the Estadio Cidade in Coimbra, Portugal.

The Daily Post's exclusive picture shows Gerrard holding the ball in his first football team in

1990.

Mr Tilling, who coached the team at St Michael's, now renamed Huyton-with-Roby Primary School, said he was amazed at the skills and composure of his star pupil.

He said: "I just couldn't believe he was so good because he was one of the smallest boys in the class.

"I started him off as a striker and it honestly seemed as if he had been playing for years.

"Once he joined the team he was amazing - he was so good with the ball at his feet.

"I remember one game against St Dominic's School in Huyton.

"He was still very small for his age, but he picked up the ball in midfield and started on a dead-straight run towards the goal, weaving past all of the opposition players.

"Just as he was about to shoot, the ball got away from him, but it was amazing to see everyone on the side-line willing him on."

Steven was a well-liked pupil, whose enthusiasm had to only be occasionally be held in check.

Mike added: "He was very well liked in the class and quite a lot of the pupils looked up to him, primarily because he was such a good football player.

"We used to run a little business in the class. It was owned by the children and Steven would always win hands down when we voted for who the manager would be.

"Academically he was all right as well. I have records showing that he always did very well at multiplication tests.

"He did occasionally have a few airs and graces - I sometimes saw that in him - but I always did my best to quash it and bring him back to earth."

At the age of 11 Gerrard moved to Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School in West Derby where he was taught by PE teacher Eric Chadwick.

But even at that young age, Steven became injury prone and repeatedly sprained and pulled muscles.

His continual injuries prevented him from being selected for the national football school in Lilleshall, Shropshire, where fellow future England stars Michael Owen and Alan Smith had their talents nurtured.

Mr Chadwick said: "He was having all kinds of problems with injuries. Basically his muscles were outgrowing his bones and it meant he kept getting all kinds of strains and pulls.

"He was still very slim and small - totally different to how he is today.

"Steven's skill came in his speed of thought and the fact that he was a yard quicker than every other boy on the pitch. He was just naturally gifted.

"I remember the final game he played for the school was a Royal Mail Trophy final.

"He was amazing and won the game for us."

Gerrard was picked a year early - at the age of 13 - for the Liverpool Schools team.

The selection gave him his first opportunity to play against some of his future Liverpool FC team-mates - including Jamie Carragher, who played for Sefton Boys.

Liverpool Schools coach Tim Johnson said: "He made the under 14s team 12 months early.

"At that time he was being looked at by all the club scouts.

"However, he wasn't an England Schoolboy, which seems to be the main route for youngsters today. I remember the first round of the English Trophy, which was the school-age equivalent of the FA Cup. Steven scored the winner against West Lancs. It was at the time of (German striker) Jurgen Klinsmann, so when he scored he dived into the corner on his stomach.

"There was a lot of tut-tutting on the sidelines but he really played his heart out."

Three years later, Gerrard signed for Liverpool FC - the club he had supported since his days in Mr Tilling's Year 2 class at St Michael's.

Mr Johnson added: "I went to Melwood about 12 months after he started there. I bumped into Steven as he came out of the weights room. The transformation was remarkable - he was a lot stockier and bigger."

For Mr Tilling, now a teacher at a primary school in Stockport, teaching the 10-year-old Steven Gerrard football is the pinnacle of his career.

He said: "I've still got a card which all the children signed to thank me when I left the school. "I found it the other day and saw that Steven had written his name in huge letters right in the middle of the card. I now tell pupils who misbehave: 'I taught an England captain and he never behaved that badly.'"

Michael Owen

MICHAEL OWEN was one of those rare youngsters who grew up an Everton fan but switched sides to join Liverpool FC.

In his autobiography he explains: "I was determined to choose the best football opportunities available to me.

"On my visits to Anfield as a schoolboy recruit, I soon recognised what a magnificent club Liverpool were."

Owen attended Hawarden High School in Flintshire, North Wales, where Liverpool scouts first noticed his speed and shooting abilities.

The school has a rare claim to fame that as well as Owen, who has deputised as England captain, Welsh captain Gary Speed is a former pupil as well.

Although now a passionate Red and England international, Owen still lives in Ewloe, Wales.

His parents Janet and Terry, brother Terry Jnr and elder sister Karen all live in the same exclusive cul-de-sac.

In his autobiography he recalls his first taste of international fame came after the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

He said: "My first inkling that I had suddenly become public property came when I called home soon after touching down on English soil again.

"My mum answered the phone and joked: 'I wouldn't come home if I were you. There is an army of television crews, press photographers and reporters camped outside the front door.'"

Jamie Carragher

JAMIE CARRAGHER'S former head-of-year remembers the England defender as one of the "most polite boys in the year".

Carragher attended Savio RC High School in Netherton Road, Bootle, between the ages of 11 and 13.

Teacher Mary Treanrar is still in contact with the Liverpool FC star who often returns to his former school.

She said: "He was very quiet and was very focused on succeeding with his football.

"He is fantastic - he often comes back and sees the children and still calls me Miss.

"He seems to be someone who really has a sense of his community and where he comes from.

"James is a real Bootle lad. He knows a lot of people here and you can still bump into him shopping in the Strand Shopping Centre."

At the age of 13, Carragher left Savio and joined Michael Owen and Alan Smith at the national football school in Lilleshall, Shropshire, and from there he was was propelled into the Liverpool FC side.

Shortly before the defender's call-up to the Euro 2004 squad, his girlfriend Nicky gave birth to daughter, Mia.

Always be good to others if you can

Rafa told us a very touching story about Liverpool.

"When I see the club, I see the history. I talked with my assistant manager in Spain about it and he said it would be wonderful. He said to me that when he was perhaps 18 years old he wrote a letter to Liverpool. He needed some shirts for his little football team in his village and they sent him shirts. He told me that in Spain it would be impossible. It is like a dream to be here and talk with you."

Rafa's Grand Plan

Rafael Benitez outlined his Anfield ambition. It's really good to see him recognizing Houllier's works. He also mentioned he will change the style of the team to go out more attack, and to fill confidence to the players. Of course, his most important and urgent task is to keep Gerrard and Owen.

A new era begins!

Today, Liverpool Football Club confirmed that Rafael Benitez will become the new manager. Welcome Rafa, you mentioned in your farewell conference at Valencia that one of your daughter is a Valencia fan. I am sure both your daughters will become die hard Liverpool fans soon.

Let's hope you can bring us the title we all waited for too long - the Premiership Championship.

Lousy FA...

England FA is as lousy as the HK Government... How can you study video tapes to study France's set pieces without studying any single one from Zidane?

My favorite motto again: "If you are stupid, do not blame the others"

Euro 2004 (Day 4 Review)

Day 4 saw 3 other Liverpool participated, Hamann (Germany), Baros and Smicer (Czech Republic).

Hamann: As usual, solid performance. Protected the back 4 very well. Had a free kick opportunity which was off target. Typical Hamann performance.

One thing that's different from his usual Liverpool is that he did go forward a few times, not as negative as he has been in Liverpool. Future coach (Benitez?) please take note of this.

For Germany, I think they played really well, but was unfortunately to concede a late goal. The strikers are not that good and wasted lots of chances. But the young players played really well. I think the Germans will be doing well in World Cup 2006. Credits to the Voeller manager.

Baros: Scored the equalized goal and was instrumental in setting up the winning goal as well. . But he lost the ball which lead to the Latvia goal just before half time, and missed lots of chances before finally scored. His scoring record for Czech Republic is phenominal, again, Benitez, please take note. Maybe we should build our team around him. Voted Man of the Match by UEFA as well.

Smicer: Did not start but played as a substitute. Had some chances but did not score.

So, let's hope Czech beat Holland and then qualify with the Germans!

Euro 2004 from a Liverpool point of view

Euro 2004 was started on 6/12. So, many more early sleeps so that I can wake up for the 2:45am games.

Yesterday we saw 3 Liverpool current and 2 ex players played. Below are my general comments:

Henchoz (Switzerland): Did not start the game, what a waste!

Owen (England): Very quiet game. Not sure if it is due to the game plan or it's just not his day. Rooney seemed to be doing very well, but Owen was double marked all the time, and the captain only give long ball to him. Looks like he is doing Heskey's job when in Liverpool. Really amazed to see him substituted by Vassell. Shouldn't the manager send a DM like Butt up instead.

Gerrard (England): Reports about him are heading opposite directions. Guardian ranked him 8 but BBC give him a 5... Apart from the bad back pass which caused the Henry penalty, I think he's doing very well according to the game plan, ie, as a DM and seldom go forward. I have full confidence he will bounce back.

Heskey (England): Well, similar comment as Owen, I don't understand he subbed Rooney. Shouldn't Butt be played? And he lead to the equalized goal which changed the game. Maybe his days in England is gone now.

James (England): Had nothing to do before conceding the 2 goals... Was responsible for the first goal because of his positioning, but can't blame him for the 2nd goal.

Carragher (England): Not played as Eriksson picked King instead. Frankly King was doing quite well given Henry was almost invisible... So looks like it is unlikely he will get a game, which is bad news.

England: Well, as I expected they lose, though I didn't know it will be that dramatic. Beckham's penalty miss (second in a row in International games) is definitely the turning point. And if the referee sent Silvestre off, which is fair enough, then even if the penalty is saved I think England should be able to win the game. But honestly, England did not deserve to win the game, unlike the Brazil game that they did not deserve to lose if Beckham (again!) did not jumped and avoid the ball to hit him late in 1H which lead to the equalized goal. England played too negatively and the midfield did not provide any quality ball to the forwards, and Owen, as usual, did not link with Rooney well...

So what next to England? Well, first of all they must beat Switzerland, which may not be that easy as they will probably play 901 all defense. and then at least get a draw from Croatia. Having said that I think England should be able to do it. So the France - England 1-2 bet in Group B now seems very attractive.

I am looking forward to see Baros destroy Latvia. And Italy win X Czech win seems very attractive.

Hansen on Gerrard

Hansen in this article said Gerrard can be the greatest ever Liverpool player, even better than Dalglish. This is the best compliment a Liverpool player can get.