Mail on Sunday

Scharnerwrites Off Lazy Austria

WIGANS Paul Scharner has accused his fellow Austrian players of laziness as he prepares to watch the co-hosts flop at Euro 2008. In 2006, Scharner quit international football after falling out with coach Josef Hickersberger and the Austrian Football Association, whom he described as a shambles.

Oh, and There Was a Game On, Too ...

Ready to Write the Script ; After Greecesupset in 2004, Our Euroview Columnist Expects the Big Guns to Dominate Again ... And Italy to Add to Their World Crown

JUST so that you can boast to everyone that you were the first to call it right, this is how the European Championships a tournament which nobody has ever retained, which has only two repeat winners, where the 1992 winners didnt even qualify and where Greece, yes Greece, are the holders will unravel. Definitely. The quarter-finals will group: Portugal and Croatia, Germany and the Czech Republic, Spain and Romania plus Italy and Russia.

Thinking of Scotland ; Henry Adamant New-Look France Can Triumph so Long As They Never Repeat the Form They Showed Against Our Lads...

WELL win the tournament so long as we dont play like we did against Scotland. There. At least someone hasnt forgotten about us. The voice? Thierry Henry. The likelihood? Well, do we really care?

Beasley Convinced His Pal Jan Will - Make Big Impact for Dutch

HES being primed as Hollands impact substitute and judging by his late, great contribution to Celtics SPL title victory, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink might just emerge as one of the unlikely heroes of Euro 2008. Old Firm adversary and former PSV Eindhoven team-mate DaMarcus Beasley certainly thinks so and will be rooting for his old pal as he plays his part for Marco van Bastens squad this summer.

No Butts, the Italians Seek a Repeat of 2006

YOU cant mention Italy playing France without that headbutt creeping into the conversation. The World Cup Final in 2006 was when Zinedine Zidane decided to bow out of football in international ignominy by sending Marco Matterazzi to the canvas by way of his forehead.

Bydaniel Kingthe Mail On Sunday June 1, 2008croatias Got Talent ; [Pounds]18m Luka Modric Is Short in Stature but England Can Testify to the Huge Ability of a Man with High Hopes for His Country

WHAT Luka Modric lacks in inches, he makes up for in confidence. Which is just as well for Tottenhams new [pounds]18million Croatian star, who stands 5ft 6in tall and looks slender enough to be knocked off his feet during a stiff breeze. Does size matter? Not to this pocket genius, one of the potential superstars of Euro 2008. He has not won comparisons with Johan Cruyffbecause he is riddled with self-doubt.

Freddie Ready to Tread a Very Familiar Path

WHEN it comes to playing for Sweden in major tournaments, captain Freddie Ljungberg knows the drill. In fact, he admits 10 years of tactical masterclasses with head coach Lars Lagerback are beginning to wear him down. However, the West Ham midfielder, who is confident of returning from injury for the Finals, is proud of his role in establishing his country as a major force in European and world football.

See a Clear Patten Emerging, Alan? ; Black Dog Black Dogblack.Dog@Mailonsunday.Co.Uk

LABOUR ex-Minister Alan Milburn looked smug as he emerged from Londons RAC Club in Pall Mall with an unlikely dining companion, former Conservative Cabinet Minister Chris Patten. The Tory is still despised by some for his alleged role in bringing down Margaret Thatcher. Milburn loathes Brown. What secrets did Patten impart?

Axed Fabregas Fears for His Euro 2008 Place

CESC FABREGAS was left out of Spains starting line-up for last nights 2-1 win over Peru in a surprise move that suggests boss Luis Aragones may be losing confidence in the Arsenal midfielder. Aragones opted for a 4-4-2 formation in the penultimate warm-up game before Euro 2008 last night, and Fabregas, 21, had to wait until the second-half to get another chance to impress.

Fern Britton Admits: I Had Surgeryon My Stomach to Lose Weight

FOR months, her slimmed-down appearance has been the envy of This Morning viewers now Fern Britton has revealed that her dramatic weight loss has been the result of drastic surgery. The 50-year-old had previously attributed her svelte new figure to cycling, walking the family dog and eating less.

Father of Madonna Boy Fights to See Him

THE real father of Madonnas adopted son may challenge the decision by the High Court in Malawi to grant permanent custody to the pop star. Peasant farmer Yohane Banda claims government officials had promised he would be able to see two-year-old David every three to four years as part of the adoption arrangement.

Goldsmith Attacks 42-Day Proposal

IN A new blow for the beleaguered PM, Lord Goldsmith last night slammed Gordon Browns plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge. The former Attorney General warned it would be an attack on Britains fundamental freedoms. It is not the first time Lord Goldsmith, the Governments top lawyer until Gordon Brown became Prime Minister last summer, has criticised the proposals, but his latest comments are much more severe and appear timed to influence a crucial Commons vote just weeks a...

Triumph for Jodie, the Peoples Nancy ; a Winning Double for Singerwho Shed 81/2 Stone, Second Time Lucky

FORMER cruise ship singer Jodie Prenger last night scooped the role of Nancy in West End musical Oliver! when she was crowned winner of BBC TVs Id Do Anything talent show. Jodie appeared stunned by the result, despite being the bookies favourite.

Comeback Kid George Proves He Really has Got Talent

TEENAGE breakdancer George Sampson was crowned winner of Britains Got Talent last night a year after he was buzzed off by the judges in the first round of the same contest. The 14-year-old was dubbed the dancing Rocky by judge Simon Cowell after his stunning display of street dance moves which he performed to Singin In The Rain while getting drenched by an on- stage shower.

Tube Like Awar Zone in Last Hours Before Boriss Booze Ban

A RAUCOUS party on the Circle Line marking the final hours before the start of an alcohol ban on Londons buses and Tube ended with arrests and the closure of Liverpool Street Station last night. Thousands of rowdy drinkers had piled into Tube carriages and one traveller at Liverpool Street said: It was like a war zone. Bottles were being thrown at the police and there was smashed glass everywhere.

Doctor

Are there any anti-malaria tablets I can start the day before I leave on holiday and stop the day I return? Malarone can be taken the day before you leave until a week after you return other anti-malarials need to be continued for four weeks. Which one you take depends on destination.

Doctor Doctor

Brown Orders Mps Aide to Go Over Attack On His Authority

GORDON BROWN was accused last night of trying to salvage his diminishing authority by ordering the sacking of a key aide to leadership rival James Purnell. The embattled Prime Minister is said to have demanded that Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Purnell, 38, should sever his links with Blairite speechwriter Phil Collins.

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