No England, but .....

There may be no British teams involved, but nearly 50 players at Euro 2008 are on the books of clubs in the Premier League, Championship and SPL.

AUSTRIA

4-Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough)

CROATIA

5-Vedran Corluka (Manchester City)

14-Luka Modric (Tottenham Hotspur)

19-Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth)

CZECH REPUBLIC

1-Petr Cech (Chelsea)

17-Marek Matejovsky (Reading)

15-Milan Baros (Portsmouth)

FRANCE

5-William Gallas (Arsenal)

13-Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

21-Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth)

6-Claude Makelele (Chelsea)

8-Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)

7-Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

GERMANY

1-Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)

13-Michael Ballack (Chelsea)

GREECE

7-Giorgos Samaras (Celtic)

8-Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers - released)

NETHERLANDS

1-Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)

14-Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa)

12-Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic)

2-Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers)

21-Ryan Babel (Liverpool)

18-Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)

7-Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

22-Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic)

POLAND

1-Artur Boruc (Celtic)

12-Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United)

22-Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal)

11-Marek Saganowski (Southampton)

PORTUGAL

4-Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)

2-Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea)

16-Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

7-Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

19-Nani (Manchester United)

ROMANIA

18-Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)

SPAIN

23-Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

18-Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool)

10-Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

14-Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)

9-Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

SWEDEN

1-Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City)

3-Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa - leaves July 1)

9-Fredrik Ljungberg (West Ham United)

18-Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City)

SWITZERLAND

4-Philippe Senderos (Arsenal)

2-Johan Djourou (Arsenal)

15-Gelson Fernandes (Manchester City)

TURKEY

5-Emre Belozoglu (Newcastle United)

17-Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough)

ITALY, RUSSIA

No British-based players

Eurosport

Spain squad

SPAIN

Former captain and all-time leading scorer Raul and Barcelona teenager Bojan Krkic were left out of the Spain squad.

The surprise inclusions in coach Luis Aragones' 23-man squad were uncapped Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla and Real Zaragoza forward Sergio Garcia.

Poor campaigns from Valencia and Espanyol cost the former's Joaquin, David Albelda and Fernando Morientes their places as well as the latter's Albert Riera, Luis Garcia and Raul Tamudo.

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (Sevilla)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Fernando Navarro (Real Mallorca), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Juanito (Real Betis)

Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Ruben de la Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Real Mallorca), Sergio Garcia (Real Zaragoza), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/

Romania squad

Romania coach Victor Piturca dropped Dinamo Bucharest striker Florin Bratu having already sent home injured midfielder Ovidiu Petre, goalkeeper Danut Coman and uncapped midfielder Ciprian Deac from his provisional squad.

Experienced 28-year-old Bratu had been in good form for his club at the end of the domestic championship but Piturca decided to leave him at home.

Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Eduard Stanciou (CFR Cluj), Marius Popa (Poli Stiinta Timisoara)

Defenders: Cosmin Contra (Getafe), Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Stefan Radu (Lazio);

Midfielders: Cristian Chivu (Internazionale), Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), Florentin Petre (CSKA Sofia), Paul Codrea (Siena), Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucharest), Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow);

Forwards: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Daniel Niculae (Auxerre), Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle).

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/

Netherlands squad

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten omitted former Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz from his squad in favour of Wigan captain Mario Melchiot.

Boulahrouz, now of Sevilla, joined the party when Clarence Seedorf decided to opt out of the tournament.

However former Netherlands striker Van Basten - who scored a stunning volley in the final of the competition in 1988 - ultimately selected Melchiot.

The defender missed the 3-0 win over Ukraine on Saturday with a knock.

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord)

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Mario Melchiot (Wigan), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (Twente Enschede), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/

France squad

Mathieu Flamini and Djibril Cisse were the highest-profile casualties as France coach Raymond Domenech settled on his final 23-man party.

Midfielder Flamini, who recently left Arsenal for Milan, was left out as Domenech favoured Lassana Diarra, Claude Makele, Patrick Vieira and Jeremy Toulalan for the central midfield positions.

Cisse proved the fall guy as Bafetimbi Gomis earned a surprise place in the squad a day after celebrating his first cap with two goals in a 2-0 warm-up win over Ecuador.

Domenech, who had to cross out seven names from a provisional list of 30 players announced earlier this month, decided to keep the 22-year-old St Etienne striker.

The French boast a formidable list of forwards including Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Nicolas Anelka and Lyon starlet Karim Benzema. There was no place for David Trezeguet.

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyon), William Gallas (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Olympique Marseille), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Eurosport - Wed, 28 May 22:38:00 2008

Italy squad

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla FC).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Marco Materazzi (FC Internazionale Milano), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Marco Borriello (Genoa CFC), Antonio Cassano (UC Sampdoria), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München).

France ready to unleash the Panther

Raymond Domenech's decision to name Bafétimbi Gomis in an extended 30-man squad at the expense of David Trezeguet upset some experts in France and provoked considerable debate. Few felt Domenech would even consider including the untried AS Saint-Etienne striker in his final list for UEFA EURO 2008™, yet Gomis' performance against Ecuador on Tuesday was so impressive he left the coach with little choice.

by Matthew Spiro from Paris

Euro challenge has Ballack raring to go

BERLIN (AFP) - German captain Michael Ballack shrugged off his disappointment at losing out to Manchester United in last Wednesday's Champions League by saying on Monday he couldn't wait for Euro 2008 to begin.

The 31-year-old Chelsea playmaker had watched disbelievingly as first club captain John Terry missed what would have been the winning penalty and then Nicolas Anelka - who had refused to take one of the first five penalties - have his sudden death effort saved by Edwin van der Sar to give United victory.

However, Ballack insisted on Monday after joining up with his national team-mates as they prepare for a pre Euro friendly against Belarus on Tuesday that four days with his family had allowed him to relax and dull somewhat the disappointing result.

"I am delighted to be back among the squad, I am really impatient for the tournament to begin," said Ballack, who has scored 35 goals in 79 matches for Germany.

"I have had several days to get it (the Champions League defeat) out of my system.

"But now, I begin again and its full steam ahead," added Ballack.

Ballack is expected to play for between half-an-hour and 45 minutes against Belarus, the penultimate warm-up match for the Germans ahead of the beginning of Euro, which is being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland and runs from June 7-29.

Six players, though, will take no part in the match in Kaiserslautern having stayed behind at the Germans training camp in Mallorca.

They include the injury-plagued Tim Borowski, who is suffering from 'flu, Mario Gomez has a calf worry, Rene Adler has a bruised hip and Kevin Kuranyi has been rested.

Germany are in Group B along with Austria, Croatia and debutants Poland, who begin their campaign against the Germans in Klagenfurt on June 8.

ttp://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news

Boschker, Landzaat dropped from Dutch squad

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, May 25 (Reuters) - Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has trimmed goalkeeper Sander Boschker and midfielder Denny Landzaat from his squad for Euro 2008, the Dutch football association (KNVB) said in a statement on Sunday.

Van Basten still needs to drop one more player before Wednesday's deadline for submitting the 23 names of his squad. Boschker had been called into the provisional squad for the first time. Landzaat made the squad for the 2006 World Cup finals but played only as a substitute. On Saturday, Van Basten said the last player to be dropped would be one of three defenders: Andre Ooijer, Khalid Boulahrouz or Mario Melchiot. Melchiot missed training this week because of injury and will have to show on Monday and Tuesday that he has recovered sufficiently. 'We want to see how Melchiot is doing. Boulahrouz made a good impression and Ooijer is fit,' Van Basten told reporters after Saturday's 3-0 win against Ukraine in a warm-up match for the June 7-29 European championship. On Monday, the squad will gather in Hoenderloo to prepare for friendly matches against Denmark on Thursday and Wales next Sunday.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=538841&cc=4716