leatest news of EURO

Jamie Redknapp: Where was our Pirlo? We couldn't get close to him

I couldn’t get off the phone on Sunday night with people calling, saying: ‘Where’s our Pirlo, why can’t we play like Pirlo, why can’t we get near him?’

It was one of the best midfield performances I have ever seen. But we have our own version, he is just recovering from injury and we must hope he gets well soon. He is Jack Wilshere of Arsenal.

Untouchable: Andre Pirlo ran rings round England

He can pass like that, in the quarterback position, in a central midfield three.

But it has to be a three. This competition showed you can’t play two midfielders, especially when the opponents have three in there.

England asked too much of Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker. I wrote it after the first game and it didn’t change. Last night, Parker came off exhausted and Gerrard suffered cramp. They had too much to do.

Ineffective: Rooney was tired out from chasing after Pirlo

Tired Rooney

You might ask why Wayne Rooney looked so tired, but he was chasing shadows, trying to get close to Andrea Pirlo and working hard chasing the ball. When the ball came to him, his legs weren’t fresh.

It’s what happens when you play a team like Barcelona. And last night it happened against Pirlo. The more time you spend without the ball, the more tiring it is.

Police probe racist Twitter abuse aimed at England fall-guys Cole and Young

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Police have launched an investigation into the online racist abuse of Ashley Cole and Ashley Young after they missed the decisive penalty kicks in England's Euro 2012 quarter-final exit.

The Chelsea defender and Manchester United winger were singled out for abuse on Twitter by one user following the shootout defeat to Italy in Kiev.

In a series of offensive postings the user goaded others who criticised him for his rants.

Solemn: Ashley Young, left, and Ashley Cole, right,  pictured after England's defeat last night, have been hit with racist abuse for missing penalties

Worth a try! Cheeky England fan used his last-ditch tackle to put off Diamanti in penalty shootout defeat to Italy

England players had practiced, Joe Hart had researched the history of those expected to take penalties for Italy, and the rest of the nation watched and hoped for the bit of luck that's needed i these situations. 

And then a fan went one step further in his bid to give England the edge in their shootout with the Azzurri, dropping his pants in a desperate attempt to put off Alessandro Diamanti as he stepped up to convert the decisive spot kick.

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Cheeky: An England fan drops his trousers in an attempt to put Alessandro Diamanti off as he takes the final penalty during Sunday's shootout. Do you know who the England fan is? Email websiteeditorial@dailymail.co.uk

The supporter stood with his trousers down and arms crossed in an attempt to catch the eye of the former West Ham man at the crucial moment.

Alas, it did not work, and Diamanti gave Italy a 4-2 win in the Olympic Stadium, Kiev, sending them through to the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

The cheeky fan, whose identity is not known, was wearing a bright green England goalkeeper's kit and a red and white wig. The supporter next to him appeared to also be dropping his trousers.

Rude: The England fan reveals his belly - and a bit more - during the shootout last night

Dunga: Neymar has to move to Europe to reach full potential

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MIAMI -- Should Neymar stay in Brazil or head to greener pastures in Europe?

It is a debate that continues to persist around the 20-year-old Santos phenom.

Neymar has rejected overtures from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea, insisting that he will move when the time is right. While many believe that Neymar staying in the Brasileirão Série A is good for the growth of the league, former Brazil national team coach Dunga disagrees.

"Neymar is a good player, the best in South America and Brazil," Dunga told Goal.com. "Playing in Europe is always tougher. They mark you so much closer. I think that a player always needs to go to Europe to have that experience and get better."

Since breaking into the Santos first team in 2009, Neymar has scored 41 goals for the club where Pele became a legend. With Brazil's improving economy, players aren't being sold as frequently abroad as in the past and top players are returning to the league like Vagner Love and Ronaldinho.

Still, quality defending isn't popular in Brazil's top flight and many are concerned that Neymar's development might be hindered by staying in the country. Dunga believes that this summer's Olympics will prove how far the crafty attacker has come.

"He has a great opportunity in the Olympic Games to confirm some of that potential that he has," Dunga said. 

First Jodie, now Emma B has taken up bodybuilding

Un-B-lievable ... Emma B has become a bodybuilder

Rosie Hallam / Barcroft Media

The formerly curvy blonde looked ripped as she posed alongside her competitors in a pair of high heels.

Fellow ex-glamour girl Jodie, 33, was also there competing in the Body Fitness class.

Jodie took up bodybuilding last year and shocked fans with her incredible transformation from svelte model to muscly athlete.

Yesterday, Jodie joked about becoming a wrestler after only coming fourth in her category.

She wrote on Twitter: "We've decided I'm gonna take up wrestling next. My wrestling name is gonna be Red Rage You like? Haha x x x.

"Red Rage the Marshinator :-) that's it. I've decided. I wanna be a wrestler :-) x x x."

She later added: "I came 4th out of 11. Not the best result but onwards & upwards!"

Toned ... Emma B competes in the Bikini class at bodybuilding contest

Rosie Hallam / Barcroft Media

Bikini babes ... Emma B, second left, with fellow contestants

Rosie Hallam / Barcroft Media

Muscly ... Emma B, second right

Rosie Hallam / Barcroft Media

Competition ... Emma B, middle, took part in the Bikini category

Rosie Hallam / Barcroft Media

Before ... glamour girl Emma B

Ripped ... Jodie Marsh came fourth in the Body Fitness categor
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Saving for the semis

We look for bargains for Sky Sports Fantasy Football bosses

Sky Sports Fantasy Football Euros: Free to play

With four of the pre-tournament favourites still going strong and plenty of their star players living up to their hefty price-tags, remoulding a side demands some stringent budgeting.Finding Fantasy Football bargains becomes increasingly difficult as we reach the semi-final stage of Euro 2012.

The game's two most expensive players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Gomez, have topped the point-scoring charts to date with 31 and 30 points so far.

Of the defenders, Spain have impressed the most as expected with three cleans sheets while the top-scoring midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, is hardly cheap at £7.2m.

However, bargains are there for the taking from each nation, particularly at the back, allowing Fantasy managers to splash the cash on a few of the pricier picks.

Bargains at the

Full-backs look the way to go with assists more likely, Jordi Alba looking the prize pick of the lot at £6.2m, less than any other members of Spain's backline, with his raiding runs finally coming to fruition with an assist against France.

At £6.1m, Mats Hummels is the cheapest player to regularly feature in Germany's backline, while fellow full-backs Ignazio Abate (£4m) and Joao Pereira (£4.2m) both offer good value from Italy and Portugal respectively.

Finding value in the middle of the park is a little more taxing, with the likes of Pirlo, David Silva, Mesut Ozil, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta picking up points aplenty.

Portugal playmaker Joao Moutinho has contributed a couple of assists for his country and costs a mere £5.2m, while Sami Khedira, who is available at £6.7m, has racked up 18 points with a goal and a Sky Sports man-of-the-match award.

Making savings throughout the rest of the team will allow bosses to splash out on Ronaldo and Gomez, the top scoring players to still be in the tournament.

Fernando Torres is the only other frontman still at the finals to have netted more than once, but has been benched for half of Spain's games so far.

The goals have been shared between Italy's frontline, with Mario Balotelli somehow failing to take his tally to two against England, while Hugo Almeida (£6.2m) could be set to lead the line for Portugal after Helder Postiga was ruled out with injury

Barton got lucky: QPR wanted to fine sent-off star nearly £1m

Players' union blocked the club's plan to dock their skipper a month's wages EACH for Tevez elbow, Aguero kick and Kompany head-butt

QPR’s furious chiefs wanted to punish Joey Barton with a fine of close to £1MILLION over his now infamous meltdown at Manchester City.            

The £70,000-a-week midfielder was only rescued from losing three months’ money because the players' union, the PFA, stepped in.           

Barton would otherwise have been hit with a staggering £840,000 penalty.           

As it is, he has been docked six weeks’ wages - £420,000 - and stripped of the captaincy over his sending-off and subsequent actions during the final game of the season last month.

Barton has also accepted he will be sacked on the spot should he shame QPR and manager Mark Hughes again.

Rangers sought to impose the massive fine for Barton’s behaviour after he was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez during the Hoops’ dramatic 3-2 defeat at City.

He then kneed Blues striker Sergio Aguero and attempted to head-butt their captain Vincent Kompany before finally leaving the pitch in disgrace

Semi-finalist profile: Portugal

Portugal may have begun with a loss to Germany but, propelled by the inspirational Cristiano Ronaldo, look in great shape going into their third EURO semi-final in four attempts.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in inspirational form for Portugal©AFP/Getty Im
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23/06/1984 France 3-2 Portugal (aet) (Marseille)

28/06/2000 France 2-1 Portugal (gg) (Brussels)

30/06/2004 Portugal 2-1 Netherlands (Lisbon)

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