Spain's Vicente Del Bosque is two victories away from emulating West Germany's Helmut Schoen on Sunday, to date the only coach to win both the World Cup and the European Championship.

Even in the criticism he receives, Cristiano Ronaldo seems entwined with his great rival, Lionel Messi.

UEFA said on Monday that it had fined the German Football Federation (DFB) 25,000 euros ($31,000, 20,000 pounds) over the behaviour of its supporters during the country's final group stage match with Denmark.

Spanish left back Jordi Alba only made his debut last year for La Furia Roja - but the 23-year-old has come on leaps and bounds to show he is a worthy successor to Joan Capdevila, a veteran of the Euro 2009 and 2010 World Cup victories.

Where there was controversy in France's Euro 2012 campaign, which ended with a one-sided quarter-final defeat by Spain on Saturday, Samir Nasri was never far away.

Portugal stand on the threshold of making it to their first major final since their only one to date - Euro 2004 - with "just" France or Spain standing in their way at Euro 2012 after the Seleccao made it to the semi-finals.

Germany booked their place in the last four of Euro 2012 as Joachim Loew's side hammered Greece 4-2 on Friday after dominating their quarter-final.

Cesare Prandelli may have ushered in a new era when he took over as Italy coach two years ago but it is his veterans who will provide the key to the Azzurri's hopes of beating England on Sunday.

For Germany skipper Philipp Lahm, his sublime goal against Greece that got his country off the mark in their 4-2 Euro 2012 quarter-final victory over Greece had a vintage flavour.

Germany booked their place in the last four of Euro 2012 as Joachim Loew's side hammered Greece 4-2 on Friday after dominating their quarter-final.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said the team can soothe the country's economic pains by shining in the Euro but admitted football is not a cure-all, in an interview published Friday.

Coach Joachim Loew has said he wants Germany to show a "killer instinct" and take their chances against "survival-experts" Greece in Friday's Euro 2012 quarter-final.

Spain striker Fernando Torres said on Thursday he hoped the defending champions would make their experience count in the Euro 2012 quarter-final with France on Sunday.

Czech Republic playmaker Tomas Rosicky will definitely not start the Euro 2012 quarter-final against Portugal later on Thursday, team manager Vladimir Smicer told Czech TV.

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal at an international tournament for eight years as England beat Ukraine 1-0 on Tuesday, but his performance, like his team's, was laboured.

Raul Meireles said on Tuesday that Portugal could emulate Chelsea by winning Euro 2012 just as his club won the Champions League without ever being considered favourites to do so.

It is to be hoped that nobody ever thought to ask Iker Casillas what he might do for an encore after he first lifted the Champions League as a 19-year-old.

European football's governing body on Tuesday said it was taking action against the German football federation (DFB) over the behaviour of its supporters during the country's match with Denmark.

Russian captain and star striker Andrei Arshavin faced calls for him to be dropped on Tuesday after he dismissed disappointment over its early Euro 2012 exit as a problem for fans rather than the squad.

After an opening performance that raised false hopes of a return to their glory days, Croatia's failure to reach the Euro quarter-finals was a bitter blow for outgoing coach Slaven Bilic, who had aimed to leave on a high.