NEWS » Lambert has dismissed claims that matches will be

BORDEAUX, France -- Theyre Europes most successful soccer nations. Theyre arguably the form teams at this European Championship. Theyre the two countries that almost always rise to the occasion in major tournaments.Germany vs. Italy: Its a game fit for a final.Except one of them wont even get past the quarterfinal stage at Euro 2016.The continental heavyweights -- owners of eight World Cups and four European Championships between them -- collide in Bordeaux on Saturday in a match that stands out for many reasons.Firstly, theres the skewed history of their meetings in major tournaments. Germany and Italy have played each other eight times at the highest level and, bizarrely, the Germans havent recorded a single victory.We still have a score to settle with the Italians, Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said.Then theres the nations current standing in soccer. Germany came into Euro 2016 as the world champion and, to many people, the tournament favorite. Italy arrived with what many back home were saying was the worst team in years.The Germans have largely lived up to their billing, conceding no goals in four matches and hitting their stride with a 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16. The Italians have silenced the critics with arguably the best two displays of any team so far, 2-0 wins over highly fancied rivals Belgium (in the group stage) and then Spain (in the round of 16).Im not singing with the choir that wrote us off (after a 0-0) against Poland and is now branding us absolute favorites after the win over Slovakia, Germany coach Joachim Loew.Theyre not the Italians that we normally know, Loew added. Theyre not only focused on defense but they play very, very well going forward. So ... I believe well have a very interesting, highly charged game on Saturday.While Italy is battle-hardened after a tougher-than-average group stage and then a match against defending champion Spain, theres a sense that Euro 2016 really starts here for Germany.Loews side strolled through its group and Slovakia didnt prove to be a real test.The Italians certainly will be.Loew had his biggest disappointment as Germany coach when his team lost 2-1 to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals. He was assistant manager to Juergen Klinsmann when Italy beat Germany in extra time in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup that Germany hosted.Germanys barren run against the Azzurri in major tournaments started with a 0-0 draw at the 1962 World Cup.You dont prepare a game saying we won the one before, well win the next one, Italy midfielder Alessandro Florenzi said. We went to work immediately after Spain, we watched the video and tried to find weaknesses in a team that doesnt have many.The facts speak for themselves, theyre world champions, theyve won so many matches, thats what gives them confidence.Italys chances of continuing its impressive streak in this fixture are being undermined by a midfield crisis. Already without Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo because of pre-tournament injuries, Italy coach Antonio Conte is without the suspended Thiago Motta and Antonio Candreva (groin), while Daniele De Rossi (thigh) is a doubt.As for Germany, left back Jonas Hector has had a cold this week but is expected to be OK for Saturday.This could be Contes last game in charge of Italy before he takes over as manager of Chelsea in the English Premier League. He has given tactical masterclasses against Belgium and Spain, and another might be needed against a Germany side that has a point to prove.We have no Italy-trauma, Loew saidThe world is just about to find out. Cheap Jerseys Cyber Monday . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Jerseys From China . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. http://www.cheapnfljerseyshome.com/ . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Authentic Cyber Monday Jerseys .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. NFL Jerseys Cyber Monday . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.The president of Euro 2016 has ruled out playing matches behind closed doors if there are security threats to stadiums. A UEFA spokesman had previously said contingency plans were in place, including the possibility to have matches postponed, moved to other venues or played without spectators in case of an emergency situation.It comes after the co-ordinated terror attacks on Paris on November 13 last year, which included an assault on the Stade de France - the venue for the opening and final matches of Euro 2016 - during a friendly international between France and Germany. However, organisers have been meeting in Paris and there have been no new security issues following the attacks, with French sports minister Thierry Braillard re-iterating tournament president Jacques Lamberts stance. Spectators gather on the pitch of the Stade de France on the night of the terror attacks Asked if matches could be played behind closed doors, Braillard said: Jacques Lambert said today it is not a possibility.There will be two controls before access to the stadium and in the interior of the stadium the video prediction is more perfect to see all problems. President of Euro 2016 Jacques Lambert has dismissed claims that matches will be played behind closed doors to counter terrorism threats.dddddddddddd UEFA events CEO Martin Kallen added: We have been working now for six years about it and we work very well together with the government which has a big part of the security responsibility.We are doing the private security and we are, in principle, pleased with the preparations we have today and we have no major issues open. France will open Euro 2016 against Romania at the Stade de France A UEFA spokesman had previously said: We are working on contingency plans even though we are not aware of any specific threat. And we work on multiple scenarios, including the possibility to have matches postponed, moved to other venues or played without spectators.These are only some of the scenarios we are working on because we take the security of all participants [players, fans, etc] very seriously, but we are confident that all security measures will be in place for a safe and festive Euro. Also See: Bierhoff backs duo to return French FA want Deschamps stay Euro 2016: The lowdown Euro 2016 safety plans in place ' ' '