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Rooney revives England's hopes
Teenage striker Wayne Rooney has scored twice to fire England to a 3-0 win over 10-man Switzerland and restore their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
Rooney, 18, put England ahead midway through the first half in Coimbra to become the youngest goalscorer at a European Championship. He added a deflected second 15 minutes from time before midfielder Steven Gerrard completed the scoring. Off the field, 34 suspected soccer hooligans, arrested after clashes with police in the southern Algarve resort of Albufeira this week, agreed to be deported from Portugal. The group was made up of 33 Britons and a Dutchman. Italian Francesco Totti, one of the biggest names at the tournament, was also in deep trouble. Totti has been banned for three matches by UEFA for spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in Italy's opening game. England will be delighted to have put behind them the trauma of their stoppage time defeat to holders France.
Rooney headed the first goal after good work by fellow striker Michael Owen. His second had a slice of luck about it, his thumping shot bouncing off the post and hitting Swiss goalkeeper Joerg Stiel on the head before ending up in the net. The Swiss wilted in the heat after defender Bernt Haas was sent off on the hour mark and now face likely elimination. Gerrard, whose suicidal back pass led to the French penalty which sunk England last Sunday, stroked home the third eight minutes from time after a neat build-up. The Swiss have just one point from two games. They have had a man sent off in each game and have yet to score a goal. Holders France play Croatia in the other group B game in Leiria on Thursday. Hooligans going home Hooliganism at Euro 2004 has so far been restricted to the southern Algarve holiday region, a popular destination for the English and the base for many fans even though England are not playing in the area. England fans have a reputation for violence and caused serious trouble in France during the World Cup in 1998 and in Belgium at the last European Championship in 2000. The 34 suspected hooligans will be deported within the next 48 hours. They will first give statements about the events during the early hours of Wednesday when a second night of violence erupted in a bar area of the Algarve town, police said. By agreeing to leave Portugal they are banned from returning for one year, if not they could face a five-year ban. On Wednesday 11 Britons and one Russian were deported, and one Briton will serve a two-year sentence in Britain. Italian playmaker Totti may have kicked his last ball at the tournament as his three-match ban means he will be available only if the Italians reach the last four. European soccer's governing body (UEFA) found Totti guilty of "gross unsporting conduct" after viewing video evidence from the Group C game on Monday which ended 0-0. "We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour," said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard. "We did not tolerate it in the past and we will not tolerate it in the future." The ban means a reshuffle for the Italians, runners-up in Euro 2000, who were held to a 0-0 draw by the Danes on Monday. Totti's Roma team mate Antonio Cassano is likely to start Friday's group C match with Sweden. |
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