Headline News
-France Captures Euro 2000-
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Substitute David Trezeguet scored a golden goal in the 103rd minute to give France the 2000 European championship with a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Italy. France became the first World Cup champions to also win the European title. Germany captured the European title in 1972, went on to win the World Cup in 1974 as West Germany. Trezeguet, who came on as a replacement for Youri Djorkaeff in the 76th minute, hit the net in the 13th minute of overtime. To make matters even more heartbreaking for the Italians, France equalized in the final minute of four minutes of injury time when another substitute, Sylvain Wiltord, capitalized on a defensive error and beat goalkeeper Francesco Toldo from 10 yards. Marco Delvecchio put Italy ahead in the 55th minute with his first goal for the Azzurri when he volleyed a cross from Gianluca Pessotto.
-FIFA criticizes England over Cup bid-
LONDON - A FIFA report on bids for the World Cup 2006 criticizes England's conduct as unsuitable and unsporting, while praising Germany and South Africa. FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, will select the host for the 2006 World Cup Thursday. The report, which The Daily Telegraph detailed Monday, created four categories to rank the bids, placing Germany first and South Africa second in the group labeled ''exemplary and of an extremely high standard.'' England was in the second category and Brazil and Morocco in the third. Brazil withdrew its bid Monday and said it would throw its support to South Africa's candidacy. The newspaper, quoting FIFA, said ''the England bidders' behavior was not always in compliance with the FIFA'' recommendations to national associations. In contrast, Germany's bid was ''reasonable and demonstrated a true spirit of fair play,'' FIFA said.