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A look back at sports

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (L) keeps both feet in the end zone as he beats Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco to catch the game winning touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, February 1, 2009. Credit: REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Sports pictures of the year

From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009.   Slideshow 

Different kind of finale looms for Italy and France

Mike Collett
BASEL
Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:07pm EDT

BASEL (Reuters) - Italy and France, who have met in the final of the European Championship and the World Cup in the last eight years, clash again on Tuesday with self-preservation at stake rather than a trophy.

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The teams do not even have their fate in their own hands and could both be eliminated from Euro 2008 no matter the outcome of their final Group C match.

Unfancied Romania will advance to the quarter-finals ahead of world champions Italy and France if they beat group winners Netherlands in Berne.

Netherlands have six points, Romania two while Italy and France are on one point apiece.

World Cup runners-up France will progress only if they overcome Italy in Zurich and Romania do not beat the Dutch.

France's chances were dealt a blow on Monday when captain Patrick Vieira was ruled out by a thigh injury.

Italy may squeeze through with a draw providing Romania lose by three goals or more.

If France, Romania and Italy should finish on the same points and goal records, Italy will advance because they have a better UEFA record than the other two.

The Dutch can afford the luxury of resting players before they meet Russia or Sweden in Saturday's quarter-final in Basel.

On Monday, Germany joined Group B winners Croatia in the last eight after a thunderbolt strike from skipper Michael Ballack earned a 1-0 win over co-hosts Austria.

Croatia made it three wins from three games by defeating Poland 1-0 in Klagenfurt with a goal by Ivan Klasnic.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
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Russia


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