Rafael Nadal's Stolen Richard Mille Watch Found

Rafael Nadal‘s big win at the French Open was overshadowed by a big loss, when his $376,000 Richard Mille RM027 tourbillon watch went missing on Tuesday from his suite at a five-star Parisian luxury hotel. The watch, which was recovered yesterday, was found to be in the possession of the hotel’s barman. The alleged thief was tracked down when police traced his hotel access badge, which was used to gain entry to Nadal’s suite where the tennis champion was sleeping during the act. When questioned the barman led the police to the train tracks near his home in Essonne, France where he had hidden the watch.

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning against compatriot Nicolas Almagro during their men's quarter-final in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 2, 2010, in Paris. Second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain reached the semi-finals of the French Open with a 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over compatriot Nicolas Almagro. 

This isn’t the first time Nadal has lost a Mille. In 2008, his even pricier, custom built $525,000 Richard Mille went missing from the locker room during a match at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Unfortunately, that one was never recovered.

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Euro Cup 2012 Preview: Italy vs. Croatia, Spain vs. Ireland

Group C is back in town and Spain will be looking to improve on the lacking form they presented against Italy on Sunday.

Italy vs. Croatia - 12:00 PM EST

The Italians did very well against Spain, maintaining their strong defensive presence while simultaneously doing something that most Italian sides aren't known for: Attacking. Between Cassano, Balotelli and de Natale, Italy have the strength necessary to perforate Croatia's defensive line. The Croatians, however, are not to be left behind. They were shockingly strong against Ireland, making people remember Suker's Croatia. Italy would do well to present the same offensive plan they presented against Spain, and Croatia would do well to not play Italy with respect and go out in search of that goal. A Croatia that turns to defense will be mopped up by Italy.

Prediction - Win for Italy

Spain vs. Republic of Ireland -  2:45 PM EST

Sorry, Ireland, but that debut wasn't strong. Luckily, neither was Spain's. Will Spain opt to play without a forward again? If so, then Spain are going to have some big problems. Even though Torres couldn't score a goal if it were staring him in the face, the presence of a striker will force Ireland to defend more aggressively, whereas a lack of a striker would give the Irish more incentive to go forward and explore the option of a goal.

Prediction - Win for Spain

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Match facts: Spain v Italy - EURO 2012

SPAIN

• Spain are 14 competitive games without defeat, since their 1-0 loss to Switzerland on 16/06/2010 at the FIFA World Cup. They have lost four of their 14 friendlies in that time, however.

• Juanfran has yet to make a competitive appearance for Spain, though he made his senior international debut in a pre-tournament friendly win against Serbia on 26/05.

Spain training at their camp in Austria

Injury news
• Cesc Fàbregas has not featured since picking up a thigh strain in the Copa del Rey final on 25/05.

• Carles Puyol (knee) and Spain's record scorer, David Villa (broken leg), were ruled out of the finals.

Miscellaneous
• Spain, minus players from Chelsea FC and Copa del Rey finalists FC Barcelona and Athletic Club, travelled to a training camp in Schruns, Austria, on 22/05. Juan Mata and Fernando Torres joined them on 26/05, with the final 23-man squad unveiled the following day. Spain arrived at their EURO base of Gniewino on 05/06.

• Spain's squad includes 12 members of the party that triumphed at UEFA EURO 2008: Iker Casillas, Raúl Albiol, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Fernando Torres, Fàbregas, Santi Cazorla, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Álvaro Arbeloa, David Silva and Pepe Reina.

• Casillas, Xavi, Alonso and Torres were also in the UEFA EURO 2004 squad, and for Casillas this represents a national record fourth UEFA European Championship appearance as he was also at UEFA EURO 2000.

• Casillas kept his 73rd clean sheet for Spain against Serbia on 26/05, beating Edwin van der Sar's international record. He also celebrated a record 95th international victory when Spain defeated South Korea 4-1 on 30/05.

Pre-tournament friendlies
03/06 Spain 1-0 China (Silva 84)
Casillas (Valdés 46); Arbeloa, Albiol, Ramos (Piqué 56), Alba; Xavi (Iniesta 46), Busquets (Juanfran 46), Xabi; Cazorla (Mata 67), Negredo (Navas 46), Silva.

30/05 Spain 4-1 South Korea (Torres 11, Alonso 52pen, Cazorla 55, Negredo 79; Kim Do Heon 43)
Reina (Casillas 81); Arbeloa, Albiol, Ramos (Domínguez 57), Monreal; Cazorla (Adrián 57), Alonso (Bruno 65), Beñat; Silva, Torres (Soldado 57), Mata (Negredo 57).

26/05 Spain 2-0 Serbia (Adrián 67, Cazorla 74pen)
Casillas; Juanfran, Ramos (Domínguez 46), Albiol, Alba (Monreal 46); Navas, Bruno Soriano (Javi García 72), Xabi Alonso (Beñat 46), Cazorla; Soldado (Adrián 46), Negredo (Silva 46).

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying
• Spain won eight out of eight in Group I, becoming one of only five sides to go through a qualifying campaign with a 100% record in the history of the UEFA European Championship.

• Ramos and Villa were the only players to feature in all eight group games for Vicente del Bosque's side.

• Jordi Alba made his international debut in the 3-1 home victory against Scotland on 11/10/2011.

• Two of the final tournament squad did not feature in qualifying: Pepe Reina and Juanfran.

Domestic information
• Casillas, Ramos, Arbeloa, Albiol and Alonso helped Real Madrid CF win the Spanish Liga for the first time in four campaigns, though Albiol made just five league starts.

• Víctor Valdés, Gerard Piqué, Xavi, Fàbregas, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodríguez enjoyed Copa del Rey success. Pedro scored twice on 25/05 in a 3-0 final triumph against an Athletic Club side featuring Fernando Llorente and Javi Martínez. Barcelona also won the UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

• David Silva was in the Manchester City FC side that won the English top flight for the first time in 44 years.

• Mata and Torres were UEFA Champions League and FA Cup winners with Chelsea FC, while Reina enjoyed English League Cup success with Liverpool FC.

• Juanfran was in the Club Atlético de Madrid XI that defeated an Athletic team featuring Llorente and Javi Martínez in the UEFA Europa League final in Bucharest on 09/05.

ITALY

• The Azzurri have lost their last three games.

• Coach Cesare Prandelli goes into his first major final tournament unbeaten in competitive internationals, recording eight wins and two draws to date.

• Emanuele Giaccherini is the only uncapped member of the Italy squad, though Fabio Borini and Alessandro Diamanti are yet to make their competitive debuts.

Injury news
• Giorgio Chiellini and Riccardo Montolivo arrived at Italy's training camp with thigh injuries suffered on the last day of the Serie A season on 13/05, though Montolivo started against Russia on 01/06.

• Antonio Cassano was expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing heart surgery on 04/11 but returned to action at the start of April.

Miscellaneous
• Italy gathered at Coverciano, Florence, on 21/05, with players of Juventus, SSC Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain FC joining four days later due to domestic duties. The Azzurri arrived in Krakow on 05/06.

• At 1.64m, Sebastian Giovinco is the smallest player at UEFA EURO 2012.

• Gianluigi Buffon surpassed Dino Zoff as Italy's third highest appearance maker in February, and is now on 114 caps behind only Fabio Cannavaro (136) and Paolo Maldini (126).

• Eight of the squad have previous UEFA European Championship experience: Buffon (2004, 2008), Cassano (2004, 2008), Andrea Pirlo (2004, 2008), Chiellini (2008), Andrea Barzagli (2008), Daniele De Rossi (2008), Antonio Di Natale (2008) and Morgan De Sanctis (2008).

Pre-tournament friendly
01/06 Italy 0-3 Russia (Kerzhakov 59, Shirokov 75 89)
Buffon (De Sanctis 46); Maggio, Bonucci, Barzagli, Balzaretti (Ogbonna 53); De Rossi (Motta 60), Pirlo (Giovinco 68); Marchisio; Montolivo (Nocerino 60); Cassano (Di Natale 68), Balotelli.

• Italy's friendly with Luxembourg in Parma, scheduled for 29/05, was cancelled after the region was struck on the morning of the game by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying
• Italy progressed with two games to spare and finished the campaign undefeated, their tally of 26 points from ten games a national record in a qualifying section for a major tournament.

• The Azzurri also finished with the best defensive record across the nine groups, conceding only two goals.

• Discounting the six minutes of the home game against Serbia before it was abandoned, Italy did not concede for 625 minutes between Estonia finding the net in their opening fixture and Serbia's goal 13 months later.

• Chiellini played every minute of Italy's campaign; Cassano was the only other ever-present member of the squad and also the Azzurri's six-goal leading scorer.

• Of the final squad, six players did not feature in qualifying: Angelo Ogbonna, Ignazio Abate, Giaccherini, Di Natale, Borini and Diamanti.

Domestic information
• The Italy squad features seven members of the Juventus side that went through the Serie A season unbeaten en route to the title: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio and Pirlo.

• The Bianconeri suffered their first defeat of the season in their last outing in the Coppa Italia final on 20/05, losing 2-0 to a Napoli side featuring De Sanctis and Christian Maggio.

• Mario Balotelli scored 13 goals in 23 appearances and was sent off twice as Manchester City FC won their first English top-flight title in 44 years.

• Di Natale struck 23 goals as Udinese Calcio finished third in Serie A, the third successive season he has hit 20 or more. He did not manage more than 17 before he reached the age of 30.

• Giovinco (15), Marchisio (9) and Alessandro Diamanti (8) all established personal bests in front of goal in Serie A while Nocerino's return of ten in 35 games was four more than he had mustered in his previous four seasons.

• Andrea Pirlo has not been on the losing side in Serie A since 18 December 2010, when he was at AC Milan.

This news brought to by "Sports zone" from www.uefa.com

Euro 2012: Spain 1-1 Italy

Cesc Fabregas rescued a point for Spain as the champions began the defence of their European title with a pulsating encounter in Gdansk.

The Barcelona midfielder fired in after a clever pass by David Silva as Spain came from a goal down against Italy to draw the opening match of Group C.

Substitute Antonio Di Natale had given Italy a deserved lead on the hour mark.

Spain might have snatched all three points, however, but Fernando Torres spurned a succession of late chances.

The weight of history was stacked against La Roja coming into the tournament.

No European team had ever won three major tournaments in succession, none had ever successfully defended the European Championship title.

Fatigue was another source of concern for Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, whose 23 players had played a total of 89,884 minutes in the past season, some 17,000 more minutes than their Italian opponents.

There was more than a hint of lethargy about Spain in the opening exchanges. They lacked purpose and penetration having opted to play without an obvious centre forward as Fabregas was preferred to Fernando Torres in the starting XI.

Having seen his smile and his form return in the final weeks of the season at Chelsea, this was another setback for Torres on an afternoon he will ultimately want to forget. Silva threatened twice in the early moments, but it was Italy who looked the more composed in the early stages.

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas was forced to dive low to his right to turn away an Andrea Pirlo free-kick after 13 minutes as Cesare Prandelli's side, led by the tremendous Daniele De Rossi, tackled, battled and denied their more celebrated opponents space.

The Azzuri were equally effective with the ball ensuring Casillas was much the busier goalkeeper as half-time approached.

Antonio Cassano dragged a shot beyond the far post when well-placed but it was two nervy moments from Spain goalkeeper that gave his side most cause for concern.

First, he lost control of a back-pass only to be fouled by Cassano, before he spilled a fierce low shot from Claudio Marchisio as the ball ran to safety.

Euro 2012 goal: Fabregas scores Spain equaliser

Marchisio tested Casillas again moments later, thumping a thunderous left-foot volley straight at the goalkeeper.

Spain were only threatening sporadically. Xavi and Andrés Iniesta were constantly probing and just before the interval linked up only for the latter to shoot over having collected his team-mate's looping pass.

It was Italy who finished the half the stronger, however. A piece of trickery wide on the left touchline by Mario Balotelli set in motion another fluid attack. It ended with Casillas sprawling low to his right to turn away Thiago Motta's close-range header after a pin-point cross by Cassano.

The interval did little to disrupt the breakneck pace of play. Fabregas set Iniesta free down the left, only for Buffon to deny him with a fingertip save.

But it was Balotelli who could and perhaps should have broken the deadlock moments later. The Italian striker robbed Sergio Ramos of possession wide on the right before bursting towards goal but he then hesitated long enough to allow the Real Madrid defender back in with the goal apparently as his mercy.

The Manchester City striker was replaced by Di Natale moments later and he was to have an instant impact.

Pirlo skipped beyond Xavi in midfield, before playing a cleverly weighted pass that freed Di Natale down the left of the penalty area, which the Udinese striker calmly stroked beyond the advancing Casillas with his first touch.

Spain's reponse was instant as it was devastating. Three minutes later Iniesta and Silva put Fabregas clear in the penalty area and the Barcelona midfielder struck a low left-foot shot beyond Buffon from 10 yards.

Substitute Jesus Navas picked out Jordi Alba as Spain began to dictate. Torres was brought on to a huge ovation and might have made an instant impact but he fluffed his chance after cleverly beating the offside trap.

Italy were being forced to rely on longer raids now, but they almost stole in again when Di Natale poked narrowly wide.

Spain were pouring forward time and again now. Torres should have won the game for Spain but squandered two easy chances, first running down a blind alley before looping a shot high over Buffon's goal with the net at his mercy. To make matters worse, he was later booked for a rash challenge.

Italy might have snatched victory at the death when Marchisio burst forward, exchanged passes with Di Natale, only to shoot straight at Casillas.

This news brought to by "Sports Zone" from www.bbc.com

Spain training and press conference: 8 June, UEFA EURO 2012

Javi Martínez (Spain)

Gerard Piqué (Spain)

Juan Mata & David Silva (Spain)

Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Xabi Alfonso (Spain)

Spain suffer Villa blow,UEFA Euro 2012

Barcelona striker David Villa ruled himself out of the running for a place in Spain's squad for Euro 2012 on Tuesday after failing to fully recover from a broken leg.

Villa, Spain's all-time leading scorer, broke his left leg while competing in the Club World Cup with Barca in December, and has not played a competitive match since then.

"I tried right to the end but I wasn't able to get to 100 per cent for the Euros," Villa said on his official Twitter feed.

"Today I called the coach to tell him. It was the most honest thing to do. Thanks to all of you for your support."

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas dives for the ball during a training session to prepare for the Euro 2012 championship in Schruns yesterday.Photo: AFP

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) broke the news with an earlier statement.

"After failing to achieve the desired progress in recent training sessions, Villa spoke with Del Bosque," the RFEF said.

"(He) told him although he would like to be with the team in Poland and Ukraine, his physical state 'isn't the best' for a competition like the Euros.

"The RFEF and Spain's coaching staff wish the player all the best in his recovery and hope he will return soon to the national team, and value the effort made by David to get back to full fitness."

Villa has scored 51 goals in 82 national team appearances for Spain helping them victory at Euro 2008 and in the World Cup finals in 2010.

His Spanish international teammates were quick to send messages of support on their Twitter accounts.
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas wrote: "Keep your spirits up, you are a star. You have been and will continue being the best goal-scorer in the national team."

Chelsea winger Juan Mata wrote: "You have proved again you are an example, we will miss you a lot. You will soon be back scoring goals."

Barca's doctors had already said he would not make the King's Cup final on Friday, when Pep Guardiola's side take on Athletic Bilbao.

Del Bosque named a provisional squad for Euro 2012 last week which included many fringe players, and added Chelsea duo Fernando Torres and Mata on Monday after they helped their side win the Champions League final.

Del Bosque delayed naming any Barca and Bilbao players until after the Cup final. He set May 27 as his deadline for deciding his final 23-man squad, when attention will focus in particular on their forward line without Villa.

Torres, Valencia's Roberto Soldado, Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo and Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez are already in the squad, while Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and possibly Barca's Pedro are expected to be called up, with others making way.

Spain won all eight of their qualifiers for Euro 2012 and are in Group C for the finals along with Italy, against who they play their opening game on June 10, Republic of Ireland and Croatia.