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PARIS -- Home advantage has counted little for host nations in recent European Championship history.Since the finals tournament era kicked off in 1980, only France has kept the trophy at home -- 32 years ago with Michel Platini in his prime.France can take some home comfort from this exception ahead of the Euro 2016 semifinals starting Wednesday.First, Portugal plays Wales in Lyon one day before the French face Germany in Marseille, where captain Platini inspired his team to beat Portugal in a memorable semifinal in 1984.Still, history teaches us that a semifinal is most often the stumbling stage for home hopes.Here is how five European Championship hosts fell short of glory:---PORTUGAL, 2004Portugal just had to win the Euro 2004 final. Or so it seemed.Playing in Lisbon, with a star-packed lineup against a Greece team of journeymen.Luis Figo was in the team, along with a 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.Portugal even had the lesson of an opening-game loss against Greece to learn from.What could go wrong?A classic from the Greek playbook: Another 1-0 win built on tight marking, robust defense, a headed goal from a rare scoring chance.Ronaldo left the field in tears and is yet to win a title with Portugal.---NETHERLANDS, 2000How the Netherlands managed to lose a Euro 2000 semifinal is still hard to believe.After Italy was down to 10 men from the 34th minute in Amsterdam, the Dutch failed with two penalty kicks in 90 minutes and three out of four in the shootout after extra time.Italy was even without first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who injured a hand in a pre-tournament friendly.Francesco Toldo was a capable deputy. The Fiorentina `keeper saved Frank de Boers first-half spot-kick and watched Patrick Kluivert strike the post in the second half.Though Kluivert scored in the shootout, De Boer missed again and Italy won it 3-1.---ENGLAND, 1996England has never again been as close again to tournament success since a semifinals loss to Germany.This 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium is recalled as one of the best in the era of the `Golden Goal rule, when the first goal scored in extra time ended the game.An English shot hit the post, what seemed a good a German goal was disallowed, and Paul Gascoigne was a toes length from connecting on a ball trickling across an empty German goalmouth.Germany, inevitably, won the penalty shootout and Andreas Moeller celebrated his decisive spot-kick with a chest-strutting, peacock pose.---SWEDEN, 1992In the last eight-team European Championship, Sweden was ousted in the semifinals by a newly unified Germany team.Sweden topped a group that eliminated a Platini-coached France and ended Gary Linekers England career when Tomas Brolin scored in a 2-1 win.A West Germany team that won the 1990 World Cup now could call on several East Germany stars including midfielders Matthias Sammer and Thomas Doll.One of the World Cup winners, Karl-Heinz Riedle, scored twice in a 3-2 win, though Denmark would stop Germany getting back-to-back titles.For Sweden, the experience was a key step toward reaching another semifinal, at the 1994 World Cup.---WEST GERMANY, 1988For once, the Netherlands got the better of neighbor and rival West Germany in a major tournament.A German team in transition from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to Jurgen Klinsmann leading the attack lost to an exceptional Dutch team in the semifinals.The teams traded goals from penalties in Hamburg, before Marco van Basten stretched to score an 88th-minute winning goal.The match is also remembered for what happened after Ronald Koeman, who scored the Dutch equalizer, swapped shirts with Olaf Thon. Koeman then delighted visiting fans by seeming to act out wiping his backside with the white Germany shirt.Two years later, on its way to winning the World Cup, West Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a bad-tempered Round of 16 match.---This story has been corrected to remove the reference to Luis Figo ending his international career at Euro 2004. He retired from the national team in 2006. George Brett Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Cheap Royals Jerseys Authentic . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. http://www.cheaproyalsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-danny-duffy-jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Alex Gordon Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Cheap Royals Jerseys . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have locked up their All-Pro guard before Week 1.The team announced that?David DeCastro has signed a new six-year contract, running through 2021. DeCastros current deal was up after this season, and ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano reports the additional five years are worth $50 million. All told, the six-year deal is worth $58 million.The Steelers dont negotiate in-season, so they beat their own deadline.Prior to the announcement, DeCastro said he expected to sign very soon and is excited to remain with the franchise that selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft out of Stanford.The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the news.DeCastros deal exceeds Chicago Beears guard Kyle Longs four-year, $40 million contract in overall money but looks on par with Long in per-year average ($10 million).dddddddddddd DeCastro will be one of the highest-paid NFL guards. Oakland Raiders guard Kelechi Osemele leads the way at nearly $12 million per year, but he might switch to tackle eventually.In recent years, the Steelers have signed their starting offensive linemen to hefty contracts, including center Maurkice Pouncey (five years, $44 million), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (five years, $30 million) and guard Ramon Foster (three years, $9.6 million). ' ' '