Euro 2008

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah, a pretty convincing case. Not sure I'd put money on them winning the tournament but might put a few quid on them getting out of the group, if the odds are good enough.

I wish I'd put money on Portugal topping our group at Euro 2000. All the bookies had germany as favourites for the group and england for second place, and it turned out to be the precise opposite.

 

[grogwilton]

Youtube being that bastion of empirical evidence that it is (perhaps second only to Newsround) I'm sure anyone can construct a view of every single nations fans at the tournament based solely on it. I mean there's no need to look at say, arrest figures, what with more fans having been arrested at Germany vs Poland than all of England's 5 matches, you can just have a browse of youtube and a few minutes of grainy mobile phone footage tell the true story. How many people were ever charged with anything? I can't remember the exact figure, but I think it was either 2 or 9. Hooliganism is a problem for many clubs and countries around Europe. The behaviour of England fans pales next to say Roma or Inter. Obviously there is a problem for England or there wouldn't be the need to take people's passports away. But the scenes in 2006 are a world away from 1998 and if the media are reflecting this then this is a good thing.

The point is that it proves that the British fans weren't all sweetness and light and that there was violence which throws out the media line that there was no violence or bad behaviour.

1) The German police completely changed their tactics for England fans then from what they normally do, on the suggestion of the British police. Having been to away games in Germany in the domestic leagues, you get on a train, there are riot police in the train, you get out at the other station, there is a police kettle waiting for you, you either get marched by them to the ground or put on buses full of police, quite often theres police waiting for you in the stand when you arrive. Understandably the Brit police said this would never work, and the Germans adopted a policy of never arrest england fans, so let the 2000 violent pissheads have a bit of fun, and dont do anything in order not to risk the wrath of the 100,000 amicable but stella'd up drunks.

2) Pointing at Italian and Polish hooligans isnt the point. Hooligans arent the problem. As you point out most genuine english hooligans have their passports removed and don't go to international tournaments. In any case hooligans usually fight each other, (and leave the normal populace alone) and thats where the arrests are made. The problem is with english wannabe hooligans who haven't got a record of football violence, (but do fight every friday night) and get pissed and violent at football tournaments as they would in ayia napa, magalouf etc etc. What makes you think Britains huge record of drunken street violence every friday night won't follow it abroad?

 

[E.J.]

Tournament Schedule - Euro 2008

Very much looking foward to the tournament. Of course the usual suspects to win the tournament i.e. Italy, France,Netherlands, Germany, Portugal & Spain. But there are sme dark horse teams such as Croatia, Russia, Romania and even the current holders Greece if they qualify from their group.

Euro 2008 Final tournament schedule:-

Saturday 7 June 2008

1 Grp A Switzerland 18:00 Czech Republic Basel - St. Jakob-Park
2 Grp A Portugal 20:45 Turkey Geneva - Stade de Genève

Sunday 8 June 2008
3 Grp B Austria 18:00 Croatia Vienna - Ernst Happel
4 Grp B Germany 20:45 Poland Klagenfurt - Wörthersee

Monday 9 June 2008
5 Grp C Romania 18:00 France Zurich - Letzigrund
6 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 Italy Berne - Stade de Suisse

Tuesday 10 June 2008
7 Grp D Spain 18:00 Russia Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
8 Grp D Greece 20:45 Sweden Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim

Wednesday 11 June 2008
9 Grp A Czech Republic 18:00 Portugal Geneva - Stade de Genève
10 Grp A Switzerland 20:45 Turkey Basel - St. Jakob-Park

Thursday 12 June 2008
11 Grp B Croatia 18:00 Germany Klagenfurt - Wörthersee
12 Grp B Austria 20:45 Poland Vienna - Ernst Happel

Friday 13 June 2008
13 Grp C Italy 18:00 Romania Zurich - Letzigrund
14 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 France Berne - Stade de Suisse

Saturday 14 June 2008
15 Grp D Sweden 18:00 Spain Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
16 Grp D Greece 20:45 Russia Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim

Sunday 15 June 2008
17 Grp A Switzerland 20:45 Portugal Basel - St. Jakob-Park
18 Grp A Turkey 20:45 Czech Republic Geneva - Stade de Genève

Monday 16 June 2008
19 Grp B Poland 20:45 Croatia Klagenfurt - Wörthersee
20 Grp B Austria 20:45 Germany Vienna - Ernst Happel

Tuesday 17 June 2008
21 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 Romania Berne - Stade de Suisse
22 Grp C France 20:45 Italy Zurich - Letzigrund

Wednesday 18 June 2008
23 Grp D Greece 20:45 Spain Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
24 Grp D Russia 20:45 Sweden Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu

Thursday 19 June 2008
25 QF Winner Grp A 20:45 Runner-up Grp B Basel - St. Jakob-Park

Friday 20 June 2008
26 QF Winner Grp B 20:45 Runner-up Grp A Vienna - Ernst Happel

Saturday 21 June 2008
27 QF Winner Grp C 20:45 Runner-up Grp D Basel - St. Jakob-Park

Sunday 22 June 2008
28 QF Winner Grp D 20:45 Runner-up Grp C Vienna - Ernst Happel

Wednesday 25 June 2008
29 Semi Final Winner #25 20:45 Winner #26 Basel - St. Jakob-Park

Thursday 26 June 2008
30 Semi Final Winner #27 20:45 Winner #28 Vienna - Ernst Happel

Sunday 29 June 2008
31 Final Winner #29 20:45 Winner #30 Vienna - Ernst Happel


I'll try and find out the schedules for the match coverage for The Beeb and ITV in another post.

 

[Meltingpot]

I know spain usually fuck it up, but in world cup 2002 they were victim to one of the most serious cases of daylight robbery ever seen, against south korea. 2 goals disallowed without any just cause at all. Had they beaten the koreans, they would have beaten a mediocre germany side easily in the semis and had a good chance against brazil iMO.

You're not kidding, I remember that match well. South Korea deserved to beat Italy in the previous match (Vieri missed an open goal at one point), but no way did they beat Spain fair and square. The referee was a disgrace.

 

[E.J.]

Terrestrial TV Coverage....

Here's the Tele scheduling (BBC & ITV coverage) for the tournament:-

(N.B. All times BST. Since the Tournament is in Central Europe it'll be e.g. 1700 +1 hour Central European Time)

Sat 7 June
BBC Switzerland v Czech Republic 1700
ITV Portugal v Turkey 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Sun 8 June
BBC Austria v Croatia 1700
BBC Germany v Poland 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Mon 9 June
BBC Romania v France 1700
ITV Holland v Italy 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Tue 10 June
BBC Spain v Russia 1700
ITV Greece v Sweden 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Wed 11 June
ITV Czech Republic v Portugal 1700
BBC Switzerland v Turkey 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Thu 12 June
ITV Croatia v Germany 1700
BBC Austria v Poland 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Fri 13 June
ITV Italy v Romania 1700
BBC France v Holland 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Sat 14 June
ITV Sweden v Spain 1700
ITV Greece v Russia 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Sun 15 June
ITV Switzerland v Portugal/Turkey v Czech Republic 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Mon 16 June
BBC Austria v Germany/Poland v Croatia 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Tue 17 June
BBC France v Italy/Holland v Romania 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Wed 18 June
ITV Greece v Spain/Russia v Sweden 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Thu 19 June
ITV Quarter-final TBA 1945
Late night highlights BBC

Fri 20 June
BBC Quarter-final TBA 1945
Late night highlights ITV

Sat 21 June/Sun 22 June
Quarter-finals TBA (BBC first choice)

Wed 25 June/Thu 26 June
Semi-finals TBA (ITV first choice)

Sun 29 June
Final BBC
Late night highlights ITV

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Bollocks, am going to miss the final, it's the day I fly back.

 

[Lord Camomile]

So, first games of the tournament, Switzerland v Czech Republic and Portugal v Turkey.

Can anyone see the Swiss getting a result? Czech Republic are missing Nedved and Rosicky, and Baros has hardly been in sparkling form. That said, he did get the Golden Boot last time around.

Portugal v Turkey could be a tighter game, but surely the Portugese are still favourites. Not to state the obvious, but it'll be our first chance to see how Ronaldo copes with his status as the tournament star. A lot of talk about how the Portugal system doesn't complement him as well as Utd's, and will the influence of Rooney and Tevez be highlighted by their absence?

It will also be our first chance to judge the broadcasting teams/styles of the BBC and ITV; rather ashamedly I haven't been paying attention to who everyone's got. Looking forward to Martin O'Neil, not so much to Motson or Lawrenson. Or ITV.

Most importantly however, just how ridiculous will the opening ceremony be?

It all starts in just under an hour...

 

[kained&able]

Tukey are in shit form and portugal will be too good. Czech should walk over the swiss surely?

dave

 

[Balbi]

Czechs will need a good perfomance. Portugal need the same.

I want to see the Swiss and the Turks really giving it their all.

 

[Lord Camomile]

The Guardian raise an interesting question: will Lawrenson stoop to making a "Swiss roll" joke?

I'd bet on it sooner than I'd bet on the result of the game, that's for sure.

 

[Diamond]

It's difficult to get excited about the first match. What are the highlights going to be? Big Phil vs Jan Koller?

Portugal vs Turkey should be a good deal better, it'll be interesting to see the Quaresma/Ronaldo effect.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Aooarently Quaresma isn't likely to start. Quite ashamedly I don't know too much about him (other than what I just read in the Guardian ); is it a question of playing either him or Ronaldo, or does he play in a different position?

 

[Diamond]

Monday is the first big day that I'm looking forward to.

 

[kained&able]

The Guardian raise an interesting question: will Lawrenson stoop to making a "Swiss roll" joke?

I'd bet on it sooner than I'd bet on the result of the game, that's for sure.

will lawros stop using bad puns? no, Will motty continue his decent into madness? yes.


dave

 

[Lord Camomile]

Monday is the first big day that I'm looking forward to.

Yeah, I would be too if I wasn't working

In fact, I'm missing the first two rounds of Group C Will have to set te VCR (that's right, the VCR!!).

 

[Diamond]

Aooarently Quaresma isn't likely to start. Quite ashamedly I don't know too much about him (other than what I just read in the Guardian ); is it a question of playing either him or Ronaldo, or does he play in a different position?

I'm not expert either. I've just seen him play for Portugal and Porto a few times. He's very similar to Ronaldo but there's no reason not to have both of them on the pitch unless defence is a priority, they can play on either side. I think he's a more impressive player when on form but he's nowhere near as consistent as Ronaldo.

 

[Diamond]

Yep our ancient VCR's going to be getting a run out during this tournament as well. But the iPlayer might be a solution for the BBC matches.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Will motty continue his decent into madness? yes.

He should have been put out to pasture a long time ago Lawro acts like his carer.

Motson: "...and it's a throw in to West Ham"
Lawrenson: "I think it's a free kick to Sweden, actually"
Motson: "Right you are"

Yep our ancient VCR's going to be getting a run out during this tournament as well. But the iPlayer might be a solution for the BBC matches.

I heard something about this; how does that work in regards to rights? I take it it's a simple case of they got 'em?

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Czechs v swiss should be a good game. Not sure about portugal v turkey.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Ahhh, the tournaments 'values', this year represented as markings on cows.

I'm always to curious as how they get from a blank slate to what they have on the pitch, and what gets left at the wayside.

It's Asteriods!

 

[Lord Camomile]

First mention of the Premiership (discounting the opening punditry).

Why is Bright rather than Lawrenson

 

[xenon]

Got a tenner on the Czech Republic 20 - 1. Gonna look at some other betting.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Czechs v swiss should be a good game. Not sure about portugal v turkey.

Why not sure about the latter? It's potentially very exciting. Turkey can be very good. I think this is an exciting group.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Where the fuck did you get those odds

I mean, Swiss have home advantage, but surely there's also an advantage to being a much better team

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Anyway, Germany to win the tournament, I've concluded.

Spain will choke again, I reckon. The dutch will blow it on penalties. Italy don't deserve to win two major trophies in a row. Portugal will remain alsorans. The czechs aren't strong enough with teh injuries they've had. France aren't what they were Got to be germans.

I saw a thing about how hurst is backing germany. I definitely think there's been a change in English perception of them. I quite like them now.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Where the fuck did you get those odds

I mean, Swiss have home advantage, but surely there's also an advantage to being a much better team

That has to be the tournament not the match.

I think if bookies were offering 20-1 on the czechs just to beat the swiss, they would be inundated with bets.

 

[spacemonkey]

Where the fuck did you get those odds

I mean, Swiss have home advantage, but surely there's also an advantage to being a much better team

To win the tournament surely?

 

[spacemonkey]

That has to be the tournament not the match.

I think if bookies were offering 20-1 on the czechs just to beat the swiss, they would be inundated with bets.

3.1 on betfair.

 

[Lord Camomile]

That has to be the tournament not the match.

I think if bookies were offering 20-1 on the czechs just to beat the swiss, they would be inundated with bets.

To win the tournament surely?

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Why not sure about the latter? It's potentially very exciting. Turkey can be very good. I think this is an exciting group.

Just my opinion. Good start to this game so far as expected, frei lookin dangerous.