EURO 2008

EURO 2008 kicked off yesterday. After a long 2 weeks of football-less experience ( after the UCL final), now football fanatics can enjoy a month long of football matches with this tournament underday in Switzerland and Austria. It started with host Switzerland losing to Czech. Tonight co-host Austria will most likely get same fate; losing to Croatia. But you'll never know.

This above is the official ball that will be getting the most attention during the game, either grabbed or kicked. Supposedly faster, swerves more, giving players better control and better grip for the goalies.

These are how the participating teams are grouped

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey
Group B: Austria, Germany, Poland, Croatia
Group C: Netherlands, Italy, France, Romania ( clearly the most interesting group)
Group D: Spain ,Sweden, Greece, Russia.

Only 2 teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage and that is where the games gets interesting. Extra times and penalty kicks; every team giving their all score more goals.

I personally think its Spain's year this time round. They do have the strongest team on paper and their style of play is really interesting, fast attacking football. Who would argue when u have the likes of Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol, Sergio Ramos and Carlos Marchena manning the defence;
Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi bossing the midfield as well as Fernando Torres and David Villa up front. Not forgetting people like Xabi Alonso and Marcos Senna available.

But as we all know, they have disappointed from tournament to tournament. sigh. Same goes to Holland. Great team on paper, but can't seem to deliver on the field. IT really goes down to tactics and a huge chunk of luck.

Notable absentee in this tournament will be England. haha..
you will not be missed. Thats for not performing in qualifying and not getting the results against the teams that mattered.

Ciao