It starts this Saturday, on 1800 MEST with the opening game of co-host Switzerland versus the Czech Republic, just one car hour from my home in Basel (although I don't have any tickets, unfortunately - and I don't want to know what beer alone costs in the stadium if you add a Euro Cup to the already mindboggling high prices in Switzerland :eek: ).

From 6th to 29th June, you can assume that I've got more interesting stuff on my mind than gaming (what hopefully cuts down on the amount of nail-gnawing I do while I wait for FTA!GN!) - and I hope I'm not alone in my love of the non-egg-shaped football.


My new profile style should tell my wish for the champion. However, I guess we Germans will another time not be the ones who claim the cup, although we should fare way better than the last two Euro Cups when we got shamefully kicked out in the Preliminary Rounds.
I assume the Italians will once again triumph - even without Cannavaro, it's the first Italian team for a long time that in addition to the traditionally strong defense bears potent strikers and as an even more rare occurence a capable goalie.
As insider tips, I'd tip Switzerland and Russia. Switz combines its potent youngster team from the World Cup with 2 years and a tournament more experience, coach Köbi Kuhns farewell performance and the home field advantage to a powerful all-in-one package, while Russia is extremely jazzed up after its shattering successes in the qualifying round and has with Guus Hiddink a coach who works tournament for tournament miracles with second-rate teams. Plus, both are yet largely underestimated.

Switzerland? Seriously? I mean, it was one of the most boring teams during the last World Cup.

Dude, as someone from the country that invented Sauerkraut soccer, I do know very well that boringness was never a good reason to don't be able to win a championship. Greece has proven this in the last Euro cup, and they won't be the last ones to do so.
Then again, England and the Netherlands have even more recently proven that boringness and sucktitude can go very well together... Decisions, decisions :mischief:

Any tips yourself? And will the tournament be broadcast in Uruguay at all?

And though it might be tough to believe, it's being covered here in the States by ESPN. Amazing, huh?

And they're even advertising it regularly (I know because the ads always come on during baseball :haw: )

I watched...what was the one that just happened with the two brit teams? The UEFA or something? That was mildly entertaining.

I went to the World Cup when it was here in Chicago. I had referee connections (through my Father) and got tickets to...what...three games I think? Got to take my German in-laws to see Germany play...

Why did that post make me feel like I was channeling Ed C?

Don't be so hard on yourself. You didn't mention hawt chicks, a necessary ingredient.

Re. the Euro, there's a compelling reason why the Germans MUST FAIL IN THE PRELIMS: so that the mediocrity is finally plain for all to see.

We have one top-level player in the entire team.

One.

And he had this to say:

QuoteIn einem Interview mit dem kicker-sportmagazin sagte der Kapitän: "Die
öffentliche Begeisterung darf uns nicht den Blick für die Realitäten
nehmen." Um Mitfavorit zu sein, bedürfe es "einer unglaublichen Stabilität
der Mannschaft".

Put another way, they all suck.

Indeed. The dream team of '06, Podolski and Schweinsteiger, has turned into a shadow of itself, and apart from Ballack, the ranks of the outstanding players look thin. Odonkor is still an amazing joker, but he's just a joker for the last minutes, not someone who can be used from minute 1 to 90. And of course our selection of goalies is great, but this is a given for Germany and was, is and will always be our least sorrow.
Maybe we get a serious chance if Lehmann does the Packie Bonner imitation...

Quote from: James J SkachAnd though it might be tough to believe, it's being covered here in the States by ESPN. Amazing, huh?

And they're even advertising it regularly (I know because the ads always come on during baseball :haw: )

Awesome! Seems like things are moving, I wouldn't have expected this.
I remember yet the disinterest with that the World Cup '94 was met in the US, and the initial trouble of the MLS to take off to at least a semi-decent state.


The match between the two English teams you refer to must have been the Champions League final, the highest cup for clubs in Europe.
The UEFA cup is one good step lower, but still a great accomplishment.

Quote from: SkyrockAwesome! Seems like things are moving, I wouldn't have expected this.
I remember yet the disinterest with that the World Cup '94 was met in the US, and the initial trouble of the MLS to take off to at least a semi-decent state.

Indeed they are.

I don't recall the disinterest for the 94 Cup. It was hard to get tickets, the games were televised, etc. It wasn't what the rest of the world might put out, but there was...curiosity..if nothing else.

The first attempt at MLS here sucked. They hadn't learned enough about how to run a league. Shame, really.

And this is all from a guy who never played, didn't really watch much, and the closest I got was college room mate who played for the school...

But I think MLS might have got it right this time. Start small, build a following. Put the money out there without expectation that it will be returned tenfold in two years. Patience.

The US doing a bit better on the world stage isn't hurting, either.

We'll see.

OMG

I just came across a Euro statistic.

The last time a German team actually WON A MATCH at a Euro was--

Twelve years ago. 12. TWELVE.

Bierhoff, "golden goal" vs. Czech Republic, Wembley final.

I remember that game fondly. This one was a historical goal, with the first Golden Goal ever in a tournament and Bierhoffs entry point as a national player.

In any case we should have a guaranteed victory versus Austria to end this series. But then again, Poland and Croatia should too win hands down versus the Habsburgians, like every other tournament participant.
And last time we even managed to draw versus Latvia. What is the soccer equivalent of D&D being outsold by a Forge game.

Quote from: James J SkachThe US doing a bit better on the world stage isn't hurting, either.

I'd have expected that the live broadcast of Netherlands vs Portugal over ESPN is to blame for this. Everything sells better if sugared with ultraviolence

Quote from: SkyrockI'd have expected that the live broadcast of Netherlands vs Portugal over ESPN is to blame for this. Everything sells better if sugared with ultraviolence

It was the hawt chixxors in the crowds that the coverage kept showing (and had an entire gallery of photos on, IIRC, ESPN).

That's in addition. Sex _and_ ultraviolence, that's an mixture that practically guarantees success.

It's a shame that the '98 World Cup wasn't as much recognized in the US.
Some of the Jamaican fangrrrlz back then win my prize for the smokin' hottest soccer chick evar:

I just watched the opening game, and... it looks like I have to revise my insider tips. Not that Switz played weakly, en contraire, they performed more than well - until they moved in front of the goal. It looks like their gun jam from the penalty shootout vs Ukraine has extended to regular scoring chances. If they don't pick up the pieces of their nerves until next game vs Turkey, they'll be happy if they can get into the round of 8 at all.

Plus, Alexander Freis knee injury will very probably take him out from the whole tournament. He's a key player, and although I never liked Switz, I seriously pity them for such a setback that early, and I feel sorry for that guy that he's forced to sit out the only tournament on home soil he'll ever participate in.

I totally forgot about the game... well, I can only "watch" it on the kicker.de liveticker anyway.

So, essentially the Swiss are out... not good for the atmosphere but not entirely unexpected...

I would have never guessed that the Dutch would beat the crap out of the world champion. Especially in such a hands-down victory.
Are we lucky that we absolutely can't face the Oranjes before the actual final...