The wonderful EURO

Although we don’t know yet the 23 players chosen by Luis Aragones to represent Spain, at least we know the beautiful place where they will be lodged. The Catalan newspaper Sport published a video of Milderer Hof hotel, where the Squad will be occupying all 64 rooms.

The hotel is located in Valle Stubai in Austria, only 20 minutes of Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. For that reason during some weeks, the beautiful hotel will be Furia Roja 100%. In the Tivoli Stadium, Spain will play against Russia and Sweden looking for the classification to the quarterfinals. Sweden and Russia will be head to head there too.

Also, it can be gratifying to take a look at: Host City Innsbruck Official Site

Paul Scharner wants peace

His face never says it. But Paul Scharner is asking for peace... he is in campaign for it. The fundamental piece of the Wigan Athletic announced that he does not lose the hopes to be in the EURO 2008 representing Austria in clear position of repentance to the critics towards Josef Hickersberger in 2006.

Weeks ago the coach said that she will not summon Paul Scharner but he prefers to listen him personally. Maybe, if they talked, Scharner could be in the EURO. Austria received seven goals in the last two friendly matches and Paul could be an important tool in the defense.

By all odds

Looking at the EURO 2008 odds in Bet365, Bet-at-home and Partybets, we could pay attention at these points:

- Germany leads the tables, better than Spain, Italy and Portugal.
- A host country (Austria), at a great distance, is the less favorite in the tournament. Is it historic? I am thinking about USA 1994 but I am not sure.
- Italy, The Netherlands and France (shares Group C) are in the Top Six.
- If Italy reaches quarterfinals (knowing The Azzurri, it is very possible) I perceive that they could reach Germany numbers.
- Greece pays 23 Euros per one. Is time to repeat the mistake?

Praying for Tomas Rosicky

Apparently the Czech Republic symbol, Tomas Rosicky, would lose the third Euro of his career. Or his knee is saying it.... Although Karel Brueckner is thinking about other players, I don’t think that he could avoid missing him (as Arsenal does since January 26th).

Present in a national squad since 1995 (U-15) would be replaced by Jaroslav Plasil, Marek Matejovsky, or David Jarolim. Maybe Jaroslav is the man to replace Rosicky experience.

Czechoslovakia was the EURO champion in 1976 and, as Czech Republic was the runner up in 1996. But this year, won’t be easy the Group A against Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey.

Before crying The Czech absence, see the best of him on youtube.

Del Piero, in. Raul, not.

The first impression: Panini said “yes” to Del Piero, and “no” to Raul. The traditional stickers’ album always has differences with the coaches. Let’s see if Roberto Donadoni and Luis Aragones obey the decision or if the football fans will undergo the consequences one more time.

Ebi Smolarek: The Polish Joy

Euzebiusz Smolarek was born in the Polish winter of 1981 in Lodz. His father, Wlodzimierz Smolarek, called him Euzebiusz in honor of Eusebio da Silva. I don’t know if he will be like the Mozambican footballer but I am sure that the Polish want it.

In spite of to have undergone a sanction by doping, with Feyenoord Smolarek won the UEFA CUP which attracts it the Bundesliga. And with Borussia Dortmund he made 25 goals in two seasons and a half.

But the most important moment in his career was his campaign in the EURO 2008 Qualifying. Smolarek made the 37th hattrick in the Polish history and the Red Cross won The Group followed by Portugal. Nine of 28 polish goals were made by Ebi.

In his last Qualy match, Poland drawn 2-2 in Serbia, which gives the passport to the EURO at first time in the history. Smolarek was one of the top scorers only behind David Healy and, until today, he made 13 goals in only 28 matches with the national team (0.46 per game!).

Today his great moment reflects in Spain: last Sunday "The Hash Bomber" scored in La Liga against Recreativo allowing Racing de Santander to dream with the 2008-2009 Champions League.

Let’s see if the best polish player in the 21st century can make history in the EURO too.

The “Mannschaft” laughs

The man in the photo seems to be a joyful person. Maybe because it feels that if there is an important tournament, Germany always will be there. Why? Germany played all the World Cups since 1954 and participated in the last nine European Champions. Also, it was the tournament champion in 1972, 1980 and 1996, being the most winner of the history.

But all the records have to be endorsed with a strong squad. And Germany has it, with all the players being part of German or English clubs – except Timo Hildebrand, who outstands in Spanish Valencia CF-.

Last friendly matches vs. the host countries demonstrated that the tautens are very healthy in the Road to EURO 2008. On June, will be favorites in the Group B. Since 1986, they played eleven games against Poland, Croatia or Austria and lost only once.

So, the powerful of Michael Ballack, the eccentric pichichi Mario Gómez, the carpenter Klose and the unhappy Lukas Podolski will be vital since quarterfinals.

The owners of the Oktoberfest want to celebrate again.

Basel: The capital of the Dreiländereck

The location of the oldest University of Switzerland also will be one of the venues of the Euro 2008. The Saint Jakob Park, known as “Joggeli” for the FC Basel crowd, will receive six matches, included the opening match.

Basel, inhabited by 165.000 Swiss, is the most important city of the North West region known as Dreiländereck, (corner of three countries). And these days, people are waiting the European fans that will be able to enjoy travels around the city gratuitously by train or tram that will be available 24 hours a day during the Euro 2008.

Today, Basel is a vital city as a result of a powerful chemical and pharmaceutical industry. But the Roger Federer and The Lovebugs home had rich old times: the historical trace of Basel could be appreciated in Augusta Raurica, one of the most attractive areas in Basel, the oldest Roman colony on the Rhine River.

Cesc Fabregas: The Spanish key

Francesc Fàbregas Soler was born on May, 4th, 1987, in Arenys del Mar, a little town of 15.000 habitants and main port of Barcelona. Ten years later, while Cesc watch Luis Figo as her main idol, his father, a Catalan mason, made a good use of the approximation with the Barcelona FC and attended him to start to play football in La Masia.

In 2003 in Finland, during the FIFA U-17 World Championship he made five goals but couldn’t hide the disappointment for not being the champion unless he was the Top Scorer and choose as the best player of the tournament when he started it in the bench.

His performances attracted the attention of many teams of Europe but it was Arsenal who won the battle. So Cesc, with only 16 years old, signed his first contract with the English team leaving Barcelona without playing a single minute in the club.

In London he made interesting things urgently: he was the youngest to play a match with The Gunners main squad, the youngest to make a goal in the team (in the Carling Cup), and the youngest to play and to make a goal in the Premier League history.

Real Madrid and Barcelona always want him, but while he plays for Arsenal, he only think to have a good Euro and forget the World Cup 2006 bittersweet experience. Spain needs his technique and personality if they pretend to win an important tournament since the Euro 1964.

Welcome all!

The July, 9 of 2006, day in which Zinedine Zidane head butted Marco Materazzi in the prologue of the Italian fourth victory in the history of the World Cup, all the squads began to think about a thing, South Africa 2010… Or almost all… because a single month later began the qualifying stage of what for decades it has been considered as a World Cup without the presence of Argentina and Brazil: the European Football Championship. 50 national teams started this new dream and finally, 14 will be following the two host countries.

From the 7 of June, Switzerland and Austria will receive that at the present time are the best of the European football. So, these neighboring countries with few success teams in the last times – the FIFA world ranking don’t let me lie- will be the hosts of the 13th Euro, the second organize between two nations, after 2000 experience.

The idea of this blog is to invite you to see from another point of view, all the related to this championship that is approached and that will paralyze the football world by 23 days…

Welcome and thanks to continue alive this passion.