- 28 Jun 08, 05:00 PM
Vienna
Time is ticking for Vienna's Panini football card collectors. They meet outside the Technisches Museum, every Friday afternoon, old women trading with schoolchildren, long lists of indecipherable numbers in their hand. What will they do next Friday?
The clock is also running down for touts in the centre of Vienna. One walked past me in the rain and said: "Tickets?" I said that I was alright thanks. "I'm ******* buying not selling," came the reply. I guess I should have read the sign, written in several languages, that he was holding.
These are the last days of Euro 2008. As the finest tournament in a generation inexorably moves towards its conclusion, I think it's appropriate that the champions will be crowned here in Vienna, a place with a rich history of conquering and coronation.
The king of Uefa, president Michel Platini, held an end of tournament press briefing on Saturday and, judging by his bonhomie, is clearly very happy with what has unfolded over the past 22 days. He waxed lyrical about how the players and coaches had "given us a beautiful tournament".
Platini, of course, was a member of the France side that defeated Spain in the final of the 1984 European Championship. He opened the scoring in a 2-0 victory, his shot squirming under the body of goalkeeper Luis Arconada.
Somewhat fittingly, and perhaps sensing that Spain might be about to right the wrongs of the past, Platini has invited Arconada to Sunday's final at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The sense that the tournament is coming to a close was further heightened on Friday night, when Uefa put on a party for the media at the Kursalon, a splendid venue in Vienna's Stadtpark.
Top of the bill was a Falco tribute act, blasting out the hits of Austria's favourite rock musician to all and sundry. He had been preceded by a performance of modern dance with a strong football theme, the deep and profound meaning of which I have yet to ascertain. Much more to my liking was Swedish singer Robyn, who also played in Vienna on Friday.
The musical theme does not end there either. On Sunday, Enrique Iglesias will give a pre-match performance, no doubt hoping to inspire his countrymen as they prepare to face Germany.
The Spaniard held a news briefing in the build up to the final. I didn't attend, but I'm told journalists were striving a little too hard to get a news line. The Swedes asked Iglesias who his favourite Swedish player and musical act was, while a Hungarian asked how highly he rated Ferenc Puskas. You get the picture.
And so the hours continue to tick down to the final. Fans from both Spain and Germany can be seen milling about Vienna, taking in the sights and partaking in some of the local ales, no doubt dreaming of success on Sunday.
Down at the Technisches Museum, I was struck by the following line in amongst the exhibits: "All it takes is unshakable belief in the benevolence of destiny."
On Sunday we will find out whose side destiny is on...
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Personally im not a fan of a footballer turned politician.
Shame then that they have decided this will be one of the last good tournaments isnt it.
http://www.skysports.com/football/euro2008/story/0,23063,11966_3750872,00.html
More teams are to be put in, basically meaning lots of poor teams like at the world cup and lots of bore draws. Hooray for uefa.
hooray.
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Destiny is on the side of monied interests as usual. Despite all his election campaign blather about wanting to "prevent the most beautiful game from becoming only business" that's how it's turning out, The tourney has produced some enthralling action - although no more than Euro 2000 overall - but perhaps more importantly to those behind it, it has produced record-breaking revenues. It is may then be appropriate that the champioms be crowned in "a place with a rich history of conquering and coronation" since, above all, this has been the VIP Tournament. While ordinary fans are reduced to carrying cardboard signs to try and scrounge a ticket for the stadiums, football's royalty can always find easy entry to the inner sanctum. Thanks, Michel!
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Thank God this boring nonsense is over soon. Yet another waste of the licence fee.
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A great tournament?
Have you forgotten:-
France v Romania?
Poland v Austria?
Turkey v Croatia?
Portugal v Czech Republic?
Switzerland v Czech Republic?
Austria v Croatia?
Germany v Austria?
Germany v Poland?
.......
not to mention Greece!
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have to disagree with the midland 20,
the following were not exactly terrible matches
Turkey v Croatia
Portugal v Czech Republic
Switzerland v Czech Republic
Germany v Poland.
also from your above list three of the matches involved Austria. they were bound to bring the level down.
here's a list of matches ranging from good to excellent.
holland Vs italy,
holland Vs France,
Spain Vs Russia,
Spain Vs Russia (part II),
Germany Vs Portugal,
Portugal Vs Turkey,
Russia Vs Sweden,
Turkey Vs Czech Republic,
Holland Vs Russia,
Croatia Vs Germany
Germany Vs Turkey
...
and hopefully Germany Vs Spain! :)
Portugal Vs Czech Rep
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Platini is an absolute disgrace.
He should resign with immediate effect.
He has practically abolished the FIFA rule of tapping up players by endorsing Real Madrid's usual tactics.
This will affect all transfers for all clubs from now on, the precedent has been set. Rool on Bosman MkII.
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Platini hates the premier league and england as he has proven and its almost bordering on a vendetta now with endorsing an illegal move for ronaldo.
The guy is aj oke
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This has been a decent tournament, with exciting games, but some way behind Euro 2000 and the early stages of World Cup 2006.
However the striking feature is that the quality of play now falls so far behind the Champions League and indeed much of the Premiership. Englands top 7 teams would fancy their chances against Spain, make that the top 15 team against Germany. As for Austria and Greece, the top end of League One wouldn't go in as underdogs.
Mr Platini's idea of bringing in 8 more teams will reduce the quality further. There aren't 8 teams who were robbed of qualifying - the next 8 contains at least 6 no-hopers. If Euro 2012 is filled with Bulgaria v Belgium and Slovenia v Slovakia I'll be watching the Tennis.
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Must admit I am confused by the medias joint decision to hail this tourney as 'one of the greats'. To be honest, about 3 games have held my attention so far, most have been stiflingly boring.
The fact that Arshavin has been deemed the find of the tourney tells you everything you need to know about the standard IMO.
Then again, apparently the reffing has been of a high order according to the media too. They must have missed the ref staring at Ballacks blatant push and ignoring it, and many other incompetant decisions.
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Never have I read such a large proportion of posts with such a miserable outlook on life. This has been a great tournament full of exciting matches and teams, for the most part, trying to play good football.
I think everyone needs to lighten up, stop reading the Daily Mail and enjoy the spectacle we are about to witness tonight. If its anything like what's gone before in this tournament then we're in for a treat!
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Yes you are right the moog, the qualityof the tournament will be brought down when undeserving teams such as England are then able to qualify, then the quality of broadcasting comes down another level as it covers England in every broadcast regardless if Wales, Scotland or N.I qualify. The sooner BBC and ITV realise that they serve the UK and not just one of the countries in it the better.
Anyway by increasing the number of teams in the tournament means there will be even more games to watch and that is not a bad thing! And I have throughly enjoyed this tournament whereas I thought the referees spoiled the world cup with their continuing stopping of the game, its been much more flowing footy in this tournament.
Esta noche voy a apoyar a España, ien el español! (I hope my google translation is correct!)
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Can't believe the negativity of some of the posters here. Granted, the first 4 games weren't the greatest, but since then this tournament really has been absolutely fantastic.
And the poster who suggested something like most club teams would fancy their chances against Germany and Spain, as if they're incredibly poor sides or something, what a load of nonsense. The Spanish team contains players from all the top teams in Europe and the German one is pretty much Bayern Munch and Werder Bremen, two pretty decent sides in Europe.
And finally, to the guy who said what a waste of the licence fee... clearly you're the sort of person who's happier paying to see such great shows like that "Any dream will do" one, the Graham Norton Show, "Cash in the Attic", "Sky cops" etc. Now those are clearly shows worth paying to see! Yeah! [/sarcasm]. What self-respecting football fan doesn't enjoy these big international tournaments and the atmosphere involved? Is it just because England didn't qualify??
The only sensible opinion thats been given here has been the good point that the 24 teams idea is an awful one. Before you know it the whole continent will qualify automatically. The 16 team format was exclusive and therefore ensured that bar one or two, every team involved would be of a high quality.
Football = greatest sport in the world. Any other sport in the world is just so inferior that its unbelievable. The more football the BBC have, the better!
Overall actually I've enjoyed the coverage but I've felt that the pundits have been a bit too negative about everything. If a game hasn't been 3-2, 3-1 or something they just sit and flap their gums about how its a boring game, not having anything positive to say etc. You'll never find Sky doing that with their Champions League coverage.
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