Tim Wigmore offers a final reflection on an epic three weeks in Austria and Switzerland as Spain emerged as champions, Turkey stole the hearts of all and Russia proved their weight.
Every team has now played one match at the 2008 UEFA European Championships but what can we deduce from the opening eight games?
Day One of the European Championships went pretty much as expected as the Czech Republic defeated a brighter than expected Swiss team 1-0 and Portugal overcame stubborn and somewhat lucky Turkish team, 2-0.
The home fans were willing the nation on with feisty fanfare but their team failed to respond in kind. Plenty of effort and enterprise was on display but Switzerland offered little in attack against a truely disappointing Czech Republic side.
With an optimistic eye, one could make the case for nine of the 16 teams in this year’s European Championships lifting the trophy on June 29. Emmett Williams offers his predictions -with two firm favourites fighting out the final.
Switzerland reached the second round of the World Cup in 2006 but progression from the group stages at Euro 2008 looks a hard task despite being co-hosts. Mike Martin analyses their squad.
Liverpool have captured Swiss defender Philipp Degen on a free transfer as Rafa Benítez looks to construct a squad capable of mounting Liverpool’s most credible challenge for the Premier League title since the Spaniard’s arrival in 2004. But is Degen any good? And who else will be arriving through Anfield’s door this summer?
Of those that qualified for Euro 2008, so-called ‘whipping boys’ are noticeable by their absence. There are always a few that make it to the World Cup - the likes of Japan, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica and Iran in 2006 - but the European Championships, at half the size of its global counterpart, boasts a […]