The official thread for Euro 2008----->::Spain Winner::-----> (mezo2006 & Ichigo- best predictors)

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#1 Co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland, Euro 2008 is one day away. It’ll be kicked off by a Group A matchup on June 7 between the Swiss and the Czech Republic in Basel, followed up by Portugal-Turkey in Geneva. The final 23-man rosters, of which three must be goalkeepers, for each nation aren’t required to be submitted until May 28, but a few coaches have already announced their respective squads. Others have announced a provisional roster and will have to trim it down by the 28th. If a player named to the final roster gets injured to the extent that he can’t take part in the competition before his country’s first match, he can be replaced. Here at Naruo-arena, I’ll be covering this tournament , with daily recaps and previews of the upcoming action. Sure, England isn’t taking part this time around, but this is the world’s second-largest international competition and it would be ignorant of us to not give it its just due. I’ll be taking a closer look at all 16 teams in the tournament — games and making my full predictions as to who will advance out of the group stage and who will win the whole thing. Keep checking this site as it’s your one stop shop for everything Euro 2008, including the final rosters for each nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008 - Switzerland: Hosts' Burden Founded: 1895 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 2 EURO titles: 0 Hosts' Burden Being co-hosts will make EURO 2008 a special occasion for Switzerland, who will be looking to improve their European record. Switzerland have participated just twice in the European championship and failed to go beyond the group stage on both occasions. "Success would be to reach the quarter-finals. Of course it won't be easy, but that has to be our goal," Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn said. "Four years ago, when we really hit a low point, I developed an internal strategy with the title 'European Champions 2008'. "That was being very optimistic but we have to strive towards big goals and go out there with the necessary confidence to deal with these challenges." Switzerland will compete with 2004 runners-up Portugal, Czech Republic and Turkey to acquire a quarter-final spot for the first time in their European history. "We're in a genuinely attractive group with the likes of Portugal, the Czechs and the Turks, all capable of really good football," Kuhn told FIFA.com. "We're on home soil, so it goes without saying we're hoping to qualify for the next round. But we have all the respect in the world for our distinguished opponents." History Switzerland have a decent history in World Cups. They made a notable impact in the majority of the tournaments they participated in. The 'Nati' reached the quarter-finals three times in 1934 and 1938 as well as the 1954 tournament, which they hosted. Switzerland also progressed to the second round in 1994 and 2006, in which they were eliminated after a penalty shootout defeat to Ukraine. However, their European record is far from impressive. They took part in the 1996 and 2004 tournaments but failed to impress, suffering a first-round exit from both editions. Switzerland have a chance to make history in Europe and qualify to the second round when they co-host EURO 2008 with neighbors Austria. Coach: Jakob 'Kobi' Kuhn (Swiss) After spells with Swiss youth teams, Kuhn finally took charge of Switzerland's senior side in June 2001 after his predecessor, Argentinean coach Enzo Trossero, failed to guide Switzerland to a place in the 2002 World Cup. He helped Switzerland qualify for EURO 2004 in Portugal. Although the team failed to book a place in the quarter-finals, Switzerland kept faith in Kuhn to lead them in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. The 64-year-old repaid that faith by leading Switzerland to a place in the World Cup finals in Germany. The team also fared well in the tournament as they progressed to the second round after finishing on top of Group G that featured eventual runners-up France, South Korea and Togo. Switzerland were eliminated after a shootout defeat to Ukraine following a goalless draw. Kuhn has announced that he would step down as Switzerland coach following EURO 2008. German veteran coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who led Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title, will replace him. "I'm sure I won't be bored, although my life won't be as structured as it is now," Kuhn commented on his resignation. Tactics Switzerland's young players have proved that they have what it takes to make a good impression in prestigious competitions. Kuhn has stuck with the youngsters who excelled during the 2006 World Cup, and introduced new faces. "In the meantime I've introduced even more new blood - and not just for the sake of it either," he said. "A handful of younger players have broken into the team, because there's been so much genuinely fantastic work done with our junior national teams. "Obviously, it's not our intention simply to field the youngest team, but to send out a team capable of holding its own, and which is mentally strong enough for the job." Diego Benaglio has become Kuhn's first-choice keeper at the expense of veteran goalie Pascal Zuberbuehler. Switzerland's strength lies in their defense. They haven't conceded a single goal during their 2006 World Cup campaign. Ludovic Magnin and Philipp Degen, who joined Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund, will play as full-backs during EURO 2008. Lyon's Patrick Muller, who has gone AWOL before his side's French Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain to link up with his Switzerland teammates for EURO preparations, will occupy a central defender berth. He is expected to be partnered by Arsenal's Philippe Senderos, who had a disappointing season with the Gunners. After captain Johann Vogel was dropped, a fierce battle is expected between Gelson Fernandes, Ricardo Cabanas, Gokhan Inler and Benjamin Huggel for midfield places. Tranquillo Barnetta and Johan Vonlanthen are likely to play on the flanks. Either of Xavier Margairaz or Hakan Yakin will support main striker Alexander Frei, who may be accompanied by Marco Streller upfront. Reports also suggest that Kuhn may field a lone striker in Frei. • Star Player - Alexander Frei Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#2 EURO 2008 - Czech Republic: Coping after Golden Generation Founded: 1901 UEFA Affiliated: 1994 EURO Appearances: 7 EURO Titles: 1 (as Czechoslovakia) The likes of Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky, Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer were often considered as the heart and soul of the Czech team in recent years. However, retirement, injuries and lack of form are all factors forcing an imminent change in Karel Bruckner's team structure. Bruckner was left to bemoan the loss of influential playmaker Rosicky, who is ruled out of the finals with a knee injury. But the Czech tactician is hopeful to see emerging talents like Marek Matejovsky and Jaroslav Plasil providing cover for the absence of the Arsenal man. An impressive performance in last year's memorable 3-0 qualifying victory in Germany suggested that the Czechs are capable of causing damage without former midfield marvels Nedved and Poborsky. History Prior to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the Czechs were crowned European champions in 1976, in addition to winning second place in the 1934 and 1962 World Cup finals. The Czechs' presence in top events declined after their Euro 1976 triumph, as their best achievement was reaching the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals. Their main man in Italy 1990 was former striker Tomas Skuhravy, who was second top scorer of the tournament with five goals. After the independence of the Czech Republic, the team seemed to be much steadier. They qualified to every European championship final so far. Their best achievement in the past decade was arguably winning second place in England 1996, when they defied all odds, only to be beaten by Oliver Bierhoff's infamous Golden Goal at Wembley. Koller is Czechs main striker Coach: Karel Bruckner (Czech) Even though Bruckner has no coaching experience beyond the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the 68-year-old is deemed a football master in his homeland. He might have never managed a top club, but Bruckner took unfashionable Sigma Olomouc to the UEFA Cup quarters in 1992. Three years later, he helped them finish second in the league, their best ever position. In 1997, he was hired U-21 Czech Republic coach, leading the team to the European championship title in Switzerland 2002. He was then promoted to coach the senior Czech team, guiding them to the EURO 2004 semi-finals, but his stylish side was unlucky to lose to eventual champions Greece in Portugal. Tactics Chelsea guardian Petr Cech is an unrivalled choice in goal, the same goes for regular center -halves David Rozehnal and Radoslav Kovac, while Tomas Ujfalusi might face competition from Zdenek Grygera on the right. AC Milan's Marek Jankulovski is the strongest candidate to fill in the left-back position, even though Zdenek Pospech deputized well in some qualifying games. The anchor man in midfield will be 35-year-old veteran Tomas Galasek, who will be joined by Plasil and Jan Polak. Matejovsky, Daniel Pudil and David Jarolim provide creativity on both flanks. In the attack line, Czech Republic's all-time leading goal-scorer Jan Koller is an automatic choice, with EURO 2004 top scorer Milan Baros and Frankfurt sensation Martin Fenin as possible back-ups since Bruckner prefers a 4-5-1 formation. • Star Player - Petr Cech ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008- Turkey : Life after Sukur Turkey was rocked by the news that national team coach Fatih Terim has ousted captain Hakan Sukur, whose name was synonymous with Turkish football success over almost the past decade. Sukur had finished as Turkey's top-scorer in the EURO 2008 qualifying campaign with 6 goals, yet that did not vouch for him to make the final cut. Turkey have always been Europe's "ugly duckling" and have always felt like outsiders, but have earned the respect of their opponents with a series of good showings and results both on the club and national levels. History Turkey's first EURO adventure was in 1996, but the team failed to leave a mark and left the tournament without winning a single match or scoring a single goal. Come the 21st Century their curve began to improve as they reached the quarter-finals of EURO 2000. Their best achievement was winning third place in the 2002 World Cup finals and repeating their feat a year later at the FIFA Confederations Cup. However, the Ottoman descendants barely missed out on reaching the EURO 2004 finals and 2006 World Cup. Their return to the European stage was highly anticipated as their teams and players have made a strong impact on club football over the past couple of years. Coach: Fatih Terim (Turkish) Terim first took over as coach of the Turkish national team in 1993 and led them to EURO 1996 FINALS, their first major tournament appearance since the 1954 World Cup. After the first round exit he moved to coaching on the club level and handed Turkey their first ever continental club title when he won the UEFA Cup in 2000 with an exemplary Galatasaray side that included players like Sukur, Umit Davala and the infamous Gheorghe Hagi. Terim's success earned him a lot of praise and a contract to coach Italian outfit Fiorentina for one year, which was followed by an unsuccessful stint with giants AC Milan. He returned to Turkey and coached Galatasaray again for two seasons before taking time off in 2004. Terim returned to coach the national team in 2005 and barely missed out on reaching the 2006 World Cup finals after losing to Switzerland in a playoff game. But the man nicknamed 'The Emperor' by his people, vowed to take Turkey to the EURO 2008 finals, and he did! Tactics Coach Terim's main task will be to bring stability to the ranks of the national team which has suffered a bumpy qualifying campaign. Turkey have a lot of skilled and talented players who perform better as individuals than as a team. Perhaps their biggest drawback is their flaring temper. Terim had captain Rustu Recber as his first choice keeper but the Besiktas guardian surrendered his role to Volkan Demirel who is expected to be the first-choice in the finals, even though he got injured in the build up. In defense, Turkey could be without central defender Servet Çetin who is also nursing an injury, with Emre Asik being the probable replacement to team up with Gokhan Zan. Turkey are counting on their rising star and swift right-back Gokhan Gonul, who has been dubbed by Zico as the 'Turkish Cafu'. Terim is prone to deploy narrow 4-3-1-2, 4-1-3-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 formations which require industrial players in midfield like co-captain Emre Belozoglu and Mehmet Aurelio. Thanks to Gonul's strong form, Bayern Munich's Hamit Altintop will be able to reclaim his spot on the right side of midfield with Hakan Balta covering the other flank. Upfront, Terim will rely on the relatively small but quick Tuncay Sanli and Nihat Kahveci and possibly Halil Altintop as a replacement for the towering Sukur. • Star Player- Nihat Kahveci Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#3 Euro 2008 - Germany looking for a win .. even if for one match "Search for victory even in one game" might be an appropriate slogan for teams such as Poland or Austria or Switzerland, but the slogan is carried by the Germans in the European Nations Cup 2008. Germany - which holds the bigest number of times heroic victory in all euro previous cups - failed to win any games in the European Nations Cup in the last eight years. Germany played three games in 2000 and the same number in 2004 and the results were divided between the loss and a tie. Germans enter the hope of reaching the championship round before the final at the very least, and in particular they are playing in a friendly presence Austria, Poland, Croatia, and avoided confrontation adults such as the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain in the last eight. Machinery lived one of the best of its periods in the past ten years since the beginning of revolutionary change led by Juergen Klinsman, Joachim and the advent of wave after him. Took the train back to Germany after the 2006 World Cup finals, led the team to be the first Qualifier for the championship, and played with the team 20 wins in 15 games and tying in three and lost two matches in. Artistic Director and succeeded in continuing the new format Revolutionary Shaft, bringing submit offensive football fun addition to achieving good results. It also continued to rely on young players, the 2006 World Cup witnessed one of the youngest teams German Suffice it to say the rate of reconstruction of the German team became 25 years. In the view of the wave that Germany has a great opportunity in reaching the final match of the championship this year, especially since the team has a mix of older players and young people. Raymond also nominated Dominique technical manager of his team to face France in the final game, the same nominations of experts and the German masses, which show full confidence in access to the final game. history Germany for the tenth time in its history, and owns the record in the number of winning the championship with three championships. Germans absent from participating in the first three copies of the Nations Cup in Russia, Spain and Italy, and succeeded in winning the championship on their first participation in Belgium in 1972 after overcoming Russia in the final three goals without reply. The machines failed to maintain the title and lost to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 final by penalty shootouts after 5-3 tie at the end of two goals each. And returned to Germany in the crown in 1980 by overcoming two goals against Belgium on goal and was sad farewell from the first round in 1984 in the championship hosted by France. Germany hosted the championship for the first time in 1988, but invited the championship before the final round after defeat by the Netherlands with two goals against a goal. The Germans lost the final in 1992 before Denmark by two goals without reply, with the deadline was third in the championship in England in 1996 with one of the worst teams in German history, won for England by penalty shootouts in the final round before, and then the Czech Republic in the final two goals against a goal we have made Oliver Bierhoff, and The second is the first golden goal in the history of football. Machinery and exited the first round in the length of 2000 and 2004. Tactic Depends on the way back to 4-4-2, with Jens Lehmann in guarding the net, and Bir Maertazakr with him and Haikou Vestrman or Christophe Mitzldr or Manuel Friedrich, although the player is the closest Schalke defender of the status of the second. And owns several solutions to wave at both right and left, could play in Philip L. Yemeni side with him and Marcel Jensen in the left hand, or playing with pain in the left hand and the involvement or Clemenz Fritz Arne Friedrich in the right hand. The midfield features seem clear to the presence of German coach Michael Ballack, Torsten maker games Vrindz Kost and Bastia defender Chweinsteijr in the right or left hand. Competing Boroffski Tim Thomas Hetteslisbed the last seat in the middle of the stadium, or they may resort to wave to the introduction of L along with Vrindz reliance on Jensen and Fritz defenders on the left and right. Miroslav competing Blues and Mario Gomez and Kevin Kurani, and Lucas Bodolski the central attack, although the opportunity is the first bilateral closest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008 - Austria: Co-hosts and Debutants Mon, 2 Jun 2008 - 15:51 By: Mohamed Sabe Austria Founded: 1904 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 0 EURO titles: 0 As co-hosts of the EURO 2008 tournament, Austria are already under pressure, but to add to that pressure, they have to perform well since it is their first appearance in the European showpiece. The Austrians went without a win in five matches since they beat Ivory Coast 3-2 in October 2007. Yet Josef Hickersberger's team have the potential to impress if they can create a winning formula from the veteran players who will be supported by a number of young players like Martin Harnik, Erwin 'Jimmy' Hoffer and Sebastian Proedl. Austria's impressive U-20 team that finished fourth in the World Cup finals in Canada last summer should provide an inspiration for the first team to take Europe by surprise. History Austria never made it to the European finals before but impressively showcased in the World Cup finals several times. They finished fourth in the 1934 finals and won third place twenty years later. Their last World Cup appearance was in 1998. Austria will always be remembered for their role in the 'non-aggression pact of Gijon' incident when they conspired with West Germany and lost 1-0 in their final group match to eliminate Algeria and reach the second round together. As a result, FIFA stages all final group games simultaneously ever since. Some of Austria's greatest players are: Hans Krankl, Bruno Pezzey, Toni Polster, Andreas Herzog and Alois Vogel. Coach: Josef Hickersberger (Austrian) Hickersberger enjoyed several successes as a player with FK Austria Wien before moving to the Bundesliga and playing with Offenbacher Kickers 1901 and Fortuna Dusseldorf. He also played in the 1978 World Cup finals as part of the Austrian national team. Hickersberger began his coaching career by taking charge of the Austria Under-21 side before taking command of the first team in 1988. He helped Austria reach the 1990 World Cup finals and produced some decent results, but was sacked following an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to minnows Faroe Islands. The 60-year-old manager became an Arabian legend as he coached the Bahrain national team and some of the Middle East's most prestigious clubs like Arab Contractors of Egypt and Al-Wasl of UAE. Tactics Hickersberger had only international friendlies to prepare for EURO 2008. During these matches he tested a big number of players and numerous formations including 4-4-2, 4-5-1, and even 3-5-2. Sebastian Proedl, veteran Martin Stranzl and Emanuel Pogatetz have their place booked in the backline. Jurgen Macho and Alexander Manninger will be vying for the goalkeeper spot after first choice Helge Payer pulled out of the squad for health reasons. In midfield, Hickersberger depends on experience rather than youth and veterans Ivica Vastic, Joachim Standfest and Rene Aufhauser are also guaranteed starting spots. Austria have within their ranks some youthful and talented forwards like Bremen prodigy Martin Harnik, Roland Linz of Braga and young sensation Hoffer. Yet the team remains very goal-shy. • Star Player- Emanuel Pogatetz Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#4 EURO 2008 - Poland: Tough Task for Debutants Founded: 1919 UEFA Affiliated: 1955 EURO Appearances: 1 EURO Titles: 0 FIFA Ranking: 27 Even though Poland have managed to play in seven World Cups, the East European nation will make a first appearance on the continental stage this summer. But what an unfortunate tie they have for their debut, which will be against European titans and three-time champions Germany at Klagenfurt. Poland have never beaten their mighty neighbors, who also outclassed the Polish in the 2006 World Cup, thanks to Miroslav Klose's strike. However, the Euro 2008 debutants showed what they can do against top teams in the qualifying campaign, which saw them denying 'Felipao's' Portugal twice. Apart from the Germany hurdle, Poland will have to face hosts, yet debutants, Austria in another regional clash. This summer's competition though could be vital experience for Poland before they host the event in 2012. History Poland's continental underachievement remains an enigma, looking at the team's impressive World Cup pedigree. The Polish have won third place twice in 1974 and 1982, inspired by performances of former legends Kazimierz Deyna, Zbigniew Boniek and Gregorz Lato. Lato was a key member of the Polish football golden generation in the 70s, as the former striker holds the country's record of 104 international caps, and 45 goals. In Germany 1974, Lato hit seven goals to clinch the tournament's Golden Shoe. Coach: Leo Beenhakker (Dutch) Beenhakker is arguably the most experienced coach in the competition, given the variety of teams he managed in his brimming four-decade coaching career. He won three consecutive Primera Liga titles during his late 80s spell with Real Madrid, after which he helped Ajax clinch the Eredivisie title in 1990. He then went on to coach in Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, Holland, in addition to a very brief spell with Saudi Arabia, where he was sacked without playing a single competitive game. The 65-year-old, who speaks more than six languages, led Trinidad & Tobago to a first ever World Cup finals appearance in 2006. A few months after the Germany finals, he was appointed Poland coach, leading the Eagles to the European showpiece for the first time as well. Tactics Goalkeeping must be Poland's biggest asset, with Artur Boruc, Tomasz Kuszczak, and Lukasz Fabianski present, in addition to veteran Jerzy Dudek, who has a slight chance of making the finals. Beenhakker normally uses a 4-4-2 system that might sometimes be switched into 4-5-1. Shakhtar Donetsk's Mariusz Lewandowski is a key man in midfield, as veteran Dariusz Dudka could partner him. The Polish team relies heavily on the pace of wingers Jacub Blaszczykowski and Jacek Krzynowek, who has a deadly left foot. Upfront, Ebi Smolarek is the main source of goals, alongside Maciej Zurawski, who has 16 international goals. • Star Player - Ebi Smolarek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008 - Romania: Mission Impossible Founded: 1909 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 3 EURO titles: 0 Romania's hopes of making amends for some disappointing years in the early 2000s were hit by the EURO 2008 draw, which put them alongside firm favorites Italy and France in addition to heavyweights Holland. The Tricolors aim to make it beyond the group stage after missing out on a place in EURO 2004, as well as the World Cup two years later. They will have to accomplish a 'mission impossible'. Romania have a very difficult task ahead of them, but coach Victor Piturca remains optimistic his side can leave their own mark. "I am not afraid of Euro. It's already a success that we qualified. We should see Euro 2008 as a celebration. To some extent we have nothing to lose," he said. "But we are not going just to sign in that we were there. We have to show something, to be dignified and if possible to win." Only days will tell whether Romania are really capable of causing a major upset in Austria and Switzerland. Romania's players have backed their coach, stating it would be a mistake to underestimate their team. "Romania have more of a chance than our opponents give us," defender Razvan Rat told reporters at a training camp in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest. "Romania have not got as many great players as Italy and France and even the Netherlands, but the force of our group could make the difference if we have some fortune." History Romania's World Cup participations were not remarkable until the 1990s during which they made a notable impact in the prestigious showpiece. In the 1990 tournament in Italy, Romania reached the second round before being eliminated at the hands of Ireland in a penalty shoot-out. Four years later, in the United States, a Gheorghe Hagi-inspired side helped Romania reach the World cup quarter-finals in their best ever achievement after ousting Argentina in an epic clash. Romania also managed to advance to the next round in the 1998 World Cup in France. Since then, they have failed to qualify for the tournament. In the European championship, Romania's presence was hardly felt until 2000 when they put in some fine displays in Holland and Belgium. Before taking part in the 2000 tournament, Romania featured in the European championship just twice, in 1984 and 1996, and suffered a first-round exit on both occasions. But in 2000 they surprisingly progressed to the quarter-finals despite being drawn in a very tough group which included Portugal, England and Germany. Romania were knocked out after slumping to a 2-0 defeat to eventual runners-up Italy. Coach: Victor Piturca (Romanian) Piturca began his coaching career with Steaua Bucharest in 1991, one year after announcing his retirement from professional football. He then took charge of Universitatea Craiova in 1994 and helped them finish second in the Romanian League. Two years later, Piturca was appointed as Romania's U-21 coach and guided the team to a European Championship qualification in 1998. A few months later, the 52-year-old was named as Romania's senior team coach. His short spell with his country was a success. Piturca helped Romania qualify for EURO 2000 after an unbeaten run but he didn't have the chance to guide his team during the tournament. He was sacked in December 1999 following a dispute with some senior players, including Gheorghe Hagi and Gheorghe Popescu. Piturca returned for another stint with Steaua afterwards and led them to a Romanian League triumph in 2001. He resigned three years later after an argument with club's president Gigi Becali. He was appointed as Romania coach for the second time in December 2004 and managed to help them reach EURO 2008 after an impressive qualifying campaign in which they finished on top of their group, . Tactics Piturca doesn't like to depend on certain players; he believes that all his men should be ready to fire up their national team. This approach was clear during EURO 2008 qualifiers, in which he used 39 players throughout the campaign. Despite being a former fiery striker, Piturca believes in tactical discipline and has done very well by passing on his knowledge to his players who excel both on defense and in offense. Dinamo Bucharest's Bodgan Lobont, who has over 60 caps with Romania, is one of few players who have their place booked and should be Piturca's first-choice goalkeeper. In defense, local-based duo Dorin Goian and Gabriel Tamas will probably play as centre-backs, with veterans Cosmin Contra and Razvan Rat serving as full-backs. Versatile defender and Romania captain Cristian Chivu, who won with Inter Milan the Serie A title, may operate in midfield, along with Nicolae Dica and either Florentin Petre or Banel Nicolita. Upfront, Piturca is set to rely on Adrian Mutu and Ciprian Marica, who scored eleven goals between them during the qualifying campaign. • Star Player- Adrian Mutu Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#5 EURO 2008 - Italy: No Scandal…No Trophy! Founded: 1898 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 7 EURO Titles: 1 (1968) Italy have proven over years that they can overcome different sorts of problems to emerge winners at the end. That was the case prior to the 1982 World Cup when some national team players, including star Paolo Rossi, were involved in match-fixing and illegal betting scandals. Despite the unhealthy atmosphere in the Serie A, Italy managed to win the most important trophy in the world after overcoming Germany in the final. Recent history has also demonstrated this fact. Another match-fixing scandal tarnished the image of Italian football just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany. But once again Italy defied the odds and went on to claim the title after a penalty shootout win over France. Maybe this time the problem is not as serious as the preceding two, but it is of special significance. Curiously, it is a technical one. Many Serie A teams failed to show their top-flight credentials and competition at the top was never exciting, even when Roma came close to overtaking Inter. Quality was poor; stadiums were almost empty in the majority of matches. Furthermore, none of the Italian teams managed to impress in European competitions. The Champions League semi-finals did not feature a single Italian team after AC Milan, Roma and Inter Milan were eliminated at earlier stages. Italy will have to rise above these technical problems if they are to win their second prestigious trophy in the space of two years to match the feat achieved by France in 1998 and 2000. History Italy are arguably the world's second best national team in history behind Brazil. This is largely down to their World Cup record. The Azzurri won the most important accolade four times. However, their European record is far from impressive, compared to what audiences have seen from them at World Cups. Italy participated in six tournaments out of possible 12, with 2008 being the 13th. Having missed out on the first two editions, they approached 1968 tournament on home soil with all guns blazing. In a unique final that was replayed after an initial 1-1 draw as penalties were not yet applied, Italy defeated Yugoslavia 2-0 in Rome to claim the title. Italy once again failed to qualify for two successive EUROs afterwards before making their second appearance in the 1980 tournament which was also held at home. They finished fourth after losing to Czechoslovakia on penalties in the third place play-off, the round which was cancelled in later editions. Italy also lost in the semi-finals of the 1980 tournament. With a one-goal advantage over France and the final whistle swiftly approaching, David Trezeguet drew Les Blues level in the dying seconds. In extra time, a Sylvain Wiltord golden goal made it a night to forget for Italy. Coach: Roberto Donadoni (Italian) Donadoni was deemed a surprise appointment after Marcello Lippi handed in his resignation following Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph. The 44-year-old coach neither managed a high-profile team nor won a major trophy since beginning his managerial career in 2001. Donadoni, who enjoyed a very successful 10-year spell with AC Milan as a player, had three successive coaching spells with Lecce, Livorno and Genoa in the early 2000s. Every stint lasted for just one season. He departed Genoa in 2004 before returning to Livorno one year later. Donadoni led Livorno to a ninth-place finish in his first season in charge before enjoying an impressive campaign the following year. Livorno's fine run of results in the 2005/2006 season saw them occupy sixth spot halfway through the season. But the honeymoon ended shortly after when Donadoni resigned after a row with Livorno president Aldo Spinelli. Donadoni was appointed as Italy boss in July 2006. His first task was to lead Italy to a place in EURO 2008 qualifiers, a mission which was successfully accomplished. Tactics Italy's traditional strategy of tightening their defense and hitting opponents on the break, widely known as 'The Catenaccio', usually proved to be successful. It drew criticism from fans who want to be entertained but Italy believe their tactic is effective regardless of the fact that it might be boring for many. Donadoni would have no problems selecting suitable players to represent Italy in Switzerland and Austria. He is lucky to have Gianluigi Buffon, widely considered as the world's number one keeper, at his disposal in the European showpiece. Real Madrid's Fabio Cannavaro, who was a regular member in the heart of Italy's defense, will now be replaced by the man who injured him, Giorgio Chiellini. He is expected to be partnered by either Inter's Marco Materazzi or Palermo's Andrea Barzagli. Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso, despite having inconsistent seasons with Barcelona and Lyon respectively, are likely to be Donadoni's preferable full-backs. In midfield, Milan duo Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso as well as Roma's Simone Perrotta are guaranteed starting berths. Mauro Camoranesi may be an option on the flank due to his ability to penetrate and provide accurate crosses and passes. Upfront, Donadoni will rely heavily on the in-form Luca Toni, who will be supported by two of Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Del Piero. • Star Player- Luca Toni ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008 - Russia: The Power of Zenit Founded: 1912 UEFA Affiliated: 1992 EURO Appearances: 3 EURO Titles: 0 The superb display of Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup this season could offer some buoyancy to Guus Hiddink's side this summer. Zenit, managed by another Dutchman, Dick Advocat, won the competition impressively, brushing aside the likes of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in the process. Hiddink is adamant that the victory could be useful for the national team, which includes a number of key players from Zenit. "The win was a huge boost for all Russian football but more importantly, it showed our young team nothing is impossible," he said. "If you believe in yourself, have a solid strategy, play aggressive attacking football and not have 10 men behind the ball, then you can overcome even the most improbable odds." Russia will compete in an almost replica group of the 2004 finals Group A in Portugal, as they will challenge holders Greece, Spain and Sweden. History Russia's pedigree in football is largely dependant on their achievements under the former Soviet Union (USSR). USSR were crowned champions of the inaugural European championship in 1960. They won the runner-up place on three other occasions. Goalkeeper Yashin, who was a member of the EURO winning-team, represented USSR in three World Cup finals and is regarded as one of the best ever to stand between the sticks. His heir, Rinat Dasaev, was also considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world during the 1980s, but only managed to win second place in the 1988 tournament. Russia then entered the competition under the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1992, two years after the fall of the Soviet Union, but were axed from the group stage. Following their UEFA affiliation in 1992, the Russians have failed to go beyond the first round in any of their recent Euro appearances, following the break up of the Soviet Union. In the same manner, Russia's performance in the World Cup has not been impressive, as they were eliminated from the first round in the 1994 and 2002 finals. Coach: Guus Hiddink (Dutch) Hiddink is an expert at leading national teams in top competitions, having managed three different nations in the last three World Cup finals. His previous experiences with Holland, South Korea and Australia were fairly impressive. Hiddink led his native Holland to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, before losing the third-place playoff to Croatia, four years later he achieved the same feat with South Korea. The 61-year-old then helped Australia reach the 2006 World Cup finals for the first time in 32 years, as he guided the Socceroos to the second round, only to be eliminated by eventual champions Italy. Apart from that, Hiddink's achievements at club level are limited to his honors with PSV Eindhoven, where he won six Eredivisie titles, but he coached some of Europe's top clubs like Real Madrid, Valencia and Fenerbahce. The well-traveled coach is multilingual. He speaks Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. He also speaks basic Italian and is learning Russian. Tactics Hiddink has opted to depend on a number of young players and his unpopular 3-5-2 formation that he rarely changes. Igor Akinfeev is Russia's first-choice goalkeeper, with Sergei Ignashevich and twin brothers Vasili Berezutski and Alexei Berezutski considered as key figures in the backline that conceded only 7 goals in the qualifiers. Regular duo Igor Semshov and Konstantin Zyrianov act as holding midfielders, while Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Yuri Zhirkov provide attacking threats on the flanks. An indispensable member of Hiddink's selection is Zenit forward Andrei Arshavin, who is usually given playmaker's duties, in addition to being a reliable source of goals. However, Russia are unfortunate to miss his services during the first two games, as he serves a two-match UEFA suspension. Pavel Pogrebnyak, Dmitri Sychev and Spartak Moscow goal machine Roman Pavlyuchenko will be in line to provide cover for Arshavin against Spain and Greece. • Star Player - Andrei Arshavin Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#6 EURO 2008 - Greece: From Underdogs to European Champions Founded: 1926 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 3 EURO Titles: 1 (2004) After a stunning EURO 2004 triumph, Greece won't be able to settle for an underdog tag anymore and are expected to be a thorn in the side of all the big teams. The question is: Can Greece mount a serious title challenge in Austria and Switzerland? Greece suffered a EURO 2004 hangover that saw them fail to book a place in the 2006 World Cup in Germany but they managed to rediscover their form afterwards and topped their group in the EURO 2008 qualifying campaign to demonstrate that they are still a force to be reckoned with. History Greece made their first appearance in the European showpiece in 1980 but they couldn't impress as they were handed a relatively tough draw. In the tournament that was held in Italy, Greece suffered two successive defeats against Holland and Czechoslovakia before drawing with eventual winners West Germany. Greece had to wait 24 years to make their second appearance, which was a truly remarkable one. In the 2004 tournament in Portugal, a compact defensive technique and some swift counter-attack abilities helped Greece lift the trophy in a stunning achievement, the first major upset since Denmark won the 1992 title. On the road to glory, Greece overcame powerhouses Portugal, Czech Republic and then-holders France. Greece failed to make a notable impact on the world stage, having participated in the World Cup just once in 1994. Coach: Otto Rehhagel (German) Despite a shocking start to his managerial career, Otto Rehhagel went on to become a very popular coach in his homeland, Germany. The 69-year-old took charge of Borussia Dortmund in 1976 after brief spells with minnows Kickers Offenbach and Werder Bremen. However, a disastrous 12-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in 1978, the worst loss ever in a Bundesliga match, brought an end to his adventure with Dortmund. Rehhagel's splendid career began when he was reappointed as Bremen manager in 1981. His reign lasted for 14 years, during which he transformed the team from a barely recognized side into a powerful one. Otto Rehhagel Rehhagel led Bremen to two Bundesliga titles, two German Cup triumphs and one Cup Winners Cup victory. He took charge of Bayern Munich in the mid-1990s but his spell with the Bavarians was not a success due to several disputes with the club's board and some players such as German legend Jurgen Klinsmann. Rehhagel then coached Kaiserslautern in 1996 and guided them to a stunning Bundesliga triumph two years later. He was named as Greece manager in 2001. Credit goes to him for creating a superb team that relied on collective efforts rather than individuals. That was clearly demonstrated during the EURO 2004 triumph. Tactics Rehhagel's squad will contain a considerable number of players who were part of Greece's Euro 2004 winning squad. The German coach will have nothing to worry about as the new additions have sufficient quality to represent Greece in the European showpiece. Olympiakos goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis will probably retain his first-choice status. In the heart of Greece's defense, Traianos Dellas, who produced impressive displays in EURO 2004, is expected to partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The 28-year-old Kyrgiakos will be looking to atone for missing the 2004 campaign through injury. Atletico Madrid's Giourkas Seitaridis, whose pinpoint crosses greatly helped his teammates four years ago, will serve as Greece's right-back during the tournament. Vassilios Torosidis is most likely to play on the left. Angelos Basinas and Konstantinos Katsouranis have secured the defensive midfielder roles. Georgios Karagounis will be deployed as a playmaker to support Theofanis Gekas upfront. Gekas' partner is yet to be determined. Angelos Charisteas, who scored three goals in the 2004 edition, will compete with the likes of Stelios Giannakopoulos, Georgios Samaras, Ioannis Amanatidis and Nikolaos Liberopoulos for a place upfront. • Star Player - Theofanis Gekas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EURO 2008 - Spain: The Red Fury Founded: 1909 UEFA Affiliated: 1954 EURO Appearances: 7 EURO Titles: 1 (1964) Despite having one of the strongest football competitions in the world, the Primera Liga, and a number of gifted players within their ranks, Spain remains one of the biggest underachievers in the game. Spain coach Luis Aragones looks set to leave the team after EURO 2008, and the veteran manager will want to do so on a high note, especially that the Matadors exited the 2004 edition from the first round. They were also unfortunate to be eliminated from the 2006 World Cup finals by France. But with players like Fernando Torres, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and Carles Puyol, you can count on Spain to unleash La Furia Roja, or the Red Fury History Spain have competed in all 13 EURO qualifying campaigns. Their first participation was marred by a suspension after General Franco refused to host the Soviet team in Spain. The USSR got a bye and went on to win the first title. The second edition marks Spain's best European Championship finish yet. Luis Suarez and his teammates avenged their elimination and beat USSR in the final 2-1. From there on, Spain continued to produce some remarkably talented players like Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Emilio Butragueno, Andoni Zubizarreta, Fernando Hierro and Raul Gonzalez. However, these sparkling names have continuously failed to make an impact on the results of the Spanish national team. Coach: Luis Aragones (Spanish) The 70-year-old Aragones is known for his short-temper and no-nonsense approach. Also known as the 'Wise man of Hortaleza', his place of birth, Aragones has a glimmering coaching career that extends from 1974. Aragones coached a host of top flight Spanish teams like Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia and Espanyol, but perhaps his best stint was with Atletico Madrid with whom he won the league and cup double in 1995-1996. He took over as Spain coach from Inaki Saez following the EURO 2004 exit. He enjoyed an unbeatable run in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, earning him the respect of the Spanish fans. But Aragones' spell has not been without controversy. Fans will never forget the "Thierry Henry incident", when he was caught on camera trying to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes by making offensive racial references to Reyes's then Arsenal teammate Henry. Aragones also fell out with the media and fans who have criticized him for sidelining 'El Capitan' Raul Gonzalez since the 2006 World Cup finals, even though the Real Madrid ace was enjoying a great season with his club. Tactics With a myriad of talent on hand, Aragones should not have any problems finding suitable players to apply his plan on the pitch. The goalkeeper position is solidly held by team captain Iker Casillas who will be playing in his fourth major tournament while Pepe Reina will provide suitable cover. In defense, Aragones depends greatly on the attacking flair of Real Madrid fullback Sergio Ramos and the mettle of Barcelona skipper Puyol. Midfield is Spain's strongest asset and although the coach usually chooses to play 4-4-2, he can sometimes opt for a 4-5-1 formation and make good use of his many central pacey midfielders like Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Spain have two world class strikers in Torres and Villa. While Torres has left Atletico and joined European giants Liverpool, Villa is still stuck with the struggling Valencia that doesn't have much to offer the resourceful ace. Together, Torres and Villa provide Spain with a lethal attacking duo that has strength, pace and clinical finishing ability. However, Aragones's decision to leave out Raul Gonzalez could backfire if either player is suspended or injured. • Star Player - Fernando Torres ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Rest of the teams will come our soon Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#7 Group Stage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Match schedule Next rounds to be posted later..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Match prediction This section will be for predicting matches to those who awilling to intend Euro2008 can place their predicts daily in thier posts for the matches that are provided in this section. u can get ur name on this thread for each right prediction u get rember matches that already ended wont be counted as predictions Matches predicted by me 1- Switzerland 2/2 Czech Republic ..............over 2- Portugal 1/1 Turkey...............................over 3- Germany 2/0 Poland.............................over 4- Austria 0/1 Croatia..............................over 5- France 3/0 Romania.........................over 6- Italy 1/2 Holland.............................over 7- Spain 3/0 Russia..............................over 8- Sweeden 1/1 Greece..............................over 9- Portugal 2/1 Czech Republic...............over 10- Turkey 1/1 Switzerland.......................over 11- Germany 2/0 Croatia...............................over 12- Austria 1/1 Poland...............................over 13- Italy 2/0 Romania...........................over 14- France 2/2 Holland..............................over 15- Spain 3/2 Sweeden...........................over 16- Russia 0/2 Greece...............................over 17- Portugal 2/0 Switzerland.......................over 18- Turkey 1/2 Czech Republic...............over 19- Germany 3/0 Austria...............................over 20- Poland 1/1 Croatia...............................over 21- Holland 1/2 Romania...........................over 22- Italy 1/2 France................................over 23- Spain 2/0 Greece................................over 24- Sweeden 2/1 Russia...............................over quarter final 25- Germany 1/0 Portugal................................over 26- Croatia 1/2 Turkey....................................over 27- Holland 3/1 Russia...................................over 28- Italy 1/2 Spain......................................over semi final 29- Germany 2/0 Turkey.....................................over 30- Spain 2/1 Russia....................................over final 31- Germany 3/2 Spain.......................................over Matches Results and members who predicted right 1- Switzerland 0/1 Czech Republic................none predicted right 2- Portugal 2/0 Turkey ...............................none predicted right 3- Germany 2/0 Poland.............................. mezo2006 , HyperJ , eldiez 4- Austria 0/1 Croatia............................... mezo2006 , HyperJ 5- France 0/0 Romania..........................none predicted right 6- Italy 0/3 Holland.............................none predicted right 7- Spain 4/1 Russia............................... Ichigo- 8- Sweeden 2/0 Greece...............................none predicted right 9- Portugal 3/1 Czech Republic................ eldiez 10- Turkey 2/1 Switzerland........................none predicted right 11- Germany 1/2 Croatia................................none predicted right 12- Austria 1/1 Poland................................ mezo2006 , Funkey_Monkey 13- Italy 1/1 Romania............................ Funkey_Monkey 14- France 1/4 Holland...............................none predicted right 15- Spain 2/1 Sweeden............................ Ultra_Pork_Chop 16- Russia 1/0 Greece................................ Ninetailsboy 17- Portugal 2/0 Switzerland........................none predicted right 18- Turkey 3/2 Czech Republic................none predicted right 19- Germany 1/0 Austria................................ Ichigo- 20- Poland 0/1 Croatia................................none predicted right 21- Holland 1/2 Romania............................ Ichigo- 22- Italy 1/2 France.................................none predicted right 23- Spain 2/1 Greece.................................none predicted right 24- Sweeden 0/2 Russia................................none predicted right 25- Germany 1/0 Portugal................................. eldiez 26- Croatia 1/2 Turkey PK : 1/3............ mezo2006 , Ichigo- 27- Holland 1/3 Russia...................................none predicted right 28- Italy 0/1 Spain PK : 2/4.............none predicted right 29- Germany 2/0 Turkey.....................................none predicted right 30- Spain 3/0 Russia....................................none predicted right 31- Germany 01 Spain........................................none predicted right NOTE the matches available now for u to predict must be in "Matches predicted by me" and must not be in " Matches Results and members who predicted right" best predictors (mezo2006) & ichigo- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

Tayuya Rank: member Forum Rank: Genin Posts: 133 Joined on: June 28, 2006

#8 Go Mezo :O D and C Rank: All B Rank: All A Rank: All S Rank: All Shippuuden: All Sister: KurKaka :3 Brother: Radioactiveguy :3 Sensei: ChaosDestiny :3 "Once a clanmate, always a clanmate, therefore, always my family; unless they were annoying." N-S Is Dominant

Virus-HS Rank: member Forum Rank: Missing-Nin Posts: 2727 Joined on: July 26, 2007

#9 Alll I Can Say ..... is .... goooo France ..... and thx mezo ..::|| Lonely... Clanless ||::.. ..::|| UGFX High Beg. ||::.. ..::|| Gift from Becca ||::.. ________________________________________________________________ <--- Be 1 With The Cookie !!!!!

Leehar Rank: member Forum Rank: Chuunin Posts: 331 Joined on: June 8, 2007

#10 Italy all the way. Thanks for making this Mezo And for this...Rene

Uigaku Rank: member Forum Rank: Missing-Nin Posts: 2491 Joined on: May 3, 2008

#11 italy ftw :D nice mezo :d | Japanese DDR | Half Pinoy Ftw! | <3 Kath. - Clanless - All Gfx By Me. | Offical Theme Song | The Wait Is Over: August 17th 2009 |

Leehar Rank: member Forum Rank: Chuunin Posts: 331 Joined on: June 8, 2007

#12 I'm sorry Mez, but I won't be reading everything, it's just tooooo long And for this...Rene

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#13 np guys but dont forget to place ur predictions of the matches at the last post in the end of it Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

obito010 Rank: member Forum Rank: Chuunin Posts: 356 Joined on: December 19, 2007

#14 who like death note :: GFXER™ B.S.D. ® :: A Dynasty Like No Other ™:: :: ::Click Siggy For Clan Site :: Sig Made By Me :: ::A Dynasty Like No Other ::

mezo2006 Rank: member Forum Rank: Jounin Posts: 1356 Joined on: June 2, 2007

#15 Quote by obito010 who like death note please i am asking politely not spam here Touranment won:10||HellBounder||Alices Fan ::HellBound:: ::Euro 2008::

-Chris-, 13aais, 1Rock_Lee1, 4katsukiX4, Aidsu, Akagakure, Alin13Popescu08, alus, Amaya, antman1, Art_Boy_Deidara, bounyet_san, danielsupero, Demon_Akatsuki, Distructicon, Dreaming_Forever, dream_tommorow, Exbrockis, fabiofarina, gaaranaruto!, gokoss, Grzesooo_pl, GuitarxxZero, Hc2-forfun, H_Tiago_P, icy_haku, ignimaru, itachi9449, KAKASHIBLACKOPS, Kenpachi123, kiba_inuzuka_22, leandrok, LucasDiaz, lupercio_rc, marcio14, me2hack, n-a-r-u-t-o----, naruto-man, narutoasakura1, Naruto_Sasuke13, naruwill, nejiofthesand, PABrawr, Pein_of_the_Dark, pepssito, pervythinker, Phiceman, pokeman849, ReenaInverse, roneferreira, rosu, sasukebest, shika33, Snipy, sor1n13, Spirit_in_Black, taranoon, Toger, TragicDelight, travman90, ukakachu, Vasto-Lordes, Xelian, zabuzaza, zerocooldx, Zombilau, __SrMadruga__.