Euro 2008

[superfrank]

First of all, the ball looks horrible.

The draw is:

Group A

1. Switzerland
2. Czech Republic
3. Portugal
4. Turkey

Group B

1. Austria
2. Croatia
3. Germany
4. Poland

Group C

1. Netherlands
2. Italy
3. Romania
4. France

Group D

1. Greece
2. Sweden
3. Spain
4. Russia

Friday the 13th June - Netherlands vs. France = Should be good.

Is Hakan Yakin still playing for Switzerland? Could be interesting for the Swiss Turkey match.

Group C will definitely be the toughest group. IIRC, Romania beat Netherlands in Euro qualifiers.

[Red&White Rover]

Group D willl also be a very tough and entertaining group. No certainties in Qualifying from it.

[pineapple stu]

Group D is the same as Group A from Euro 2004 with Sweden instead of Portugal. Spain didn't get out of that, so there's a decent chance they could choke again.

Group C represents just two groups from the qualifiers - Romania topped Holland and Italy beat France.

65 years ago, Germany would have coasted through their group!

Switzerland v Turkey is the game where there was a big fight at the end of the 2006 qualifiers resulting in Turkey getting a 3 (?) match home ban.

Also, remarkable coincidence that every number drawn first was a 4, then a 3 and then a 2! Odds of 1296/1...

[superfrank]

Switzerland v Turkey is the game where there was a big fight at the end of the 2006 qualifiers resulting in Turkey getting a 3 (?) match home ban.
Oh yeah. Alexander Frei and Alpay.

[gilberto_eire]

Germany and Poland!.... will defo be trouble at that anyway!!....

[stojkovic]

65 years ago, Germany would have coasted through their group!


:D:D:D

[stojkovic]

Group A

1. Switzerland
2. Czech Republic
3. Portugal
4. Turkey

Group B

1. Austria
2. Croatia
3. Germany
4. Poland

Group C

1. Netherlands
2. Italy
3. Romania
4. France

Group D

1. Greece
2. Sweden
3. Spain
4. Russia

Group D is the hardest to call IMO. Greece, Sweden and Russia are average.
Hope Italy do well. If they dont, we may feel the backlash.

[Stuttgart88]

Can't wait for it to start. Some fascinating games there.

[Green Tribe]

Can't wait for it to start. Some fascinating games there.

Indeed and to think that could've been us in Group A :rolleyes:

[gustavo]

Not really as we would have been bottom seeds.

[Angus]

Question - why is this seeded at all ? Each of these sides won or was runner up in their groups - those groups were already seeded. Why is it seeded ?

I see no logic for seeding this draw - because all of the sides arrived at this place through the exact same route.

I can understand the World Cup being seeded because of the fact that FIFA want to ensure that the game is accessible to all and that there are certain places available for so called weaker zones like africa, asia, America etc

I cannot understand why this is seeded.

[Dodge]

I cannot understand why this is seeded.
mainly to keep the "home teams" in certain grounds.

[Angus]

With respect, Dodge, while you are probably right, one does not to seed the draw to manage geographical considerations - goegrahpy could be decided after the draw was done.

I still don't get it.

[Dodge]

Security wise, the fixtures (datese/venues etc) have to be fixed. Its the same everywhere.

Oh and I'm against seeding in any football competition in the world. I think the qualifiers should be a totally open draw, as should the champions league

[CollegeTillIDie]

I hope Italy win the damned thing. Then some of their better older players might hang up their boots with a World Cup Winners medal and Euro Winners medal in their back pockets they'd have nothing left to prove in international football.

[pineapple stu]

Security wise, the fixtures (datese/venues etc) have to be fixed
Surely the fixtures were decided by who was placed where in the pot and not what seed they were?

[stojkovic]

Surely the fixtures were decided by who was placed where in the pot and not what seed they were?

Correct. Dont mind all this other nonsense. Its not Argentina 78 FFS.

[mypost]

The fixture dates and venues are all pre-arranged a long time ago.