Few days before the opening of the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and just looking at the Euro Cup history it is easy to understand why it has become so popular. The European Championships were first held in 1960 and were originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup. Initially it was hard to get many teams to compete, but by 1968 the tournament when it changed its name to the European Football Championship becomes very popular.
Since its creation the team winners have been: 1960 USSR, 1964 Spain, 1968 Italy, 1972 Germany, 1976 Czechoslovakia, 1980 Germany, 1984 France, 1988 Holland, 1992 Denmark, 1996 Germany, 2000 France and 2004 Greece.Let’s go now through some remarkable facts along the 12 championships played until now. 1960: Spain was eliminated from the tournament when General Francisco Franco’s government refused to let the Spanish team travel to Moscow. 1964: Largest crowd in championship history — 125,000 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the final match (Spain-USSR). 1968: Name was changed from the Nations Cup to the European Championship. 1976: Czechoslovakia won on penalties. 1980: The final field was increased to eight teams from four. 1984: Spanish ‘keeper Luis Arconada knocked the first goal over his own line. 1988:Only three of the eight finalists from ‘84 qualified, including France. 1992: U.N. sanctions forced out war-torn Yugoslavia. 1996: First Golden Goal in a major international championship. 2000: Sylvain Wiltord shocked Italy by scoring the game 3 minutes into injury time when the Italians were leading the whole match with David Trezeguet scoring the Golden Goal winner 13 minutes to win.

Zenit St. Petersburg became the second Russia squad in the last four seasons to win football UEFA Cup, defeating Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers 2-0 in the final match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Igor Denisov staked Zenit to a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute and Konstantin Zyryanov completed the scoring in injury time.It marked the first UEFA Cup for Zenit coach David Advocaat, who, ironically, coached Rangers from 1998 to 2002. “I feel very happy winning the prize like this,” he said. “The way we played in this tournament, we really deserved this.”Glasgow Rangers has failed to win a European championship since capturing the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972.”Over the tournament, we have worked very hard to get to the final,” Rangers coach Walter Smith said. “There was not that much in it overall and we had a few chances ourselves. Zenit looked the more offensive team. But obviously, at this stage, I’m disappointed to have lost.”Zenit controlled the first half, but Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander kept it scoreless with saves on Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Radek Sirl, Zyryanov and Alexander Anyukov. Zenit attacked more and when they were successful against their opponent’s goal, it was quite clear that they will maintain this advantage. Anyway was Zenit who controlled all the match from the very beginning and everybody was convinced that finally Zenit would win.CSKA Moscow was the first Russian team to win the UEFA Cup in 2005.

In all European countries the second important competition, after the National Leagues, is the Cup. This competition is not only closed to First Division clubs but it is open to clubs playing in Second and Third Division Leagues.

In three of the most important European Football countries – Spain, Germany and Holland – the final match of their respective National Cups have already been played and therefore they already have the winners of their Cup.

So let’s go to check what has already happened in the Cup competitions in Spain, German and Holland.

Spain – After winning in the semi-finals matches to FC Barcelona (4-3 aggregate) and to Racing Santander (4-2 aggregate) respectively, Valencia CF and Getafe CF  played the final match in Madrid on 16^th April where Valencia CF defeated Getafe CF (3-1). Therefore Valencia CF, that has been fighting this season to avoid relegation to Second Division, will play the UEFA Cup competition next season.

Germany – After winning in the semi-finals matches to Wfl Wolfsburg (2-0) and FC Carl Zeiss Jena, last in the 2.Bundesliga (3-0) respectively, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played the final match in Berlin on 19^th April where Bayern Munich defeated Borussia Dortmund (2-1). As winner of the 1.Bundesliga, Bayer Munich will play the Champions League next season whilst  Borussia Dortmund – number 13 in the table – will play the UEFA Cup competition.

Holland – After winning in the semi-finals matches to NAC Breda (2-0) and Heracles Almelo (2-2 p) respectively, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Roda JC Kerkrade played the final match on 27^th April. Feyenoord Rotterdam who defeated Roda JC Kerkrade (2-0) will play the UEFA Cup competition next season.

Referees at Euro 2008 will come down hard on players who use excessive force or show dissent if they follow instructions they were given on Thursday. The 12 referees who will officiate at the June tournament in Austria and Switzerland were handed a six-point list of instructions at the end of a four-day workshop at their Euro 2008 base near Zurich. The instructions, compiled by European soccer’s governing body UEFA, order referees to ‘act firmly (red card) against challenges involving excessive force…including the illegal use of arms and elbows.’ UEFA said that players would also be expected to respect officials’ decisions. ‘Referees can accept a spontaneous expression of frustration from players,’ the instructions state, ‘but will firmly sanction players who show dissent to the referees by word or action.’ The referees have also been instructed to control holding or pushing in the penalty area prior to corners and free kicks and to punish ’simulation intended to deceive the referee’ with yellow cards. The list ends with a note to team coaches, advising them that they will be ‘left to do their jobs’ in the technical area immediately in front of the team bench provided they act responsibly. ‘If a coach openly criticises the referee, action will be taken to curb his behaviour,’ the instructions add. The list of the 12 Euro 2008 referees is the following: Konrad Plautz (Austria), Frank de Bleeckere (Belgium), Howard Webb (England), Herbert Fandel (Germany), Kyros Vassaras (Greece), Roberto Rosetti (Italy), Pieter Vink (Netherlands), Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway), Lubos Michel (Slovakia),
Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain), Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden) and
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

Have you ever been to the Theatre of Dreams? No, what a pity! Is a wonderful place! Instead of a proper stage there’s a field full of the greenest grass you’ve ever seen. Instead of actors and actresses there are the greatest players you’ve ever seen. Instead of a theatre there’s the nicest stadium you’ve ever seen. Instead of costumes there are the reddest t-shirts you have ever seen. Instead of Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando or Meryl Streep there are Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney… on stage. Would you waste the chance of dreaming awake? In the theatre of dreams everything is possible.

After a good match in Barcelona (the European semi-final’s first leg), you’ve got a second opportunity to watch one of this year’s greatest match. In Camp Nou, Barcelona was superior. FCB did know how to play this complicated match. Not loosing any balls in the midfield with the return of Deco and the security given by Yaya Toure. Good transitions to the forward players. And good chances of scoring goals. Eto’o, Messi, Henry, Bojan played good but didn’t find how to create serious problems for United’s goalkeeper, Van der Sar.

Ferguson didn’t transmit to ManU players all the intentions he had planning the game. Maybe when Cristiano Ronaldo missed the penalty kick everything went upside down for Ferguson’s plans.

But now we’ve got a second chance of enjoying (in the theatre of dreams – Old Trafford) the second leg of what was a marvellous game of football. The dice are thrown and there’s only an aim: Moscow!

Buy tickets!

The performances against Manchester United last week have proved that the team from Juande Ramos can compete with the best. Tottenham played against Manchester United twice in a week with a 3-1 defeat in the FA Cup on January 27 followed by United snatching a 1-1 draw in injury time in the Premiership on Saturday. The team from White Hart Lane was certainly deserved more than the 3-1 loss in the FA Cup tie as it took the lead and missed key chances at 1-1. However, the game changed with Michael Dawson’s dismissal and subsequent penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo, but the 10 men still managed to strike the woodwork with five minutes left.
Tottenham was even more unfortunate at the Lane as Berbatov’s 21st minute goal was contested by Carlos Tevez goal in the fourth minute of added time and where was only time to restart before the final whistle. According Juande to play against Manchester United, who is second of the league table, is very difficult.
Tottenham has lost five games out of 24 since Juande took charge of his first game against Blackpool on October 31, moved from 18th up to 11th in the league, made it to the Carling Cup Final and progressed to the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup. Therefore Hotspur supporters are now very exciting and expect even a better performance during last months of the season.

Next March 4 Barcelona will be invaded again by Celtic Glasgow supporters when the Scottish team will play the second leg match of Champions League in Camp Nou. Only about 5,000 supporters will have tickets and the privilege to attend the match in the FC Barcelona Stadium. According the Celtic Supporters Association other 10,000 supporters without tickets will also travel to Barcelona. The travel agencies have already sold all packs, with and without ticket to visit Barcelona in one month time. Some of them will try to obtain the valued tickets through official resale companies but few of them will be successful.
The town council authorities, FC Barcelona and Celtic Glasgow board members have already initiated talks to find out an adequate space for all Scottish supporters without tickets and therefore to avoid any possible incident. The Forum area or another area not far from Plaza España will be possibly prepared as a ‘fan zone’ to house for few hours all supporters.
The only change in the ‘invaders quantity’ could takes place according the score in the first leg match if FC Barcelona is able to take a notable advantage but anyway the supporters difference would be not very important. It should be remembered that the travelling European record is for Celtic Glasgow supporters – 80,000 of them travel to Sevilla for the UEFA Final in 2003.