Rabu, 04 Juni 2008

EURO 2008


UEFA EURO 2008™ begins on Saturday 7 June – and you have until Switzerland's opening match with the Czech Republic kicks off at 18.00CET that day in Basel to pick your team for McDonald's Fantasy Football and maybe win a JVC Home Cinema system.
PrizesThat is the first prize for the overall winner but with consolation and daily
prizes including Canon Cameras, adidas team shirts, adidas EUROPASS official matchballs and official EA Sports computer games, there are plenty of reasons to get in your team – especially if you were among the 100,000-plus managers in the friendly version of the game that has been running. All you have to do is pick a squad of one goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders and three forwards, with no more than two players from a single nation for the initial group stage, using your €100m transfer budget to select from this list.
Rules and tipsClick
here for the rules and get the inside track by following this link to read the thoughts of Tipster, who will be casting an expert eye on proceedings from the heart of the finals. Good luck!


If the Portugal squad thought the rousing welcome they received on their arrival in Neuchatel could not be topped, they were forced to revise their opinions in their second training session in Switzerland.
Carnival atmosphereAn estimated 10,000 Portuguese supporters greeted the squad on Sunday night but more than 12,000 fans were present on Tuesday at Neuchâtel Xamax FC's Stade de la Malinière as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari put his men through their paces. There was a carnival atmosphere inside and around the stadium as Portuguese supporters from Switzerland, Germany and France gathered to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
Rousing receptionAs Scolari's squad took to the field, they each generously returned the applause they received from the packed stands. Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheer was reserved for Cristiano Ronaldo, selected as one of the squad's five 'captains' by the coach in recognition of his growing influence. The public were treated to a full eleven-a-side practice match, with third-choice goalkeeper Rui Patrício the only player not to start, the watchful Scolari as referee, albeit one who stopped the game intermittently for tactical adjustments. It was serious too. When Ronaldo charged down Ricardo's clearance and drove the ball into the empty net, the Manchester United FC winger met the goalkeeper's protests for handball with a stern wag of his finger.
Trademark free-kickSoon after the crowd saw what they were waiting for, with Ronaldo hovering in his trademark preparatory stance before striking a fierce free-kick past Ricardo. Even the arrival of some unseasonal rain failed to dampen spirits as Scolari shuffled his two sides in the second half, moving Ronaldo into a central position flanked by Nani and Simão on the wings. The coach may be continuing to formulate his first-choice lineup ahead of the Group A opener against Turkey but one thing he can be sure of is continuing support in their home from home. The local Portuguese community's passion will not let up, as one supporter explained: "The feeling you have for Portugal is even stronger when you're far away."

Austria/Switzerland



Spreading the word in Klagenfurt
Host city Klagenfurt has added new service areas where fans, either those living locally or visiting, can find out about all the events happening around UEFA EURO 2008™.
SwitzerlandSwiss committed to sustainable power
GenevaNoah ready to alight in Geneva
SalzburgMozart fenced off for EURO
SwitzerlandSwiss police on EURO alert
BaselHyundai gears up for Basel Eurofest
BaselBasel linkup boosts medical care
SwitzerlandFan arena to open in Biel
InnsbruckInnsbruck flying the EURO flag

Spreading the word in Klagenfurt
Host city Klagenfurt has added new service areas where fans, either those living locally or visiting, can find out about all the events happening around UEFA EURO 2008™.
SwitzerlandSwiss committed to sustainable power
GenevaNoah ready to alight in Geneva
SalzburgMozart fenced off for EURO
SwitzerlandSwiss police on EURO alert
BaselHyundai gears up for Basel Eurofest
BaselBasel linkup boosts medical care
SwitzerlandFan arena to open in Biel
InnsbruckInnsbruck flying the EURO flag

Team Euro 2008