Austria, Switzerland, and Euro 2008
The year 2008 starts with the countdown for the Euro 2008 Games. The hosts are going to be Switzerland and Austria. Those who have qualified for Euro 2008 will be playing at a time when the UEFA Euro games are in their 50th anniversary.
Austria and Switzerland are suitable venues for Euro 2008 because of its centric location. Austria and Switzerland are at the heart of Europe and is within traveling distance from all countries in Europe. Austria and Switzerland are countries that have a sporting history even in football.
Austria with its cities of Vienna, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, and Innsbruck has been the host of past sport events including the Olympics. They have been hosted successfully and have a reputation for perfection when it comes to organizing a sports events.
Switzerland [and I can speak from experience since I was there as an 11 year old in 1973] is a sporting country. I still remember playing football in the streets of Basel with the background music of Santana coming out of the radio followed by a football game. People in Basel used to form a line and sit next to each other in their houses to watch the football games.
The other cities of Switzerland such as Zurich, Bern, and Geneva were also cities with a pride in football. The Swiss loved their football with pride. The security in Switzerland is also very strict. I could remember crossing the border between Germany and Switzerland to see my Grandfather. The Swiss notified the school I was in and the company where my father worked. I never saw the end of it.
For this and much more, Austria and Switzerland deserve to be suitable venues for Euro 2008
Response to Mc Laren & the FA [David Woodland]
I found your article particularly poignant especially the last sentence.With that in mind, I would like to make you aware of our project FA Select (reg.)which I first introduced to the FA at their headquarters in Soho Square in 2005.
The elimination of England in UEFA Euro 2008 has had a massive impact domestically & had reverberations worldwide. The whole structure of English International football has been shaken & that’s why, more than ever in the history of the game, it’s essential to get it right now. The appointment of a new manager, however talented, no matter what his experience is not enough to address the problems that exist. In their analysis the FA should really question the wisdom of pursuing the same course of waving a magic wand & simply appointing a new man for the job. It’s a proven policy that is perpetually hazardous not only damaging to the game but altogether alienating the fans.
The FA has to step up in such a way to create a bright new way forward. For that they have to have the vision, set the course, be innovative, bold & brave, impervious to perceived reaction or their future & the future of the game is in the balance. Right now, there is a colossal gulf of confidence, trust & respect existing between the FA & the English football fan, their paying public. I believe that FA Select, properly presented, can bridge that gulf.
FA Select (reg.) is a bold innovative idea that would catapult the image of The FA & potentially put back English football at the forefront of world soccer. To summarise, the project works around the idea that the selection of the National team (starting 11& subs) is decided by the FANS. All other areas of responsibility remain as they are in the FA, with specialists in each role sharing responsibility, rather than trying to find the perfect man for all. There are formidable coaches who could quite easily adapt to a fresh new format that is “rolled out” to them. It’s engaging the fans with the team & the country at a whole new emotional level & has the potential capability & enormous critical mass appeal to restore the great name & integrity of English football.
Not only would this project be giving something back to the fans, implementing such a system would generate massive financial rewards for the Football Association as you can see from the website.
On the face of it, it would be easy to discard or discredit this as another wild & wacky idea with no substance.There has been a lot of work & thought involved in this.Without stating that the system is flawless it is workable & potentially exciting. What is needed are decision makers brave enough to assimilate it & take it forward.
Please visit www.faselect.co.uk to access the website, an example of how the concept could function.
I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts & comments considering you as a true fan of english football.
Best regards,
David Woodland.
Mc Laren and the FA
Phil Mc Nulty wrote a comment in BBC 606 about Mc Laren’s Departure and the reasons. Roberto agrees with him in that Mc Nulty was a poor choice for replacing Erickson, the blame must be distributed evenly. Roberto also agrees with Phil Mc Nulty in that the FA is to blame.
It is not enough that Mc Laren was a mediocre choice. It is not enough that the FA was looking for compromise. The Press and the Football Authorities overrated Mc Laren and the team. Unfortunatly, many people bought into the overhype with the English Team resting on their laurels.
While Israel saved the English Team, Croatia may have wiped away any gains.
A lesson should be learned from this debacle. The FA should exercise betrer judgement instead of politics as usual. Let us go further, let the English Football Supporters vote directly for a coach.
Mc Laren y el Futuro de Inglaterra
Mc Laren fue destituido como tecnico del equipo ingles despues de la derrota inglesa frente a Croacia. Como respuesta, el periodista Phil Mc Nulty de la BBC escribio un articulo en la pagina cibernetica de la BBC.En el articulo, hablo de los errores de la Asociacion del Futbol Ingles en escoger un candidato de compromiso en vez de un candidato que podia llevar a Inglaterra hacia la victoria en el 2008. No me cabe duda que Mc Laren fue un candidato de poca inspiracion pero la culpa era de la asociacion inglesa, la prensa, y el publico.
Veremos lo que sucede en el futuro.
Andorra 0-1 Rusia/ Andorra 0-1 Russia
UNA HISTORIA DE DOS EQUIPOS
Rusia y Andorra jugaron su contienda para la clasificacion de Euro 2008. Despues de escuchar la agonia transmitida en vivo mediante mi computadora por la Radio Television de Andorra, tengo que concluir que ambos equipos jugaron pesima. No me cabe duda la victoria rusa pero Rusia perdio su dignidad con su comportamiento amtiprofesional resultando en una tarjeta amarilla y otra tarjeta roja. El unico gol de Sychev fue un gol mediocre.Andorra como siempre tenia tarjeta amarilla y ningun gol. Lo major que puede ser Andorra es un cambio de actitud hacia el futbol y en los metodos para poder lograr una victoria. Andorra en el futbol esta muerto
Andorra 0-1 Rusia
Andorra: 0/10
Rusia: 1/10
A HISTORY OF TWO TEAMS
Russia & Andorra played in Euro 2008 and it was a game in agony.
While Russia was going to win, Russia lost its dignity with its unprofessional behaviour which lead to bookings and being sent off. Not even the goal by Sychev was able to save the situation.
Andorra received bookings, no goals, no glory. Andorra in football is in the bottom of the FIFA Classification. Andorra can only save itself in the long term with an attitude change.
Andorra 0-1 Russia
Andorra: 0/10
Russia: 1/10
Romania 6-1 Albania
Romania and Albania played their classification games for Euro 2008. Roberto was able to support the Romanian Team by listening to the game live on his laptop from the webpages of Romanian Radio and Television.
Roberto was happy with every goal and started celebrating with a lot of coffee. Romania has proved itself by playing a game that was exciting thanks to their tenacity, discipline, and dominance of the game. It should also be remembered that they dominated the field and home town advantage. Dica, Tamas, Niculae, and Marica were the ones who scored the goals with the last two scored on a penalty.
Albania on the other hand could not save itself even with a goal from Kapllani. The Albanian Team behaved antiprofessional with bookings and expulsions being the order of the day. It is a shame but they squandered every opportunities.
Romania has proved itself worthy of winning Euro 2008 although there are stronger competitors such as Estonia. Roberto would like to extend his best wishes to Romania.
Romania 6-1 Albania
Romania: 10/10
Albania: 0/10
Rumania 6-1 Albania
Rumania y Albania jugaron su clasificacion para Euro 2008. Este humilde servidor tenia el honor de escuchar el juego mediante la Radio Television Rumana en la computadora. Se podia apreciar el juego y la fortaleza del equipo rumano.
Rumania domino el juego con la diciplina, tenacidad, y los goles de Dica, Tamas, Niculae, y Marca. Los ultimos dos goles eran por penalidades dejando el publico rumano y este humilde servidor contento. Ni la amonestacion de Marca desanimo un equipo fuerte.Rumania merece ser campeon de Euro 2008 en Suiza y Austria pero el tiempo dira.
Albania mostro que no tenia la talla ni la potencia de un equipo poderoso. Albania tenia un equipo antiprofesional con expulsiones y amonestaciones siendo el pan de cada dia en la contienda. Ni el gol de Kapllani podia ayudar al equipo albanes. Es una lastima. Pero Rumania merece todo lo mejor en la contienda de Euro 2008.
Rumania 6-1 Albania
Rumania: 10/10
Albania: 0/10
Andorra 0-2 Estonia [EN] [ES]
ANDORRA 0-2 ESTONIARoberto was able to hear Andorra play against Estonia live on my Windows Media Player on Andorran Radio Television. The results did not surprise Roberto although it left him depressed and with a desire to rest.
Estonia was able to score the first goal with Oper at 31 Minutes and Lindpere at 60 minutes and surprise an Andorran Team that never makes it in these classifications. Estonia was able to maintain a momentum with a consistent game plan in spite of the bookings of Kruglov, Reim, and Klavan.
Andorra was unable to score one point and was disorganized. Disgrace fell upon disgrace with the bookings of Ayala, Jimenez, Pujol, and Ruiz. In Medicine, there is a word called Rigor Mortis. Rigor Mortis is an occurrence in which the human body undergoes contractions after death. The same can be applied to the Andorran National Team. The attitude of Andorra does not help much when a local star says that “Andorra is the Comedy in European Football”.
Andorra will need a miracle, divine intervention, and a change in attitude if it wants to go places. Estonia at least has proved that it has the potential to go places. My best wishes to Estonia.Andorra 0-2 Estonia
Estonia: 10/10
Andorra: 0/10
ANDORRA 0-2 ESTONIA
Roberto logro escuchar el juego entre Andorra y Estonia mediante su ordenador. El juego fue transmitido en vivo mediante la Radio y Television de Andorra.
Estonia mostro su poderio con sus dos goles cyos autores eran Oper y Linpere. A pesar de las amonestaciones de Kruglov, Rein, y Klavan, Estonia mostro su poderio y diciplina. Estonia mostro que merecia la victoria.
Andorra fue una desgracia pues jugaron sin organizacion y una vision para su equipo. Incluso, un artista local de la Radio y Televiaion de Andorra declaraba que Andorra es la “Comedia del Futbol Europeo”. Para lograr Milagros, Andorra necesita una intervencion divina y un cambio de actitud para los juegos del futuro pues no tienen remedio en Euro 2008Andorra 0-2 Estonia
Estonia: 10/10
Andorra: 0/10
Tension en Moscu
Las tensiones en Moscu no son de politica sino deportiva. Entere mediante las revistas Socca Critics y las emisoras de la BBC y La Voz de Rusia acerca de elementos anti sociales hinchas de futbol en Rusia atacando hinchas de Inglaterra.
Lo que sucedio no tuvo nombre y aunque se esconden con excusas de haber aprendido de Inglaterra o la falta de democracia en Rusia, personas que destruyen el futbol con actividades anti sociales merecen un castigo.
Parece mentira que El Presidente de Rusia habla de la ley y orden pero no hay control sobre los delincuentes. Rusia en todas las esferas deben castigar a los malhechores por sus acciones. Las acciones pueden ser mediante la carcel o el trabajo en la calle.
Hay que acabar con las actividades anti sociales en el futbol sin importar raza, etnia, clase social, y/o sexo.
DILE NO A LAS ACTIVIDADES ANTI SOCIALES EN EL FUTBOL
Tension in Moscow
According to Socca Critics, BBC, and The Voice of Russia, we heard about the savage attack on Supporters of the English Team by Hooligans in Russia. It has now come to Roberto’s Attention that Russia has increased its security with 6000 riot police and more.
Roberto managed to enter certain webpages that belong to Russian Hooligans and attempt an interview with them. The majority of the Russian Hooligans interviewed [under condition of anonymity] had the audacity to defend their behaviour by saying that England inspired them and the fact that a democratic system never existed in Russia.
While these excuses cannot be refuted, they cannot be used to justify attacking football supporters who are visiting Russia or any other country. While England and other countries are taking strides to eliminate hooliganism, Russia still has hooliganism.
It is surreal that the President of Russia talks about law and order but does not punish the hooligans. Russia should take measures to punish its hooligans and if necessary jail time. The Russian Football Federation under Hiddink with the help of Abramovich and Usmanov should punish the hooligans with a permanent ban from stadiums.
As for Abramovich and Usmanov, there is an advice; take care of the home front by purchasing Russian Football Teams instead of assaulting teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal.
MAY ENGLAND WIN ITS GAME AGAINST RUSSIA!!!!!!!!!
