# The Euro 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 2, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453 "2008-06-02T10:16:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/1 "2008-06-02T10:16:44Z")
Actually a two part question… First, for you yanks and aussies: Do you even know we´re playing the Euro 2008 and do you care? And secondly, for you brits: How much do you care, since Smiling Steve failed? And please chime in, all you others aswell. Me and here? Even though Iceland sucks at football, it´s probably the second biggest sports event here (the WC being the biggest). ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/2 "2008-06-02T10:53:39Z")
Brit here. I peronally don’t care who wins. I’m sure I’ll watch some games for the spectacle, but I have no preference as to the victor. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/3 "2008-06-02T11:49:31Z")
I think it’s going to be much more enjoyable in the UK without England playing. While we’ll have to endure some woeful attempts from Lineker and co. to whip up excitement, at least we won’t have to put up with terrible, terrible pre-match interviews in which Steve McLaren explains how “one goal is the minimum,” followed by terrible, terrible post-match interviews in which he pronounces himself satisfied with one fewer goals than said target. That said, I just remembered McLaren’s been hired as an “expert pundit” by the BBC for reasons less fathomable than a tar-filled Marianas Trench, so I suppose we’ll have to put up with something very much like that after all. Still, the chances of “Three lions on a shirt” being played are pretty much nil, so that’s something. Anyway. I shall be supporting Spain because they’ve got half of my team, including the beautiful beautiful Fernando Torres, and because I like red and yellow. Their coach is a complete tool, but you can’t have everything, and at least he might have some hilarious Prince Philip-style racist meltdown. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/4 "2008-06-02T12:24:41Z")
Hell, yes, I know it’s being played! Thank goodness it’s on free TV over here this year! Of course, ESPN will provide their usual, dreadful coverage from out of their studio, rather than actually sending people to, like, the games (!). But I intend to spend plenty of time in front of a TV this year watching! I think I will support Portugal again. Rooting for Spain is destined to end in misery. It will be interesting to see if the new generation of players can outdo the “Golden Generation.” ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/5 "2008-06-02T13:26:41Z")
I love football, I don’t care who’s playing. It will probably be even more enjoyable without the papers getting caught up in another round of England worship/bashing. As for who I support… I’m not sure. As with the World Cup I tend to make my mind up in the group stages, by seeing how teams play. I will support the team that plays the most attractive football. Portugal maybe, even if that makes me a ‘traitor’ to my country, heh. It’s not their fault they’re better than us… ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/6 "2008-06-02T14:46:16Z")
I’m excited for Euro and since I don’t have a dog in the fight, I’ll be cheering for the Netherlands, France and Czechs in that order. And I’ll be cheering against Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. I’m pretty neutral about everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/7 "2008-06-02T15:30:52Z")
I grew up with England failing to qualify for major tournaments, so this represents a return to normality for me. There have been some classic Euro tournaments over the years too (not 2004, but 2000 was a cracker), so I expect to gradually get more and more into it as the thing progresses. Don’t really care who wins, will probably back my usual second choices of Spain and Germany (yes, Germany). ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/8 "2008-06-02T15:33:32Z")
Agree with 2000 being a cracker! Great tournament - apart from the fact that Sweden sucked. I just felt so sorry for the Italians after the French having “two shots, two goals” in the final ☹ ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/9 "2008-06-02T15:42:43Z")
England didn’t qualify? I blame the pope ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/10 "2008-06-02T16:16:13Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] I grew up with England failing to qualify for major tournaments, so this represents a return to normality for me. There have been some classic Euro tournaments over the years too (not 2004, but 2000 was a cracker), so I expect to gradually get more and more into it as the thing progresses. Don’t really care who wins, will probably back my usual second choices of Spain and Germany (yes, Germany). [/QUOTE] 2000 was superb - not least for the reappearance on the world stage of the Czech Republic and Croatia. Not that bothered that England didn’t qualify. At least now we don’t have to watch them lose to the Germans on penalties. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/11 "2008-06-02T16:16:30Z")
Yes I’m aware and I’m very much interested. I guess I’m rooting for Germany, that’ll make me the only non-German to do so, right? Mostly I just want to see some exciting soccer. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/12 "2008-06-02T16:35:42Z")
As a Yank, yes I care - although not really who wins. These big international tourneys are normally good for a few good games and huge moments. I’ll probably root for Spain since they have a few of my favorite players (Cesc in particular). ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/13 "2008-06-02T16:54:42Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] 2000 was superb - not least for the reappearance on the world stage of the Czech Republic and Croatia. [/QUOTE] The game I particularly remember is Slovenia vs. Yugoslavia. Historic first meeting, local rivals and all that, and Slovenia surprisingly went 3-0 up while Yugoslavia had a key player sent off. Cue Yugoslavia scoring three times with ten men. Amazing game. Probably sticks in my mind particularly because I had money on Slovenia to win ☹ ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/14 "2008-06-02T17:28:45Z")
as others mentioned, at least we don’t have to listen to the plastic fans getting shocked when we deservedly get knocked out in the quarters. In lieu of England, I will of course be supporting the Dutch - I always have done in tribute to the greatest Arsenal player who ever was. Retired now, but [definitely](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx16VA0NTZI) [not](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VmgiWlTIdI) [forgotten](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8sQKh5v6w4) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/15 "2008-06-02T17:33:39Z")
[QUOTE=garius] as others mentioned, at least we don’t have to listen to the plastic fans getting shocked when we deservedly get knocked out in the quarters. In lieu of England, I will of course be supporting the Dutch - I always have done in tribute to the greatest Arsenal player who ever was. Retired now, but [definitely](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx16VA0NTZI) [not](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VmgiWlTIdI) [forgotten](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8sQKh5v6w4) [/QUOTE] Yes, Bergkamp was a genius. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/16 "2008-06-02T17:48:26Z")
[QUOTE=garius] In lieu of England, I will of course be supporting the Dutch - I always have done in tribute to the greatest Arsenal player who ever was. [/QUOTE] Dennis Bergkamp? Really? David Seaman was definitely the best goalie in England- and arguably the best in the world- during his career. Can you honestly say that Bergkamp was the best striker in England? He’s not among the [top 20 Premiership](http://premiersoccerstats.com/Top100.cfm) scorers. \*to take nothing away from the astounding bicycle kick goal he pulled off while still playing for Inter ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/17 "2008-06-02T18:53:37Z")
It was the way he scored them, though, like that incredible goal against Argentina in 1998 ([Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exlBHTyB1R0)’s a Dutch commentator going suitably nuts). He did something similar for Arsenal once, ISTR. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/18 "2008-06-02T19:13:43Z")
Yep, Dennis Bergkamp. He wasn’t an out-and-out striker (at least, certainly not _just_ that), so goals scored really do no justice whatsoever to the difference he made to that team. He’s a huge part of the reason Thierry Henry is in third place on that list. Schmeichel would have something to say about Seaman’s claim to world’s best goalkeeper, too; having won that very title twice, he’d have a fair point. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/19 "2008-06-02T19:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Badger] Schmeichel would have something to say about Seaman’s claim to world’s best goalkeeper, too; having won that very title twice, he’d have a fair point. [/QUOTE] Feh. Schmeichel was unquestionably the best in the world when it came to screaming at his defenders, but I never thought he was a particularly special goalie. He kept so many clean sheets in large part because Man U spent so much time with the ball. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453/20 "2008-06-02T19:23:28Z")
As a Yank…I have no idea what you are talking about. A game of some sort? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-euro-2008/451453.md?page=2)