Euro 2008: Austria/Switzerland
The countdown has begun. A laser-show lit up the night sky from Vienna's
Town Hall marking 500 days to the off. The mascots are up to their mischief, the team-strips tailored and tickets are selling like
sachertorte. And on Sunday June 29th 2008, two sides will square up at Vienna's
Ernst Happel Stadium for the grand final of the European Cup. The bookies are ready, and so should you be!
It was a long struggle for Austria to win the host's baton. In 2004 they got to the last hurdle in a joint bid with Hungary, only to be pipped to the post by Portugal. But in a new bid with fellow mountain men the Swiss, the Austrians came good. The action will be divided between Austria and Switzerland, with matches played in eight cities from Innsbruck to Zurich.
Above: Can Austria pull something out of the bag for Euro 2008? Recent performances suggest we shouldn't hold our breath!
Euro 2008: Venues and Groupings
If your eyes are on the main prize, you''ll be snapping up places in Vienna. The Austrian capital has scooped two quarter-finals, a semi and the grand final itself, making it the focus for most of the high drama. It's a city of cakes, and the Viennese have plucked all the best cherries.
But if you're following a particular team (your own if you're European!) the action is spread far and wide. Austria and Switzerland are providing four stadiums each for the shenanigans. The Austrians will be showcasing Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna, whilst the Swiss are touting Basel, Berne, Geneva and Zurich. Of the latter, Basel gets the lion's share, with two quarter-finals and a semi.
Sixteen teams will take part in the tournament. As hosts, Austria and Switzerland have qualified automatically.
First Round
Group A
Host: Switzerland
June 7th, 2008 18:00 Switzerland vs. Czech Republic St. Jakob-Park, Basel
June 7th, 2008 20:45 Portugal vs. Turkey Stade de Geneve, Geneva
June 11th, 2008 18:00 Czech Republic vs. Portugal Stade de Geneve, Geneva
June 11th, 2008 20:45 Switzerland vs Turkey St. Jakob-Park, Basel
June 15th, 2008 20:45 Switzerland vs Portugal St. Jakob-Park, Basel
June 15th, 2008 20:45 Turkey vs Czech Republic Stade de Geneve, Geneva
Group B
Host: Austria
June 8th, 2008 18:00 Austria vs. Croatia Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
June 8th, 2008 20:45 Germany vs Poland Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
June 12th, 2008 18:00 Croatia vs. Germany Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
June 12th, 2008 20:45 Austria vs. Poland Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
June 16th, 2008 20:45 Austria vs.Germany Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
June 16th, 2008 20:45 Poland vs. Croatia Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
Group C
Host: Switzerland
June 9th, 2008 18:00 Romania vs. France C4 Letzigrund Stadion, Zurich
June 9th, 2008 20:45 Netherlands vs. Italy Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne
June 13th, 2008 18:00 Italy vs. Romania Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
June 13th, 2008 20:45 Netherlands vs. France Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne
June 17th, 2008 20:45 Netherlands vs. Romania Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne
June 17th, 2008 20:45 France vs. Italy Letzigrund Stadion, Zurich
Group D
Host: Austria
June 10th, 2008 18:00 Spain vs. Russia Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck
June 10th, 2008 20:45 Greece vs. Sweden Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg
June 14th, 2008 18:00 Sweden vs. Spain Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck
June 14th, 2008 20:45 Greece vs. Russia Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg
June 18th, 2008 20:45 Greece vs. Spain Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg
June 18th, 2008 20:45 Russia vs. Sweden Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck
Euro 2008: Staying on the Ball in Vienna
Matches
Seven matches are scheduled for Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. These begin with a trio of group games (June 8th, 12th and 16th), followed by two quarter-finals (June 20th, 22nd), a semi (June 26th) and the Grand Final itself (Sunday June 29th).
That said, you don't need tickets for every game to soak up some of the tournament buzz. The revelry will surge through Vienna, where several viewing points are planned for the duration of the cup. Coverage of all matches in Austria and Switzerland will be relayed from massive screens around the capital. Of these, the pick of the bunch will be in front of the Town Hall (Rathaus). There an enclosure is ear-marked to accommodate 200,000 fans, with beer and sausage stalls to boot (much to the surprise of neighbouring nobs at the Burgtheater, who weren't consulted).
The City
For several centuries Vienna rivalled London and Paris as one of the great imperial capitals of Europe. It's still right up there amongst the most sumptuous cities on the continent, offering a sensational backdrop for the coming cup. That said, for all its imperial whirl, Vienna is no mad metropolis. It's a distinctly homely place with a fondness for the laid back. There's always time to linger in a cafe and have a gossip. So much so that anyone who's set foot here of late will know that the prospect of a major football tournament presents one or two comic possibilities. For all things considered, Vienna is something of a dainty old dame. In fact, of all Europe's capitals, Vienna must rank as the most genteel of the lot (closely followed by co-host Zurich). It's no rough and tumble here - more cakes and strudel. In short, Vienna hosting a major football championship is a bit like Queen Elizabeth inviting a pair of Sumo wrestlers to square up in her drawing room. Monty Python would love it. All the same, foreign journalists have been hailing Vienna as an increasingly hip destination in recent years (with good reason) and fans should have a cracking time in the city - it's a beauty.