Euro 2008

Raymond Domenech (Photo AFP) outlined a grimace Sunday to 13 hours when the label”Italy”was released in the draw in Lucerne to supplement the chicken C of the Euro 2008 Austro-Swiss. In that instant, the chicken already included, in addition to the team of France, the Netherlands and Romania, two other teams from the same group of qualification (Romania had preceded the Netherlands). Les Bleus will start against Romania, June 9, and will play Italy in last June 17 in what could constitute “a kind of final chicken” in the words of Jean-Pierre Escalette. Although all the matches of France are scheduled to Switzerland (in Zurich, twice, and Berne), the president of the FFF gave assurances that the Blues n’établiraient not necessarily their base camp in this country. Raymond Domenech seems to have given its preference to a facility in Austria, east of Salzburg. The decision will be announced next Friday.
“Complicated”
In the immediate future, the national selector found “complicated” the task of the team of France, stressing that he believed “any of the four selections were the happiest” of a drawing that makes the chicken C The most difficult tournament (June 7-29). Far from focusing on his opponent in the finals of the World 2006 ( “We’re going to do with, it has no choice”), Domenech has insisted on early matches against the Netherlands and Romania that first the draw Qualifications for the World Cup 2010 has already placed on the road Bleus. By the way, he repeated all the harm he thinks the procedure adopted for the draw, considering that “it is distressing to find the same teams (in the tournament final) than qualifications.” Roberto Donnadoni, the coach of the Nazionale, has also spoken of a “group difficult” and assured that “it n’avai (t) not wish to avoid France.” When it was pointed out that Italy was no longer beaten France in regulation time since 1978, he replied smilingly that the euro would be “perhaps the chance to change things.”
It could have been worse
The draw made by the masters of selections champions of Europe (including the Dutch Van Basten, Beckenbauer German, Danish and French Schmeichel Deschamps) was not the worst possible on paper - Germany could have substitute for Romania. The Nationalmannchaft will be in the pool of its neighbour Austria (their friendly match scheduled for February has been maintained) in the company of Croatia and Poland (B). The opening match will oppose June 7 in Basel, Switzerland to the Czech Republic in a hen which has also Portugal and Turkey (A). The selection Russian, tombeuse of England, will be in the pool of Greece, champions of Europe title, Sweden and Spain, seeking a title since 1964 (D). The draw was an opportunity for UEFA to present the official ball of the competition, called “Europass”. Its designer ensures that its texture should ensure better transmission of the strike force of players and, thanks to increased speed, can give greater effect to balloon. — J. LB