Opening day

Woo hoo! I am finally awake enough to be able to type (give me a break, the first game starts for me in the morning & I was drinking last night).

It's halftime and although the first half wasn't spectacular, it didn't put me back to sleep. Watching Frei walk off in tears did break my heart though. Bless.
And Diana texted me as soon as the game started with "Did you see the eyebrows on the Swiss keeper??!! He MUST have had them done!"

Oh, and the opening ceremony.... let's just say when I saw people with giant cube heads, I thought I might still be drunk from the night before.

ESPN adverts for the Euros

I know on the show we were all dismayed & hard on ESPN when we found out that they were broadcasting the Euros this year. I know, ultimately, this is FANTASTIC for the game that they are showing the whole tournament and I will do my best not to be critical 100% of the time.
And they have got off to a great start; have you seen the amazing commercials they have been running (during the NBA playoffs no less!)?

I did a youtube search and here are the ones so far:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=espn+euro+commercial&search_type=

I have to admit I teared up a bit during one or two of these. Yes, I am a dork.

Top 15 sexiest players at Euro 2008

Taken from the wonderful Who Ate All The Pies site:

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/2008/06/top_15_sexiest.html

Interesting list... I don't mind the top 3 but I certainly don't agree on all of them - Del Piero? Olaf? BEHRAMI???
Who do you think should be in the list? And who needs to be kicked out?
I look forward to these comments.

From The Fiver

This made me laugh this morning:

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Dear Sir/Madam, We know that you are among those who do not always respect the rules during sports tournaments and, so far as we are aware, have been banned from stadiums or received some other punishment ... We want you to be able to enjoy this great championship in a festive, fair-minded spirit ... but please be aware that violence will not be tolerated ... we hope that we will meet again in pleasant circumstances. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us" - extracts from the letter sent by the Swiss police to 300 known hooligans today.

General team/squad musings

I know I didn't included all the squad lists but let's face it, do I even know 75% of the names on Poland's list? Do I really think Austria is going to make it out alive of their group? Do I really know all that much about the Swiss attack or Turkey's defense? And to be honest, I don't see Greece repeating their luck from 2004.

So, onto what I have been thinking...

I think that Germany squad is strong. Every tournament some English friend of mine talks about how the Germans are going to go far and every time I'm like 'nah, no way'. But then they were excellent at the World Cup and that squad has only gotten stronger.

I think Italy have a lot to worry about now that Canna is out. We all know that Materazzi is a red card in waiting and both Panucci & Zambo are past their prime (Italy actually have the oldest squad there! Eeek!). I am officially worried.

But I still don't think France will win it all. They have ridiculously talented individuals but I don't see them working as a cohesive team. Not this time around.

Will Spain ever get a break? This is the best chance in a long time with Torres in form & a tough defense.

Or what about Portugal who almost did it last time? Ronaldo wants to be the star of the tournament but will that unbalance the team spirit?

Host countries rumble?

So I was watching the Colbert Report and he showed this special postage stamp that Austria issued which does that 3D-ish moving thing when you tilt it back and forth. It has a famous footballer kicking a ball; it is pretty cool.
Anyway, so this kinda ups the standard for the next host country, yes? I mean if Austria can put out this special stamp then the next guy better do something special too.
And do you think the Swiss have done anything like this? Do you think Austria went behind their back and made the special stamp in secret just to one-up Switzerland?? And wouldn't that piss off the Swiss? Do you think they would make an exception to that whole "we're a peaceful country" thing & start some trouble with Austria?
The tourney hasn't even started and maybe we could already have our first case of handbags!! Sweet!!!

Germany squad

Goalkeepers 1 Jens Lehmann 12 Robert Enke 23 René Adler
Defenders 2 Marcell Jansen 3 Arne Friedrich 4 Clemens Fritz 5 Heiko Westermann 16 Philipp Lahm 17 Per Mertesacker 21 Christoph Metzelder
Midfielders 6 Simon Rolfes 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger 8 Torsten Frings 13 Michael Ballack 14 Piotr Trochowski 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger 18 Tim Borowski
Forwards 9 Mario Gómez 10 Oliver Neuville 11 Miroslav Klose 19 David Odonkor 20 Lukas Podolski 22 Kevin Kuranyi

Yay! Lehmann = instant entertainment.

Czech squad

Goalkeepers 1 Petr Čech 16 Jaromír Blažek 23 Daniel Zítka
Defenders 2 Zdeněk Grygera 6 Marek Jankulovski 12 Zdeněk Pospěch 13 Michal Kadlec 21 Tomáš Ujfaluši 22 David Rozehnal
Midfielders 3 Jan Polák 4 Tomáš Galásek 5 Radoslav Kováč 14 David Jarolím 17 Marek Matějovský 18 Tomáš Sivok 19 Rudolf Skácel 20 Jaroslav Plašil
Forwards 7 Libor Sionko 8 Martin Fenin 9 Jan Koller 10 Václav Svěrkoš 11 Stanislav Vlček 15 Milan Baroš

Such a relief that there is NO Nedvěd. Now I do not have to detest this team.

Portugal squad

Goalkeepers 1 Ricardo 12 Quim 22 Rui Patrício
Defenders 2 Paulo Ferreira 3 Bruno Alves 4 Bosingwa 5 Fernando Meira 13 Miguel 14 Jorge Ribeiro 15 Pepe 16 Ricardo Carvalho
Midfielders 6 Raul Meireles 8 Petit 10 João Moutinho 18 Miguel Veloso 20 Deco
Forwards 7 Cristiano Ronaldo 9 Hugo Almeida 11 Simão 17 Ricardo Quaresma 19 Nani 21 Nuno Gomes 23 Hélder Postiga

So, is Ronaldo gonna be a big game bottler like Titi or what? Will he really be the star of the tourney like everyone is claiming? I am skeptical to say the least.
And what? Postiga is still making this team??

Fantasy footy!

Come, join the Treble league on the ESPN fantasy football game.

Here's what you need to know:

1: Go to http://euro2008fantasy.soccernet.com/
2: Click on Register and go through the registration and team selection process - it's totally free to play
3: Once you are on your team line-up page click on Mini League and type the following information in the Join A Mini League boxes:
League Name: The Treble's Eurotrash
Password: thetreble

Romania squad

Goalkeepers 1 Bogdan Lobonţ 12 Marius Popa 23 Eduard Stancioiu
Defenders 2 Cosmin Contra 3 Răzvan Raţ 4 Gabriel Tamaş 5 Cristian Chivu 6 Mirel Rădoi 13 Cristian Sapunaru 14 Sorin Ghionea 15 Dorin Goian 17 Cosmin Moţi 22 Ştefan Radu
Midfielders 7 Florentin Petre 8 Paul Codrea 11 Răzvan Cociş 16 Bănel Nicoliţă 19 Adrian Cristea 20 Nicolae Dică
Forwards 9 Ciprian Marica 10 Adrian Mutu 18 Marius Niculae 21 Daniel Niculae

The dark horses of the group of death. Don't count them out completely. I know they could at least f*ck things up for my azzurri.

Netherlands squad

Goalkeepers 1 Edwin van der Sar 13 Henk Timmer 16 Maarten Stekelenburg
Defenders 2 André Ooijer 3 Johnny Heitinga 4 Joris Mathijsen 5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 12 Mario Melchiot 14 Wilfred Bouma 15 Tim de Cler 20 Ibrahim Afellay 21 Khalid Boulahrouz
Midfielders 6 Demy de Zeeuw 8 Orlando Engelaar 10 Wesley Sneijder 11 Arjen Robben 17 Nigel de Jong 23 Rafael van der Vaart
Forwards 7 Robin van Persie 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy 18 Dirk Kuyt 19 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 22 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

Babel is already out with injury. Does anyone else find it weird that Gio is still retaining a place in the squad? They look strong but who knows if they can actually even get out of the group.
At least one of Jenny's favorite (name) players is here - Sir Vinegar of Heffelump. Hee hee.

Spain squad

Goalkeepers 1 Iker Casillas 13 Andrés Palop 23 Pepe Reina
Defenders 2 Raúl Albiol 3 Fernando Navarro 4 Carlos Marchena 5 Carles Puyol 11 Joan Capdevila 15 Sergio Ramos 18 Álvaro Arbeloa 20 Juanito
Midfielders 6 Andrés Iniesta 8 Xavi Hernández 10 Cesc Fàbregas 12 Santi Cazorla 14 Xabi Alonso 19 Marcos Senna 22 Rubén de la Red
Forwards 7 David Villa 9 Fernando Torres 16 Sergio García 17 Daniel Güiza 21 David Silva

Raul gone. I am not as surprised or WTF as I was with Mexes but it still makes me sad. The hotness factor of the whole tourney has just diminished considerably. *sigh*

France squad

Goalkeepers1 Steve Mandanda16 Sébastien Frey23 Grégory Coupet
Defenders2 Jean-Alain Boumsong3 Eric Abidal5 William Gallas13 Patrice Evra14 François Clerc15 Lilian Thuram17 Sébastien Squillaci19 Willy Sagnol
Midfielders4 Patrick Vieira6 Claude Makelele7 Florent Malouda11 Samir Nasri20 Jérémy Toulalan21 Lassana Diarra22 Franck Ribéry
Forwards8 Nicolas Anelka9 Karim Benzema10 Sidney Govou12 Thierry Henry18 Bafetimbi Gomis

NO MEXES??? WTF!
And like we really expect Titi to do anything after the season he's had. Ha.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers1 Gianluigi Buffon14 Marco Amelia17 Morgan De Sanctis
Defenders2 Christian Panucci3 Fabio Grosso4 Giorgio Chiellini5 Fabio Cannavaro6 Andrea Barzagli19 Gianluca Zambrotta23 Marco Materazzi
Midfielders8 Gennaro Gattuso10 Daniele De Rossi13 Massimo Ambrosini16 Mauro Camoranesi20 Simone Perrotta21 Andrea Pirlo22 Alberto Aquilani
Forwards7 Alessandro Del Piero9 Luca Toni11 Antonio Di Natale12 Marco Borriello15 Fabio Quagliarella18 Antonio Cassano

So, we all know how I feel about Del Piero... maybe he'll prove me wrong.
I'm quite happy that my De Rossi got the fabled number 10; I think that is sweet. But the talk of Pirlo being our "inspirational" player now that Totti is gone? Not so sweet.

EUROTRASH

Welcome all.
As promised, here is Eurotrash, The Treble's semi-official blog during tournament. I, Nikki, will be writing the posts & hopefully both Jenny & Diana will join in on the comments as well as all of you. Please play nice in the comments.... well, as nice as we all can be. But don't except much from me when I'm watching all those players that I love to hate.