Innsbruck, Austria (Switzerland)
- Olé! Olé! Olé! That is what the Spaniards seemed to be singing while their squad was scoring time after time against a disorganized Russian team. 4-1 was the final score of the group D opener of the European football championship. The first game of the evening ended with flamenco style played against a poor balalika.
- All related Euro 2008 stories in GenevaLunch
Zurich and Bern, (Switzerland) – Stunning results in the European football championship tonight. First, "les bleus", as the French national football team is known, tied with Romania in an embarrassing 0-0. A great feat for the Romanians who were not considered a matching rival to the French team, a tournament favourite.
The draw is bad news for the French who must now face an emboldened Dutch team. After 30 years, the Netherlands made history in Bern, beating the world champion, Italy, 3-0.
The Dutch "machine" was a surprise for those who were not expecting the "clockwork orange" to neutralize Italy.
Here’s the Swiss and international media roundup for the third day of the 2008 European Championship:
- French-speaking media in Switzerland (TSR, Fre) are calling The Orangemen’s game: magnificent, while 20min says the Italy-Netherlands game has been the best so far in the Cup.
- The French team is not looking good to some Swiss sports critics. LeTemps (Fre) says the game against Romania was 90 minutes of "helplessness" while 24 Heures (Fre) says the French were in "check" throughout the game.
- The British on-line football site, Goal.com writes: "Italy was peeled like an orange," referring to the Dutch victory.
- The Telegraph foresees problems for Italy at this tournament, based on their ageing squad and losing before Holland.
Tuesday 10 June, games will be held in Austria:
- Russia vs Spain, 18:00 in Innsbruck
- Greece vs Sweden, 20:45 in Salzburg
Switzerland will play their second game, 11 June, after the heartbreaking loss before the Czech Republic. Swiss midfielder, Tranquillo Barnetta, calls on his team to have "absolute determination to score" against Turkey and keep their hopes alive. Alexander Frei, Swiss team captain who had to retire after suffering a knee injury, says he has shed a lot of tears during the past 48 hours knowing his "dream has been crushed," but he hopes his teammates will keep on fighting to qualify as one of the top two squads in group A.
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- All related Euro 2008 stories in GenevaLunch
(Switzerland and Austria, by Nick Bates) – The Euro 2008 tournament started Saturday June 7 but not the way host nations Switzerland and Austria wanted. The opening game of Switzerland against the Czech Republic ended with the Swiss losing 0-1 in Basel, and also losing star Alexander Frei, out of the tournament with a ligament injury. Austria also lost their game against Croatia 0-1. Portugal beat Turkey 2-0 in Geneva on Saturday and Germany beat Poland 2-0. Details: Uefa
Geneva is ready for Euro 2008
Originally uploaded by ruba8
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The European football championship has officially begun and the party is on for millions of fans!
Photo @ Keystone, Euro 2008 SA
In spite of the expectations, home team Switzerland lost 0-1 to the Czech Republic in the first game of the Euro 2008 Cup which took place in Basel. The captain, Alex Frei, suffered a knee injury that forced his exit from the championship after only 42 minutes on the field, dampening the spirits for the co-hosting team.
In Geneva, Portugal beat Turkey 2-0, a result that immediately set off outdoor celebrations all over town. The Portuguese make up the largest foreign community in Geneva, representing 7% of the total population, and they sure know how to make their presence known. The support given to their squad on and off the field made team captain Nuno Gomes, say "it’s like being back home."
Here’s the Swiss and international media roundup of the first official day of the 2008 European Championship:
- Swissinfo analyzes Switzerland’s match and concludes the only goal of the game saved the Czech Republic from an otherwise poor performance.
- The official Euro 2008 site says Switzerland’s party was crashed by Svěrkoš
- French speaking media (TDG and TSR, Fre) consider the Swiss team to have dominated the game but without good results.
- Portugal and Czech Republic victories as seen by the English edition of Xinhua.
- Over 5,000 fans watched the opening games in Lausanne, (20min, Fre).
Sunday 8 June, no games will take place on Swiss territory, only in Austria:
Austria vs Croatia at 18:00 in Vienna- Germany vs Poland at 20:45 in Klagenfurt
Monday 9 June, games return to the Confederation: at 18:00 in Zurich and at 20:45 in Bern.
Also, remember, there are a few public training sessions for this week: (click on image to see schedule).
Contribute with your fun, fan pictures to our coverage! Send them, with your name and tell us where they were taken!
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Officials, or referees, at EURO 2008 will be judging all games in trios of the same nationality.
Click on the list to view larger
The first 12 teams of officials have been announced and the opening match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Basel 7 June will have three Italian referees while three Germans will be in charge of the tournament’s second game between Portugal and Turkey in Geneva.
The trios teams have been active in UEFA competitions for the past year which, according to UEFA officials, makes their work more cohesive.
During the final tournament any injured referee will be replaced by the fourth official at the match, and any injured assistant referee will be replaced by a fifth official who will come from the list of assistant referees not officiating at a game on that day.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Stage, music, action! All is ready for the big party that will take place in the streets of Geneva during the Euro 2008 cup which begins officially this weekend.
Former French Open tennis champion turned singer, Yannick Noah, will kick off the events surrounding the Cup with a free concert at the plain in Plainpalais. Other events are planned at the fan village at Bout-du-monde and at the fan club at the Patinoire de Vernets. To make things easier, the new cyber Fan Zone site is now online and
providing up-to-date information on all Euro 2008 events in Geneva.
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Satellite images from the stadiums and fan zones at the four Swiss venues of the Euro 2008 are available to download for free.
Swisstopo, the Swiss federal office of topography, is making available the aerial views which can be downloaded in full resolution from the federal site. The "bird’s-eye" pictures will be available until the end of the Cup 27 June.
Photo reprinted with permission Swisstopo
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The plain in Plainpalais will be taken over by hundreds of children playing for a place in the Euroschools Cup, an official school project of the UEFA Euro 2008.
From 16-18 June, students from Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Freiburg,
Neuchâtel and Jura will play to qualify for the international final. The winning teams, representing the 53 UEFA nations, will compete for the European Championship. The goal of the game is not just to score, but to foster international communication and fair play.
Photo reprinted with permission, Euroschools
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss Army Monday began launching its supporting operations during the Euro 2008 Cup. Ten thousand troops, 15 battalions, have been training for the past two months in tasks ranging from building and dismantling structures and aerial surveillance to support in case of a chemical or biological attack. The recruits will not be carrying out law enforcement operations. Swiss police will be reinforced by police officers from Germany and France. The Swiss Army operations on behalf of the European football championship will end 27 June.
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Which country, playing at the Euro 2008 cup, was the largest per-capita producer of cheese in Europe: France, Switzerland or Holland? If you said Switzerland, you’re wrong. However if you said, Holland, you might be ready for another question in the new on-line game produced by the Swiss federal statistics office. The game, which can be played in English, is a fun, fact-learning alternative for grown-ups and kids alike. Warning: if you are in the office, you might want to turn the volume down!
Photo reprinted by permission, Euro 2008 SA
(GenevaLunch) - The football squads of each of the 16 nations in the European football championship, Euro 2008, have been announced. A total of 368 players will be representing their countries during the tournament that begins 7 June.
For Switzerland, the first game will take place in Basel playing against the Czech Republic. Three of the 23 players in the Swiss team, Patrick Muller, Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos, are from Geneva.
Photo reprinted with permission UEFA
(GenevaLunch, by Catherine Nelson-Pollard) – A 10 day 54 minute wait until it all kicks off and then a 60 minute walk to the match from here.
Carouge, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - It’s not all about football, the game – or is it? In Carouge books, footballs, kids and families score a goal by mixing planned activities at the library, from sporting events for toddlers and athletes to trading Panini cards. The Carouge library begins its special Euro 2008 programme 3 June for 22 days. So even if it’s raining and playing the game isn’t an option, you can stay focused on football.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - On the eve of the Euro 2008 Cup, a new Geneva bicycle service is available: on-line, bicycle reservations, so get yours now!
Three rental spots are available: Cornavin, Plainpalais and Bout-du-Monde. Prices range from CHF8 for half a day to CHF150 a month.
Nyon, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Nyon, the Swiss management centre for Euro 2008, might not be hosting any football games but it is ready to offer the best alternative to fans in the Lake Geneva region.
Giant screens, measuring anywhere from 37 to 51 m2, will broadcast the games for the viewing pleasure of those who decide to avoid larger crowds. Food, entertainment and other activities are planned as well.
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The first of the Euro 2008 squadrons will start arriving late next week and they will open some of their training sessions to the public.
Click on image to view the public training sessions schedule.
Group
A rivals Portugal and Turkey will arrive at their bases in Neuchatel
and Geneva respectively 1 June. Turkey will open three of its training sessions 2-4 June in Colovray, Nyon. Attending the training is free. Tickets will not be distributed and entrance will be granted on a first-come, first served basis. The stadium has 6,000 seats available.
Although most training sessions will be held behind
closed doors, 14 teams are following UEFA’s
recommendation by opening at least one training session to the public.
Berne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Unmanned, radio controlled airships, also known as blimps, will carry out surveillance operations above stadiums during the Euro 2008 games in Basel, Bern and Zurich.
Picture courtesy of Euro 2008 SA
The military blimps will be taking off from air force bases in Emmen and Payerne. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are remotely piloted aircraft that can carry cameras, sensors, communications equipment or
other payloads. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation, FOCA, in Switzerland will also be restricting civilian air traffic from flying within 12 miles of any of the stadiums.
