Catch the UEFA 2012 fever
Finally, school is just about done, which means it’s almost summer. With summer of course comes lazy afternoons and evenings watching baseball. This summer though, we get something even better – The UEFA Euro Cup in Poland and Ukraine.
June 8 to July 1, 24 days, 16 teams, two host countries – one European champion.
Iniesta, Xavi, Gomez, Ozil, Ribery, Evra, Robben, Ronaldo, Nani,Buffon, van Persie and Rooney – after the suspension – are just a handful of players that will be gracing the Polish and Ukrainian stadiums this summer.
If you didn’t recognize any of those names, don’t worry and just keep reading. By the end of July they’ll be as familiar as Kobe, LeBron, Jeter or Manning.
While it’s not quite the World Cup, the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament – a.k.a. Euro Cup or European Cup – in Poland and Ukraine is going to be the most exciting, breathtaking and intense competition sports fans are going to see until the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
For all you doubters out there that are snickering at the thought of a soccer tournament trumping the World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and even March Madness, I say just give it a go.
While you might not enjoy the occasional – sometimes too occasional – flopping and use of the magic spray, I guarantee that once you choose a team to support and start watching you won’t be able to stop watching, and you can catch every single match on TV, compliments of our friends at ESPN.
Just pick one of the 16 countries to support – Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Ukraine, Sweden, France or England – and you’ll be ready to go.
Whether you support them because your great-great-great grandma was from there – cue Denmark – you like their food – all you Italian lovers – they have beautiful scenery – Eiffel Tower, Big Ben or Venice – you like mythology – Greece couldn’t be better – you like their uniforms, or, for you gals, because you think their players are attractive, it really doesn’t matter, just watch.
You won’t regret it.
And if none of the above options help you choose a team, here’s a rundown of all 16.
1. Spain is good. Really good. If you are a frontrunner and want to pick a team that is a shoe-in for the final – i.e. Yankees, Lakers, Patriots, Chelsea or Manchester United fans – then Spain is the way to go. They won the last Euro Cup in 2008. They won the World Cup in 2010, and they have the best club team in the world – Barcelona. If you don’t know what a club team is, don’t worry. Just know that they’re really good, and I really hope they lose.
2. Teams that host the tournament generally do pretty well. So, don’t count out Ukraine or Poland – especially Poland. These two teams traditionally aren’t your top European teams – although Poland was pretty good in the mid-’70s – but they are going to pull of some surprise upsets. If you are looking for an exciting underdog, go with Poland or Ukraine.
3. If you don’t want to pick Spain because you’re not a frontrunner or don’t like the Spanish, but you want a really solid squad, then Germany or the Netherlands is right for you. Germany ALWAYS does well in tournaments. So, they’re a safe bet at least for the semi-finals. The Dutch are usually solid, too, but they also have issues with choking in big games.
4. If you’re looking for some blond-haired and blue-eyed Scandinavian power, then look no further than Denmark and Sweden. Scandinavian teams are always solid and have won a championship or two.
5. The teams from the frosty Eastern European region are always the great unknown. This year, representing that region will be Russia, the Czech Republic, and Croatia – Ukraine and Poland don’t count, since they were already mentioned. Sometimes they’re great, and sometimes they are just awful. You really never know. If you decide to support them, get ready for a rollercoaster ride.
6. Ireland and Greece – I’m not really sure what to think of these two teams. I guess If you like “Far and Away,” great accents, and ale then the Irish are right for you. Greece did win the European Cup in 2004. I still don’t know how they did. Since then, though, they’ve done nothing. They certainly have the most exciting names, though, of any team including: Papastathopoulos Konstantopoulos, Zaradoukas, Spyropoulos, Fetfatzidis and Groyejnsipilis – and I only made one of those up.
7. Portugal, England, France and Italy – all four are traditional powers that have struggled recently. If you don’t want to go with Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, but you don’t want a real big underdog, then pick one of these four. They could easily win the tournament or go out in the first round.
As for me, I will be supporting England and hoping to avoid another disappointment. Miracles can happen.
So choose your team, get the snacks ready, take a seat and let some great soccer begin.
– Spencer Wright is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. He loves English soccer and hopes to live long enough to see the Cubs win a World Series. Send any comments to eliason.wright3@aggiemail.usu.edu.