Up for the Cup...

The winner of this summer's tournament will be the first to lift the all-singing, all-dancing new European Championship trophy.

After 48 years, the Henri Delaunay Trophy has had a revamp by London based jewellers Asprey and though based on the original design by Arthus-Bertrand the new version has been given a few modern twists.

A small figure juggling a ball on the back of the original has been removed, as has the marble plinth. The silver base of the trophy also had to be enlarged to make it stable. The names of the winning countries that had appeared on the plinth have now been engraved on the back of the trophy, which is made of sterling silver.

Who will be the lucky captain to be the first to get their hands on this new trophy, pictured,...you will find out on 29th June.

On the buses...

Everything these days is a potential advertising vehicle (get it) and a tournament like Euro 2008 is something that companies see as an ideal way of getting their message across. With corporate giants like Canon, Continental, Carlsberg and McDonalds getting in on the act of being official sponsors of the competition it comes as no surprise that even the transport the teams will be using is a driving billboard.

Hyundai are the Official National Team Bus sponsors and the company have just chosen the slogans to be used on each countries vehicle after running a competition for the fans to choose what is to be said about the sixteen teams. Here's a list of the winning slogans, some good, some downright awful...

Austria - We can only win together
Croatia- Together with the fans to the top of Europe
Czech Republic - Let's go, let's win, let's fill our nation's dream
France - Live together, celebrate together
Germany- Germany-One team-one purpose
Holland - One team, one spirit, together we are Orange
Italy - The sky is always bluer
Poland - ...because only sport and good fun matter
Portugal - This coach is powered by the will to win
Romania - Romania, we are proud of you and we love you
Russia - Russian hands are all for one, Russia is proud of her sons
Spain - Whatever happens, SPAIN FOREVER
Sweden - Sweden team = top marks
Switzerland - Final destination: Vienna
Turkey - Can this bus contain the passion of Turkey?

I'm sure you'll agree there's a lot of nonsense in amongst that lot, but for me Italy's slogan 'The sky is always bluer' provided the biggest 'Ehhh..what?' moment. What on earth is that supposed to mean?

Unsurprisingly Germany's effort is extremely efficient..say it in a German accent and you'll get what I mean... 'Germany- One Team- One purpose'

Poland also provided a bit of a chuckle with their, '...because only sport and good fun matter'...will that be the kind of good fun that leads to gangs of grown men in the same colour of T Shirt heading into the woods to beat the shit out of each other?


For me there's only one winner and it's a big congratulations to Switzerland for coming up with something that not only states their intentions and hopes but also ingeniously relates to a bus ...'Final destination: Vienna'. Well done the Swiss

It wouldn't be the same...without THE game!

No football tournament would be complete without the lads at EA Sports providing us with another version of their quality footy offerings to add to the games collection.

Uefa Euro 2008 is out and although that Pro Evolution nonsense seems the way to go these days with gameplayers out there I'll always be an EA Sports man. With this being the only officially licensed game of the tournament there's still a chance for you to lead a home nation to the big finals, and let's face it, this is the only way a Steve McClaren side is ever gonna get there.

The game features stunning lifelike graphics of all Europe's top players and is a faster-paced and more responsive version of the classic football games that EA produce. With an added twist of being able to add YOURSELF into the action and lead your country with the 'Captain your Country' feature this is the stuff that dreams are made of. Another quirky addition is interactive celebrations so no longer do you have to sit back and watch the videos roll you can create the cele of your choice.

If you want to tackle this classic game with a new twist click here to download the demo version. The game can be bought from great online games retailer Gameseek here on most formats including PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS2 and PSP and at a competitive price.

Here's a quick glimpse of what you can expect from EA Sports latest offering courtesy of YouTube...




As they say on the tin...IT'S IN THE GAME!

The Contenders...Greece

Today we take a look at another of the Euro 2008 contenders and the holders of the title European Champions...

Greece

THE MANAGER...
Greece will be led into defending their trophy by German manager Otto Rehhagel. 'King Otto' as he is known has been manager since 2001 and has almost Greek God status after creating one of the greatest footballing shocks by winning Euro 2004.
Rehhagel had a distinguished playing career with Hertha Berlin and Kaiserslautern in the late 60s and 70s before moving into management where he held the top job at clubs such as Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Rehhagel became the first man to be involved in 1000 games in the Bundesliga as a player and a coach, a record he is very proud of.
Such is the status of King Otto he has just signed a new deal with the Greeks that will take him through to 2010.

QUALIFYING STAGES...
Greece qualified for Euro 2008 by winning their group and amassing the highest points total of any finalist with 31 points. It wasn't all plain sailing for Rehhagel's side though as they also suffered one of their most humiliating defeats ever by losing 4-1 at home to bitter rivals Turkey.
Here is the Group C qualifying table...

Teams	Pld	+/-	Pts
Greece	12	15	31
Turkey	12	14	24
Norway	12	16	23
Bosnia-Herzegovina	12	-6	13
Moldova	12	-7	12
Hungary	12	-11	12
Malta	12	-21	5

THEIR GROUP...
Greece have been drawn in a very competitive Group D for the big tournament and will face and will face Spain, Russia and Sweden.

PLAYERS TO WATCH...
Vasillis Torosidis... One of the new breed, Torosidis is one of the hottest properties in Greek football right now. The 22-year-old versatile defender has already won 11 caps for his country and has been outstanding for Olympiakos this season. This is definetely one to watch.
Traianos Dellas... Dellas, pictured, is one of the veterans of the Greek squad and was outstanding in the team that won Euro 2004, gaining a place in the tournament's All Star team.. The AEK Athens man mountain has had his problems with injury over the last few years but has been back to his best of late and could be relied on to add experience to the Greek side.
Angelos Charisteas... Striker Charisteas is another of the Euro 2004 veterans and scored three goals during the Greeks qualifying campaign. The 28 year old moved to FC Nuremberg last season and is another player who coach Rehhagel will be looking to bring experience to his side and hopefully score the goals.

THE KIT...
Greece play in kit made by Adidas.
Their home kit consists of white top, white shorts and white socks with blue stripes. The away kit is a blue top, blue shorts and blue socks with white stripes.
Buy the Greek home and away strip here...

THEIR CHANCES...
Greece shocked the world by winning Euro 2004 when everyone had written them off against Portugal in the final. Coach Rehhagel is a proven master tactician but will have to have his side at their very best to get out of their group and have any chance of retaining their title. They will be tough to break down but I can't see them getting enough to make the second stages.

Probably the best sponsor in the world...

The Euro 2008 sponsors have been busy of late getting their campaigns for the big tournament in full swing and Danish drinks giant Carlsberg have been working overtime.

The Carlsberg.com Euro 2008 website is a cracker and is filled with plenty to keep you occupied when wasting time at work over the coming weeks and during the tournament. With games, competitons, fan guides, screensavers, ringtones, wallpaper and plenty of interactive content for when the first whistle is blown and the tournament is up and running there is plenty there for all.

Get yourself over to Carlsberg.com and check out a quality piece of web design that will is well worth bookmarking.

Havin' a ball...

The official ball for Euro 2008 has been unveiled by Adidas and according to the hype that goes with it there should be no excuses from goalkeepers this time round.

The Europass, as the sportswear giants have christened it, has been designed to avoid the ridiculous swerve we have seen from some previous tournament balls and fans in Row Z should be safe from what can only be described as 'flyaway' footballs of the last few big tourneys. The Europass has also been designed to allow better glove to ball grip so if Buffon flings one in to the net don't believe a word of the 'Di ball bent away from me' excuses that may appear. Reverting to a more traditional 'panel effect' this ball is a throwback to the olden days with the technology of the present day flung in for good measure.

The Europass that will be used in the tournament retails at £74.99 and can be bought here, while replicas can be snapped up for a mere £14.99 here. Take a look at this video of the ball being produced, kindly supplied for the world to see by Adidas...ENJOY!



PS The Europass has also been added to the YOYWYW banner to give Herzog and Turkilmaz something to play with.

Charity Euro 2008 Fantasy Footy...

Another Euro 2008 Fantasy Football competition has been brought to my attention and this is one that I hope you all get involved in.

Football 4 Charity is a not-for-profit organisation, which raises money for HOPEHIV which helps Africa's AIDs orphans and Tommy's who do research into premature birth, miscarriage & stillbirth.

The concept was started in 2001 by a kind hearted bloke called Sam Munnings after his brother was given £10 by his local church and asked to raise as much money as he could from it. Sam decided to set up a Fantasy Football league using this £10 which 24 people joined at £2 a go raising £48. The website has since run five further Fantasy Football leagues and many other events and has raised a tremendous £3601 for charity.

Pre-registration is now underway for the Football 4 Charity Euro 2008 competition where teams start at £3 each with extra teams being given should you choose to manage more than one side. Why not pool together with 10 or more of your mates and set up your own league, ten teams costs £21 so you are getting three teams free and you could have a bit of fun and banter durng the tournament while knowing that your money is doing some good.

Click here to join the Football 4 Charity competition and do a good deed by giving to...