Italy, France and Holland must fight to the death
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World Champions Italy have been pitted against France and Holland after the draw for Euro 2008 threw up a 'group of death'.
England's disastrous qualifying campaign ensured those at Soho Square could divert their full attention to the FA Cup third-round draw. But before the fate of Havant & Waterlooville was being decided at FA headquarters yesterday, the gaze of those countries whose sides fared better than the home nations was firmly fixed on Lucerne, Switzerland.
Croatia's reward for dumping England out of the competition is a place alongside Germany, Poland and co-hosts Austria. But France coach Raymond Domenech'sworst fears were realised with a repeat of the World Cup Final now set for Group C.
England fans were left dreaming of what might have been after Russia joined defending champions Greece, Spain and Sweden in Group D. Joint hosts Switzerland will take on the Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey in Group A.
Euro 2008 takes place between June 7 and 29 in Basle, Berne, Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland as well as the Austrian cities of Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna, where the final wil be played.
GROUP A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey.
GROUP B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland.
GROUP C: Holland, Italy, Romania, France.
GROUP D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia. -
Domenech fury after France draw Italy in group of death
The European Championship is a brief tournament and next summer's event will be furious as well as fast. Yesterday's draw introduced the anger early by pitting the World Cup holders, Italy, against the losing finalists, France, and giving them Holland for company. The remaining side in Group C, Romania, must feel fatalistic.
"I have to say the way the seedings are worked out is madness," said the France coach, Raymond Domenech. "Not to have Italy, as the world champions, in the first pot is crazy. I would also have preferred to have played in Austria and not Switzerland, because we would have been hassled less. I am not happy, nothing I wanted has worked out.
"In fact, I don't think we're the happiest four coaches here after the draw and the way it worked out. We would love to have avoided the three other teams, but now we've got it we'll have to deal with it."
Group C is especially intriguing but Group B could be gruelling in another respect. It has overtones of tragic history far beyond the little world of sport. Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland meet one another there. With the exception of the co-hosts, who are alarmingly weak and may struggle to retain a vestige of pride, the teams will be engaged in fierce competition because of the sheer quality of the players. Croatia are one of the sides who denied England a place.
The other, Guus Hiddink's Russia, are in the easier half of the draw. They will envisage a route to the quarter-finals as runners-up behind Spain. Nonetheless, tenacious Sweden and the reigning champion Greece will also have their eyes on a similar path.
Euro 2008 looks enticing in its entirety, renewing England's regret over missing out on such an occasion.
Euro 2008 draw
Group A
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Portugal
Turkey
Fixtures
June 7 Switzerland v Czech Republic, Portugal v Turkey
11 Switzerland v Turkey, Czech Republic v Portugal
15 Switzerland v Portugal, Turkey v Czech Republic
Group B
Austria
Croatia
Germany
Poland
Fixtures
June 8 Austria v Croatia, Germany v Poland
12 Croatia v Germany, Austria v Poland
16 Poland v Croatia, Austria v Germany
Group C
Holland
Italy
Romania
France
Fixtures
June 9 Romania v France
Holland v Italy
13 Italy v Romania, Holland v
France
17 France v Italy,
Holland v Romania
Group D
Greece
Sweden
Spain
Russia
Fixtures
June 10 Spain v Russia, Greece v Sweden
14 Sweden v Spain, Greece v Russia
18 Greece v Spain, Russia v Sweden
Quarter-finals
1 June 19 1st Group A v 2nd Group B
2 June 20 1st Group B v 2nd Group A
3 June 21 1st Group C v 2nd Group D
4 June 22 1st Group D v 2nd Group C
Semi-finals
June 25 Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
June 26 Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4
Final
June 29 Vienna -
I think they called the the Group of death, Eurosport news.
I think Holland will go thru in that group. -
France and Italy... They can't seem to separate these two after the zizu headbutt thing...
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All the groups look like Death to me
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x2Originally posted by zocoss:France and Italy... They can't seem to separate these two after the zizu headbutt thing... -
France looks strong, I think they may suffer a last minute heart break.
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I hope Netherlands and Italy qualify
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holland hong gan liao
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I think Germany and Portugal should be happy with the draw... and with the line up for the Quarter-finals and Semi-finals... It should be...
GROUP A: Portugal, Czech Republic
GROUP B: Germany, Croatia
Quarter-finals
Portugal v Croatia
Germany v Czech Republic
Semi-finals
Portugal v Germany
Final
Portugal v
Winner of GROUP C
GROUP C: Holland, Italy, France.
GROUP D: Spain, Sweden -
May not be. France also stand a chance 2.Originally posted by gigabyte14:holland hong gan liao -
I hope the Dutch and Italians will qualify.
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waOriginally posted by T.Ryousuke:May not be. France also stand a chance 2.
italy leh? -
They r gangster, not only can win the group ,they already book the cup, if u not happy can head butt them.Originally posted by gigabyte14:wa
italy leh? -
I wonder why France coach first to comment
U mean the other 2 countries no comments?