Who Should I Support in EURO 2008?
As you might have noticed, England haven’t made it to the big dance. Despite the added pain, I’d almost rather that they’d fail to qualify for a World Cup rather than a European Championship: firstly, because the former is always fascinating even without a home team to support. Secondly, there are interesting non-European teams one can get behind. The last time England failed to qualify for the World Cup, 1994, I suddenly became a Nigerian Super Eagle for a couple of weeks. Then Baggio ripped my heart out in the second round.
EURO 2008, though, threatens to be a bore unless I can bring myself to support someone. Blood-wise, I’ve no connection to any of the qualified nations. So who should it be?
- Austria? Umm, even their own fans aren’t getting behind them.
- Switzerland? Well, it’d be nice to see a home team do well. But I can’t say my pulse has raised a jot thinking about them.
- Poland? Never show up once qualified for a tournament.
- Portugal? My grandma was mugged there when she was on holiday in Lisbon. Can’t cheer for them as a result.
- Italy? I’ve always had a sneaking respect for them. But such is the mess the game’s in over there, this wouldn’t be the best time for them to win another tournament.
- France? Maybe if they still had Zidane. But they don’t.
- Greece? Lord, not again.
- Turkey? Ah — anyone know if Colin Kazim-Richards will be in the final squad? OK, he was crap for Brighton and a bit of an arsehole, but it’s not often one of our former players strides the big stage and he won his first cap this year.
- Czech Republic? Used to like Nedved. Can’t think of much else to say about them, frankly.
- Germany? You’re joking, right? Nothing against them politically or culturally, but the pain of 1990 still lingers to this day.
- Croatia? I’ve long enjoyed their football. They have a zany kit. But they also have fans who form human swastikas. I’m sure it’s a tiny minority, and an England fan is in no position to sneer, but it’s stuck in my mind.
- Russia? Almost dreadful enough to let England sneak in? No thanks.
- Spain? Come on, as if supporting England isn’t frustrating enough.
- Sweden? My (different) grandma had a nice holiday there once. I used to think Thomas Ravelli was cool. Ibrahimović can be pretty good from time to time. But. . .Where’s the thrill?
- Romania? Only if they still have Hagi and Dumitrescu. Or if they all dye their hair pink.
- Netherlands? The obvious choice. Produced my favourite player ever. Love their footballing philosophy, their colours, their insane tendency to self-destruct at the worst possible moment. But not wildly excited by their current team, would perhaps be the wrong tournament to get behind them.
Help?
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Tom Dunmore is the founder and editor of Pitch Invasion. Follow him @pitchinvasion on Twitter.
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>but the pain of 1990 still lingers to this day.
Good to see you’ve put 1996 behind you then already.
Gee, thanks for the reminder, Jan.
That one doesn’t hurt as much for me, as I’d already been through 1990. The second time’s always easier, isn’t it?
As you said if supporting England isn’t frustrating enough… It has to be Spain.
They mirror us in too many ways.
Holland have Clarence Seedorf. What more can one want?
Would Spain really be such a bad idea? They may be as frustrating as England but they’re far nicer to watch. Sometimes.
Romania have Adrian Mutu. Not quite an Ibra-level genius, but then his team as a whole are probably going to display a lot more flair than Sweden as a whole.
[Idle persiflage on my part, since the team I support is actually going to the Euros, but my sympathies for your dilemma. Unfortunately, this percentage of English supporters sharp of wit and balanced of outlook don't make up for how bad the team really are.]
Holland for me. I mean, the current lot aren’t great but the footballing philosophy surrounding the Dutch game puts English “get rid of it!” grit into perspective.
I quite enjoyed Croatia last night too, Billic is an engaging presence on the touchline, they’ve got exciting players and the kit is brilliant but, as you say, the whole ultra-nationalism thing kind of sours them for me.
Hup Holland!
Thanks all. It seems the consensus so far is for Spain or Holland. Much as I see the similarity with England, I always get the sense when I watch Spain that they’re not really trying.
Though perhaps that is something I should get behind, given that is a contrast from the over-emphasis on running about a lot that counts for effort in English football.
Alex, I’m tempted by the Dutch the same way you are. Still, I can’t help feeling it’d be deflating to choose this tournament to cheer for them, given there have been so many worthier efforts. The 1988 team opened my eyes to so much. And Van Basten as manager only reminds me of that more.
Still, in the absence of a better suggestion or argument against choosing the Netherlands. . .
It’s Spain for me, especially if Valencia are represented by four or more of their players. Little David Silva playing in his first senior tournament? That’ll be fun.
Sorry to be boring, but I think I’m going for Spain too, with the Netherlands as my second ‘backup’ option.
I feel the time’s right for the world to welcome another nation to the big table, and for me it ought to be Spain. Like England, so much is expected of them and we occasionally see glimpses of crystallised potential (remember the match against Ukraine in the World Cup last year?) but ultimately they always fall short. They give you that feeling that “this might be their year”, so any team which can give you that sense of hope on a perpetual basis is no bad thing for me.
By the way, I’m sure it wasn’t the entire Portuguese nation that robbed your Grandma, to be fair. I’m sure they wouldn’t all want to be tarred with the same brush where that particular crime is concerned…
I’m pretty sure you’re right, Chris. I certainly didn’t mean to impute that the entire Portugese nation is made up of muggers.
Tom, I’ve supported the Oranje for almost 40 years.
Heartbreak virtually guaranteed, and they even worse at penalties than England. You’ll feel right at home.
I assume that everyone’s read David Winner’s Brilliant Orange, on the subject of dutch football and the dutch in general? Highly, highly reccomended if you haven’t.
I was mugged by the entire Portuguese nation outside a nightclub in Lisbon in 1997. The weird thing was, it wasn’t even that scary. They got away with a few travellers’ cheques, but I was able to talk them out of taking my watch. Nice people. The traffic jam afterwards was unbelievable, though.
I was counting on being able to cheer for Scotland, but now it’s probably Holland for me. Some of their young players are exciting (Sneijder, Babel) but really, I’m just for anything that might make Johan Cruyff smile.
My cousin was almost kidnapped in France so there’s some more ammo against them. He was only 4 or 5 at the time and the would be kidnappers tried to snatch him out of his car seat while my Aunt and Uncle were stopped at a light.
That being said…I’d go with Holland or Poland. You’ve got great history and outstanding players then supreme underdogs and my personal choice. I know I’ll be cheering on Poland until my voice gives out but if Ebi doesn’t show up and the rest of my Eagles can’t get it done then I’ll probably turn to cheering for Holland.
Sweden! – according to WhoshouldIcheerfor.com from the World Development Movement they’re the most ethical country in Euro 2008
Tom,
Judging from your stand against the nazi’s that follow Croatia, here’s another related reason why not to back Spain.
Remember what Aragones said about Henry to Reyes? He also went unpunished for his comments…
For me, it has to be the Netherlands. Good style, good attitude and the Oranges have produced some fantastic players over the years. Ok, so they may not have the finest pick of the fruit, but we all though England could have won the 2006 World Cup at one point and look where they ended up.
sounds like you wanna be supporting sweden or holland
Come on just support Holland! We did show that this team is good yesterday!
You can join in, just wear orange and sing: ‘ Hup Holland hup, laat de leeuw niet in zijn hempie staan’.