SWITZERLAND, FUET DEFENSE, OFFENSE WEAK (Group A)

Switzerland will participate for the third time in its history in a final phase of the Euro and this time it will be local. While the teams playing on home leave with some advantage, which lies in the unconditional support of the fans, it is also true that this selection is not part among the title favorites.

By hosting the competition, the Swiss did not have to play the qualifying round this year. Although likewise the team has been working extensively disputando friendly with several major rivals.


On this occasion the coach Kuhn, entrusted with the figure of recovered Alexander Frei, who was absent because of an injury. In other lines of players has full confidence in where it owns a mix of youth and veterans.





The draw for the Euro, the selector said that the group was where Switzerland is characterized by having a great parity. "We can be satisfied with the result. We are in a fairly balanced group and our advantage is that we play at home," said Kuhn.

PORTUGAL BY REVENGE (Group A)

The lusos arrive with spina nailed the last Euro. It is not easy to forget the disappointment experienced in 2004 after having lost in their own backyard before the surprising Greece. For this reason, the Euro 2008 will serve to demonstrate the fact that in recent years has not been the fruit of casuslidad, but the quality and work.

Portugal can not count on this occasion with two of the most important pieces of the last decade: Pedro Pauleta and Luis Figo, removed from the selection. But that does not mean that the team will lose and veteran leadership on the pitch. Deco, Maniche and Carvalho tried to convey the experience gained from many years of occupation.

Undoubtedly the defensive line is one of the strongest that owns this eleventh, thanks to the contribution of players like Carvalho, Fernando Meira or Miguel. Also, the middle field has both men recovery and creation. Among them Maniche, Petit, Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao and Queresma.

Revising the last performances of Portugal in the Euro, it appears that ha ido rising on concerns prominence. In England 96 were dismissed in the quarter-finals, 2000 in Holland reached the semi - finals; Portugal in 2004 achieved the sub - after losing the championship final with Greece.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

For classification to the Euro 2008 took place after a tournament between September 2006 and November 2007. For this, a lottery was held in Montreux, Switzerland, January 27, 2006 in which seven groups were formed clasificatorios, where the first two from each classified to the final round. Austria and Switzerland were classified automatically exercise its right to organizers.

The draw for the finals of the competition was made on December 2, 2007. The 16 classified teams were arranged in four bombs according to their Uefa coefficient. In the first drum was placed Austria and Switzerland, host of this edition, Greece, current champion, and the Netherlands, the selection more Uefa coefficient. Croatia, Italy, Slovakia and Sweden were in the second drum, while the third was composed of Germany, Spain, Portugal and Romania. Finally, the fourth drum was formed by France, Poland, Russia and Turkey.

GENÈVE SATDIUM (The newest)

The stadium in Geneva (Stade de Geneve) next to the French border and opened in 2003, is the youngest stadium that will host four matches of the Euro. It is used not only as a football field, but as a rugby stadium, and also hosts concerts.

The stadium, which plays FC Servette, has a capacity of 30,000 spectators and its museum has a shopping mall, a hotel, a cultural center and television studios.

Name: Stade de Geneve

Capacity: 30,000 spectators

Opening date: 2003

ESTADIUM SUISSE, WAKDORF (A stadium with history)

The "Stadium of Switzerland", built on the Wankdorf, is the name of the field of Berne, a new campus, with capacity for 32,000 spectators, which was conceived from the start not only as a sports centre, but also commercial and includes up to Public School. The old clock and scoreboard have been placed at the entrance to the new stadium.

One of its peculiarities is that it has about 10,000 solar panels on its roof that feed energy facilities, which represents the largest project of its kind in a stadium.

In 1954, the Wankdorf Stadium hosted the World Cup final in which, surprisingly, defeated Germany 3-2 to the "magical Magyars" captain Ferenc Puskas, in what became known as "The Miracle of Berne."

In 2005, the new stadium was the venue of Thun in the Champions League matches and hosted the Cup finals in Switzerland, May 28, 2007.

Name: Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf

Capacity: 30,000 spectators

Opening date: August 2005, built on the Wankdorf (1954)

THE STADIUM LETZIGRUND OF ZÜRICH (Done to measure)

The Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, was inaugurated in 1925, but was demolished on August 22, 2006 in order to adapt to the requirements of the Euro. A year earlier, on June 5, 2005, was approved in the referendum budget of 69 million euros for reconstruction.

Built in record time, was inaugurated on September 7, 2007 for the traditional "Weltklasse", the international athletics meeting. Just over one month (October 13), hosted the friendly between Switzerland and Austria (3-1).

The Letzigrund, the only stadium where fans will not be near the stadium, was designed in the shape of a mussel. With a capacity of 30,000 spectators, is home to FC Zurich resident teams and Grasshoppers Zurich.

Name: Letzigrund Capacity: 30,000 spectators

Opening date: September 7, 2007

Cost: 69 million.

THE ST. JACOB PARK, Basler (A place of definitions)

St Jakob Park in Basle, Switzerland is the biggest stage of Euro, given that after his last reshuffle, has a capacity for 42,500 spectators.

It playing six matches, including two quarter finals and one semi-final.

It was opened for the first time in 1954 and subsequently demolished and re-build the prestigious Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.

Known as "Joggeli" was inaugurated in 2001, after a refurbishment costing 138 million euros. It is the stadium of Basel, the team's favorite tennis player Roger Federer.

Name: St. Jacob Park

Capacity: 42,500 spectators

Opening date: 1954, inaugurated in 2001

Cost: 138 million euros