EURO 2006 OR ESPANA '82
by Clinton Ooi

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 2006 European Championships here in Germany!!!

... Wait a minute didn't we just have EURO 2004? Isn't the World Cup still on?

Well, if you look at the draw for the Semi-finals of this years World Cup you could be excused for thinking it was the Euro. This is the first time in 24 years and six world cups that the cup of life semis will be only contested by countries from the continent.



The parallels are endless:

• In 1982 France, Germany (then West Germany) were also semifinalists while a country starting with the letter 'P' was the other - 82: Poland 06: Portugal
• Germany stand in their way 82: Final 06: Semifinal
• Spain thrilled but disappointed when it counted 82: Second phase 06: Second round
• A French master was in the twilight of his career - 82: Michel Platini 06: Zinedine Zidane
• Italian domestic football was in turmoil with a match-fixing and bribery scandal 82: Paolo Rossi 06: Well... half of Italy

So the pre-tournament favourites are out - Brazil, Argentina and England all failing to light up the cup except surely Maradona's men. The mid-tournament hopefuls are out - Spain, Holland, Australia and the Czech Republic.

So we're back and live ladies and gentlemen to the opening ceremony of Euro 2006 here in Dortmund on July 4th as hosts Germany tackle European giants Italy in the group of death.

Will Luca Toni be the new Paolo Rossi? Will France lift for the Zizou Farewell tour? Will German soil prove too tough to thred? or will the outsiders Portugal upset the show?

Sforza Italia! The signs point to them...