The Euro Championship Adventure

<> 2012: Poland - Ukraine: The Eastern pendulum.

One of the European Union's upcoming challenges after the Greek issue is gonna be dictator Putin's return to power in Russia. The economic stability and security of the EU will partially depend upon a couple of elements in the East, Afghanistan and the Eastern bloc, and north Africa. Next summer the West will seek to promote and implement the democracies, human rights, free enterprises, etc., through soccer in several newly founded Republics @ Russia's doorsteps.

Archive: Germany's Autonama

______________________________________________________________________________

12/1 - The group draw this Friday LIVE @ 8 am Pacific Time.

<> In Brief: Polish society today Part 1, Part 2 - Boniek's football perspective

<> As it happens courtesy of the BBC Sport, the Germans stay cool and prepare for football battles.

I am relaxing and listening to my music while awaiting the tourney draw.
______________________________________________________________________________

My Euro Championship Timeline:

<> 2008 Austria Switzerland:  UEFA's Martin Kallen's perspective 

I am a die hard, baby. For sure, I have 30, 40 strong years to go. In the last 20 years it's been called "practice". I have not started my natural ability at full strength yet.


2004 Portugal: Champions Greece  -  Under the guildance of Otto Rehagel, who could have pulled strings, Greece registered the most improbable championship in football history.

<> 2000 Netherlands - Belgium:  

Like a space program, hosting a football tournament became too expensive for one country to bear. The idea of co hosting a Euro tournament became a reality when the Netherlands and Belgium awarded Euro '00.

<> 1996: England the birthplace of football. The English invented the game of football. Unfortunately, English football has been outrun by European and world oppositions these day, due of tactical and technique deficiencies, outdated style of play, etc.

 In review: The England prep for the tourney on home soil. The Euro '96 was no exception: Part 1, Part 2

The England Germany clash was terrific from start to finish. So exciting that I was late for evening German class and almost skipped the midterm that day in the midst of the German semester in Virginia .


<> 1992: Yugoslavia: The civil war in Yugoslavia broke and the site of Euro '92 moved to Sweden.

The qualified Yugoslavia team replaced by Denmark who went on to beat the unified Germany in the final to win the title. After the 1990 WC triumph the unified Germany had to wait for another 4 years to conquer Europe.

In review: Part 1, Part 2

<> 1988 West Germany: The return of Dutch football.

After the Cruyff era it took the tiny country of Netherlands approximately 10 years to produce another generation of footballers capable of winning a title. Manager Rinus Mitchels returned to coach the likes of R. Koeman, F. Kijkaar, Van Basten and Ruud Gullit to Euro '88 title.

In review: Part 1, Part 2

The young Jurgen Klinsmann sat in dismay and cried like a baby after the Netherlands match. I watched it LIVE, baby.

<> 1984 France: The renaissance of the midfielders.

The role of the midfielders was redefined in term of how to govern the midfield and launch the attack. In France midfielders, Jean Tigana Alain Giresse Luis Fernandez Michel Platini, I watched with delight the way the midfield was governed.

In review: The Michel Platini football show.

<> 1980: Let's play soccer, baby.

My Euro Championship Timeline.

2/12 - Euro 2012: England national team in the wilderness

                            - British Prime Minister David Cameron on the England drama -

<> A couple of candidates for the England managerial position:

1 - Sir Alex Ferguson knighthooded for his services to English football @ club level, guilding Manchester United to domestic and European titles.
2 - Harry Rednapp, the current Tottenham Hotspur manager, is being considered for the position.

The latest Football Association(FA) decision: Stuart Pearce, the former England international and current U21 manager.

<> My opinion: Less than 4 months before Euro 2012, in the moment when England is in need of a manager capable of guilding the national team to the title, it is the national matter of importance with the backing of the British government and businesses. My recommendation is this, the FA executives should be summoned to appear in person(s) and Sir Alex Ferguson should be called for service one more time. The addition of Alex Ferguson to the 6 month interim England managerial position along with Stuart Pearce for Euro 2012 will be huge given his tactical experience and knowledge of the game. The goal is to win Euro 2012. At the moment England has the good players capable of winning the title. What they are lacking is guildance.

The core of the England team @ Euro 2012. To name a few:

Manchester United: Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck
Arsenal: Theo Walcott
Tottenham: Tom Huddlestone
Liverpool: Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Andy Carrol
Chelsea: Frank Lampard, John Terry

<> The forces of Dutch, German and Spanish football await @ Euro 2012.

Written by Anhtuan Nguyen Huynh, Reno, Nevada.