Man i can't even think whos co-hosting this Switzerland and Austria? That would be Austria's only chance if so. You would have to fancy the top 2 in the betting. croatia to win it after a Germany slow start?
Austria became the first team to start their UEFA EURO 2008™ preparations as Josef Hickersberger welcomed his home-based players to their headquarters on Thursday.
Lindabrunn base
The co-hosts have set up their training centre at the Sportschule Lindabrunn, 32km south of Vienna, and last night the coach greeted the first batch of players to arrive – those who had been playing in the Austrian Bundesliga were the first to test out the facilities. The rump squad will take part in a practice match against local side SV Spittal in Lindabrunn on Saturday.
Training camp
On Sunday, Hickersberger and his party will head to Sardinia, Italy, for a training camp to last until Friday 16 May, at which point the players will be given a final break before the whole squad gathers for another training camp between 19 and 24 May in Lindabrunn. They will then travel to Graz for pre-tournament friendly games against Nigeria (27 May) and Malta (30 May).
ÖFB support
Hickersberger will announce his definitive 23-man squad for the finals on 28 May, with eight players being removed from the current provisional selection. The Austrian Football Association has been at pains to allow players extra time to relax before the tournament begins. The league season ended on 26 April, while the Austrian Cup was cancelled for all but amateur teams.
I'm still undecided here, there doesnt seem to be any eye catching prices about yet. I considered Austria to qualify @ 9/2 being a home nation and having an early start, but who then doesn't qualify from the group? I'm leaving this group till last i think.
croatia is much better team than germany,and thats for sure, austria is big enigma, nobody knows what this team should perform, poland is the joke but not hopeless
tonight i watched the friendly between germany serbia
i was just looking to confirm yhe misery of that german team, serbians truly allowed them to win, if not unmotivated and lazy because of holidays....germans no way to beat them
it is strange though, why bookies and people investing money on this team to win the championship
the Gemans are just the germans to me Martens. They always come good. maybe they just save themselves for these events.
Looking at Monday's games Croatia are 2.00 with Canbet and Corla to beat the hosts. Looks pretty stingy to me but i dont know. I could see it being a draw of sorts.
If Croatias on form they could tank a poor austria outfit. Evens is about right in my opinion and if their main players can produce the sort of performances they have done in qualifying they should get the win. Although theyve been out of sorts in their friendlies to date i still think theyll account for a poor home nation.
I think they're disappointed after frendlies in which Germans played below level of expectations hence such pesimistic poll result but Germany are the tournament team, they're slow starters but they'll be better after each game - my bet is lay Germany in their first game
the problem with backing against hosts is its difficult to judge their form. obviously its easy to say croatia will hose up the austrians bum slack but how do we know how well prepared they are as they didnt go through qualification.
for me i wont be betting against switzerland or austria in their first games, its open season on the 2nd and 3rd though
good one
Rej, lets make a deal, you win Germans, we win Austrians, then you win hosts, we win Germans, and third game, players nitting on the pitch, fans singing and hugging and dancing on the stands, and everybody's happyoooh, wishes, wishes
Euro 2008: Group B
Switzerland and Austria? That would be Austria's only chance if so. You would have to fancy the top 2 in the betting. croatia to win it after a Germany slow start?
oooh, wishes, wishes
