UEFA Euro 2008

Introduction

Euro 2008 kicked off on June the 7th, pitting Europe's 16 best footballing nations against each other. The competition is held every 4 years. This time the event was joint-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

Host Cities

Vienna Shadows

© agnez

Eight cities will host the tournament matches; four in Austria and four in Switzerland.

Austria

• Vienna (Ernst Happel Stadion. Capacity: 53,008) will host Austria v Croatia, Austria v Poland, Austria v Germany, two quarter-finals, a semi-final and the final.
• Klagenfurt (Hypo-Arena. Capacity: 32,000) will host Germany v Poland, Croatia v Germany and Poland v Croatia.
• Salzburg (Wals Siezenheim Stadium. Capacity: 30,000) will host Greece v Sweden, Greece v Russia and Greece v Spain.
• Innsbruck (Tivoli-Neu Stadion. Capacity: 30,000) will host Spain v Russia, Sweden v Spain and Russia v Sweden

Switzerland

Basel

© Kamar

• Basel (St. Jakob-Park. Capacity: 42,500) will host Switzerland v Czech Republic, Switzerland v Turkey, Switzerland v Portugal, two quarter-finals and a semi-final.
• Berne (Stade de Suisse Wankdorf. Capacity: 32,000) will host Netherlands v Italy, Netherlands v France and Netherlands v Romania.
• Geneva (Stade de Genève. Capacity: 32,000) will host Portugal v Turkey, Czech Republic v Portugal and Turkey v Czech Republic.
• Zürich (Letzigrundstadion. Capacity: 30,000) will host Romania v France, Italy v Romania and France v Italy

Getting There

By Plane

All the host cities have international airports, making it possible to fly directly to the cities. The largest airports however are in Vienna, Austria and Zürich, Switzerland. Both cities have numerous international connections.

By Train

Positioned at the heart of Europe, both Austria and Switzerland have excellent train connections to other European countries.

What's more, match-ticket holders will have access to a Combi-Ticket, which allows free use of long-distance train and local public transport on the day of the match and on the following day until noon.

Getting Around

By Train

Match-ticket holders will have access to a Combi-Ticket, which allows free use of long-distance train and local public transport on the day of the match and on the following day until noon. ^[1]

If you don't have a match ticket, but want to visit one of the host cities between June 1 and June 29, you can purchase a Host City Ticket, which is valid for one outward and return journey and for local transport in the chosen city. ^[2]

A special Half-Fare Card (or VORTEILScard) will be available during the month of June, allowing you to travel for half the normal fare on the SBB and Austrian rail networks. If bought in advance (1 April to 31 May), these tickets cost CHF 39 / € 26. After that, they cost CHF 59 / € 39.

If you plan on seeing a lot of Switzerland while you're at the football, the General Abonnement might just be the thing for you. It allows a unlimited travel all over Switzerland during the month of June as well as half price travel in Austria. If bought in advance (1 April to 31 May), the ticket costs CHF 299 for 2nd class and CHF 459 for first class. After those dates, it will cost CHF 399 for 2nd class and CHF 599 for 1st class.

Within Switzerland, a Swiss Card can be purchased. This type of ticket includes a return fare from the Swiss border or a Swiss airport to one of the four Swiss Host Cities. It will also allow give you access to a 50% discount on other rail, bus or ship travel as well as most mountain railways. The price for this ticket is CHF 116 for 2nd class and CHF 147 for 1st class.

There are also the usual InterRail passes available during this time, which may provide a decent option. 2nd class Adult fares start at €189 for a 3 day pass.

Participating Teams

16 teams will take part in the tournament. Austria and Switzerland qualified automatically as hosts and the remaining 14 teams have had to play qualifying matches to take part.

• Austria automatically qualified as co-hosts. This is their first apperance in the European Championship.
• Switzerland automatically qualified as co-hosts. This is their 3rd appearance.
• Poland won Group A. This is their first appearance.
• Portugal was runner-up in Group A. This is their 5th appearance.
• Italy won Group B. This is their 7th appearance. They won the tournament in 1968
• France was runner up in Group B. This is their 7th appearance. They won the tournament in 1984 and 2000.
• Greece won Group C. This is their 3rd appearance. They are defending champions after winning in 2004.
• Turkey was runner up in Group C. This is their 3rd appearance.
• Czech Republic won Group D. This is their 7th appearance (including 3 appearances as Czechoslovakia). They won in 1976.
• Germany was runner up in Group D. This is their 10th appearance. They won in 1972, 1980 and 1996.
• Croatia won Group E. This is their 3rd appearance.
• Russia was runner up in Group E. This is their 9th appearance (including 6 appearances as the USSR). They won in 1960.
• Spain won Group F. This is their 8th appearance. They won in 1964.
• Sweden was runner up in Group F. This is their 4th appearance.
• Romania won Group G. This is their 4th appearance.
• Netherlands was runner up in Group G. This is their 8th appearance. They won in 1988.

The qualified teams have been divided into 4 participating groups by a lottery process.

• Group A includes Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey.
• Group B includes Austria, Croatia, Germany and Poland.
• Group C includes Netherlands, Italy, Romania and France.
• Group D includes Greece, Sweden, Spain and Russia.

Match Dates

Group Stage

• June 07, 18:00 - Switzerland 0 - 1 Czech Republic (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• June 07, 20:45 - Portugal 2 - 0 Turkey (Stade de Genève, Geneva)
• June 08, 18:00 - Austria 0 - 1 Croatia (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)
• June 08, 20:45 - Germany 2 - 0 Poland (Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt)
• June 09, 18:00 - Romania 0 - 0 France (Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich)
• June 09, 20:45 - Netherlands 3 - 0 Italy (Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne)
• June 10, 18:00 - Spain 4 - 1 Russia (Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck)
• June 10, 20:45 - Greece 0 - 2 Sweden (Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg)
• June 11, 18:00 - Czech Republic 1 - 3 Portugal (Stade de Genève, Geneva)
• June 11, 20:45 - Switzerland 1 - 2 Turkey (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• June 12, 18:00 - Croatia v Germany (Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt)
• June 12, 20:45 - Austria v Poland (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)
• June 13, 18:00 - Italy v Romania (Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich)
• June 13, 20:45 - Netherlands v France (Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne)
• June 14, 18:00 - Sweden v Spain (Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck)
• June 14, 20:45 - Greece v Russia (Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg)
• June 15, 20:45 - Switzerland v Portugal (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• June 15, 20:45 - Turkey v Czech Republic (Stade de Genève, Geneva)
• June 16, 20:45 - Poland v Croatia (Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt)
• June 16, 20:45 - Austria v Germany (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)
• June 17, 20:45 - Netherlands v Romania (Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Berne)
• June 17, 20:45 - France v Italy (Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich)
• June 18, 20:45 - Greece v Spain (Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg)
• June 18, 20:45 - Russia v Sweden (Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck)

Each match played has prize-money of €1 million attached. If the teams draw, then each team will receive €500,000.

Quarter-finals

• Quarter-final 1: June 19, 20:45 - Winner Group A v Runner-Up Group B (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• Quarter-final 2: June 20, 20:45 - Winner Group B v Runner-Up Group A (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)
• Quarter-final 3: June 21, 20:45 - Winner Group C v Runner-Up Group D (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• Quarter-final 4: June 22, 20:45 - Winner Group D v Runner-Up Group C (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)

The teams that have reached the semi-finals receive €2 million in prize money for making it this far.

Semi-finals

• Semi-final 1: June 25, 20:45 - Winner of Quarter-final 1 v Winner of Quarter-final 2 (St. Jakob-Park, Basel)
• Semi-final 2: June 26, 20:45 - Winner of Quarter-final 3 v Winner of Quarter-final 4 (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)

The teams that have reached the semi-finals receive €3 million in prize money for making it this far.

Final

One country will become the European Champion of 2008. Who will it be?

• June 29, 20:45 - Winner of Semi-final 1 v Winner of Semi-final 2 (Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna)

The winning country receives €7.5 million. The runner-up receives €4.5 million.