Euro Competition Football Betting
The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship concluded on 29 June with the final at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna after twenty three days of gripping and exciting football in a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs for most of the teams involved. For the first time in a while it was impossible to predict the winner with so many prestigious teams struggling to maintain past glories while thrusting and enthusiastic teams from the Balkans and the old Soviet Union sought to dispel any assumptions that the Cup belongs in the hands of the usual suspects.
Confusion For Football Betting Enthusiasts
England football fans, together with Football Betting enthusiasts, anticipated Euro 2008 not knowing what to feel. Having failed to qualify, the outlook was bleak. The BBC, had paid a fortune to broadcast its share of the games and urgently sought a way forward with their catchphrase, ‘Who will you support?’. The question floated into our minds and floated out again, unanswered, such was our bewilderment and confusion.
We needn’t have worried. Football at this level has a habit of dispersing any feelings of resentment and the sheer quality of the games on display, twice daily, soon had us all in front to of our screens. OK, we might not have been shouting for any side in particular but we would usually find reason for a bit of bias in most games and, if you add to that any wagers we had placed, there was plenty of scope for jumping up and down. The sheer range of betting opportunities on online betting sites never ceases to amaze me and it’s hard to get bored with the ingenuity of the bookies in full flow.
Round Up of Euro 2008
All the teams gave their best and some surprised us all. For a while it looked like the Dutch would go all the way after destroying the French and the Italians. From quite early on, after trashing Russia 3-0, Spain looked like defeating their demons and finally taking their first International crown. The Germans were relentless as usual although Croatia’s brilliant win over them caused a stir or two while Turkey pulled many a rabbit out of the hat, on a couple of occasions, to come from behind and amaze everyone with their Houdini escapes. The quarter finals were excellent matches to watch, especially the Germany-Portugal and Netherlands-Russia games. The semi-final between Germany and Turkey was a real treat with the phenomenal spirit of the Turks on display yet again. Germany dominated yet again, though and went on to meet Spain who had, for a second time in the competition, soundly defeated the Russians 3-0 in their semi-final.
The final was notable for the final triumph of Fernando Torres. His winning goal against Germany did more than wipe out a lifetime of misery for the Spanish. It hailed him as a new European footballing force as well as raising him to the level of God-like figure amongst his Spanish compatriots.
Euro 2008 Betting
There’s a lot of talk about the forthcoming demise of tournaments such as Euro 2008 and the World Cup in favour of the Champions League and other top level club tournaments. Should this happen, it will be a sad loss to us all. Football is not just about clinical precision and genius. Its real roots lie in tribal conflict, and, as long as fans behave themselves and act with honour, long may we be able to enjoy our rivalries.