EURO 2008 is well underway. It’s been decent soccer thus far (entertaining, etc …) and for me, that’s great. Being a “soccer guy”, I simply enjoy the spectacle. You can’t complain when you’re seeing some of the best players in the world in a month long competition.

But, for the casual soccer fan, something’s missing. And that something’s, England – and that’s not because I’m one of those blow-hard Englishmen who thinks England’s god-given gift to soccer. Some English fans (like most fans from football-crazed nations) believe they have some divine right to the game, which is entirely untrue. For a matter of fact, England’s qualification run was crap and they don’t deserve to be in Austria-Switzerland.

However, in saying that, the tournament misses them. The biggest tournament’s in the world should include the world’s biggest teams. Love them or hate them, it works on both levels. Just as many fans cheer against England in every competition than cheer for them. That’s what makes it work. The same goes for Italy and Germany – if you’re not from those nations, they’re the team you love to hate. If either of those teams weren’t in the tournament, it wouldn’t be the same.

So the next time you cheer against a team like England in qualification, just remember how much fun it is to see them lose on the world’s biggest stage.

As always, you can check out my soccer column at the link below.

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Some quick thoughts on today’s games.

France is much better than they showed, but a line-up change is desperately needed. There are too many old legs in their line-up. I suggest getting guys like Patrice Evra and Bafetimbi Gomis into the game from the start. Romania is as advertised; a hard working squad that will not get out of the group.

As for Italy, where do I start?? What was Roberto Donadoni doing? I absolutely hated there line-up. Ambrosini, Camoranesi, Di Natale, etc … These players should not have been starting!! Nevermind the controversial goal, because that was the least of there worries. Aside from a couple nice save by Edwin Van der Sar, the defending World Cup Champions were completely out-classed. In saying that, I’m still not convinced the Netherlands are real contenders to win the tournament. The Dutch defense is paper thin and I predict will be exposed as the tournament progresses. If Donadoni can start a proper line-up, featuring Cassano, Grosso, and De Rossi, the Italians can find themselves in line for a place in the quarter-final.

gw

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