The European Championship is the highest level of national team competition in Europe, which is held every four years, and European countries attach great importance to it. The center of gravity of today's world football is in Europe, and Europe has many of the world's strongest teams, so every European Championship will attract the attention of media and fans around the world.

The European Championship is also a big stage for European stars to prove themselves. In 1988, the Dutch Three Musketeers made a name for themselves and helped their team win the championship. In 2000, France defeated Italy under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane to win the championship, creating the feat of winning the World Cup and then the European Championship. Zinedine Zidane has become the world's midfield master.

Who will use this stage to achieve their own prestige in this European Cup?

The German Bild newspaper made a prediction, and the first place was not Tang Jue!

Cristiano Ronaldo is number one!

According to Bild, the Portuguese star, who has grown rapidly after the World Cup, has now become Manchester United's number one star. The Portuguese star was instrumental in Manchester United's Premier League title triumph this season, scoring 42 goals for the team, surpassing former Manchester United midfielder Georges? Best's record. With 31 league goals, he became the Premier League's top scorer and won the title of Premier League Player of the Year.

The defeat in the Champions League is bound to boost the fighting spirit of the Portuguese star. Although he is slightly inferior to the French star Tang Jue in terms of data and record, the French team and Tang Jue are carrying a heavy burden to participate in this European Cup. The Portuguese star is bound to use the big stage to prove himself.

As runners-up last year, Portugal welcomed a new leader in the team. Cristiano Ronaldo wants to lead the team to accomplish feats that the golden generation has not done!

In second place was Podolski, a German of Polish origin, with a fierce style of play, tenacity, strong physicality and excellent left-footed shooting skills. Since the '06 World Cup, he has been quite impressive in the national team.

In the 2008 European Championship qualifiers, in Germany's 13-0 win over San Marino, Podolski scored four goals alone. He also became the German team in history. The third player to score four goals in a game. The first two. They are the famous bomber Müller, and the former captain of the German team, Balak.

Podolski's brilliance in the German team did not give him a place in the main team of Bayern, and he wants to take advantage of the excitement of this European Championship. to win Bayern's main striker position.

Tang Jue ranked third. Bild believes that the first French star worth more than 100 million yuan. It should have been in first place. But because of the Anelka incident. and after the Wenchuan earthquake, the "down-Tang" storm in France put a heavy burden on the French team and him.

There's no denying it. The French star is one of the most dominant strikers in the world today and has the ability to change the outcome of a game. He is known for his speed and technique, as well as Basten-like shooting skills, which gives him a terrifying energy. The third place is not because of his ability, but because the French team and his baggage are too heavy.

The French were not known for their willpower, they played with grace and did not have the iron will of the Italians in the face of difficulties. What the Italians could do in '06, it was difficult for the French team in '08. The French captain had an iron will, but his teammates did not. Football is a whole, and it is difficult for the French team to go to the end alone.

Another, more important factor is that after Zinedine Zidane's departure, the French team has not found the core of the midfield. Without a master who dominated the midfield, the strength of the French midfield plummeted. In addition to the absence of Vieira, a midfielder, the strength of the French team's midfield is more than a notch lower than that of the Zidane era.

Now the overall strength of this French team is declining compared to the Zidane era. Except for Tang, the strength of other positions is not comparable to the Zidane era at all. Thuram and Makelele are both in their thirties, and they have no problem with their experience, but fitness is their biggest problem.

……

As soon as this article was published, it caused heated discussions. The team newspaper objected, believing that although the French team had a heavy burden, how could Podolski be in front of Tang Jue, and the two were not at all a high-grade player. They believe that Tang Jue and Ronaldo should be on par, and both are likely to shine in this European Cup.

The Italian newspaper Sport believes that people underestimate the influence of Tang Jue, who lived and played in Milan for two seasons, and Milan's iron blood is in his blood, as evidenced by this season's Champions League final. Under his influence, the will quality of the French team will definitely go to a higher level. Therefore, the French team is still one of the biggest favorites to win this European Cup.

The Telegraph disputed the opinion of Milan Sport: the ball bully does have a will of steel, but when it comes to influence, the Italian overestimates him. The French team is under heavy pressure and in the group of death, and it will be too difficult to win the championship.

The newspaper believes that the Bild article ignores the overall strength of the team, and the performance of a star has a great relationship with the overall strength of the team. Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo, but due to the withdrawal of the golden generation from the national team, the overall strength of the team has begun to decline, and with Ronaldo alone, they have absolutely no possibility of going to the end.

When it comes to attacking and defending balance, Spain should be in the top three, with Barcelona's midfield and Real Madrid's midfield, Spain have the world's envy of the central midfield, and they deserve to be the favourites to win the title.

As for the French team, the first thing they have to deal with now is internal and psychological. If they can't solve the psychological problems, they won't even be able to make it out of the group.

The Argentine Independent newspaper expressed its opinion: since Maradona, Tang is another superstar with the ability to change the world. Whichever team has Don has the possibility of winning the championship!

La Paris Daily published a comment: The French team does not need to pay attention to any comments from the outside world now, they should adjust their mentality as soon as possible, throw away the heavy burden on their bodies, and use their performance to save the image of French football. Don should stay away from the media and adjust his form as soon as possible to prepare for his first European Championship. As long as he adjusts his condition, this is his European Cup!

……

In the midst of the outside world's discussions. The 16 teams participating in the European Cup are in full swing to prepare for the quadrennial European exam!

At half past seven in the evening of June 7, the opening ceremony of the European Championship was held at the St. Jacobbel Stadium in Basel, Switzerland, which heralded the opening of the Euro 08 Cup!

After a brief opening ceremony, the match between the host Swiss team and the Czech Republic officially began. Without Rosicky, the Czechs were looking to get off to a good start, with coach Brückner changing formations, with Kohler coming forward alone and Barosh on the bench. The hosts, Switzerland, are a good team overall, with Frei and Streller looking to contribute to the home team.

At eight o'clock, with the referee Italian Rossetti blowing a whistle. The competition is officially on!

In the shouts of the Swiss fans at the scene. The Swiss team was very aggressive, pressing aggressively in central midfield and creating a number of dangerous attacks. Czech international Cech, who has just participated in the Champions League final, looks very brave. Under his high and low gears. The Czechs ended the first half 0-0.

The two sides swapped venues after the break. Keep fighting. The Swiss team was firmly in control of the situation amid the shouts of the home fans, and suppressed the Czech team to the death.

Sixty-fifth minute. The Swiss team crossed from the right, and Yakin's header from 12 meters in front of the goal went just wide of the right post!

In the 70th minute of the second half, the first goal of Euro 2008 was scored!

Substitute Sverkosh received a team-mate's header and then managed to form a one-on-one shot against offside. He shot with the outside of his right foot from eleven meters in front of goal!

The football rolled from the right side of the goal into the net and the Czech team led 1-0!

It was Sverkoš's first international goal for the Czech Republic!

Czech coach Brückner on the sidelines showed a big smile!

In the 74th minute, the Swiss team, which was behind in the score, made adjustments, and the young player Feng Lantang replaced Lichtsteiner, and the host made a desperate bet!

In the 79th minute, the Czech goal was in danger. Streller's header in the box hit the left hand of nearby Ujfalusi, but the referee did not award a penalty. The ball fell in front of Barnetta and the Swiss midfielder's left-footed shot was blocked by Petr Cech. Feng Lantang, who came on as a substitute, followed up with a right-footed shot, but unfortunately the ball hit the crossbar and bounced. Switzerland missed the best shot of the game.

At the end of three minutes of stoppage time, the Italian referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, and the Czech pair won 1-0 against the hosts and got off to a good start!

This match once again showed the world that sitting at home and being in control does not mean that you can win in the end.

After this match, the other match in Group A was played in Geneva, with Portugal taking on Turkey. The last runner-up, under the leadership of Cristiano Ronaldo, sent an attack to the third place in the 02 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared very positive and threatened the opposition goal on several occasions.

In the sixth minute, Ronaldo cut inside with the ball on the right side and fired a right-footed shot from 25 meters from the goal. In the 30th minute, after Ronaldo connected three people in the middle, he fired a low right-footed shot from 25 meters wide of the left post. In the 37th minute, Ronaldo took a free kick 30 meters to the left and shot with his right foot, Volhan rubbed the ball slightly, the ball hit the far post and popped up, and the defender cleared it in time.

Portugal bombed wildly, and the Turks relied on their tenacity. At the end of the first half, the two sides drew 0-0. In the second half, the two sides changed sides and fought again, Portugal continued to launch a fierce attack on Turkey, and in the 61st minute, Pepe suddenly inserted in the middle, and Nuno Gomez made a one-two cooperation, throwing off the defense and bursting into the penalty area!

The Real Madrid centre-back swept with his right foot from 15 meters, and the attacking Volhan fell to the ground in advance to block the angle, and the ball flew right past him and rolled into the middle of the goal!

Portugal 1-0!

It was also Pepe's first goal for the national team!

With the score behind, Turkey launched a counter-attack, but under the stubborn resistance of the Portuguese midfield, they returned again and again to no avail. In the ninety-third minute, Portugal seized the opportunity to counterattack, Ronaldo quickly advanced to the edge of the penalty area with the ball on the left side, Moutinho responded in the middle, pulled the ball and turned past the defender and goalkeeper and passed the ball, and Meireles pushed the empty goal with his right foot from seven meters on the right rib!

Portugal 2-0!

Referee Vandel also immediately blew the final whistle. In the end, Portugal won 2-0! (To be continued......)

PS: This chapter is for the first helmsman of this book, book friends 140720103940969!