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Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Wagering on the Euro
By Abeer AnwarGermany, the defending champion, goes into the finals weighed down by criticism and stricken with self-doubt. Few players on the 1996 championship team remain and those who have stepped into the breach are largely inadequate. It is the dearth of young talent more than anything else that threatens to unhinge their title defence and send them home early. The continuing reliance on 39-year-old war-horse Lothar Matthaus is stark evidence of the team's desperation to revive happier times.
World Cup holders France served notice that they will be one of the prime candidates to go all the way by hammering Denmark 3-0 in an entertaining opening Group D encounter at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge. Defender Laurent Blanc put the Frenchmen ahead after six minutes, Thierry Henry grabbed a second just after the hour, and substitute Sylvain Wiltord put the icing on the cake with the third goal close to the final whistle.
France are in the so-called group of death which includes Denmark, Holland and the Czech Republic. But a new coach has stuck with the same line-up that conquered the world two years ago, drawing from the country's former colonies. The team is also trying to emerge from the shadows of the 1984 European title-winners, the fabled Platini team, and make a mark of its own.
Frank De Boer blasted home a penalty one minute from time to give co-hosts The Netherlands victory against the Czech Republic 1-0 in Amsterdam. The Czechs had earlier twice hit the woodwork as they bounced back from a slow start to give The Netherlands a scare. De Boer's spot-kick, awarded after his brother Ronald had been brought down, sealed a somewhat fortuitous victory for the Dutch.
With De Boer, Patrick Kluivert, Jaap Stam, Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids and Boudewijn Zenden, Holland has the most lustrous components of any team at Euro 2000. The Dutch invented the term 'total football,' and in Philip Cocu they have a quietly effective player who both embodies the concept and brings adhesion to the richly-talented team of superstars. Holland reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup and captured the European title 10 years earlier.
Italy got their Euro 2000 campaign off to a winning start 2-1 in the Gelredome stadium on a sunny afternoon in Arnhem but Turkey presented them with plenty of difficulties. The first half was sporadically exciting, but the second sprung into life in thrilling fashion. Antonio Conte gave Italy the lead but Turkey equalised through Okan Buruk before Filippo Inzaghi clinched it for Italy with a disputed penalty.
A Czech striker tries to penetrate Holland's defence but to no avail
The Italians, three time World Cup winners, have underachieved badly in recent tournaments, dropping out at the group stage four years ago and missing out entirely on Euro 92. Hopes of a renaissance are encouraged by their inclusion in a relatively straightforward group, but they had an erratic build-up to Euro 2000. The loss of Christian Vieri, injured yet again, was a blow. The best you could say about Dino Zoff's Italy is that they are improving.
Belgium, the other co-host, got off to a winning start in a dramatic opening match, beating Sweden 2-1. Thrilling strikes from Bart Goor and Emile Mpenza put them two goals clear by just after half-time but after a bizarre goal had brought the Swedes back into it, they survived some scares before they could claim the three points. To add to the Swedes' woes, captain Patrik Andersson was sent off late in the game.
Another possible contender for the title, England must first get by Germany which beat the British on their home turf in the 1996 semi-finals. England has never worn the European crown, having entered the championship five times. Its rivalry with Germany is famous. It beat then West Germany in the final of the 1966 World Cup but lost to the Germans on penalty kicks after drawing 1-1 in the 1990 World Cup. The country feels it has a solid chance in Europe and will field a powerhouse lineup which includes David Beckham, Sol Campbell, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.
In games due to be played today, Sweden will face Turkey in Group B matches at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven. It is Turkey's first appearance in the European Championships while Sweden's best achievement was a semi-final berth in 1992 in which it went down 3-2 to Germany.
Tomorrow the Czech Republic will face France in Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, Belgium. The Czechs beat France in 1960 to take third place. In 1976, the Czechs took it all, beating West Germany 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. In 1980, they took third place, beating Italy 9-8 on penalties after drawing 1-1. In 1996, The Czech Republic beat France in the semi-finals on penalty kicks 3-2. It reached the final but lost to Germany 2-1 on the golden goal rule.
The second match in the same group involves Denmark and Holland at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. In 1992, the two met in the semi-final round, drawing 2-2 before Denmark won 4-3 on penalties to reach the final and win the title, beating Germany 2-0. In 1988, Holland snatched the European crown, beating the former Soviet Union 2-0.
Sixteen teams are divided into four groups in the tournament's format. Group A includes England, Germany, Portugal and Romania. Group B comprises Belgium, Turkey, Italy and Sweden. Group C has Spain, Norway, Slovenia and Yugoslavia while Holland, France, Denmark and the Czech Republic make up Group D.
In the first European cup, in 1960, the then Soviet Union edged Yugoslavia 2-1 after extra time. In 1964, hosts Spain nipped the Soviet Union 2-1. The 1968 in Italy, Italy blanked Yugoslavia 2-0. In Belgium, the 1972 cup was won by then West Germany after beating the Soviet Union 3-0. In the 1976 cup in Yugoslavia, the former Czechoslovakia beat West Germany 5-3 on penalties. In 1980 in Italy, West Germany got by Belgium 2-1. In 1984 in France, the hosts topped Spain 2-0. The 1988 cup in West Germany saw Holland defeat the Soviet Union 2-0. In 1993, Denmark tamed Germany 2-0 to win the cup in Sweden. In England, in 1996, Germany beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in dramatic fashion after a golden goal in extra time.
While Europe 2000 is strictly an all European affair, there will be a distinct non-European element. Egyptian referee Gamal El-Ghandour will be there, the first outsider in the tournament's history chosen to officiate matches.
"It is a very difficult job because I have to be a good representative of my continent and to prove that African Arab referees are equal to Europeans," El-Ghandour said following his selection.
"It was normal to choose him for the job after his great success at the 1998 World Cup," said Farah Addu, deputy chairman of the Confederation Africaine de Football. "His history in international refereeing has proved his worth."
