God bless Euro championships. But for the Euro there would be no football this month. I just can’t imagine a footieless month. Of course the transfer rumours are quite spicy and keep you interested even if there is no action on the pitch. There is no substitute for watching football. Roll on Euro. So who am I supporting this Euro? And what is the rationale?

Being a non-European, I have a bunch of choices from which I can choose my Euro team. The parameters are basically I should like the team, the Chelsea representation in the team and the involvement of the Chelsea rivals in the team. I’d say I support England. Unfortunately they played so poorly that they could not get a draw at home when it mattered. It was justice that they didn’t make it to the Euro. What are the options I have? Well, here they are.

I can’t stand France. I’m sorry if any French (sorry Bella!) is reading this. I simply can’t even stomach them. I know there are three Chelsea players in the French contingent who could all play in the first eleven but I seem to have some aversion to the French national team. It’s just the football team and not the country or language, mind you. I absolutely loved the city and people of Paris, when I was there. With the option of seeing either Vieira or Henry holding the trophy aloft, France is big no-no.

Spain is good. But if they win, who’s going to take all the limelight? Torres, Fabregas, Villa, Ramos? Wht’s is in it for me. I’d love to see Fabregas spend his career with no trophies so that after he joins Barca he can look back and see how he could not win anything when he was in Arsenal. That’d be nice. Spain’s got a good team. When it comes to tournaments, they’ve always been chronic underperformers. But they’re a good team.

Portugal? Nah. You think it’s nice to this Ronaldo winning premier league, champions league and Euro in a space of 2 months? Well, it can improve his stock and pull him to Real Madrid, which would be great. Going by what Fergie says time and again on Ronaldo, he stays at Man Utd. Why win so much in such short span of time. Some of our defenders are Portuguese but it’s okay. They will win stuff with Chelsea.

I like the Azzuris. I like the way Italy plays. I love their style, which some of you might brand as boring. Italians are very highly tactically aware and play and think as a team. They are always conscious of what they need to do, as in what result do I need and how can I get it, smart football if you know what I mean. Also they are in the group C where France plays. it’s quite important that Italy plays well, if France are to be eliminated. You know what, I’d be cheering Romania too. So, Italy are one of my favourites for this tournament.

With Netherlands, you have another case of a group of very highly talented players but an okay team. In their best form, they are a treat to watch but they are never so popular outside of Netherlands. It’s quite difficult for a non-Dutch to support Netherlands because of their lack of iconic figures and also their internal ego clashes and their unprofessional behaviour and lack of sportsmanship on the pitch. Having van Nistelrooy and Robben don’t help them! I won’t feel for a second if they are to be eliminated. With Boulahrouz in their ranks, they can have great ambitions, can they?

Czech are a good team too. Last Euro they were the best team of the cup until they were unfortunately braten by the champions Greece. I’d love to see them come up with another such performance and give the big ones a run for their money. The best of the dark horses have to be Croatia. They played brilliant football all along the qualifiers and did not change their determination one bit even after they qualified. Bilic could be the most sought after coach, if Croatia makes it to the semi finals. There are no rumours about this but I think Chelsea would be rumoured to be chasing Bilic at some point of time. Among the dark horses, my vote goes to Croatia and Czech.

And finally, if there is one player that I want to see lift the trophy, it is ze German, Michael Ballack. Germany, like Italy, play the kind of football I like. I’d call it complete football – very evenly balanced in all parts of the pitch, strong in the air and on ground, they defend as well as they can attack, effective in set pieces as well as in open play and if they ever get into penalties, the game is as good as over for the opponents. To top it all they are a tournament team. They have a great sense of objective and their game way too organised for an upset of any sort. They are led by our man, Michael Ballack. There is no one in the German team from our English league rivals except a discarded Lehmann. My love for Ballack more than overshadows my hate for Lehmann. I hope Enke knocks him out for the first eleven.

So my first choice favourite is Germany and second choice is Italy. My first choice dark horse is Croatia and the second choice is Czech republic. The teams that I absolutely don’t want to win are France and Portgual.

I still remember the images of Ballack crying after the champions league finals. This is the chance for ze German to erase that memory by lifting the other European trophy. If want Germany to simply roll over every opponent they come across – be it Italy, Croatia or Czech – just roll them over. Michael Ballack to be the European champion.

Gary Cahill to Chelsea?






    • View Results

Loading ... Loading ...