FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.06.2008 10:46

Euro 2008 gets under way

Jordi Clos

The European Championship starts on Saturday with Switzerland facing the Czech Republic. Eight Barça players are involved in the tournament.

Switzerland and Austria are the hosts for what promises to be a fascinating championship, with the opening game on Saturday at 18.00. After Switzerland have faced the Czechs, the evening game sees Deco’s Portugal taking on Turkey, the first of many games with Barcelona interest.

Germany favourites in Group B

This is the only group with no Barça presence, where Germany are the most fancied of the four teams, but the young Croatian side are always a threat after putting England out of the competition, while Poland have plenty of experience and Austria have home advantage.

The group of death

Group C is the most attractive, with France, Italy, Holland and Romania involved. The French have three Barça players in Thuram, Abidal and Henry, who in the last game of the group stage will be facing the side they met in the last World Cup final.

Familiar faces for Spain

Spain also have three Barça players in their ranks after Luis Aragonés picked all of Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, who will be hoping to end the curse of the quarter finals, when the side so typically goes out of major competitions. They meet Sweden again, after already meeting in the qualifying stages, while they were also paired with Greece and Russia at the last European Championship.