By Khilen Mehta

Russia- Guus Hiddink’s maiden campaign as coach could hardly have had a more dramatic ending as Russia snatched second place in Group E  right at the death. Victory over England in Russia left them needing just six points from their last two games to be sure of qualifying. However defeat to Isreal left England back in pole position. On the final day however, England lost to Croatia and victory of Andorra gave the Russians their route to the tournament. In recent times, Guus Hiddink has made wholesale changes to the the squad in recent times, and the Russia side competing in Austria and Switzerland bears little likeness to the one that traveled to the finals of UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal.

Manager- Guus Hiddink, I am very happy with the players’ mentality.”

Key Player- Andrei Arshavin will be a big loss as he is suspended for the first two games

Prediction- Will battle it out for second spot with Sweden

Sweden- Sweden qualified in second place in Group F behind Spain, completing the job on the last night of qualifying when they beat Latvia 2-1 and Northern Ireland lost in Spain. Lars Lagerbäck’s side made a bright start, winning their opening four games – including a 2-0 success over section favourites Spain courtesy of goals from Johan Elmander and Marcus Allbäck. Although defeat in Spain put the champagne on ice, a victory over Latvia ensured Sweden qualified for their fifth successive tournament. Sweden are unlikely to make many changes to the habits that have brought them such success. The surprise recall of striker Henrik Larsson, following his retirement from international football, has given Sweden a major boost as the veteran can forge a partnership  with Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Manager- Lars Lagerbäck, “It’s going to be less physically demanding and with more focus on tactical preparations for the coming matches,”

Key Player- Henrik Larsson will lead the line with all his experience

Prediction- All will depend on their result with Russia.

By Khilen Mehta

Netherlands- It´s exactly twenty years since the Dutch last conquered Europe and after their recent form in qualifying, they look confident and full of desire. Besides qualification for Austria and Switzerland, another major positive from the Dutch campaign was the opportunity given to the stars of their 2006 and 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship winning squads to impress at senior level. However these tests will be a big test for the managerial decision of the manager, who has been recently undermined by many key players, including Clarence Seedorf who withdraw from the squad claiming that the conditions were not right for him to perform at his best. Having reached the semi-finals in 2004, they will be hoping to go one better this time.

Managaer- Marco Van Basten, “With more experience, we will have a chance to clinch a major title.”

Key Player- Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be relied upon to score the goals

Prediction- Runners up in group, but beaten quarter finalists

Romania- By far the weakest team in the group, the Romanians stand little chance of qualifying for the quarter finals. Romania confirmed their progress to their first finals tournament since UEFA EURO 2000 with two games to go, with a 2-0 win in Luxembourg completing a run of ten unbeaten games in Group G. Although Romania qualified for the 1984 and 1996 UEFA European Championship finals, they failed to win a match. Their first victory in the finals actually took place in their ninth match, defeating England 3-2 in the UEFA EURO 2000 finals, a result that provided them with a place in the knockout stages of the competition. Unbeaten against the Netherlands in the qualifying stages, Romania will take heart from these performances against the other nations.

Manager- Victor Piţurcă, “we don’t depend upon one player or another”.

Key Player-Adrian Mutu will be the focal point of everything good for Romania

Prediction- Will fall at the first stage, despite putting up stubborn opposition

By Khilen Mehta

Also known as the group of death, every team in this group has the potential to knock the others out. With 3 previous winners in this group, it will be guaranteed to set the pulses racing with some free flowing, entertaining football.

France- France’s Group B campaign proved more of an ordeal than many would have anticipated although Italy’s 2-1 win in Scotland did them a big favour by making their final game in Ukraine a formality and allowed them to finish second in the group behind the Italians. Following successes in 1984 and 2000,France are the only other country apart from three-time winners Germans to have won the competition more than once. Their manager has dropped many of their ageing stars such as Trezeguet and instead the French will be relying on their new gems, such as Benzema and Nasri to lead them to their third European success. Everybody´s eyes will be on the game between the French and the Italians in this group as France try to avenge defeat in the World Cup final.

Manager- Raymond Domenech, “Experience is helpful, but one competition is never the same as the next.”

Key Player- Thierry Henry will be eager to recover from his Barcelona misery

Prediction- Their age will count against them this tournament, shock early exit

Italy- Replacing Marcello Lippi after Italy’s success at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Donadoni made a shaky start in qualifying but his team eventually did enough to eventually qualify as Group B winners. They secured qualification both for themselves and France by beating Scotland 2-1 in Glasgow thanks to another goal from Toni and an added-time winner from defender Christian Panucci and a 3-1 win against the Faroe Islands in their final fixture earned them top spot in the section at France’s expense. Having won the European Championships in 1968, the Italians will be hoping to secure a second victory, forty years on from their previous triumph. With only Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti missing from their victorious World Cup squad, Italian fans will be quietly confident.

Manager- Roberto Donadoni,” I think that our ability to use several formations could be one of our strengths”

Key Player- Alessandro Del Piero was the top scorer in this seasons Serie A

Prediction- Defeat in the semi- finals

By Khilen Mehta

Germany- The germans are always said to be one of the favourites in every tournament especially after winning the tournament in 1996. With only a handful of truly recognisable big names, their team spirit and their teamwork are the foundations for their success. After a generally impressive qualifying campagin, which included a 13-0 victory over San Marino, they finished second in their group after drawing their final game with Wales. Germany have not won a match in the final tournament of a UEFA European Championship since winning the competition in 1996. Since then, Germany have played six matches, drawing three and losing three with three goals scored and eight conceded. However with Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings in midfield, their typically robust defense, and Klose scoring the goals upfront, Germany are once again front runners.

Manager- Joachim Low, “Germany are always one of the favourites, but that’s fine. It’s something you have to accept.”

Key Player- Miroslav Klose will be the focal point of every attack

Prediction- Beaten semi-finalists

Croatia- In a competitive Group B, Croatia performed admirably and even managed to knock out group favourites England in the process. With only one defeat in the group against Macedonia, Croatia can boast away victories in Russia and England. The Croatians have a European pedigree and are hungry for success under manager Slaven Bilic. They have qualified for every tournament bar Euro 2000, and were knocked out in the quarter final stages by eventual winners Germany in Euro 96. Up until the end of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008, Croatia had appeared in the UEFA European Championship on four occasions, and had played 47 matches. In that time, they had won 28, drawn eleven and lost eight with 86 goals scored and 38 conceded.

Manager- Slaven Bilic, “We are good – very good,”

Key Player- Luka Modric will want to impress before playing in the premiership next season

Prediction- Will qualify from their group but then will struggle

By Khilen Mehta

Austria- With only friendly games to prepare themselves for co-hosting the finals, Austria have endured some tough times. Austria fans are so worried about their teams potential performance in the championships that they even petitioned the FA to allow them to withdraw in order to save further embarassment. This is likely to be a major learning curve for the Austrians given the fact that they are playing in their first European Championships. Prior to the finals, Austria have suffered defeats against Germany and the Netherlands and although they previously beat the Ivory Coast, a run of 10 games without victory does not inspire confidence.

Manager- Josef Hickersberger, “I’m convinced we will see a very different national team

Key Player- Roland Linz is a regular goalscorer in the Portuguese League

Prediction- One of the easiest groups, but still not a hope

Poland- They qualified with a game to spare for the Championships when they beat Belgium. Helped by nine goals from striker/winger Euzebiusz Smolarek, this is Poland’s first appearance in the Championships after a previous twelve attempts at trying. Up until the end of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008, Poland had appeared in all 13 UEFA European Championship qualifying competitions, and had played 90 matches. In that time, they had won 38, drawn 24 and lost 28 of those fixtures with 131 goals scored and 100 conceded.

Manager- Leo Beenhakker, “This is definitely one of the biggest successes of my career,”

Key Player- Euzebiusz Smolarek was a prolific scorer in qualifying

Prediction- Could throw a surprise spanner in the works with their pace

By Khilen Mehta

Portugal- Portugal’s best performance to date in the competition came in 2004 when they lost in the final to Greece. Prior to that, Portugal had appeared in two semi-finals where they lost on both occasions to France. They have played 108 matches in their 13 participations in the UEFA European Championship, winning 58, drawing 26 and losing 24 with 183 goals scored and 98 conceded. Although they may have only lost once in their qualifying group they endured a tense finale in their last group game against Finland where a 0-0 draw saw them through. However with arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 8 goals in qualifying, they will go into every game with confidence.

Manager- Luis Felipe Scolari, “I know we have to improve for the finals.”

Key Player- Cristiano Ronaldo will carry on his unstoppable goalscoring form

Prediction- Beaten semi-finalists

Turkey- After a stirring start to their qualifying campaign which saw them win their first three games without conceding a goal, Turkey almost threw it all away but in the end they managed to qualify with a game to spare. Despite playing in all 13 UEFA European Championship qualifying rounds, Turkey’s first participation in a final tournament took place at UEFA EURO 96. Prior to the finals of UEFA EURO 2008, they have played 95 matches. In that time, they had won 35, drawn 22 and lost 38 of those fixtures with 110 goals scored and 135 conceded. Altho they lack incisiveness, they have pace and guile in midfield, and proven goalscorers in Kahveci and Tuncay upfront.

Manager- Fatih Terim, “I made a promise that we would qualify and make a significant contribution at the finals.”

Key Player- Nihat Kahveci is a proven international goalscorer

Prediction- Stubborn opposition but ultimately lack the class to progress

By Khilen Mehta

With Euro 2008 only 11 days away, the EV guide to the championships begins now. Everyday I will whet your appetite for the summer by giving you the lowdown on two teams from each group. The key facts, the key players and my very own predictions for each group. Let us begin with Group A…

1) Switzerland- This is the first time the UEFA EURO 2008 co-hosts will have played in consecutive UEFA European Championship finals and the 2008 tournament will be their third finals overall. They look far better prepared then fellow hosts Austria with encouraging results including a draw against Argentina followed by a victory against the Netherlands. With a solid defensive base, scoring goals will be Switzerlands main concern. Their record prior to the finals of UEFA EURO 2008 was 80 matches played with 29 wins, 22 draws and 29 losses, with 119 goals scored and 108 conceded. Both of their finals campaigns in 1996 and 2004 have started with draws - 1-1 against hosts England in 1996 and 0-0 with Croatia in Portugal - but ended with two subsequent defeats.

Manager- Jakob Kuhn, “Success would be to reach the quarter-finals. Of course it won’t be easy, but that has to be our goal”

Key Player- Alexander Frei will be relied upon to score the goals

Prediction- Will struggle to finish anywhere but bottom

2) Czech Republic- The Czechs have the pedigree to go far in this competition. They retain a 100 per cent qualification record for the UEFA European Championship with four appearances from four attempts and they reached the final in Euro 96. However with the retirements of Poborsky and Nedved, and the potential loss of Rosicky to injury, it remains to see whether they will be as creative in front of goal to match their solidness at the back. Koller and Baros link up brilliantly up front, and Koller even finished second top goal scorer in 2006 FIFA qualifying with nine goals. Up until the end of UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying, the Czech Republic had played 54 matches in the UEFA European Championship, winning 39, drawing eight and losing seven. In that time, they scored 117 goals and conceded 37.

Manager- Karel Brückner, “Qualifying is nice but the way we did it is even better.”

Key Player- David Rozenhal will keep it tight at the back

Prediction- Will fall to one of the bigger nations in the quarter finals

By Khilen Mehta

Although Kylie Minogue is a likeable personality, she has never been to everyone’s taste. Her career has often seemed a series of attempts to expand on this basic likeability. But in her two decade career, the tiny Aussie wonder has dominated the charts by providing non-stop fun in her performances.

Throughout her battle with breast cancer, everyone’s favourite pop princess was constantly thanking her followers for their loving support, and judging by the success of her most recent comeback performances, her fans couldn´t be more pleased in seeing her back on the stage. Her huge grin, her flamboyant costumes and the over-excited crowd are everything that makes a Kylie gig so memorable.

Throughout her career, Kylie has won countless awards, and had plenty of top tensingles. In the 2008 Brit Awards, she won Best International Female Artist and she also received the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2008, which is France’s highest cultural honour. With a tally of over thirty top ten singles, Kylie is the second most succesful woman in British chart history after Madonna. Kylie’s biggest single was “Can’t get you out of my head”, which reached number one in over twenty countries and sold more than four million copies worldwide.

It was reported that every ticket scheduled for her UK tour was snapped up in an unbelievable thirty minutes after going on sale. Tickets are likely to go fast for her performance in Madrid as well, so make sure you snap yours up nice and early!

Here is an example of what you could be missing out on…

Long live the Pop Princess!

By Khilen Mehta

The 67th edition of the Madrid international book fair will be inaugurated on the 30th May by King Juan Carlos in Retiro Park. The festival allows bookshops, publishers and distributors the chance to display their books to the public. Most of the books will be written in Spanish but Retiro will prove a spectacular setting for those interested to peruse over 350 stalls.

Distinguised authors such as Jorge Semprún and Martin Amis will be giving talks and describing what inspires their stories, and there will also be a special childrens section. If you do head over there, you are recommended to try a Horchata in one of the cafes in the park, a refreshing drink made from rice and almonds. Sumptious on a beautiful summers day!

This year’s edition of the Madrid Book Fair will focus on promoting the careers of young Latin American authors trying to emerge from under the shadow cast by the giants of the 20th century boom. Fair director Teodoro Sacristan said he was excited that the 67th edition of the event has made Latin America its focal point as he believes there are Latin American writers, such as Colombia’s Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose works remain in demand more than 40 years after the Latin American boom of the 1960s and 1970s began and it is time for a new generation to emerge.

So get yourself down to Retiro. Enjoy the park, and take a stroll through the stalls. The festival runs until June 15th, and the best bit, IT´S FREE!!

by Khilen Mehta

Sir Alex Ferguson had made it his priority this year to take the Champions League trophy back to Manchester this season in memory of those who did not survive the Munich disaster. As United won Europe´s elite trophy for a third time, the triumph was made more poignant as it came fifty years on from the air crash.

The opening moments of the game were predictably tense. Neither side was willing to give the other an inch and there was plenty of possesion but little to mention in terms of clear opportunities. The game sparked into life however in the 20th minute when an aerial collision between Scholes and Makelele left both players with a yellow card and bloody faces.

This was the spark that United needed and for the rest of the first half it was all them. Ronaldo had been terrorising Essien on the left wing all game and when a pin point Wes Brown cross found its way to the back post, predictably there was Ronaldo, to steal ahead of Essien and send United into the lead. Chelsea rode their luck from then on in but they were partly saved by poor finishing. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both should have done better with their chances and the game should have been all over by half time. But as is football, Chelsea were back in the game by half time. Essien, driving forward from the back in order to make up for this mistake, had a shot deflected away. No United player followed up the ball, and there was Frank Lampard to equalise for Chelsea. Such a fitting tribute for a player who is playing so recently after the loss of his mother.

From then on, it was all Chelsea. They came out for the second half with their tails up and played United off the park. Twice Chelsea hit the woodwork, twice they were denied by the heroics of Van der Sar. But at the other end, John Terry somehow stopped United from retaking the lead with a incredible goal line clearance. Neither side could break the deadlock and so after 30 minutes of gruelling extra time, severe cramp and some childish behaviour by Drogba that earnt him a red card, there came the chance to be a hero in the penalty shootout.

Tevez and Carrick were on target for United as the shoot-out started, with Ballack and Juliano Belletti following up for Chelsea. Then up stepped Ronaldo, so often the saviour for United, but this time his arrogance almost cost him as his kick was saved by Cech. And so with defeat staring United in the face, Terry stepped up. However the weather had been treacherous and he slipped, sending his kick against the upright and giving United another lifeline. Anderson and Kalou were both successful before Giggs threw all the responsibility on Anelka as the shoot-out reached sudden death. However it proved too much for the striker, who saw his penalty palmed away by Van der Sar. United were crowned kings of European football once again.