Euro madness
Euro 2004 will have it all, writes Ken Fidlin, including plenty of ammunition for any hooligans
By KEN FIDLIN -- Toronto Sun
The Portuguese police are ready. They have 40 stun grenade launchers, 17,640 pepper-sprays, 1,465 riot truncheons, 3,000 fireproof suits, 1,360 gas masks, 700 bullet-proof jackets, 13 sets of night-vision jackets and ... well, you get the picture.
So, who's on the way? Bin Laden? John Daly? The evil army of Mordor? Or, could it be, gulp, Courtney Love?
No, just a few thousand of Europe's finest soccer fans, ready to descend on downtown Lisbon to witness the second greatest football spectacle on earth, Euro 2004. From the Algarve in the south to Oporto in the north, the Portuguese will hold their collective breath, praying that their guests will make nice.
Fat chance.
Next to the World Cup itself, this ranks as the most important soccer congregation on the planet, marking the mid-point in the four-year World Cup cycle. It can be argued that the football that will be played over the next few weeks, starting June 12 and ending with the final on July 4, is even superior to the World Cup, given that Europe is the game's unparalleled hotbed, with apologies to Brazil and Argentina. Unlike the World Cup, there will be no danger of a weak side slipping into this 16-team draw.
How good is this field? Well, when last we saw them, the Germans were grinding their way to the World Cup final in Japan. Just two years later, this perennial soccer power is an afterthought at Euro 2004, not expected to qualify out of Group D, pitted against the Czech Republic, Holland and Latvia.
Just over a month ago, coach Rudy Voeller took his side to Romania for a friendly and came home utterly embarrassed, 5-1. As a result of that game, and others, the German people have absolutely no expectations for this tournament. In a recent poll in Germany, only about 2% of the respondents said they expected Germany to win Euro 2004.
So, who will?
Well, as always, it will be a tight fit for whoever survives, given the level of competition.
The French would dearly love to defend the title they won in 2000, especially after they were humiliated in the opening round of the 2002 World Cup. The 1998 World Cup champs finished last in their group and didn't even score one goal in the three games they played but they still have the horses to win.
England is strong, but no stronger than it believes it is. The English have the usual cast of superstars -- Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen -- and a stout defence, yet always seem to possess some tragic flaw.
The Italians are playing particularly well just now and, with their talent and pedigree, will be difficult to beat. They breezed to a 4-0 win last weekend against African champion Tunisia, in Tunis, their last warmup before the tournament opener against Denmark.
Coach Giovanni Trapattoni has a stable of thoroughbreds, including Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri, at his disposal. They even got a goal from captain Fabio Cannavaro, his first in 78 international matches.
"I'm really satisfied with our performance and especially with our mental approach to the game," Trapattoni said. "Del Piero, Totti and Vieri can do great things together."
Among the many other contenders, the home-standing Portuguese cannot be counted out either. They are deep in talent, including stars such as Luis Figo, Nuno Gomes and Rui Costa, but the x-factor over the next month will be the home-field advantage. At the 2002 World Cup, it was evident that the South Koreans, playing in front of raucous, adoring crowds, had an advantage. Will it work for Portugal?
COPS REAL HEROES
Perhaps, but the real local heroes over the next month might be those entrusted with keeping the peace. Even though the Germans may not have the best team this year, there's little doubt they will be sending along their "elite" hooligans to mingle with the always-willing English. It's believed that 50,000 English fans will descend on Portugal, not all with good intentions.
"I would like everything to go without trouble, but that is not going to happen," said General Leonel Carvalho, the man in charge of security for the event and obviously a realist.
"But Portugal is now very well protected. We have powerful tools of persuasion."
Sounds like a good old-fashioned soccer party.
