Euro 2008: A Reason to Skip Work

Posted by Karl
Filed in Sports
June 11, 2008

I know soccer players dive more than Greg Louganis; I know 2-0 is considered a blowout and 0-0 draws happen more often than not, but I still think soccer is a fantastic sport.

Last year I caught a couple of games for the U-20 World Cup at Swangard and again, I was in awe of the "Beautiful Game".

On the world stage there are two major soccer tournaments, the World Cup being one and the 2008 Union of European Football Associations' (UEFA) European Football Championship (Euro 2008) being the other.

Since the tournament is based in Europe -- Austria and Switzerland to be exact -- the time difference means that games that are in prime time there are in the early and late mornings here.

That can be a little problematic if you want to catch a game live, unless you take the appropriate measures.

No doubt coffee bars and restaurants fill up on Commercial Drive and throughout other areas of the Lower Mainland when the games are on and there is probably a lot of cheering and jeering.

Productivity might take a bit of a dip during the next month or so but is it really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things?

The Euro tournament happens only once every four years, so why not a little nationalism?

Pick a place and watch a little soccer.

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I watched some of the Spain-Russia match last night. It must have been a re-broadcast because it was on at 8pm or so.

I don't consider myself a big soccer fan, but I find it very easy to get sucked in watching a game. A barrier is that I usually have absolutely no connection or loyalty to any of the participating countries. Of course the solution is to cheer for the underdog.

Posted by: sgt.turmeric at June 11, 2008 9:21 AM | Quote Comment

sgt.turmeric: A barrier is that I usually have absolutely no connection or loyalty to any of the participating countries. Of course the solution is to cheer for the underdog.

I agree but it's even good just to watch and enjoy all the great play as well regardless of who you want to win.

Posted by: karl at June 11, 2008 10:34 AM | Quote Comment

Podolski and Klose combining for 2 goals against their country of birth...About the same as if Crosby and Iginla played for the US and scored on Canada...just sad

Posted by: Disappointed Pole at June 11, 2008 6:07 PM | Quote Comment

Disappointed Pole:
Podolski and Klose combining for 2 goals against their country of birth...About the same as if Crosby and Iginla played for the US and scored on Canada...just sad

Can you say Owen Hargreaves? ;)

Posted by: karl at June 11, 2008 6:19 PM | Quote Comment

sgt.turmeric:
A barrier is that I usually have absolutely no connection or loyalty to any of the participating countries. Of course the solution is to cheer for the underdog.

Haha totally true! Go Russia? Man people try to compare the hype to hockey and I shake my head. Seriously, hockey? Football (soccer) is the truly universal sport anybody can enjoy anytime.

Posted by: Grace at June 12, 2008 2:34 PM | Quote Comment

A picture of a Spanish player for the post and a Euro 2008 title for Spain. BR Karma? I think so.

Posted by: karl at June 29, 2008 3:53 PM | Quote Comment