TalkSoccer - Soccer / Football Forum - View Single Post

**Frank Cunha** · 01-12-2003, 05:05 AM

Venues switched for two opening-round games for security reasons

November 30, 2003
LISBON (AP) - Euro 2004 organizers switched the venues of two first-phase group games after Sunday's draw for security reasons and to increase the number of tickets available.

The Group D match on June 14 between Germany and the Netherlands was moved from Aveiro's 30,000-seat stadium to FC Porto's new Stadium of the Dragon, which holds more than 50,000 fans.

Also, the June 20 encounter in Group B between England and Croatia will be held at Benfica's 62,000-capacity Stadium of Light instead of Coimbra's stadium which holds half that number.

"We can't risk having more fans outside the stadium than inside," Portuguese Soccer Federation president Gilberto Madail said, adding that the two games were deemed "high-risk" by UEFA.

-

ITALY'S ODDS SHORTEN: Italy's odds to win the European Championship were cut from 1½ to 4/1 after Sunday's favourable draw while France remained the rock solid 100/30 favourite.

Bookmakers William Hill made the move after the draw put Italy in with Sweden, Denmark and Bulgaria in Group C while some of its rivals got tougher opponents.

Three-time champion Germany was put in the same group as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The Germans odds went out from 14/1 to 18/1 although the odds on the Dutch winning the title were trimmed from 8/1 to 13/2. The Czechs, unbeaten in their qualifying games with seven wins and a tie, went out from 9/1 to 12/1.

The other odds are 13/2 Portugal, 7/1 Spain, 15/2 England, 22/1 Sweden, 25/1 Denmark, 50/1 Bulgaria, 66/1 Greece, 80/1 Croatia and Russia, 100/1 Switzerland, 500/1 Latvia.

-

WHO'S WORST-OFF?: Jacques Santini doesn't want to hear Sven-Goran Eriksson's complaints about the English season being too long, tiring players and giving little preparation time for tournaments such as Euro 2004.

Eriksson's England and Santini's France meet in their first Group B game on June 13, the second day of the championship.

"Eriksson is actually luckier than I am," Santini said after the draw.

"The French domestic competition will go on until May 23. I'll have one week less to prepare for the championship (than Eriksson), and we also have to play Brazil on May 20 for the UEFA jubilee."

01-12-2003, 05:05 AM	#150 (permalink)
Frank Cunha Super Moderator Favourite Team: SL BENFICA -BEIRA-MAR Frank Cunha is Offline Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UNION, NJ. USA Posts: 93,907 vCash: 3081 Rep: Rep Points: 5666 Country:	Two venues where change for security reasons Venues switched for two opening-round games for security reasons November 30, 2003 LISBON (AP) - Euro 2004 organizers switched the venues of two first-phase group games after Sunday's draw for security reasons and to increase the number of tickets available. The Group D match on June 14 between Germany and the Netherlands was moved from Aveiro's 30,000-seat stadium to FC Porto's new Stadium of the Dragon, which holds more than 50,000 fans. Also, the June 20 encounter in Group B between England and Croatia will be held at Benfica's 62,000-capacity Stadium of Light instead of Coimbra's stadium which holds half that number. "We can't risk having more fans outside the stadium than inside," Portuguese Soccer Federation president Gilberto Madail said, adding that the two games were deemed "high-risk" by UEFA. - ITALY'S ODDS SHORTEN: Italy's odds to win the European Championship were cut from 1½ to 4/1 after Sunday's favourable draw while France remained the rock solid 100/30 favourite. Bookmakers William Hill made the move after the draw put Italy in with Sweden, Denmark and Bulgaria in Group C while some of its rivals got tougher opponents. Three-time champion Germany was put in the same group as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The Germans odds went out from 14/1 to 18/1 although the odds on the Dutch winning the title were trimmed from 8/1 to 13/2. The Czechs, unbeaten in their qualifying games with seven wins and a tie, went out from 9/1 to 12/1. The other odds are 13/2 Portugal, 7/1 Spain, 15/2 England, 22/1 Sweden, 25/1 Denmark, 50/1 Bulgaria, 66/1 Greece, 80/1 Croatia and Russia, 100/1 Switzerland, 500/1 Latvia. - WHO'S WORST-OFF?: Jacques Santini doesn't want to hear Sven-Goran Eriksson's complaints about the English season being too long, tiring players and giving little preparation time for tournaments such as Euro 2004. Eriksson's England and Santini's France meet in their first Group B game on June 13, the second day of the championship. "Eriksson is actually luckier than I am," Santini said after the draw. "The French domestic competition will go on until May 23. I'll have one week less to prepare for the championship (than Eriksson), and we also have to play Brazil on May 20 for the UEFA jubilee."